One Hundred Years Ago.

In 1925 and 1926 St Catharine’s Hill was investigated by three Old Wykehamists (former scholars at Winchester College) C F C Hawkes, J N L Myers and G E Stevens. The privately run excavation was followed by two further seasons, sponsored by the Field Club.

The early work concentrated on the mound at the summit and discovered the remains of St Catharine’s Chapel. The first known reference to this building dates from 1284 and John Leland (16th century) described it as ‘a very fair chapel’ which Wolsey caused to be suppressed.

By 1538, the first lay tenant was Sir Thomas Wriothesley who demolished religious buildings ‘with amazing expedition and sold the rich materials.’ He may have been persuaded by Bishop Gardiner (and the people of Winchester) to be a little less ruthless in this instance and the chapel retained several intact courses of masonry, as well as stacks of roof slates, apparently awaiting collection.

The central clump of trees was planted ‘in one day’ in 1762, by the Gloucestershire Militia, under the command of Col. Norbone Berkley. The College renewed some trees in 1897, and Hawkes’ dream that they might one day be removed to allow the foundations of the chapel to be appreciated, now seems impossible.

The full report can be found in Proceedings Vol 11.