Castle Hill, Winchester

Castle Hill is a series of buildings used as council offices in Winchester, Hampshire. There are two main structures both of which are Grade II listed buildings: the Castle Hill Offices on the east of Castle Avenue[1] and the Castle Avenue Offices on the west of Castle Avenue.[2] They take their name from Winchester Castle, which is located at the south end of Castle Avenue.

Castle Hill
Part of the eastern elevation of Castle Hill Offices
TypeCouncil offices
LocationWinchester, Hampshire
Coordinates51°03′49″N 1°19′10″W
Built1833
ArchitectOwen Browne Carter
Architectural style(s)Elizabethan style
Listed Building – Grade II
Official nameCastle Hill Offices County Hall
Designated14 January 1974
Reference no.1167140
Listed Building – Grade II
Official nameCastle Avenue Offices County Hall
Designated14 January 1974
Reference no.1167078
Location of Castle Hill in Central Winchester

History

The complex was originally designed by Owen Browne Carter[3] in the Elizabethan style and completed in 1833.[1][2] It was initially used as offices to support the local judicial authorities, who dispensed justice from Winchester Castle, but, following the implementation of the Local Government Act 1888, which established county councils in every county, it also became the offices and meeting place for Hampshire County Council.[4] The Castle Hill Offices were rebuilt to a design by James Robinson and Sir Arthur Blomfield in 1895.[1] The design, which was completed in flint and Bath stone, involved an asymmetrical main frontage on the east side of Castle Avenue; the central section featured two large oriel windows on the left and a tower and a round headed doorway on the right.[1] Internally, the principal rooms in the Castle Hill Offices were the council chamber and the committee rooms.[5]

The Castle Avenue Offices were rebuilt in two phases: the first section, which was designed by William John Taylor and Sir Thomas Jackson, was completed in 1912 and the second section, which was designed by Sir Herbert Baker, was completed in 1932.[2] The design, which was also completed in flint and Bath stone, involved an asymmetrical main frontage on the west side of Castle Avenue; it featured a variety of oriel windows, mullion windows and transom windows.[2]

From the late 19th century the offices also accommodated the headquarters of the 1st Volunteer Battalion of Hampshire Regiment.[3] This unit evolved to become the 4th Battalion the Hampshire Regiment in 1908.[6][7] The battalion was mobilised at Castle Hill in August 1914 before being deployed to India.[8][9] Queen Elizabeth II Court, a large red-brick rectangular building with a clock tower and a central courtyard, was built to the north of Castle Hill in the 1960s.[10]

The Castle Hill Offices continue to be occupied by the county council who use them for their council chamber and also as the location of their Basing and Portal meeting rooms.[5] In September 2014 the buildings also became the home of the Winchester Register Office.[11]

References
  1. Historic England. "Castle Hill Offices, County Hall (1167140)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  2. Historic England. "Castle Avenue Offices, County Hall (1167078)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  3. "1st volunteer Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment". Sense of Place South East. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  4. "Local Government Act 1888". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  5. "Map" (PDF). Hampshire County Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2011. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  6. "4th Battalion, The Royal Hampshire Regiment". Regiments.org. Archived from the original on 24 February 2007. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  7. "Winchester". The Drill Hall Project. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  8. "Hampshire Regiment". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  9. "Army List 1919". The War Office. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  10. "Queen Elizabeth II Court". Bennetts Associates. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  11. "Winchester Register Office is moving home after 20 years". The Daily Echo. 11 August 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
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