Buttercross Monument

A fascinating, ornate focal point on Winchester high street which attracts tourists, buskers and pigeons. A must photo" for visitors."

I decided to make a trip to Winchester on the 24th July 2018 and then again in September. I had never been before. Winchester is a city and the county town of Hampshire, England. It is situated about 61 miles south-west of London and around 13 from Southampton which is its closest city. Winchester developed from the Roman town of Venta Belgarum. The city is home to the University of Winchester and Winchester College, the oldest public school in the United Kingdom still using its original buildings. There is so much to see here in this fine city and spending a day here you would find it difficult to cover all the famous sites.To name a few the Cathedral, Wolvesey Castle or Old Bishop's Palace the River Itchen walk, the old site of Winchester Castle the Great Hall being all that remains now, The Guild Hall, Winchester City Museum, The Royal Hampshire Regiment Museum and Memorial Gardens, Westgate Museum, The Royal Green Jackets Museum, Winchester's Military Museums, King Alfred the Great - Statue which stands in The Broadway, Winnall Moors Nature Reserve which can be found at Durngate Place, Winchester, Abbey Gardens, 21 Colebrook St, Winchester, After spending about 5 hours here I was defeated it was in the blazing sun of the heat wave we had in July 2018. I managed to walk the River Itchen walk, see Winchester Cathedral, along with Wolvesey Castle, The Great Hall.The River Itchen in Winchester flows from mid-Hampshire to join with Southampton Water below the Itchen Bridge in Southampton. The river has a total length of 28 miles and is noted as one of the world's premier chalk streams for fly fishing. Watercress thrives all along the Itchen valley in its once pristine, crystal clear waters, now affected by some farming practices.The Butter Cross of Winchester is a Holy Cross, dating back to the mid C14th, it is thought it may have been a gift of Cardinal Beaufort who was Bishop of Winchester from 1404 – 1447. It may well have replaced a much earlier cross associated with the monastic buildings and the Old Minster.The Winchester model in the Winchester City Museum.Start your trip to this museum with the Winchester Model, a breathtaking scale model of the city as it was in Victorian times. The model was built by former County Planning Officer Roger Brown, who left it as a legacy to the city of Winchester and its people. It is a unique record of Winchester from 1870, when the population was less than a third of what it is now, when the magnificent Guildhall was yet to be built, and when it would be another 30 years before the statue of King Alfred would be erected on the Broadway.

Beautiful 14th century cross, renovted in Victorian times. Same concept and style as Edward I’s crosses for Eleanor but it’s not one of those.

The Winchester Buttercross is a good example of Early Medieval tradition of High Crosses. Used as boundary marker of a significant territory and political power. There are twelve figures on the statue. You can't miss it in the middle of the busy High Street. You will be amazed how tall it is. A plaquette with a brief explanations can be found on the nearby building.

Beautiful historic city with its famous cathedral and environs. Excellent shopping well worth a visit and very close to the M4 motorway.

Beautiful monument that is easy to miss walking through all the stores.

Follow Mr & Mrs R on TikTok. A wonderful piece of architectural history, well worth preserving for generations to come. Definitely a must see for anyone visiting Winchester, whether for a day out or a vacation.Winchester as a city has so many fascinating and picturesque things to see, that a day is not enough.

This is a wonderful ancient monument from the 15th century and was originally a point for market sellers to stand and sell their wares (hence the name buttercross) although you're now more likely to find kids catching Pokemon.It's well preserved and is a great spot to watch the world go by, usually to the sound of buskers!

Historic in nature…in the middle of vibrant and bustling market