The Hospital of St Cross & Almshouse of Noble Poverty

23/08/2026

Music has always had a way of filling the spaces at St Cross rather beautifully, and there’ll be plenty of it drifting around the grounds at this year’s Michaelmas Fair.

Four-piece medieval ensemble Courtlye Musick will provide a wonderfully fitting soundtrack to the day, bringing music from centuries past into one of Wi******er’s most historic settings.

We’ll also be welcoming the Rock Choir, bringing a rather different but equally joyful sound to proceedings.

In between performances, wander the medieval village, browse the artisan and craft stalls, try your hand at the traditional games, or simply find something good to eat and drink and settle in for a while.

Saturday 26 September | 10am–4.30pm
£4 entry | Under 16s free | Dogs welcome

A day of music, history, food, drink and conviviality in the grounds of St Cross – and every visit helps support the care of this very special place.

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22/08/2026

Real medieval life returns to St Cross…

There can be few better settings for a medieval village than one that has been welcoming travellers since the 12th century.

At this year’s Michaelmas Fair, the brilliant Hounds of Morrigan will be making themselves at home in the grounds, with daring re-enactments, exciting displays, and authentic demonstrations offering a glimpse into the life of a medieval soldier – from armour and weaponry to the practical skills of everyday life.

There’ll be plenty to stop and watch, questions to ask, and things for budding historians to discover, all against the backdrop of buildings that have witnessed more than eight centuries of history themselves.

And when you’re ready for a break, the rest of the Fair awaits: Music, traditional games, stalls, tasty food, delicious drinks, and plenty of good St Cross hospitality.

Michaelmas Fair – Saturday 26 September, 10am–4.30pm
£4 entry | Under 16s free | Dogs welcome

Every entry helps towards the ongoing care and preservation of the Hospital of St Cross for generations to come.

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15/08/2026

Excellent opera deserves excellent beer…and wine. 🍺🎭🍷

There are many good reasons to join us for HMS Pinafore on Saturday 22 August.

Gilbert & Sullivan. Opera Anywhere. The gardens of St Cross on a summer evening. A picnic with friends.

And then there’s the mighty TripleFFF bar.

Our brilliant local brewers will be back, serving their beer properly and at the temperature it deserves, with the bar open throughout the evening and wine for those who prefer it. On the pumps:

🍺 Moondance – 4.2% – the hugely decorated pale ale that TripleFFF have been brewing since 1997, packed with American Cascade hops.

🍺 Alton’s Pride – 3.8% – Supreme Champion Beer of Britain and, rather impressively, World’s Best Best Bitter 2025.

🍺 Jagged Little Pilsner – 5% – crisp, straw-coloured Bohemian pilsner with Saaz hops and a subtle touch of summer sweetness.

So bring your picnic, find your spot in the gardens, get something excellent from the bar and settle in for a gloriously entertaining evening of Gilbert & Sullivan from Opera Anywhere – a company whose whole approach is to make opera joyful, accessible and fun.

Tickets are selling FAST now, so if HMS Pinafore has been sitting in the “we really must book that” category, this is your nudge.

📅 Saturday 22 August
🚪 Doors 6pm | Performance 7–9pm
🎟️ Book now before we sell out: https://www.ticketsource.com/operaanywhere/h-m-s-pinafore/e-emdxrg

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13/08/2026

Slightly cooler weather. Same excellent excuse for cake! 🍰

After some seriously hot days, this weekend is looking rather more conducive to doing things at a leisurely St Cross pace.

Come and wander the gardens without melting. Sit by the pond for a while. Look up at the architecture, peer into corners you’ve never noticed before and see what’s flowering, fluttering, perching, or swimming around the grounds.

Then, when you’ve worked up an appetite, the Hundred Men’s Hall Tearooms awaits.

There are cold drinks and ice creams, homemade cakes and pasties...or make a proper occasion of it and treat yourself to afternoon tea with sumptuous scones, fresh cream, and delicious strawberry jam.

And because we see no reason why four-legged visitors should miss out on the important business of refreshments, doggy ice creams are available too. 🐾🍦

The Tearooms and Gift Shop are open, the gardens are in their full summer glory and the forecast has finally turned the temperature dial down a notch.

Sounds like a St Cross sort of weekend to us.

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11/08/2026

If you're wondering how to make the most of the beautiful weather over the next couple of weeks, we'd love to welcome you to St Cross.

Wander through nearly 900 years of history, stroll among peaceful gardens in full summer bloom, admire the architecture from every angle and pause beside the lily pond as dragonflies skim across the water.

Whether you're visiting for the first time or returning to enjoy the changing seasons, there's always something new to discover.

Round off your visit with a homemade cake, locally roasted coffee, ice cream, refreshing cold drinks or a freshly baked pasty in the Hundred Men's Hall Tearooms—and don't forget to pop into the Gift Shop before you head home.

The sunshine has arrived. Come and enjoy it with us. 🌞🌿

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11/08/2026

If you’re looking for a summer walk with a little more poetry to it, the Keats Trail is a must do…

John Keats stayed in Wi******er in the late summer and early autumn of 1819, taking a daily walk through Cathedral Close and out across the water meadows to St Cross. It was this landscape that helped inspire To Autumn – and, more than 200 years later, you can still follow in his footsteps.

The route takes you alongside the River Itchen, through the water meadows and eventually brings you to the Hospital, which Keats himself described as a “very interesting old place”. We’ll take that. 😊

And unlike Keats, you can finish your walk with coffee, cake, or something cold (drinks, ice creams, even ice creams for your pooch!) at Hundred Men’s Hall Tearooms, before having a wander around St Cross itself.

A lovely way to spend a summer’s day...and a reminder that many of Wi******er’s best stories are discovered on foot.

🥾 Find the Keats Trail and follow the route to our door: https://visit-wi******er.files.svdcdn.com/production/Keats-Trail.pdf?v=1719828557&dm=1719828557

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09/08/2026

There's always something new to discover at St Cross...

On a recent wander we spotted this remarkable plume moth—one of the many tiny wonders that call our gardens home. Add butterflies, dragonflies, birds and beautiful summer planting to the mix, and every visit becomes a little wildlife adventure.

With glorious weather set to continue this coming week, now is the perfect time to explore the gardens, soak up the tranquillity and see what you can find.

And when you've finished exploring? The Hundred Men's Hall Tearooms are waiting with homemade cakes, cold drinks, ice creams, great coffee and tasty lunches.

History, nature and a little refreshment—summer days don't get much better.

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07/08/2026

Some of St Cross's greatest treasures aren't grand vistas—they're the details you discover when you slow down.

A beautifully detailed window framed by summer flowers. Centuries-old stone walls warmed by the afternoon sun. Ancient craftsmanship that still catches the eye nearly 900 years later.

Take a leisurely wander through the Hospital of St Cross this summer and see what catches yours.

Then reward yourself with homemade cake, an ice cream, a refreshing cold drink or a delicious pasty in the Hundred Men's Hall Tearooms before browsing the Porter's Lodge Gift Shop.

Sometimes the best days out are the ones where you simply take your time.

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06/08/2026

🎭 Think opera isn't for you? Think again...

If you've never experienced a Gilbert & Sullivan comic opera, H.M.S. Pinafore is the perfect place to start.

Forget everything you think you know about opera. This is a joyful evening of witty humour, memorable melodies, larger-than-life characters and a story that's been making audiences smile for almost 150 years.

Performed by the acclaimed Opera Anywhere, H.M.S. Pinafore is full of charm, romance and laugh-out-loud moments—making it just as enjoyable for first-time opera-goers as lifelong fans.

And where better to experience it than beneath the summer sky in the beautiful gardens of the Hospital of St Cross?

🧺 Bring a picnic.
🍷 Enjoy a drink from the outdoor bar.
🌅 Relax as the evening sun lights up nearly 900 years of history.
🎶 Then sit back and let one of Britain's best-loved comic operas sweep you away.

📅 Saturday 22 August
🕖 7:00–9:00pm

Give opera a chance—you might just discover your new favourite summer tradition. Tickets are available now: https://www.ticketsource.com/operaanywhere/h-m-s-pinafore/e-emdxrg

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06/08/2026

🎪 Michaelmas Fair returns to St Cross!

Our biggest celebration of history, heritage and community is back on Saturday 26 September—and this year's event is shaping up to be our best yet!

Step into a bustling medieval world as The Hounds of Morrigan bring history to life with thrilling re-enactments, living history displays and demonstrations exploring the life of a medieval soldier.

Enjoy the sounds of Courtlye Musick, a four-piece medieval ensemble, alongside performances from the ever-popular Rock Choir, while wandering through artisan craft stalls, classic cars, traditional games and much-loved returning favourites.

Feeling peckish? We've expanded the food and drink offering too, with:
🍖 Traditional medieval spit roast
🍕 Fresh pizza
🍺 Beer tent
🍸 Themed cocktail bar
🍰 Plenty more delicious treats

Whether you're fascinated by history, looking for a fantastic family day out or simply fancy soaking up the atmosphere in one of England's oldest continuing almshouses, there's something for everyone.

📅 Saturday 26 September
🕙 10:30am–4.30pm
🎟 £4 entry | Under 16s FREE

Every ticket helps preserve and maintain the Hospital of St Cross for future generations.

Gather your friends, bring the family and join us for a wonderful day celebrating nearly 900 years of history. We can't wait to welcome you!

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Following our best-attended Michaelmas Fair yet, we're delighted to announce that the Hospital of St Cross Michaelmas Fair returns on Saturday 26 September, from 10:00am until 4:30pm—and this year's event promises even more to discover.