Winchester Castle (UK)

Landmark Name: Winchester Castle
Type: Historic Landmark
Association: Round Table Great Britain & Ireland
Location: .…., United Kingdom (Google Maps)

The building has no direct relationship with our organisation, yet is considered to be an attractive destination for Tablers as it features the Round Table of King Arthur, a massive wall mouted table painted with a design that has become the template for all the Associations that bear the name of “Round Table” and form part of the movement.

The Great Hall of Winchester Castle

The Great Hall of Winchester Castle, located in Winchester, England, is one of the finest surviving medieval halls in the country. Built in the 13th century, it was originally part of Winchester Castle, which was constructed by William the Conqueror after the Norman Conquest. The hall served as a key administrative and ceremonial center for centuries.

Today, it is best known as the home of the legendary Round Table of King Arthur, a massive wooden table that has been displayed there since at least the 14th century. The Great Hall itself boasts stunning medieval architecture, including pointed arches, beautiful windows, and an iconic stone doorway.

While the castle itself is mostly in ruins, The Great Hall remains a historical and cultural landmark, symbolizing Winchester’s importance as a medieval capital and a site rich in legend and history.

King Arthur’s Round Table

The Round Table of King Arthur, displayed in The Great Hall of Winchester Castle, is a massive wooden structure, measuring 18 feet (5.5 meters) in diameter and weighing over a ton. Though historically linked to Arthurian legend, it likely dates back to the late 13th or early 14th century.

The table is painted with a Tudor rose at its center and features the names of 24 of King Arthur’s knights around its edge. At the top is an image of King Arthur, repainted during Henry VIII’s reign in the 16th century to resemble the king himself, tying the Arthurian legend to Tudor propaganda.

While its connection to the historical King Arthur is debated, the table is an iconic symbol of medieval chivalry and myth, drawing visitors as a key attraction in Winchester.

King Arthur’s Round Table displayed in The Great Hall of Winchester Castle features several inscriptions:

1. 1. Central Inscription: Encircling a Tudor rose at the center, it reads:
      “This is the rownde table of kyng Arthur w(ith) xxiiii of his namyde knyattes.”
   2. Names of the Knights: Around the edge of the table, the names of King Arthur’s 24 knights are inscribed, each corresponding to a segment of the table.
   3. King Arthur’s Portrait: At the top center, a depiction of King Arthur is present, which was repainted during the reign of Henry VIII to resemble the king himself.

These inscriptions and illustrations were added during the 16th-century refurbishment under Henry VIII, aligning the legendary table with Tudor symbolism.

The names of the 24 knights inscribed on King Arthur’s Round Table in The Great Hall at Winchester are as follows:

1. 1. 1. 1. Sir Galahad
         2. Sir Lancelot
         3. Sir Gawain
         4. Sir Percival
         5. Sir Lionell
         6. Sir Tristram de Lyones
         7. Sir Gareth
         8. Sir Bedivere
         9. Sir Bleoberis
         10. Sir Lacotemale Taile
         11. Sir Lucan
         12. Sir Palomedes
         13. Sir Lamorak
         14. Sir Bors de Ganis
         15. Sir Safer
         16. Sir Pelleas
         17. Sir Kay
         18. Sir Ector de Maris
         19. Sir Dagonet
         20. Sir Degore
         21. Sir Brunor le Noir
         22. Sir Aliduke
         23. Sir Mordred
         24. Sir Constantine