News
The Duchess of Cornwall visits Winchester
21st February 2008
The Duchess of Cornwall spent a day in Winchester today and visited a new discovery centre where she met community groups of all ages, a historic almshouse, and a chocolate factory famous for its mints.
Her Royal Highness's first visit of the day was to the Winchester Discovery Centre, a library with some 100,000 items which has been recently refurbished.
The centre also provides a variety of services including a performance hall, three classrooms, cafe, art gallery and exhibition space.
After joining in a children's reading session of the story Chocolate Cake by Michael Rosen, Her Royal Highness saw the biggest public artwork in machine embroidery in Europe and met the artist Alice Kettle.
The Duchess also attended a youth education theatre workshop run by Winchester's Theatre Royal, a reading group for the visually impaired and toured the 'Alfred the Great: Warfare, Wealth and Wisdom' display about the first King of the Anglo-Saxons.
While unveiling a commemorative plaque to mark the opening of the centre, The Duchess said: "It's a fantastic centre and I hope I will be asked back one day."
The Duchess also visited the chocolate factory premises of Bendicks of Mayfair Mints in Winnall, meeting staff and visiting the production line to view the chocolate making process.
The company was established in London in 1930 by Mr Benson and Colonel Dickson and created its famous Bittermint in 1931.
To cope with increasing demand, Bendicks production moved to its current site on the outskirts of Winchester in 1955 and has had The Queen's warrant since 1962.
The Duchess was presented with a yard of bittermint chocolates by Bendicks Managing Director Paul Seftel, who said that he was honoured and delighted by Her Royal Highness’s visit.
For her last engagement of the day, The Duchess visited the Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty to meet residents, staff and trustees.
As the institution’s ancient tradition dictates, Her Royal Highness asked for, and was given, the Wayfarer's Dole during a visit to The Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty in Winchester, Hants.
The Wayfarers Dole consists of beer and some bread and is given to any passer-by who asks for it.
Her Royal Highness was following in the footsteps of The Queen Mother who also asked for the refreshments when she visited in 1986.
Like the Late Queen Mother, The Duchess also planted a tree in the hospital's New World Garden.
The hospital is England's oldest continuing almshouse, comprising a group of grade I listed medieval and Tudor buildings, including a medieval hall and tower, Tudor cloister, Norman church and gardens reflecting a 17th Century connection with North America.
It has been giving food and shelter to people in need for more than 850 years and today is a living community which offers a home and haven to elderly gentlemen.
The "brothers" who live there still wear the traditional gown and trencher hat and attend services in the 12th Century Church of St Cross, a transitional Norman Church, and live in self-contained flats which date back to the 15th Century.
The Duchess also witnessed the tradition of the Pay Parade which has been carried out each week since mid-Victorian times.
Each brother is given a small sum of money, in this case one pound, in lieu of a coal allowance.
The Duchess watched as the newest brother rang a hand-bell, gathering the brothers, before the receiver threw the money in leather purses across the table to each brother present.
Her Royal Highness also visited the private home of one of the brothers before attending a reception to meet the trustees and brothers.