Nestling in the water meadows alongside the River Itchen lies the Hospital of St Cross. The hospital was founded by Bishop Henry de Blois in the mid 12th century to help and support thirteen poor men so frail that they were unable to work. In doing so he created what has become England's oldest charitable institution.

The Hospital of St Cross photographed from the slopes of St Catherine's Hill.               All photographs © David Packman

The Hospital at one time comprised two separate charitable foundations, which have since been merged. The Hospital of St Cross whose Brothers wear black robes, black hats and silver badges in the shape of the Cross of Jerusalem, and the Order of Noble Poverty founded in 1445 by Cardinal Henry Beaufort whose Brothers wear claret robes, claret hats and silver cardinal's badges. In total the Hospital has places for twenty five Brothers who live in their own self-contained flats which date from the 15th century.

The church is said to be one of the finest Transitional Norman/Early English churches still surviving. With walls of stone over three feet thick the building of the church started at the east end in the mid 12th century, while the north porch was added some 200 years later. Today the church is all that remains of the original hospital buildings.

The Hospital which comprises a group of listed medieval and Tudor buildings is England's oldest continuing almshouse. Almsgiving is still practised today with visitors being able to receive the Wayfarer's Dole of bread and ale by knocking on the door of the Porters Lodge and requesting the dole.

The Brothers' lodgings built in the 15th century by Cardinal Beaufort with their distinctive octagonal chimneys.

To the east side of the church lies the remains of former Masters and Brothers of the Hospital.

A fisherman tries his luck in the nearby River Itchen...

...watched by one of the river's Little Grebes.

All photographs © David Packman

Caption details are based on the latest available information and are accurate to the best of my knowledge. Although the images are heavily compressed you are welcome to use them for your own non-commercial use.If you do please credit  Hampshire  Cam and add a link to these pages.  For hi-res images please contact me.                           All photographs copyright © David Packman 2002 - 2007 (All Rights Reserved)