Old Minster, Medieval cathedral foundation in Winchester, England
Old Minster was an early medieval cathedral whose foundations are now marked by stones on the ground north of Winchester Cathedral. Its original floor plan is outlined with bricks, helping visitors understand the size and layout of the former structure.
Founded in 660 as the main religious center of the kingdom of Wessex, it served this role for over 400 years. In 1093, it was demolished to make way for a new cathedral built in the Norman style.
Anglo-Saxon kings chose this place for their burials, though their remains were moved to wooden chests in the cathedral nearby after the building fell into disuse. This shift shows how the site's religious significance changed over time as new structures took its place.
The site is located just north of the cathedral and is freely accessible to visitors at any time. The brick outline on the grass helps you trace the building's original boundaries and grasp its former dimensions.
Archaeological digs in the 1960s uncovered the original foundations, which scholars used to create detailed computer models of how the building once looked. These reconstructions offer a rare glimpse into what stood on this spot long before the current cathedral was built.
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