Insider: Izzy Matthews from Peagreen
Izzy Matthews, long time friend of the shop, brains behind design agency Peagreen and designer of our exclusive SO23 mugs and tea towels, takes us on a weekend tour round her favourite Winchester haunts.
Set the mood for the weekend, especially at this time of year when the fire's lit, with dinner at The Chesil Rectory. Always start with the dukkah and sourdough and always let them recommend the pudding.
Say hi to the lovely Louis at the Academy and grab a coffee and a cinnamon bun before a wander round town.
From the Westgate Museum (inside a fortified medieval gateway to the city) you can look all the way down the full length of the High Street. Don't forget to do a little brass rubbing while you're there. On to the Great Hall (which is all that remains of Winchester Castle, founded in 1067 by William the Conqueror). Have a look at Queen Eleanor's Garden, Henry VIII's dart board (aka the Round Table) and the 'family tree' which covers the west wall. Walk through the Law Courts which is an interesting modernist building from the 60s. Pop out by the Lis Frink Horse and Rider sculpture and make your way down the High Street.
From the Westgate Museum (inside a fortified medieval gateway to the city) you can look all the way down the full length of the High Street. Don't forget to do a little brass rubbing while you're there. On to the Great Hall (which is all that remains of Winchester Castle, founded in 1067 by William the Conqueror). Have a look at Queen Eleanor's Garden, Henry VIII's dart board (aka the Round Table) and the 'family tree' which covers the west wall. Walk through the Law Courts which is an interesting modernist building from the 60s. Pop out by the Lis Frink Horse and Rider sculpture and make your way down the High Street.
Turn right at the Buttercross, nip into the teeny, tiny Saint Lawrence church to look at the patchwork altarpeice and make your way to The Hambledon, the best shop in the whole wide world.
Pick up some Lady Winchester tea (a bit like Earl Grey) from Char Teas, grab a toasted sandwich at Projects Store and Kitchen and make your way to the top of town for a cocktail at Cabinet Rooms or head to the Black Boy pub at the bottom of town for a local ale, some scampi fries and a scattering of stuffed animals.
If you're organised and book in advance Incognito is a drinking den in St John's House, a beautiful Georgian building in the centre of the city.
Straight to the car boot sale at the Cattle Market car park. Quick as you can.
Izzy's Car Boot finds
Izzy's Car Boot finds
Izzy's Car Boot finds
Have lunch or brunch or anything you fancy at Greens on Jewry Street. Delicious and the people are really friendly.
Next stop the Cathedral. The guides are brilliant. Make sure you see the three Burne-Jones windows in the Epiphany Chapel, which were made in the William Morris workshop and the Antony Gormley in the crypt. If you're lucky the Gormley will be shin deep in water. There's an internal pump to keep water in his cupped hands which reflects on his face. Beautiful.
Next stop the Cathedral. The guides are brilliant. Make sure you see the three Burne-Jones windows in the Epiphany Chapel, which were made in the William Morris workshop and the Antony Gormley in the crypt. If you're lucky the Gormley will be shin deep in water. There's an internal pump to keep water in his cupped hands which reflects on his face. Beautiful.
Stop at Dean Garnier's garden to admire the medlar tree and nose around the deanery bookstall for second hand treasures. P&G Wells always has books with lovely covers in the window. Walk past Jane Austen's old house and then on to the Water Meadows, around the River Itchen. Make sure you cross the bridge before Kingsgate Tennis Club to get to the most amazing secluded space for wandering.
From there it's a short walk to the Hospital of Saint Cross, which is one of England's oldest almshouses and home to 25 'Brothers'.
