A haven in the city: The Hospital of St Cross, Winchester

Sometimes, the best experiences are those that arise from spontaneity or surprise. I recently came across a website all about The Hospital of St Cross in Winchester by chance. The images showed a row of stone almshouses set against a blue sky, another, a church partly hidden by a long, winding wall on a crisp winter's day surrounded by open parkland - frost covering the ground giving it an ethereal whiteness. I was enamoured instantly.

I've lived in Hampshire for almost three years now and as one of our closest cities, visit Winchester frequently but I'd never heard of The Hospital of St Cross. So, one beautiful spring Saturday, after reading about the history of the church and its almshouses on the website, we set out to see the place for ourselves.

"Nestling in the water meadows alongside the River Itchen and in the shadow of St Catherine’s Hill lies the ancient Hospital of St Cross. Renowned for the tranquility of its setting and the beauty of its architecture, the Hospital is one of England’s oldest continuing almshouses."

Founded by the Bishop of Winchester in 1129, The Hospital of St Cross afforded thirteen poor men who were physically unable to work, much-needed food and shelter. They were named the Brothers of St Cross and to this day, men in need still live on the site. Although now, it's twenty-five thanks to the additional accommodation (almshouses) built in the fifteenth century by Cardinal Beaufort.

The almshouses are surrounded by beautiful gardens, which really are as serene as they look in the photos. There were few people around so the grounds were wonderfully quiet and still.

As a visitor, it's possible to walk around the gardens, go into the church and Brethren’s Hall - where, for several centuries, the Brothers gathered for meals.

Inside and out, The Hospital of St Cross is very much a place of sanctuary for the soul. An uplifting place to explore with heaps of history woven with stories of human kindness.

Visit the website for information on admission prices and directions: http://hospitalofstcross.co.uk/visiting-st-cross/