Kings House, Winchester, Hampshire
Looking south across the parade ground towards the King's House, in use as an infantry barracks. The King's House was built for Charles II on the site of Winchester castle. It was designed by Sir Christopher Wren (who built St Pauls cathedral) and building began in 1683. Upon the death of Charles II in 1685 an immediate stop was put to the building. Queen Anne, intending to complete it, settled it upon her husband, who died before she had sufficient money to carry out her design. In 1756 some 5,000 French prisoners were confined in the building, again, during the American war it was used as a prison for French, Spanish and Dutch prisoners successively. The French Revolution brought more than 8,000 French bishops and clergy to England, and some 660 French priests were lodged in the King's House at Winchester. However, in 1796 a large central barracks was necessary, and the French priest had to give way to the English soldier. The buildings were then used as a permanent barracks, officers' quarters, military hospital, married quarters and schools. In December 1894 a fire broke out in the pay-office of the barracks soon after midnight, and in spite of all efforts the King's House was destroyed by the fire.
