Photograph of the courtyard of The George Hotel, 94 High Street, Winchester
Taken in 1879
At this date The George was one of only six hotels in the city and its proprietor was W E Palmer. It was bounded by the High Street, Jewry Street and St George's Street, the courtyard spanning the space between the front of the hotel on the High Street and the back of it facing onto St George's Street. This view is looking south from St George's Street to the High Street. It may have been photographed at this date to record the courtyard in its open state as in the following year, 1880, it was roofed over with glass to form an enclosed area with a tiled floor which was decked out with cane furniture, potted palms and trailing greenery.
One of Winchester's principal inns since the Middle Ages, The George was demolished in 1956 when Jewry Street and St George's Street were widened to cope with increased traffic. Barclays Bank now stands on the site of the hotel.
The photograph was taken by Winchester photographer William Savage (1817-87) and is found in an album entitled 'Winchester Views of Old Buildings'.
