The Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty
One of England’s oldest continuing almshouses, founded in 1132 by Henri de Blois
St Cross Road, Winchester, Hampshire SO23 9SD
Facilities
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Accessible loos
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Cafe / restaurant
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Easily accessible without car
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Mostly wheelchair accessible
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No parking
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Parkland / open spaces
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Shop
- As you enter the site there is level access to an accessible toilet.
- There is disabled access into the church through the ambulatory, which has a ramp. If you would like to use this access please ask at The Porter’s Lodge Shop.
- Some of the pathways are slightly uneven and are cobbled in places. There are steps up into our Brethren’s Hall with no ramp or lift.
- If visitors want to wait for other members of their group there are several benches outside around the site and during the summer months our tearoom is open with seating inside and outside.
- Mobile phone reception is poor around the site. In the event of an emergency please contact the Porter in The Porters Lodge shop or another member of staff.
- There is a defibrillator on site.
- Wheelchair access to all rooms with the current exception of the Brethren’s Hall
- Guide dogs permitted with the agreement of the Porter.
Nestling in the water meadows alongside the River Itchen and in the shadow of St Catherine’s Hill lies the ancient Hospital of St Cross. Renowned for the tranquility of its setting and the beauty of its architecture, the Hospital is one of England’s oldest continuing almshouses.
The gardens
An oasis of beauty and tranquility, the Master’s Garden includes a wide range of plants with flowering interest throughout the year. The borders are very colourful in the summer months, with shades that are particularly sensitive to the historic location and grey garden walls. The garden includes a border planted to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002.
The borders continue to be designed and watched over by horticultural expert and garden owner Victoria Wakefield, the former Chairman of Trustees.
The area incorporates the Compton Garden which commemorates Henry Compton, Master of St Cross from 1667-1675. He later became Bishop of London, when its diocese included America. Bishop Compton created the garden at Fulham Palace with plants from the New World at the time when they were very newly imported into England. This garden therefore also features plants introduced from America into England during Bishop Compton’s lifetime. These have been expertly researched and sourced.
The Compton Garden was relaid in 1986.
The tulip tree in the Compton Garden was planted by Her Majesty Elizabeth The Queen Mother to commemorate her visit to the Hospital of St Cross on 8th July 1986.
Another tree originating from the New World, a Cercis Canadensis ‘Texan White’, was planted by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall to commemorate her visit on 21st February 2008
The Hospital has an expert full-time gardener who sometimes make plants available for sale in the shop. He also helps the Brothers with their gardening if needed.
Visitors to the Hospital may visit the Master’s Garden.
Children must be accompanied. There is a large rectangular pond in the garden, in which the water is deep. They are asked to respect the peace and tranquillity of the surroundings so that the Brothers may continue to perambulate in the garden.
The Master’s Garden can also on occasion be booked for a private event, as can the adjacent Bowling Green.
Unusual, stylish and attractive small gifts may be found in the Porter’s Lodge Shop.
Visits may include the Chapel, the Brethren’s Hall, the Kitchens, courtyards and outstanding gardens with trips to the shop and tea room in addition.
Guided tours with one of the Brothers are also available if arranged in advance. Please contact porter@hospitalofstcross.co.uk or 01962 878 218
Please contact the porter to arrange guided tours porter@hospitalofstcross.co.uk
Tours of the buildings are taken by one of the Brothers resident here and last approximately one hour each. Both individuals and groups may join a tour, but for groups we ask advance warning if the tea room is to be used in order to ensure the tables are ready and there are adequate supplies.
Visits to the gardens do not need to be arranged in advance.
Please note: The information on the Historic Houses website is advisory, but please always check the website of the house or garden you intend to visit before travelling.
Hospital:
Summer (1 April to 31 October)
9.30am-5.00pm (Monday to Saturday)
1pm-5pm (Sundays)
Winter (1 November to 31 March)
10.30am-3.30pm (Monday to Saturday)
Closed on Sunday except for church services
Tearoom:
Refreshments are available in the summer months daily during the times listed below (please note the tea room is not open on Sunday mornings). Other times by prior arrangement. PLEASE NOTE, larger groups (10+) are advised to pre-book to guarantee refreshments are available.
With regret the pre-booked lunch service is no longer available.
Summer (1st April to 31st October)
10-.30-12.30 and 2.30-4.30 (Monday to Saturday)
(please note the tearoom is closed between 12.30pm and 2.30pm)
2.30-4.30 (Sunday)
Winter (1st November to 31st March)
Closed
No dogs are allowed into the site (beyond the outer quad) other than formally registered assistance dogs
Adults: £7.50 (£8.00 with gift aid)
Students and senior citizens: £5 (£5.50 with gift aid)
Children under 13: £4 (£4.50 with gift aid)
Historic House Members access free on presentation of the Membership Card.
The Hospital has received visits from groups all over the world. Closer to home there have been many from The Arts Society, from The National Trust, U3A, Garden Societies and others.
Pre-booked groups of up to fifty people are very welcome at the Hospital of St Cross. Guided tours (max twenty-five in one group) with refreshments can also be booked.
What to expect on a pre-booked guided group tour
A tour round the Hospital with a Brother, wearing his traditional gown and trencher hat. The tour is roughly an hour in length and covers the history and architecture of this superb medieval building complex.
Visitors may explore the Norman church, the fourteenth-century Brethren’s Hall with its Minstrels’ Gallery, the Tudor Ambulatory and the Georgian Kitchen and Bread Room, hearing about the historical facts as well as the legends and the half-truths. They may also enjoy the beauty of the Master’s Garden.
Visitors may, on request, partake of the unique and ancient tradition of the ‘Wayfarer’s Dole’ (a small cup of ale and a morsel of bread).
Pre-booked guided tour costs
A flat charge of £20 plus standard per-person entry fee (see Admission).
Continuity and Change Workshop In the summer term St Cross offers school groups the opportunity to take part in its Continuity and Change Workshop specially targeted at KS2 pupils. Visits must be booked in advance. This experiential workshop gives pupils the chance to explore different aspects of St Cross including:
- Taking the dole – refreshment offered to travellers for over 800 years
- Meet a Brother – an introduction and Q&A session with a resident Brother
- Old and New Buildings activity – examination of building materials and features of the hospital
- Church Detectives activity – exploring key features of the church and understanding their significance
- Food and Hospitality activity – getting to know the historic kitchen at St Cross and what it was like in medieval times
- Preserving the Past activity – thinking about aspects of craftsmanship at St Cross and why it is important to preserve old buildings
School groups are welcomed by a Brother and given an introductory session. Teachers and their helpers from school then lead their class, divided into four smaller groups, around a range of activities. At the end of the day pupils meet with the Brother again to share their learning and ask any questions. Full details including a map, programme for the day and helpers’ notes can be found in the pdf document titled Your Visit Information and Resources and Old and New Building Sheets. For all booking information and everything you will need to know to plan your trip download the pdf document titled Pre Visit Information and Booking. If you would like to visit St Cross outside the summer term please phone to discuss suitable dates.
To book a tour with a Brother
Please advise if you would like the group to visit the café so that we may ensure the supplies on the day are sufficient
- As you enter the site there is level access to an accessible toilet.
- There is disabled access into the church through the ambulatory, which has a ramp. If you would like to use this access please ask at The Porter’s Lodge Shop.
- Some of the pathways are slightly uneven and are cobbled in places. There are steps up into our Brethren’s Hall with no ramp or lift.
- If visitors want to wait for other members of their group there are several benches outside around the site and during the summer months our tearoom is open with seating inside and outside.
- Mobile phone reception is poor around the site. In the event of an emergency please contact the Porter in The Porters Lodge shop or another member of staff.
- There is a defibrillator on site.
- Wheelchair access to all rooms with the current exception of the Brethren’s Hall
- Guide dogs permitted with the agreement of the Porter.
Getting here
St Cross Road, Winchester, Hampshire SO23 9SD
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PARKING
We have very limited parking at the Hospital of St Cross. If you are coming to visit, please consider using public transport. We are only a 20 minute walk or a 5 minute bus ride on the No1 Bluestar bus from the City centre. The bus stops conveniently at the end of our driveway. Our grassland parking areas are unfortunately not available between October and March.
BY TRAIN TO WINCHESTER
From the train station you can either take a 30 minute walk from the town centre along St Cross Road or through the Water Meadows. You can also take a No 1 Bluestar bus from Station Hill bus stop directly at the station which runs regularly throughout the day and disembark at St Cross bus stop (just past the chip shop on St Cross Road). A taxi is another option from the Station to The Bell Inn.
BY BUS
The Bluestar No1 runs a regular 15 minute service from Winchester bus station to Southampton which stops almost directly outside the driveway to The Hospital of St Cross. There is also a Stagecoach Service No 69 (Winchester to Fareham) and an E2 service which runs throughout the day which also stops outside The Hospital of St Cross
PARK AND RIDE
The nearest Park and Ride is Winchester South. Please note the Park and Ride bus does not go along St Cross Road so you need to exit the park and ride site and head along Otterbourne Road in the direction of Winchester and there is a Bluestar number 1 bus stop just before the roundabout at the end of Otterbourne Road which will stop just opposite the Hospital of St Cross. The Park and Ride is open from 0600hrs to 2100hrs.
BY FOOT
You can follow in the footsteps of Keats by taking a leisurely 20-30 minute walk from the Cathedral either through the Water Meadows or take the route along : Kingsgate Street, St Faith’s Road, St Cross Back Street. Contact the Tourist Information Centre for further information of this route.
FROM THE M3
Exit the motorway at junction 11. Follow the signs towards Winchester. From the B3335 (St Cross Road) turn right immediately after The Bell Public House into the hospital driveway. Parking for visitors is along the right-hand of the driveway (when approaching the Hospital). There are spaces for up to 10 cars.
FROM WINCHESTER CITY CENTRE
Take the B3335 (Southgate St), which becomes St Cross Road. Shortly after the BP garage, turn left immediately before The Bell Public House into the hospital driveway. Parking as above. On foot from Winchester City Centre, follow the riverside footpath that starts behind Winchester College and continue south for approximately 20 minutes.
