Neighbourhood Studies - TrustNews Summer 1998
Winchester is a fascinating city, and those who know and love the place will realise that there is always something new to discover, no matter how long one has lived here. The city as a whole is made up of a variety of neighbourhoods, each one having a distinct flavour. For example, the St. Cross area is characterised by its position between the St Cross Hospital and Winchester College, and its location in the river valley. This contrasts strongly with Oram's Arbour, with its hillside position, affording views out over the city in a number of directions.
Over the past few months, the Trust's projects group has been engaged on compiling a short series of "neighbourhood studies", focusing on these individual areas of Winchester. The studies are not intended to be definitive guides to the areas concerned, but is hoped that they will provide some useful background information concerning these separate areas. In particular, the studies will be of use as "briefing papers" for members of the City Council's planning committee, as well as being of interest to Trust Members.
The first of the series, about to be published, concerns Fulflood. This area feels somewhat set apart from the main parts of the city, separated as it is by the railway line and the major roads which define it. The vistas across the area, and the sense of "containment" offered by the tree-lined belt to the north of Fulflood, emerge as important features, every bit as important as the varied building stock.
Copies of the study will be made available through the Trust. Future studies will include Hyde, St. Cross, Christchurch Road and Oram's Arbour.