Westgate Museum, Winchester, England

The Westgate Museum in Winchester, England, was originally part of the walls of medieval Winchester. A good way to defend the city was to treat it like a castle. Winchester originally was a castle back when William the Conqueror made the city his capital. The roots of Winchester go further back in history to the Roman times, when the Roman conquerors built a fort to defend the city of Venta Belgarum. This gate is over one of the older Roman gates.

Westgate

Like many other gates I have seen, there's an entrance for pedestrians and a larger entrance for carriages, wagons, and horse riders.

The entrance to the museum is on the side and up a distressing staircase.

Going up

On the main floor are a variety of exhibits. The first thing we looked at was a spot to sort archeological items, which turned out to be trash people had thrown away like pottery shards, oyster shells, and bits of metal. Going through what was buried indicates what sort of use the area was put to.

Sorting the trash

The gate had a portcullis, the ironwork that dropped down to close the entrance at night and to defend from intruding armies. 

Portcullis chains went here?

Westgate was used for 150 years as a prison, so there are some grim items on display, like this gibbeting iron. After someone was hung, the body would be put on display to rot in public and make people afraid of crime. This particular iron was used for James Aitken (also known as "John/Jack the Painter"). He attempted to burn the docks at Portsmouth during the American War of Independence. 

Gibbeting Iron

Some axes and leg irons are also on display.

More prison items

The prisoners made some graffiti on the walls. Life must have been boring in jail.

Graffiti

The main room has a fire place for cooking year-round and heating in the cold winters.

Fireplace

An audio guide is provided by Alderman Jacob, a former mayor of Winchester who helped restore the gate and turn it into a museum in 1898. 

Alderman Jacob

Some weapons and armor are on display from the English Civil War. Other items include toy weapons (the guns can be filled with a little gun powder to make a bang!) and household items.

Armor and common items

Trying on some of the armor

Helmeted blogger

The stone panel depicting Abraham about to sacrifice his son Isaac was found in Hyde Street. The Bethel family built a mansion with stuff taken from Hyde Abbey when it was destroyed during Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries. The 17th century mansion itself was demolished in the late 18th century, with this panel winding up on the street. So the panel has been around.

Abraham and Isaac

Another display shows the weights and measures used to make sure merchants would not defraud their customers.

Weights and Measures

The City Champion Costume was more for ceremonial purposes, not for someone to defend the city from invaders. 

City Champion Costume

A small staircase leads to the roof of the gatehouse, which gives views of the city.

Rooftop

View to the great hall

View down High Street

Zoomed shot of High Street

The door is not sized for modern people

The museum is not very big but that was just fine with my kids. The dress-up was fun (that helmet was heavy--real steel!) and views are very nice.