Winchester and Arthur's Round Table

We had a great day in Winchester visiting the Great Hall and the Round Table, the West Gate Museum and the Winchester City Museum. Winchester is a good place to take kids for hands-on activities that gets them interested in the history of the place such as dressing up in costumes and doing brass rubbings.

West Gate Museum


Everybody got to dress up in costumes, including Miss Myers!



The West Gate was used as a prison for several centures then closed off. Here you see etchings by prisoners that have been perfectly preserved. This wall has not been cleaned or restored!



Ceiling in West Gate Museum


Winchester City Museum


Winchester Castle dates from William the Conquerer (1066-1077). The Great hall (late 1200s) and Round Table (also about 1270 but repainted in the early 1500s under orders of Henry VIII, hence the Tudor rose) were neat to see- 24 names for Arthur's 24 knights on a round table symbolizing equality. In the back of the Great Hall, which is was where the first court of justice in the UK was held, are all the names of the justices throughout the centures. Beautiful.



King Alfred