900-year-old Medieval Heritage Site is nestled in Winchester's beautiful water meadows at the foot of St Catherine’s Hill. Heritage Open Day on the 8th of September offers free admission, free tours, and a fun family/group mini escape rooms.
Welcoming all to our historic ancient Almshouse, surrounded by the water meadows of St Cross, lying gently south of Winchester’s Cathedral. Amongst the exciting attractions we can offer are wonderful Blue Badge tours from the very experienced tour guide Clare Dixon, who will give a potted and knowledgeable history of The Hospital of St Cross & Almshouse of Noble Poverty. Clare will lightly be touching on WHOD’s excellent 2024 theme of Routes, Networks & Connections.
‘The Hospital of St Cross lies on the ancient pilgrim routes of Canterbury and St James, alongside welcoming all pilgrims in with our Wayfarer’s Dole; which you must ask for! It will consist of a morsel of bread and a swig of local ale. The Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble poverty is now proudly part of the Camino de Santiago route; all Camino pilgrims can receive the stamp here at our Porter's Lodge.’
The Hospital of St Cross's tranquil & glorious gardens will be open to explore, sit in, and share with family and friends.
St Cross Hospital has teamed up with ClueCapers escape rooms, to offer visitors a Restoration escape room experience for HOD24! Bring families & groups to our history-steeped site to play a 15 minute escape game in our mysterious Undercroft’. Option to book in advance at cluecapers.co.uk. After all this, please sit back and refresh yourselves in our Hundred men’s Hall - Tea Rooms and indulge in homemade cake and beverages.
Altogether, a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon of medieval capers!
Event times
Sunday 08 September: Open day: 12:00-4:00pm. Tours: 12:00pm and 2:00pm.
Booking information
Pre-booking: Required. Tickets for the tours can be booked through the below website link. The open day doesn't require booking. The tours are now fully booked, please click the below link if you would like to join the waitlist.
Booking closes: 07 Sep 2024
Location & directions
Porters Lodge, St. Cross Hospital, St. Cross Road, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 9SD.
Accessibility details
Max 15 people per tour. 1 hours 30 minutes.
Bookable disabled space for 2 cars only. This can be done by phoning our Hospital of St Cross office on 01962 878218.
Check out their online channels:
Header image: The Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty_credit Dr Steve Bailey