These FREE guided tours take place daily at varying times from 19th to 22nd September 2019. Click on register to select your preferred tour time/day.
Please note there are also tours you can book on the day directly from the Porters' Lodge on 19th, 20th and 21st.
Our tour concentrates on the medieval heart of the College including Chamber Court, Chapel, College Hall, Cloisters and the 17th century school building.
Founded by William of Wykeham in the 14th century, Winchester College has the longest unbroken history of any English school. William of Wykeham, was Bishop of Winchester 1366-1404 and twice Chancellor of England. He used his wealth to develop a grand scheme of education, partly to increase the number of educated priests in church and government, sections of society badly affected by the Black Death. In 1379 Wykeham founded New College, Oxford, and began to acquire land on which in 1387 he began construction of this College, which opened in 1393. The Foundation provided for the education of seventy Scholars by two Masters, with a Warden, ten Fellows, three Chaplains, sixteen Quiristers and three Lay Clerks to administer the College and provide religious services and music in Chapel.
Today, the College educates around 700 boys aged 13 to 18, with the seventy Scholars still housed in the medieval buildings. The remaining ‘Commoners’ live in 10 boarding houses beyond the central campus.
