Winchester Cathedral

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Today we took a trip by train to Winchester, a modest-sized town to the southwest of London. Peter Duncan, my academic sponson at Kings College London, and his wife Jane and the two girls, invited us to lunch and a tour of the town. Peter met us at the train and drove us to his house, a lovely 100 year-old, duplex-style house (attached) to which they had made many terrific improvements. It was quite warm and cosy. Jane cooked us a delicious home-style meal (one of our few in many days) complete with red current wine made by their neighbor. It was really good--more like a light port.

After a hearty meal and some wonderful conversation, they drove us to the Winchester Cathedral, a huge structure set off in an enclosed church area (a "close"). Entrance is free on Sunday (so we made a donation), and we got to hear part of a service, including the ever marvelous choir, including the boy sopranos. I still can't get over that sound echoing off the cavern-like stone walls of the cathedral. Winchester Cathedral is not as ornate as some others we visited, but it has one of those high, stone, fan-like ceilings and external flying buttresses on one side.

After a brief visit, we walked into the town and marveled at the main street--a double row of mixed historic structures winding and climing up the hill. Later we passed the old Guild House and the statue of King Alfred (founder of Britain???). More historical details to catch up on later.

So Linda and I caught the train and enjoyed the hour ride back to London, talking about our wonderful day and how the fantastic sites and lovely friends seem endless.