Wessex: Mediaeval Trial and Triumph in the West Country

Independent travel to Lyndhurst in the late morning, where our tour begins. Transfer by private coach to Romsey, where a light lunch will be followed by a visit to Romsey Abbey, a Benedictine monastery until Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries. Founded in the 10th-Century, the substantial abbey that stands today was built under Norman rule and is considered to be one of the finest examples of Norman architecture in Southern England. Return to Lyndhurst, where some time to relax will be followed by a group dinner in our hotel.

A day in Winchester to explore the treasures of Alfred the Great’s capital. Our first stop is the mighty Winchester Cathedral, which was founded in 1079 but extensively remodelled over the ensuing five centuries. It displays a wealth of architectural styles, from an early Norman crypt to the lavish Renaissance chantry chapels and the Gothic nave, the longest of any Gothic cathedral in Europe. Our visit will allow us to thoroughly explore both exterior and interior, including a viewing of the Winchester Bible, an exquisitely illuminated 12th-century example. Break for some free time and an independent lunch in Winchester before walking via the 15th-century Buttercross Monument to the Winchester Great Hall. The only standing remains of Winchester Castle, it is considered to be one of the finest surviving examples of a mediaeval aisled hall from the 13th-century. Transfer by coach to St Cross Church, which lies on the outskirts of Winchester. Described by Simon Jenkins as ‘a Norman cathedral in miniature’, the impressive structure is all that remains of the Hospital of St Cross, which was founded by Henry of Blois between 1132 and 1136. Return to Lyndhurst for an evening at leisure.

Morning visit to Christchurch Priory. A parish church of remarkable stature – its nave is more than 311 feet in length – the current building dates back to 1094 but stands on the site of a 7th-Century Saxon priory. The structure is swathed in legend, most notably its Miraculous Beam, a critical structural error that was astonishingly fixed by a mysterious carpenter, said to be Jesus Christ. Continue to Wimborne Minster, where some free time for lunch will be followed by an exploration of Wimborne Minster, which retains interesting elements of its Saxon and Norman incarnations. Coach to Breamore to visit St Mary’s Church, one of the most important Saxon churches in England. Most likely founded by King Ethelred II c.1000AD, it was probably constructed to serve a royal estate. Particularly special is the Saxon inscription over the south porticus. Return to our hotel where we will enjoy a meal together in the evening.

By coach to Old Sarum, the enormous earthwork raised in c.400BC. It was continuously occupied throughout the Roman period, although little is known about this period and the ensuing Anglo-Saxon period. It was William the Conqueror who left the greatest mark on the site, establishing a cathedral, a motte, and a huge outer bailey, suggesting that the hillfort was modified for use as an army base in the early stages of the Norman conquest. Neither castle or cathedral remain, although the foundations of the latter can still be seen, it was superseded in 1226 when the cathedral was moved to Salisbury. Make the short journey to Salisbury, where we will examine Old Sarum’s ecclesiastical successor. An exquisite example of Early English Gothic architecture, amongst its many wonders, Salisbury Cathedral boasts the tallest spire in Britain and the best-preserved example of the four surviving original copies of the Magna Carta. After an independent lunch, our final visit will be Salisbury Museum. Set within a handsome mediaeval building, exhibits narrate 500,000 years of history, providing an excellent opportunity to contextualise all that we have explored on our visits. In the afternoon we return to Lyndhurst, where the tour concludes.