Winchester Palace Great Hall

Ruins of the Great Hall of Winchester Palace.

Being one of the wealthiest and most important of England's Diocese, at the time, the Diocese of Winchester owned land from England's south coast up to the south bank of the River Thames.

Southwark, the oldest of London's Boroughs, was the perfect place for Winchester Palace to be built. 

Winchester Palace, was built in 1144 by Bishop Henry of Blois, brother of King Stephen. It was to become the London townhouse for the Bishop of Winchester. 

The 80 acres of land adjoining the River Thames were governed according to the laws of 'The Liberty of the Bishop of Winchester', from 1127. In this term 'Liberty' meant jurisdiction. By the end of the 15th century 'The Liberty of the Bishop of Winchester' was shortened to 'Liberty of The Clink'.

A Medieval map showing the location of Winchester Palace.

The palace was arranged around two courtyards, which housed many buildings. These included a brew-house, butchery and the first of  Southwark's six prisons... The Clink. As a townhouse, from where the bishops could escape from everyday stresses of governance, the palace also had a pleasure garden, a bowling alley and tennis courts.

The interior of the great hall as it may have appeared in the 15th century

© Historic England (illustration by Liam Wales)

In the 17th century the palace was divided into tenements and warehouses. In the 19th century a fire ravaged the area and the ruins of the palace were rediscovered. 

During the redevelopment of the area, in the 1980s, the ruins were finally revealed and unveiled.

Winchester Palace and Garden at night.

Today, only parts of the Great Hall remain, including the gable end with its impressive rose window.

It would have been lavishly decorated and was used, by the bishops, to entertain royal guests. In 1424, King James I of Scotland and Joan Beaufort held their wedding feast here.

The doors, to the left of the gable end, would have led to the buttery, kitchen and pantry.

A vaulted cellar, situated below the great hall, would have stored wine and other goods. A passage from the cellar would have linked directly to a wharf.

Winchester Palace Garden

Winchester Palace Garden.

In 2014, the Bankside Open Spaces Trust, along with local people, English Heritage, Schroders and Southwark Council created this sunken garden, on the remains of the undercroft of the Great Hall.

Winchester Palace Garden and the Rose Window.

Many of the plants, which would have been common in Medieval gardens, were especially picked for their ability to thrive in shady locations.