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In the Ley hunter’s companion, Paul
Derveraux and Ian Thompson describe this Leyline that runs in a north
south direction for nearly 12miles centred on St Catherine’s hill
just outside Winchester. They leyline commences at Tidbury ring, an
iron age camp, bisects the remains of a Neolithic long burrow near
south wonston before entering Winchester at St Bartholomew’s
Church, a 12th century building. The line continues across the road and
passes through the 15th century Hyde Gate at the site of Hyde Abbey,
where tradition has it that Alfred the great is buried. The next point
is Winchester Cathedral, a Norman building on the site of an earlier
Saxon foundation and possibly the site of a megalithic structure. The
leyline then leaves Winchester on route to St Catherine’s hill.
The hill is crowned with an Iron Age earthwork in which the medieval St
Catherine’s chapel once stood. The leyline itself actually passes
through a turf labyrinth known as the mizmaze. Such labyrinths have a
long pedigree and were associated in Christian symbolism with the
soul’s journey to heaven. There use as spirit traps in other
cultures has been noted.
- E.O Gordon, 1932, recorded the tradition of a twice daily
procession by 70 black gowned scholars from Winchester college to the
summit of the” holy hill” (St Catherine’s hill). An
engraving in prehistoric London shows the scholars walking in a
straight path towards the hill.
- St Swithin (died AD.862) was a 9th century bishop of
Winchester. Little is known of his life, although he built several
churches, was noted for his humility, is supposed to have rebuilt the
bridge over the River Itchen, and restored a basket of broken eggs. He
was chaplain to King Egbert, and tutor to his son Ethelwulf. He became
bishop of Winchester in 852 when Ethelwulf became king. He asked to be
laid to rest outside in the open where men can trample his bones &
the rains from heaven will fall upon him. When his remains were
moved inside the cathedral the skies opened and it rained in torrents
for just over 6 weeks. His remains were transferred from the old Saxon
cathedral on St Swithin's day (July 15th) in 971 to be transferred to
the new Saxon cathedral which pre-dated the current Norman cathedral.
Reputedly Swithin did not approve, and it rained continuously for 40
days. Hence the folklore that if it rains on St. Swithin's day it will
continue to rain for 40 days. Appropriately, he is the patron saint of
drought relief.
- The butter cross (spiritual centre of the city, a grand
monumental statue in the high street): The 1st legend of Winchester, a
curse was placed on the butter cross in the middle ages by a witch who
was held here before being burnt at the stake. Effectual from the
moment an individuals posterior contacts with the stone, the curse
compels the unwary sitter to return time & time again to the city,
a lesson for unwary travelers is to check with local folklaw before
sitting anywhere! The butter cross is said to play host to its own
ghost, rarely seen, except when the old guildhall bell is toiling the
8pm curfew, a shadow is reputed to approach at speed from the west,
under the pentice and behind the butter cross where it disappears
towards the cathedral.
- Many pubs, restaurants & buildings seem to have there
own ghost stories to tell in & around the high street: The close
has many ghost tales & The Royal oak passage seems to be the most
reported on where chanting monks & whispering can be heard….
Also the theatre royal & the library have been well reported on
over the years.
In 1066 after the battle of Hastings, King Harold's widow stayed in
Winchester but when the Normans arrived she surrendered the town and
was allowed to leave in peace. William the Conqueror rebuilt the Royal
Palace. The new palace was twice the size of the old Saxon palace.
William also built a castle in the west of Winchester. Sixty houses
were demolished to make way for it.
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