In Search of Alfred the Great

Old Minster

A mid-7th century church was established at Winchester, which later became known as Old Minster. 

The first church was built on top of a street running along the south side of the forum of Roman Venta Belgarum. It was a cruciform building with rectangular north and south porticus and a square east end. From the later seventh century burials were made around the church and in the early to mid-eighth century St Martin's tower was built to the west, a detached axial structure probably designed to serve as a gatehouse to the cemetery and cathedral complex.   Martin and Birthe Biddle

This church served as the cathedral church of Winchester when West Saxon bishopric was transferred from Dorchester to Winchester in the 660s. 

By the time of King Alfred's reign in the late ninth century, Old Minster stood at the heart of Winchester's royal and ecclesiastical complex, and served as a place of worship, royal ceremony, and burial.  Swithun, Bishop of Winchester, was buried outside Old Minster (at his request) in 862.

When Alfred died in 899, he was initially buried in Old Minster.  In his will, Alfred had left ‘fifty pounds to the church in which I shall rest’. His son, Edward the Elder (king of Wessex 899–924) took forward plans in accordance with the wishes of his father to build a new minster with the purchase of land from Bishop Denewulf ‘so that I might found a monastery there, for the salvation of my soul and that of my venerable father King Alfred’.  

New Minster

New Minster was founded in 901 and built adjacent to the north side of Old Minster.  The construction of the church and monastery was followed in 903 by a dedication to the Holy Trinity, St Mary, and St Peter. 

From 901, Winchester contained two adjacent but distinct institutions: 

Old Minster, the cathedral and seat of the Bishop of Winchester, and 

New Minster, founded by Edward the Elder as a royal foundation and family mausoleum (burial church)

To distinguish the two monasteries, the Cathedral church became known as 'Old Minster' from the early tenth century.

In 903, the bodies of Alfred and his wife Ealhswith, founder of Nunnaminster, (d. 902) were moved from Old Minster to New Minster and reburied.  Edward’s younger brother Æthelweard was buried in New Minster c. 920, together with Edward and his son Ælfweard in 924, and King Eadwig in 959.

Check out these links for more information on Old and New Minster and the archaeological excavations on the site in the 1960s.  Discover more sources on our Further Reading page

Why was Alfred buried at Hyde Abbey?

In 1109, Henry I ordered the New Minster to be removed to the suburb of Hyde Mead, to the north of the city walls. Alfred’s body and those of his relatives were moved to the new Abbey in 1110. Alfred was interred at the high altar and his body remained there during the dismantling of the Abbey at the dissolution of the monastery in 1538. 

Four years later in 1542, antiquarian John Leland visited the site - his report suggest that the tombs may have been opened at this time.  

 “In this suburbe stood the great abbay of Hyde…” he commented. “The bones of Alfred, King of the West Saxons, and of Edward his sone and king, were translated from the Newan Ministre, and laid in a tomb before the high altar at Hyde. In the which tomb there was of late found two little tables of lead, inscribed with their names.” 

Ten years later, the keeper of the Bridewell provided a detailed account of what happened during the construction of the Bridewell to a visiting antiquarian, Captain Henry Howard, who drew up a rough plan of the east end of the church as a record of the lay-out. Subsequently Howard reported what he had been told:

“A great stone coffin was found, cased with lead both within and without, and containing some bones and remains of garments. The lead, in its decayed state, sold for two guineas; the bones were thrown about and the stone coffin broken into pieces. There were also two other coffins and no more found in this part, which were also broke for the sake of the garden in which they lay, broken up and buried as low as the spring.”

So by the end of 1788, the royal bones could have been those removed from the coffins and scattered - but where was not clear.

In the first half of the 19th century, understanding gradually spread of what had happened on the Hyde Abbey site.  Visitors to Winchester expressed their shock and indignation.  In his article, ‘Enquiries etc. concerning the Tomb of King Alfred at Hyde Abbey’, published in Archaeologia in 1800AD, Captain Howard wrote:

 “You will lament with me the failure of my researches, and feel some share of the same indignation, when I inform you that the ashes of the great Alfred, after being scattered about by the hands of convicts, are now probably covered by a building erected for their confinement and punishment. And when you are told that this occurred so lately as the year 1788, and that no-one in the neighbourhood, led either by curiosity or veneration for his remains, attempted to discover or rescue them from this ignoble fate, your surprise will not, I think, be any less than my own.”

Read more about the impact of the construction of the Bridewell on the Royal burial site

Discovery of pelvic bone

As part of her research, Dr Tucker contacted the Winchester Museum Service to learn more about the 1995-1999 community excavation of Hyde Abbey. 

On examining remains from that excavation, Dr Tucker found a fragment of pelvic bone that had been found at the site of Hyde Abbey’s high altar.  It belonged to a man aged between 26 and 45+ at death, and was radiocarbon dated between AD 895 - 1017.  King Alfred, Edward the Elder, or Æthelweard, the brother of Edward would fit this profile, but as only King Alfred and Edward would have been buried at the High Altar, it is more likely to belong to one of them.