Winchester - Hospital of St Cross

England's oldest almshouse, situated about 1mi/2km south of Winchester's town center, was founded in 1136 by Henry of Blois, Bishop of Winchester and grandson of William the Conqueror, for 13 poor and pious men. Cardinal Beaufort extended the establishment in 1445 for impoverished nobles. The black robe with a silver crook cross and the purple-red with cardinal's emblem worn by the inhabitants continues to bear witness to the endowments. Their homes are grouped around an inner courtyard, entered through a gate house.

The 15th century Hall of the Brothers and the kitchen, dating from a later period, should be visited, as should the chapel. The interior of this late Norman-early Gothic sacral building (east choir 1160, west choir 1290) is decorated in the Norman style, and has an original window decorated with a bird's beak in the north transept, and an oak lectern (1507) with a parrot and a heart, symbolizing that the preachers of the gospel do not repeat themselves parrot-fashion, but should read with the heart.

At the exit of the Hospital of St Cross visitors can still request the traditional Wayfarers' Dole.