This is the great hall of Winchester Palace – not in
Winchester and not much of a palace these days, but the height of luxurious
living when it was first built in the 12th century by Henry of
Blois, who was the Bishop of Winchester and younger brother of King Stephen of
England.
Henry’s diocese of Winchester was rich and extensive, and
included Southwark on the south bank of the River Thames, directly opposite the
city of London. By building a palace here, Henry was right at the heart of
things, in terms of politics, when he wanted to be, but also within his “patch”
as a bishop.
This part of Southwark, known as the “Liberty of the Clink”,
was also exempt from the laws that restricted certain activities north of the
river. This meant that gambling, theatres and brothels could flourish here, and
the Bishops of Winchester happily collected the rents from these less than holy
pursuits.
There is not much to be seen of the Palace today, which is
on the Thames Path close to London Bridge, but the great hall, with its
magnificent rose window, was clearly a substantial building. It took a 19th
century fire and 20th century building work to reveal the surviving
walls and nearby foundations. The remains are now in the care of English
Heritage.
© John Welford
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