The Hospital of St Cross, just south of Winchester, is England’s oldest surviving almshouse, founded by Bishop Henry of Blois around 1132. Its great Norman church is still in use and brothers still live here. Ask at the porter’s gate for the Wayfarer’s Dole, a small horn of ale and morsel of bread given to any traveller who requests it. Open to visitors most days. Winchester station is about 2km north.
© Jim Osley / Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0
