File:Hospital of St Cross - geograph.org.uk - 1027970.jpg

English: Hospital of St Cross The Hospital of St Cross and the Almshouse of Noble Poverty comprise this group of ancient buildings that lie alongside the River Itchen on the outskirts of Winchester. Apart from the original Hospital the Norman Chapel of St John, the buildings we see today are largely the result of rebuilding by Cardinal Beaufort in the C15. The Hospital is the oldest in England that continues to offer its ancient tradition of hospitality to those in need, with today's visitors still able to receive the Wayfarer's Dole (a small cup of beer and a morsel of bread). The Hospital was founded between 1132 and 1136 by Bishop Henry de Blois to support 13 poor men, and to feed 100 men at the gate, daily. Two separate charitable foundations have since evolved, the first was The Brothers of St Cross from the original Hospital, and later in the C15, that from Cardinal Henry Beaufort's founding of The Order of Noble Poverty. Brothers from both foundations (often referred to as either Black or Red Brothers) live in the almshouses on the left of the picture. The adjoining building to the left of the Main Gate Tower is The Hall, to the east of which is another group of buildings that link the Tower with the Hospital chapel.