Winchester was the chief town of England in Anglo-Saxon times. It is the chief town in the district of Winchester, which has a population of 127,445. It is a religious, service, and light industrial center. It is also the administrative center of the county of Hampshire. Winchester is one of the most prosperous towns in the United Kingdom. It lies on the River Itchen in southern England.
Both Alfred the Great and the Danish King Canute were buried at Winchester. After the Normans conquered England in 1066, Winchester continued to rival London as a trade and political center. William of Wyke-ham completed Winchester’s famous cathedral in the 1300’s. This cathedral, which is 556 feet (169 meters) long, is the longest church in England. William also founded Winchester College, one of the leading English public schools.
