Winchester

Winchester is a historic city and county town in Hampshire, England, located in the South East. It was the ancient capital of Wessex and later the seat of the Bishop of Winchester. The city retains a medieval core with Winchester Cathedral, one of Europe’s longest medieval churches, and the Great Hall, which houses the early 14th‑century Round Table. The surrounding walls survive in places, and the Itchen river runs nearby. Winchester College, founded in 1382, is among England’s oldest schools, and the University of Winchester operates as a public higher education institution in the city.

The name Winchester also identifies several places outside England, notably Winchester, Virginia, and Winchester, Massachusetts, in the United States. In the United States and elsewhere, Winchester is associated with the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, a 19th‑century American firearms manufacturer known for its lever‑action rifles; the term Winchester continues to be used as a brand name. The Winchester Mystery House, a large, sprawling house in San Jose, California, is a separate historic site built by Sarah L. Winchester.