Winchester Cathedral Houses

Winchester Cathedral has its origins in the 7th century, when a Christian Church was first built on this site. Since then it has played a fundamental part in the life of this ancient City and a role in the history of our nation.

Begun in 1079 in the Romanesque style, this Cathedral is at the heart of Alfred's Wessex and a diocese which once stretched from London's Thames to the Channel Islands.

Winchester Cathedral is famous for its chantry chapels, where daily masses were said for the bishops buried within them. The two earliest are in the nave: that of William of Edington (Bishop 1345-66) was designed to stand below the Norman arcade; William of Wykeham's soaring monument was built at the same time as his reconstructed nave.

The core of the present Winchester Cathedral Organ consists of pipe-work from the monumental organ built by Henry Willis for the Great Exhibition at Hyde Park in 1851. This was the first large organ wholly built by Willis, and with 70 stops it was also the largest at the Exhibition.

All are welcome to come to the Cathedral as visitors or pilgrims, which is normally open from 8.30 to 6pm every day (5.30 on Sundays). Services and Events may cause certain areas to be closed at times, so you are encouraged to enquire if you are making a special visit.