Where hospitable custom of eight centuries survives. Free ale and bread for wayfarers

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Where hospitable custom of eight centuries survives. Free ale and bread for wayfarers

Where hospitable custom of eight centuries survives.
Free ale and bread for wayfarers.
Survival of the old monasteries where wayfarers were given food and shelter for the night, there still remains at the ancient city of Winchester, the 800 year old Hospital of St Cross, where a horn of ale and a slice of bread can be had, free of charge, by anyone who cares to ask for it.
The hospital was founded in 1136 to shelter thirteen needy men and to give food and drink to poor wanderers who might knock at the gates.
Now the occupants of the hospital number fifteen and are known as Brothers of St Cross. They wear flat hats and long dark cloaks, emblazoned with a silver cross, in a style that has come down through the centuries, unchanged.
Photo shows, Brothers of the order in the sunny quadrangle of the Hospital of St Cross, is in their dark cloaks with the cross on the breast, walking in the peaceful quadrangle in the shadow of the 800-year-old buildings

TopFoto independent historic photographs and images all subjects and eras

Media ID 11320812

© TopFoto.co.uk

Archive Picture Library Press Press Photography Stills Agency Stock Agency Stock Photography Vintage Planet News

EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures the essence of a bygone era, where the hospitable customs of eight centuries continue to thrive. In the heart of Winchester, amidst ancient monasteries, lies the remarkable 800-year-old Hospital of St Cross. Here, an enduring tradition lives on - weary travelers are welcomed with open arms and offered sustenance in the form of free ale and bread. Established in 1136 to provide shelter for thirteen destitute men and nourishment for wandering souls who sought refuge at its gates, this historic institution remains true to its founding principles. Today, it is home to fifteen Brothers of St Cross who don long dark cloaks adorned with a silver cross and flat hats that have remained unchanged through time. In this sunlit quadrangle within the hospital's hallowed grounds, we witness these devoted Brothers strolling peacefully beneath the shadowy embrace of buildings that have stood strong for eight centuries. Their presence evokes a sense of tranquility as they carry forward their sacred duty. This photograph serves as a poignant reminder that amidst our ever-changing world, there are sanctuaries like the Hospital of St Cross that preserve age-old traditions rooted in compassion and generosity. It invites us to reflect on our own capacity for kindness towards those in need while marveling at how history can endure through generations.

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