Winchcombe was once the capital of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Winchcombeshire, with a powerful Benedictine abbey begun by King Coenwulf in 798 AD and dedicated in 811. The abbey was demolished during the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII, but its stones were reused in buildings throughout the town. Nearby Sudeley Castle was the home and burial place of Katherine Parr, the last wife of Henry VIII. The town retains its medieval street plan and is celebrated for its walking festival each May.
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Winchcombe: Capital of Mercia
In Saxon times, Winchcombe was the capital of its own shire and home to a great abbey. Today, traces of this ancient importance survive in its street plan.
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Winchcombe: Capital of Mercia
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