Overview

This famous castle in Winchester was built by the Normans, shortly after their conquest of England in 1066. Henry III and Henry VIII's elder brother, Arthur, were born here, but the castle was seized by the roundheads during the English Civil War and was destroyed on the orders of Oliver Cromwell in 1651. All that remains today is the Great Hall, which has become a hugely popular tourist attraction. This is due to the Round Table which hangs on the wall. It has been linked with the mythical round table of King Arthur legend and does have the names of Arthur's knights written around the edge in Gothic script. However, it is actually thought to originate from the early 14th century.