A photohgraph of the former Abbey founded by the Bishop of Winchester in the 13th Century. After the suppression of the monasteries carried out by Henry VIII the Abbey was gifted to one of the kings friends in reward for services rendered. Sir William Paulet -1st Marquis of Winchester- set about converting the home to his private mansion; he was a very powerful figure in Hampshire with a direct connection to the Court of King Henry VIII. Within a century or so the Abbey was sold for building materials, it fell into ruin which of course became a magnet for floppy haired romantics- looking for some beautiful desola.tion. Now much of Paulet's modifications have been removed - they are visible as red bricks amongst the original grey stone Have a lovely weekend everyone.