Site of William the Conqueror’s Palace

Site of William the Conqueror’s Palace

It seems incredible that in the busy shopping streets of Winchester, you can stop and have a coffee on the site of William the Conqueror’s palace.

A tiny alley way in Winchester has a vestige of what once was the site of William the Conqueror's palace and a little way along the church of St Lawrence

A vestige of the Norman Palace

Whilst William waited for the stone masons to finish their work up the hill at the Castle, he had built a smaller complex of buildings, a small part of which remains squashed between the business of today. Under your feet run the cellars of these ancient times.

A short walk and a glance away and you might almost miss the small church of St Lawrence which is the site of William’s chapel. It is a humble church and of course, no trace of the Conqueror’s chapel remains but the sense of that enormous history feels very close.

The church of St Lawrence has a very special significance today. It is the place where each new bishop comes to pray and be gowned before he goes to the cathedral to be enthroned. From here he rings the bells and then exits out of this tiny church into the shopping streets of Winchester.

William the Conqueror's Palace Winchester

The church of St Lawrence Winchester

William the Conqueror's Palace Winchester