Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 20.djvu/649

* WINCHENDON. 553 WINCHESTER. tures being cotton goods, woodenware, saws, toys, and machinery. The water-works are owned and operated by the town. l'|)ulat,in, in 1890, 43;)0; in ioOO, .WOl. Wineliendon was lir.st settled in 1752 and was known as Ipswich Canada until 17(i4, when it was incorporated as a town- ship under its present name ( from Winchendon, Knf,'hind). Consult Marvin, llislori/ of the Town of WimhriKliDi (Winchendon, 1808). WIN'CHESTER. The capital of Hampshire, England, on the Itchen^ (ifl miles by rail south- west of London (Map: England, E 5). In the fourteenth century it was the principal seat of England's woolen niaimfactures and had an ex- tensive Continental trade, Init since the fifteenth century its prosperity has gradually declined. The city consists of one main street, crossed by a number of streets running at right angles to it, and was in early times surroiuidcd by a wall, of which remains exist. The Castle-hill is the site of the median-al castle or royal palace, part of which survives in a magniticenl liall, which is used for the county court; King Arthur's 'Round Table,' a sixth-century relic, hangs on one of its walls. Charles IT. conuueneed a palace here, the completed part of which, uspd as a barracks, acconnnodated 2000 men until its de- struction by fire in 1894 ; new barracks have since been built. The city cross in the High Street, dating from the fifteenth century, is very beautiful in design. A colossal bronze statue, erected in 1901 in connection with the King Al- fred millennial celebration, typifies the great monarch, and stands in the Broadway. ''Seinte Marie College of Wynchestre," now Saint Mary's or Winchester College (q.v.), was founded by William of Wykehani, Bishop of Winches- ter, and completed in 1.393. Winchester's chief glory is the cathedral. A cluirch is said to have been built in the year 109, to have been destroyed in 200. restored in 293, and converted into a temple of Dagon or Wodin. In C35 the desecrated church was pulled down, and a new one commenced. From the year 674 the succession of bishops of Winchester, which in- cludes the celebrated Saint Swithin (r|.v.), has continued unbroken. Of the ancient cathedral, in which most of the Saxon kings of Wesscx (see Heptarchy) were interred, no portion remains. The present cathedral was built bv Bisliop Wal- kelin (1870-97). William of Vykcham greatly enlarged and beautified the building and began the remarkable transformation of the nave from the Norman to the Pcrpciulicular. The ca- thedral is 560 feet long; its breadth at the tran- septs is 208 feet, length of nave 3.51 feet, and height 80 feet. There is a low central Xorman tower 186 feet high. The interior is magnificent, and contains many objects of the highest inter- est — as the tomb of William Rufus; the golden shrine of Saint Swithin. with some excellent specimens of sculpture, both ancient and mod- ern ; the tomb of Edmund, the son of King Alfred ; and the tomb of Izaak Walton. There are other churches of interest and buildings of a religious and educational character, including the remains of Hyde Abbey, where King Alfred was buried. About a mile from the town is the famous Hospital of Saint Cross, founded in 1136 by Henry de Blois, Bishop of Winchester. The city possesses a public librarv and a museum. Population, in 1901, 20,919. Winchester, the Roman Venta Belgarum, was the site of a British city before it became a Roman station, and a place of considerable im- was called Wintanceaster. As the capital of Wesscx, Winchester became the capital of Eng- land, and even after the Norman Conquest was long a cliicf royal residence. In 1265, during the Barons' War, Winchester was sacked. It was taken by Cromwell in 1045; the castle was dismantled and the cathedra! pillaged and van- dalized. Consult: Kitchin, Winchr/stfr (London, 1890) ; Leach. Ilisloiy of Winckester CoUeye (New York, 1S99). WINCHESTER. The county-seat of Ran- dolph County, Iiid., 24 miles north by west of Riclimond, on the White Kivcr, and at the junc- tion of tlic Cleveland. Cincinnati. Chicago and Saint Louis and the tirand Ra]iids and Iniliaua railroads (Map: Indiana, E 2). It has the Randolph County Law Liljrary, and attractive public buildings. The vicinity is engaged in farming. The principal manufactures include bricks and tiles, fiour, and luniber products. Population, in 1890, 3014; in 1900, 3705. WINCHESTER. The county-scat of Clark County, Ky., 100 miles east by south of Louis- ville, on the Chesapeake and Ohio and the Louisville and Nashville railroads (Map: Ken- tucky, G 3). It is the seat of the Kentucky Wes- lej-an College (Methodist Episcopal, South), opened in 1800. Farming is the leading industry of the surrounding country, and there are plan- ing mills, a spoke and rim factory, and flouring mills. Under the charter of 1884, the govern- ment is vested in a mayor, chosen every four years, and a unicameral council. Winchester was- incorporated in 1792. Population, in 1890, 4519; in 1900, 5964. WINCHESTER. A town in Middlesex County, Mass., eight miles north by west of Boston, on the Boston and ilaine Railroad (Map: Massachusetts, E 3). It is largely a residential place, and is the home of many business men of Boston. "Middlesex Fells," a (lark of more than 3000 acres, maintained by the State, lies partly in the town. There are also here a State Aviary, a puldie librarv with more than 13,000 volumes, and the Home for Aged People. The industrial interests of the town are confined chiefly to the manufacture of leather, machinery, felt goods, and watch hands. The government is administered bv town meetings. Population, in 1890, 4861; in' 1900. 7248. The successive names of Winchester since the settle- ment of the country have been: 1638. Water- field; 1040. Charlestown Village; 1642. Woburn; 1850, Winclicster. Consult Hurd. Hisfonj of Middlesex County (2 vols., Philadelphia, 1890). WINCHESTER. The county-seat of Fred- erick County. Va., 80 miles west by north of Washington. D. C, on the Baltimore and Ohio- and the Cumberland Valley railroads (Map: Virginia, F 2). It is the seat of the Valley Female College (Jlethodist Episcopal, South), opened in 1874, and has Fairfax Hall and the Shenandoah Valley Academy, a jniblic library, and a fine city hall. Also of interest are the National and Confederate cemeteries. Win- chester is the commercial centre of a farming, stock-raising, and lumbering section, and is es-
 * >ortance. Taken by the Saxons in 49.5, the town