Winchester. Winchester is a city and the county town of Hampshire, England. Winchester developed from the Roman town of Venta Belgarum. The Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty is a medieval almshouse founded between 1133 and 1136. It is the oldest charitable institution in the United Kingdom. The founder was Henry de Blois, Bishop of Winchester, grandson of William the Conqueror and younger brother to King Stephen of England. Antique copper-plate engraving of Church of St Cross, near Winchester. Dated in the plate 26th of December 1783. Size of engraved area approx 5x6ins.