June 7-9 2024

Winchester Pilgrimage IX
2024

Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty, Winchester

The Shire of West Dragonshire

and the

Society for Creative Anachronism

present

A Celebration of Medieval Pilgrimage

Fri 7th June - Sun 9th June, 2024

 Come all ye pilgrims and travellers to the City of Winchester in the fair shire of West Dragonshire in the land of Insulae Draconis and join us for a celebration of that most medieval of endeavours, that of the pilgrimage. Come rest a while with us at the most wonderful and beautiful building in the land, the Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty. Therein we shall share in tales of pilgrims of days gone by, as related by the hand of Geoffrey Chaucer. And, on the Saturday morn, we shall make our pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Winchester, and during that journey, test our knowledge of pilgrims and pilgrimages. On the Saturday afternoon, we shall revel in the arts martial as we demonstrate same to the good citizens of Winchester. And then, of the Saturday eve, we shall give ourselves to feasting and merriment as befits our status as lords and ladies of the shire and beyond.

 The Event

Friday Evening - 7th June

A negative COVID test will be required to be shown on arrival

The site opens at 5pm on Friday evening. Note for those whose travel times are constrained, the site is open to the public, so it will possible for you to stash your baggage out of site, subject to agreement from the Porter, but there will be no vehicular access until after 5pm

Friday evening will be a time for socialising and for reading from The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer. We will endeavour to supply some handouts, but if you have a copy, please bring your own. Reading is entirely optional and you may do so, if you wish, in modern or Middle English.

Note that because of limited uptake in previous years, there is no Travellers' Fare provided. Attendees should make their own arrangements. There is a decent fish & chip shop close by the site, and other places to obtain food nearby or in Winchester itself.

Note also, for those erecting period pavilions in the quad, that this is still a residential site, so no banging of hammers after 10pm please. There is limited vehicle space in the quad, so please bring your vehicle in, unload your pavilions, equipment etc and then move your vehicle to the car park before erecting your pavilion.

Those who are likely after 10pm, note that the main gates will be closed and access will be via the sally port and a coded lock. If you are likely to be arriving later, please contact the stewards so that we can let you in.

Saturday Morning - 8th June

A light breakfast will be served in the morning in the Hundred Mens Hall. Note that we have to be done by 09:30 as this is also the site's cafeteria, so St Cross staff will be wanting it to prepare for paying visitors.

From 10am, we will gather you in small groups and despatch you on a small pilgrimage to Winchester Cathedral. This is a level, easily accessible walk of about 3/4 of a mile, through the meadows and some of the more historical parts of Winchester. On the way, you may encounter volunteers who will quiz you about the sorts of things a pilgrim would know. Don't worry, there is a handout, from which you may gather all the knowledge you need. Once you have completed the pilgrimage, your time is your own to explore the cathedral (there is an admission charge) or Winchester. This would be a good time to grab some lunch, as, again, due to poor uptake in previous years, will not be provided. Light lunch is available from the Hundred Mens Hall. Please be back at the site by 2pm for the afternoon activities, especially those taking part in the fighting demonstration.

Saturday Afternoon - 8th June

The site is open to the public all day, but on Saturday afternoon, they are specifically invited to come and watch us do a demonstration of our martial activities, both heavy fighting and fencing. This will take place in the glorious setting of the main quad of the hospital. Be prepared to take up arms and show people what we do best.

Please note that with the site being open to the public, please keep modern items as out of sight as much as possible - stored inside tents, covered with blankets, stashed away in areas away from the public eye.

Saturday Evening - 8th June

Saturday evening is our time for feasting and merrymaking in the Tudor environs of the Brethen's Hall. Bring your finest garb, your feast gear and your appetites for food, stories, music etc. Please remember that the hospital is home to 22 elderly brothers, so please keep your revelry within the hall, and keep noise to a minimum in the quad after 10pm. Please also note that there will be people coming into the site for church in the morning, so please do clear up your feast gear, your bottles and cans etc during the evening and not leave them until Sunday morning.

Sunday - 9th June

A light breakfast will be served in the Hundred Mens Hall. The hall will be needed for refreshments for church attendees after the service, so please be prompt in clearing up your breakfast things so that we can return the hall to the site staff.  The Church of St Cross & St Faith are very happy for those to wish to attend morning service to join them, in garb if they wish.

Vehicles will not be allowed into the quad until after 12 noon, so please dismantle your camp and pile it up neatly, ready for a quick load into your vehicle once access is available. Please be as quick as possible in loading your vehicle and remove it to the car park as soon as you are able so that other vehicles can get in.

Please ensure that you are clear of the site by 2pm so that the Brothers can have their home back.


The Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty

Some years ago, at a previous Pilgrimage, we were setting up for feast in the Brethren's Hall. There was a stone table at one end, which we thought was an ideal spot to put the beer barrel and the baskets of bread. One of the Brothers, the residents of St Cross came by and said "I see you are using our table. Did you know that was a gift to the Hospital from King Stephen?"
Our jaws dropped. "Erm, no, we didn't. Sorry."
"Oh no, it's fine. It's good to see it still being used."
Suddenly, the history of the place we were using became a lot more real...

The Hospital of St Cross was founded in the 12th century and is one of the most beautiful period sites that we have used. Nestled in the water meadows alongside the River Itchen, in the shadow of St Catherine's Hill and only 20 minutes walk from the centre of Winchester, lies the medieval buildings of the Hospital of St Cross & Almshouse of Noble Poverty. These medieval buildings are the setting for the Winchester Pilgrimage as we make our pilgrimage along the water meadows to Winchester Cathedral testing our knowledge of medieval saints, symbols, and other aspects of medieval Christianity before ending the day with magnificent tournaments and a pilgrim's meal. Take a step back in history as you wander around the buildings that have provided food and shelter for hundreds of years and learn about various aspects of making a medieval pilgrimage. Rest for a while in the unique and peaceful Master's Garden or visit the 12th century church (where you may find 400 year old graffiti) . During the pilgrimage you may meet one of the resident Brothers, in his black or red gown and trencher hat, on his way to Matins or a meal - traditions that go back hundreds of years. 

 Accommodation and Meals

This is a camping only event.  Those with period pavilions are welcome to erect them on the green in the centre, and those with mundane tents may camp in the adjacent gardens.  There is some limited crash space within the buildings.  Note that the crash space is in a room up a steep staircase. Winchester is a popular tourist town with many hotels and B&Bs nearby if you desire offsite accommodations. 

Please be aware that the almshouse is the home of some 24 Brothers plus staff. Please respect the privacy of the brothers, staying away from areas marked private, and try to keep noise down after 10pm.   

A Pilgrim’s feast will be provided on Saturday evening, as will breakfasts on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Due to low uptake in previous years, we will not provide traveller's fare on Friday or lunch on Saturday.  There is a pub that serves meals, and a very good chip shop (huge portions) just a couple of minutes walk from the site, and there are numerous takeaways, restaurants, pubs etc in Winchester itself.

There are toilets on site, but shower facilities are very limited and reserved for fighters after the demonstration. Note that as a period building, there are uneven floors, stairs and such like. Please advise the stewards if you have any access requirements that might be affected by this.


 Reservations

Reservations can be made using the form below. Please make a separate reservation for each person attending. 

In order to comply with insurance requirements, registrations must be received by 1s June 2024

Accomodation is as follows:

If you are sharing a tent or pavilion, please list the other members of your party in the space provided so we don't reserve space for too many pavilions.

If you are attending as part of a family capped group (2 x adults, 2 x under 18s, under 5s free), please list the other members of your party in the space provided.

Please make your reservations here

Logistics

The site is a period site, with narrow entrances and uneven surfaces. Vehicular access will be for the purpose of unloading and loading only, and then vehicles should be returned to the designated parking area.

The site will open, so far as the event is concerned, from 5pm on Saturday. Those constrained by travel arrangements will be able to get into the site beforehand, subject to agreement from the porter, and should be able to stash belongings somewhere out of the way.

Those intending to period camp should bring their vehicles into the quad, unload their gear and then move the vehicles to the parking area before erecting tents. This will allow room for others wishing to bring their vehicles in.

Those using the mundane camping area can likewise take their vehicles there to unload and then return them to the parking area.

There are church services Sunday morning, so vehicular access to the quad will not be possible before noon.  Feel free to dismantle your camp before then, and be ready to load up your vehicle as soon as access is available. You may bring your vehicle into the Bowling Green and load your equipment via there, but please void obstructing those attending the church.