Winchester Castle dated from the reign of William the Conqueror (1066 - 1087). By the end of King John's reign in 1216, the Castle and its royal palace needed extensive repair. Between 1222 and 1235 the Castle's hall was replaced by the building illustrated above. Other alterations and improvements brought the Castle to a peak of military and domestic development during the reigns of Henry III (1216-72) and his son Edward I (1272 - 1307).Edward and his second wife, Margaret of France, almost lost their lives in a fire which destroyed the royal apartments in 1302. The roof was rebuilt at the end of the fourteenth century, changing the Hall's external appearance.
During the Civil War the Castle was held by the Royalists until its capture by the Parliamentary forces in 1646. Oliver Cromwell ordered the demolition of the Castle, but the Great Hall was kept as a venue for assemblies and the county assizes.
The population increase in the nineteenth century meant that new courts were needed. These were built on to the east end of the Hall in 1873 - 74, to a design by T.H. Wyatt. Their construction enabled Wyatt to carry out major restoration of the medieval Hall, under the supervision of Sir Melville Portal.
Wyatt's new courts were demolished in 1938. From that time the Hall itself was used as a court until the new Crown Courts were built in 1974. Restoration work was carried out by the Hampshire County Council in 1975 - 76. Since then the Royal Wedding Gates have been installed, Queen Eleanor's Garden built and the landscaping outside the Hall completed.
Entry to visit the Great Hall is free of charge. There's a small box at the doors for donations — and every donation, regardless of amount, I'm sure is appreciated.
Source: Hampshire County, England
