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The Hospital of St. Cross is a medieval almshouse in Winchester, England, founded between 1133 and 1136 it is the oldest charitable institution in the United Kingdom. The founder was Henry de Blois Bishop of Winchester, grandson of William the Conqueror, half brother to King Stephen of England. Not only is it the oldest but is also the largest medieval almshouse in Britain; it is built on the scale of an Oxford or Cambridge college, but is older than any of the colleges at the universities.

Holy Cross Church, Near Winchester

The Hospital of St. Cross is a medieval almshouse in Winchester, England, founded between 1133 and 1136…