Winchester College Heritage

Winchester College Heritage Winchester College's Treasury museum, guided tours, collections and public events. Welcoming visitors seven days a week, all year round.

Throughout May we explored some of the many examples of handwriting in our Archives, to celebrate the monthly theme. He...
01/06/2026

Throughout May we explored some of the many examples of handwriting in our Archives, to celebrate the monthly theme. Here are just a few of the highlights:

➡️ Letters from Elizabeth I and Mary I, enabling a comparison of the sisters' handwriting differences
➡️ Signatures of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip, from their visit to the College in 1955
➡️ A copy book of an Old Quirister, who were taught handwriting in various styles
➡️ A pictogram letter written by a scholar to his sister in 1861
➡️ Some decorative handwriting from one of our Manor Court books, dating from the 1590s

You can explore lots of gems like these by joining one of our Archives tours. Our next Archives tour runs tomorrow, 2nd June at 11am. Find out more and book your place: https://www.winchestercollegeheritage.org/whats-on/archives-tour-8/

Today's the day! 🌸Our Gardens are open to the public from 11am-4pm today and tomorrow, in aid of . Tea, coffee, cake and...
29/05/2026

Today's the day! 🌸

Our Gardens are open to the public from 11am-4pm today and tomorrow, in aid of . Tea, coffee, cake and ice cream is also available!

Access is via the Porters' Lodge on College Steet (despite the roadworks!). See you soon 😁☀️

To mark International Nurses Day on 12 May, we looked back at one of the nurses who worked at Wi******er College: Louisa...
20/05/2026

To mark International Nurses Day on 12 May, we looked back at one of the nurses who worked at Wi******er College: Louisa D’Arcy, our first matron in 1886, whose skill, cheer, and Irish humour left a lasting mark on those she cared for.

We have a small collection of papers kept by Miss D’Arcy from her time in the Sanitorium at Wi******er. Preserved in a little handmade padded envelope are some colourful sketches, drawn by one of her patients, of attempts by the medical staff to keep Scarlatina at bay, along with a delightful tribute to the work and care of Louisa and a fellow nurse called F***y, both described as ‘Goddesses of Sickness and Health’.

Our archives hold very few records of staff other than teaching staff, and even fewer of female employees like matrons and nurses. These papers relating to Miss D’Arcy are therefore a much treasured part of our collection.

Read more about Louisa’s story here: https://www.winchestercollegeheritage.org/news/uncategorized/winchester-colleges-first-matron-louisa-darcy/

🎭 Last tickets remaining!Experience the magic of opera at Wi******er College with Wild Arts, the critically-acclaimed to...
20/05/2026

🎭 Last tickets remaining!

Experience the magic of opera at Wi******er College with Wild Arts, the critically-acclaimed touring company who are bringing their sensational operatic show to Wi******er for the very first time. ✨ Grab your final tickets now before they’re gone!

📅 Friday 22 May, 7.30pm | 📍 Wi******er College Chapel

Book now: https://www.winchestercollegeheritage.org/whats-on/wild-arts-an-evening-of-opera/

Yesterday evening, the Master in College hung the College's 2026 'Election Roll' in the Porters' Lodge. An annual tradit...
13/05/2026

Yesterday evening, the Master in College hung the College's 2026 'Election Roll' in the Porters' Lodge. An annual tradition, Election Roll is a notice that lists all pupils to receive a Scholarship or Exhibition and a place in the oldest boarding house, College, in the following academic year.

There has been an Election Roll since the school opened in 1392 – not necessarily hung up like it is now, but certainly issued. In later years, the rolls were written onto Long Rolls / Short Rolls / The Wykehamist and published in the national press.

The earliest rolls were known as 'election indentures'. Two copies were made; one to be kept here at the College, and the other to be sent to New College, with an 'indented' edge to the roll so that the two lists could be matched up exactly (to ensure there wasn’t any funny business!). The earliest surviving one in our archives is from 1407, shown here.

in 1879...At a meeting of our Natural History Society on 10th May 1879 a ‘large Echinus (sea urchin) from the Portsmou...
10/05/2026

in 1879...

At a meeting of our Natural History Society on 10th May 1879 a ‘large Echinus (sea urchin) from the Portsmouth clays’ was presented - possibly the largest one in our Science Collection today, shown here.

War Cloister looking lovely in the sunshine this morning ☀️
06/05/2026

War Cloister looking lovely in the sunshine this morning ☀️

Our new Treasury exhibition is now open! 🎉🏺 'Collecting and Connoisseurship: Wi******er's Greek Vases in Context' offici...
29/04/2026

Our new Treasury exhibition is now open! 🎉🏺

'Collecting and Connoisseurship: Wi******er's Greek Vases in Context' officially opens today and runs until December 2026.

Curated by a group of sixth-form Classics pupils at the College, the exhibition delves into the College's collection of ancient Greek vases and its significance in the broader study and collecting of Greek vases. The pupils responsible for the exhibition have been working alongside staff to research, select, and interpret these objects, offering their insights into the history and academic significance of the collection.

📍 Location: Wi******er College, Treasury Museum
⏰ Open: Daily, 2-4pm (No pre-booking required!)
🎟 Admission: Free
🗓 Runs until: 23 December 2026

We hope to welcome you to the exhibition and the rest of the Treasury museum soon👋

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Winchester College, College Street
Winchester
SO239NA

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+441962621209

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