WINCHESTER’S colourful past will be the focus of a new royal history trail which has just been launched.

Royal Blood was created after students at the University of Winchester researched the stories of royal births, deaths and visits to the area.

The trail is a partnership between the university and the city council’s Visit Winchester team.

Part of Hampshire Cultural Trust’s Royal Blood campaign, which will also see re-enactments in the city, and exhibitions across the county, it is hoped the innovative programme will engage new audiences with the rich historical narrative of Hampshire.

A ‘Talking King Alfred’ will also personally welcome visitors to Winchester before they embark on the itinerary.

The Visit Winchester team has also redeveloped the Cheriton Battlefield Walk and Hampshire Cultural Trust has unveiled two large-scale re-enactments in Winchester and exhibitions and talks across the county.

Senior Lecturer in Early Modern History at the University of Winchester, Dr Ellie Woodacre worked with colleagues from the Archaeology and History departments to create the content for the leaflet.

Dr Woodacre said: “The Royal Blood trail is the second partnership project the University has undertaken with the Visit Winchester team following the creation of a successful Medieval Jewish Trail last Spring. 

“It has been a rewarding exercise and I would like to thank colleagues in the departments of History and Archaeology, Dr Katherine Weikert, Dr Simon Roffey and Dr Ryan Lavelle and students Luke Barnes, Jessica Watson, Ashleigh Bridgeman and Jemma Harbot for all their hard work.”

Cllr Steve Miller, Winchester City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Estates, Economy and Tourism Cllr Steve Miller is excited about the new trail.

Cllr Miller said: “We’re delighted with the Royal Blood trail and would like to thank our colleagues at the University and their team of hard-working students for their efforts. During the development the Visit Winchester team were exploring ways to attract the attention of new audiences to engage visitors with Winchester’s fascinating past. 

“The result is our talking version of Hamo Thornycroft’s iconic statue of King Alfred, created for us by local company CNC Polystyrene. 

"At the push of a button he delivers a brief first-person insight into the monarch’s influential reign and has already proved as much a hit with adults as younger visitors.”