The Master’s Welcome
The Charter Of Foundation
“Thirteen men, feeble and so reduced in strength that they can scarcely, or not at
all, support themselves without other aid, shall remain in the same Hospital constantly;
to whom necessary clothing, provided by the Prior of the establishment, shall be
given, and beds fit for their infirmities; and daily a good loaf of wheaten bread
of the weight of five measures, three dishes at dinner, and one for supper, and drink
of sufficient quantity…
And besides those thirteen poor men, one hundred other poor
persons, as deserving as can be found and more indigent, shall be received at the
hour of dinner...”
England's oldest and most perfect almshouse - quote from England's Thousand best Churches, by Simon Jenkins
Welcome to the Hospital of St Cross & Almshouse of Noble Poverty
Ask at the Porter’s Lodge, as you arrive at St Cross, and you will receive your wayfarer’s dole a horn of beer and a morsel of bread. This is a charming way to begin your visit. But whilst it might seem that you are entering a quaint time warp’ you are in fact entering a living community. The vision of Henry de Blois and, three centuries later, Henry Beaufort still continues. Here in the ancient buildings 25 men reside, men who have a need of dignified and supportive housing.
Welcome and enjoy your visit
Nestled in the water meadows alongside the River Itchen, in the shadow of St Catherine's
Hill and only 20 minutes walk from the centre of Winchester, lies the unique Hospital
of St Cross. Take a step back in history as you wander around the ancient medieval
buildings that have provided food and shelter for hundreds of years. Rest for a while
in the unique and peaceful Master's Garden. Visit the 12th century church and wonder
at the decision to build such a large and beautiful building for just a handful of
lowly residents. With luck during your visit you may even meet one of the resident
Brothers, in his black or red gown and trencher hat, on his way to Matins or weekly
Pay Parade - traditions that go back hundreds of years.
An important piece of medieval
and religious history, this impressive masterpiece is a significant part of the tapestry
of modern day tourism. It offers the discerning visitor a calm and contemplative
insight into an erstwhile tradition of communal care, customs and hospitality - and
exemplifies the peaceful co-existence of church and secular life in bygone days.
The Hospital, which is England's oldest continuing almshouse, comprises a group of
grade I listed medieval and Tudor buildings, including a medieval hall and tower,
Tudor cloister, Norman church and gardens reflecting a seventeenth century connection
with North America. The term "Hospital", in this context, has the same origin as
"hospitality" and for over 850 years St Cross has provided food and shelter to people
in need. It has been home to the Master and Brethren of St Cross since medieval times
and today visitors can still receive the Wayfarer's Dole (a small beaker of beer
and a morsel of bread). During summer months, further refreshments are obtainable
from the tearooms, situated in the "Hundred Men’s Hall", built on the site where,
in ages past, up to a hundred poor men received a daily ration of food.
Facts or Legends
It is interesting that in September 1535 Henry VIII commanded the inhabitants of the Hospital to pray for the health of Queen Anne(Boleyn), only to execute her the following spring.
It is said that in Victorian times, an Irish workman accidentally broke open the slab of Peter de Sancta Maria’s tomb to reveal his body perfectly preserved. As the air rushed in, within minutes only vestments and dust were left.
A monument in the South aisle of the church is to someone who had almost nothing to do with St Cross, the only link with Charles Cornwall, Speaker of the House of Commons 1780 to 1789, being that he was renting accommodation in the Master’s Lodging when he died.
The Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) visited the Hospital en route to Osborne House in the Isle of Wight. Later a large anonymous donation was received for the completion of repairs to the church’s east end. There were two conditions that Victoria and Albert’s initials should be incorporated in the east window and that the letters ZO be used in the design of the tiling. ZO, it is thought, stands for German ‘zu Osborne.
In the church, at the window nearest the crossing on the eastern side of the north transept, the stone surround is strangely angled. On a pillar in the north aisle is the cross of St Cross, where a statue of the Virgin Mary once stood. Sunlight from the window falls directly on the cross only on 3 May, the day in the church calendar of the Invention of the Cross and 14th September, Holy Cross Day.
The poet John Keats wrote ‘Ode to Autumn’ in the fields just by the church where the old almshouses formerly stood.
During the Commonwealth (1649 to 1660) the Hospital was visited by Cromwell,s men. They declared the lectern idolatrous and ordered it to be destroyed. It was ostentatiously sawn in half and carried off as if to be burned – only to be buried in the grounds and returned at the Restoration in 1660. The saw mark is still clearly visible.
The poet John Keats wrote ‘Ode to Autumn’ in the fields just by the church where the old almshouses formerly stood.
During the Commonwealth (1649 to 1660) the Hospital was visited by Cromwell,s men. They declared the lectern idolatrous and ordered it to be destroyed. It was ostentatiously sawn in half and carried off as if to be burned – only to be buried in the grounds and returned at the Restoration in 1660. The saw mark is still clearly visible.
