Winchester's City Museum was founded in 1851 after public interest in the city's history had been raised during prestigious meetings of the British Archaeological Association in the city. The present building, in the Square, is a pleasing flint faced structure decorated with municipal armsa nd erected in 1902. It houses a fascinating collection of artifacts telling the history of Winchester and the local area.

Entry is free and, though the shop is tiny, it is surprisingly well stocked. Unfortunately, photography is not allowed. The ground floor tells the story of Saxon and Medieval Winchester. There are fascinating carvings from the old Saxon Minster excavations and a golden Saxon reliquary found in a rubbish pit! Upstairs are Roman remains: inscriptions, statuettes and some good mosaics, the best being from nearby Sparsholt Roman Villa. Then there are two delightful Victorian Shops re-erected wholesale so you can really step back into times past.

Next Stop: Winchester Cathedral