Winchester - Alfie's City and Immense Gothic Masterpiece

Winchester, the principle city in Hampshire, is very accessible, being only stones throw away from the M3 motorway, and is an exciting place for a weekend break or short stay. The main High Street is pedestrianised and there are some Long Stay Car parks situated on the perifery and some short stay ones hidden away, one at the East end of the Cathedral in Colebrook Street adjacent to Paternoster Row and a short hop to the Cathedral and shops.

The Cathedral is very impressive - I was fortunate to have arrived at about 4 pm and had the place to myself for about an hour. It is located in spacious grounds which is ideal for the photographer as it can be photographed from every angle. Apart from the West front (shown above) the exterior of the building is bland in comparison to other cathedrals but, Winchester's glory lies within.

The huge nave - the longest in any Gothic Cathedral in Europe - had been emptied of chairs and I was able to photograph it with an unusual vista. This photograph was taken from the top of the steps in front of the quire screen.

The quire (left) looks down from it's elevated position westwards with the large West window allowing light into the nave giving ideal shooting conditions. Looking west the screen encases the clergy and choir with a sense of real seclusion which must contribute to the spirituality of worship I hope to attend an evensong here on a return visit as the choir here has a reputation for being one of the top provincial cathedral choirs.
The high alter rises majestically dominating the east end of the cathedral and is a truely magnificent sight.

Other pluses for this city is a number of classy female fashion shops to entertain Mrs. CJ while I visit the cathedral and a few nice places to eat and drink.

My assessment - a great place to visit, good shopping, classy pubs and restaurants, classic gothic architecture and stunning views plus one of the highly acclaimed professional cathedral choirs around.

Decision -Am coming back again for a weekend soon.

View more of my Winchester Cathedral images on my Picasa site