Medieval skeletons give clues to origin of leprosy.

Medieval skeletons excavated by the University of Winchester are apparently giving clues to the origin of leprosy.

(Archive picture courtesy of the University of Winchester)

Archaeologists at the University have contributed to a new piece of research which gives unique insights into the genetic origins of leprosy.

 

The research, published by Science magazine, is a genome-wide comparison of medieval and modern Mycobacterium leprae, the bacterium that causes leprosy.

University archaeologists Dr Simon Roffey and Dr Katie Tucker helped author the research and supplied the UK medieval skeletons that underwent the DNA comparison techniques.

The skeletons were excavated from the hospital of St Mary Magdalen in Winchester, a site that the Department of Archaeology has been extensively researching since 2007.

“Our work at St Mary Magdalen has focused on the buildings, burials and artefacts with the aim of studying the history and development of the former medieval leprosy hospital,” says Dr Roffey. “Now our work is feeding into the scientific origins of leprosy and as a result we are finding out a lot more about the disease.”

Dr Roffey and Dr Tucker’s analysis indicates skeletal evidence of leprosy in over 85 per cent of the burials found at St Mary Magdalen, and this is the largest percentage recorded in Britain.

Dr Roffey says the location is key: “I believe St Mary Magdalen is home to one of Britain’s earliest known hospitals, founded in the mid to late 11th Century, and that it was a pioneering hospital created as a response to the sudden spread of leprosy in England.

“This idea is further supported by the genome research that has revealed that the disease spread during the time of the Crusades. I think it might also be linked to the increased popularity of pilgrimage, especially to the Holy Land, during this period.”

The archaeological work at the site is led by Dr Roffey and Dr Phil Marter, and the site is used as a training excavation for undergraduate and postgraduate archaeology students studying at the University.

Winchester Cathedral Alive With Flowers

A beautiful yet simple display has brought Winchester Cathedral alive with flowers.

The Creative Director Angela Turner told Winchester Today that she's tried to create 'Daisy Fever': "As soon as you walk into the Cathedral you'll see the hanging designs in a simple archway."


"Then you'll see the natural meadow area!"

Winchester Cathedral Alive With Flowers - Creative, yet Simple

Angela told us that she did not want to cram the Cathedral full of flowers, but enhance the whole building: "I wanted to be inspired by the English garden, and bring some of the outside inside.

"But it was very important not to cram the building. That was the main thing I wanted to do; not fill every window ledge, but be creative.

"In some flower festivals they seem to have flowers on every window ledge. We haven't done that. It's simple. That includes the nave; it's such an imposing building anyway, but we've looked at how we could do it properly, reflecting things like the vault."

Angela says she is particularly pleased with the colour scheme of yellow and white, as you can see above: "It's very refreshing."


Angela says she's also had the help from people belonging to local flower arranging groups through NAFAS, and didn't exactly have much difficulty in finding 300 volunteers from throughout the Wessex and Jersey area!

The Symphony of Flowers runs until 5pm Sunday 16 June.

More details

Hear Angela speak about her displays

University of Winchester Building Wins Major Award

The University of Winchester has won a Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Award for the South region for its new St Alphege Learning and Teaching Building.

RIBA Awards are said to be the most rigorously judged awards for architectural excellence.

The St Alphege Learning and Teaching Building is a £6.5 million development on the King Alfred Campus to create a high quality dedicated teaching space to meet the needs of students. 

It includes eight state-of-the-art lecture rooms and a mezzanine floor with open access PCs and social learning areas.

St Alphege is a low energy building with innovative eco-friendly features including a ‘living’ roof, absence detection lighting, acoustic panelling, natural ventilation and thermal modelling.

There is a glass atrium linking St Alphege to the St Edburga building, which was extensively refurbished as part of the project.

Professor Elizabeth Stuart is Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Winchester, and says the University believes that excellent students and dedicated staff deserve state of the art, beautiful facilities: “St Alphege embodies this commitment as well as our passion for the sustainability. We’re delighted to have won this award.”

The building was designed by Design Engine Architects Ltd in Winchester, who also created the University’s The Stripe, the University Centre and the Performing Arts Studios.

The St Alphege Learning and Teaching Building was officially opened by HRH The Earl of Wessex KG GCVO earlier this year.

This is the University’s second South region RIBA Award; the University Centre won in October 2008.

Additionally the University won a National Civic Trust Award for design excellence and was a finalist in the British Construction Industry’s ‘Building Project of the Year (up to £3m)’ category for its Performing Arts Studios.

As part of RIBA’s Love Architecture Festival 2013, Design Engine Architects Ltd is providing a guided tour of the University’s buildings designed by the practice, including St Alphege.

The event takes place on 29 June; for more information email jamessalman@designengine.co.uk

Review: Two Gentlemen of Verona - Debut Nationwide Tour Triumph

Review: Two Gentlemen Of Verona – Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory (Bristol) – Theatre Royal, Winchester 11 June 2013 (Opening Night) ****4/5

Two Gentlemen of Verona is widely regarded as being William Shakespeare’s first play. Perhaps it’s not his strongest, as he was laying the groundwork for other work - but that’s no reason not to produce it.

This was a good production too, with fine acting, singing, direction, expressions and moments of fun which only added to the story.

 

I particularly enjoyed the performances of Jack Bannell and Piers Wehner who play Valentine and Proteus (above - Pic: Farrows Creative) and of Dorothea Myer-Bennett, a delightful Julia.

As for the story – well it’s a tale that seems familiar of boy-meets-girl but who may actually be in love with someone else; of love found, lost then found again.

But it also has a dark side at the end; it’s also a tale of the extraordinary bond that exists between friends, although that bond may be stretched to its limit. How can a friend forgive and forget, no matter how bad the crime was going to be? 

The production was polished and the actors well-dressed; an elegant style of early 20th century costume.

The musicians were fine too and even drew enthusiastic applause as they played before the play had actually started and when the audience was still coming in.

There was a moment when I thought the entire company would be upstaged by the dog who features in much of the play. But I dare say that you’ll have to go a long way to meet an animal who is so well-behaved and seems to know the play off by heart, Well done Lollio.

This is the SATTF’s first nationwide tour, and it was a welcome visit to Winchester by a very talented company.

The Tobacco Factory has been urged to get out and tour; as the Bristol Old Vic’s Emma Stenning put it: “Given the paucity of such work at this scale on the touring circuit, it’s insane that it’s only Bristol audiences who get to see it.”

All credit to Artistic Director Andrew Hilton.

Let’s hope they come back with one of the ‘biggies’ once word gets round Winchester just how good they are.

Even Winchester's Flowerbeds Get In On The Cycling Act

People coming in to Winchester at Bar End can now see exactly how much cycling in the city is close  to our hearts.

Winchester City Council’s landscape team has planted a special bedding scheme on the roundabout at the main Bar End entrance to the city celebrating Winchester CycleFest 2013.

The Winchester Cycle Fair takes place on Sunday 23 June and the Winchester Criterium and Family Cycle Day on Sunday 11 August.  Together the events are known as Winchester CycleFest 2013.

Vicki Weston is one of those responsible for traffic and transport in the city and says the CycleFest is a great initiative: "It's a fantastic opportunity for residents to get involved in cycling across the city and also to explore the beautiful national cycling route. The flowerbeds are an imaginative way for us to market the events to people visiting the city.”

Race Organiser Chris Dawson is from the Criterium from Cycle Tours UK and says there's plenty to look forward to: “The Criterium is fun-filled and fast-paced. With cyclists roaring through the city centre streets at up to 30mph it will be a great event.”

The Cycle Fair will transform the Broadway into a hive of cycling activity and is a free event. Everything from roller-racing, mountain-bike demonstrations and a cycle treasure hunt will be on offer throughout the afternoon from 12 noon to 4pm.

The Winchester Criterium race preceded by a Family Cycle Day will take place on Sunday 11 August from 12noon to 9pm. 

The highlight will be the biggest all-inclusive Criterium cycle race in the region this year. Staged in the city centre from 4pm to 8pm, the event is classed as the cycling equivalent to Formula 1 as it is fast and furious with lots of thrills and spills. 

There will be eight races throughout the evening and many thousands of spectators are expected to line the route.

Both events will see a Bike Bus leading cyclists along the national cycling route, across the beautiful Hockley Viaduct to the South Park and Ride cycle track.

Photograph shows (left to right): Amanda Ford (Winchester City Council), Sarah Walker (Hampshire County Council), Marcus Swalwell (Rotary Winchester), Graham Dawson (Cycle Tours UK), Cllr Vicki Weston (Winchester City Council), Chris Peach (Winchester City Council) and Chris Dawson (Cycle Tours UK) at the CycleFest flowerbed.

Huge Boost for Winchester Uni

On our Winchester Today Twitter account we see no end of messages  from students about how excited they are to be coming to Winchester to study at the University of Winchester.

Many more tweet their sadness at the end of their three years because they have had such a good time.

Perhaps it should be no surprise then to learn that the University has risen a whopping 21 places in the newly-published Guardian University Guide 2014.

Winchester is now in 66th place in the guide's University League Table.

The University's Law, Education and Business provision also climbed the University Subject League Tables, showing commendable improvements on last year's rankings.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Winchester, Professor Elizabeth Stuart, says she's very pleased: "The University of Winchester is constantly striving to enhance the quality of its student experience. We are naturally delighted when this is reflected in the rankings. It is a testament to the passion and dedication of our staff."

The University plays host to 6,400 students studying a wide selction of courses from Foundation right through to Masters and Research degrees.

Winchester River Park Refurbishment 'Still An Option'

A report on the provision of leisure facilities in Winchester shows a brand-new building at North Walls or Bar End could cost anywhere between £25m and £30m - and led to officials indicating to Winchester Today that refurbishment at River Park "still remains an option".

Various key stakeholders were asked to contribute to the report, including DC Leisure, Sport England, Hampshire and IOW County Sports Partnership, Winchester BID, Winchester Disability Sports Forum, Winchester Sport and Physical Activity Alliance and the University of Winchester.

River Park Leisure Centre, pictured today with a steady stream of visitors (4 June 2013)

The 114-page report was commissioned from Continuum in January to help the City Council come to a decision on future leisure needs.

It examines in detail the local market, changes in population and participation, what sports clubs plan to do, and the type of leisure centre best suited to address them.

Within just a few seconds this morning, it was clear to us just how used the facilities are; we could see a steady stream of visitors through the front door, the keep-fit step classes were absolutely packed, and the outside tennis courts were also full of people.

Various options for a new-build leisure centre were considered by the consultants. Different sizes of swimming pool and combinations of gymnastics facilities, tennis courts and health and fitness suites were also looked at.

It was not part of the consultants' brief to make a judgement as to whether the Council should provide a new centre or refurbish the existing building.

However, it does provide indicative costs which take account of the borrowing that the Council would have to do to finance the construction.

The cost for improved facilities AND repairs on the existing building could be around £8m. Essential repairs only to the roof (pictured below) and plant at the existing site have been estimated at close to £3m.

It doesn't take long to spot signs of wear and tear

The report also shows that many people feel that the facility is "showing its age."

But it's also clear that despite its age, the building is still used by many people. In fact, although membership has dropped between 2008 and 2013 there were just short of 480,000 visits in 2008. Just five years later in 2013, that figure is now up to well over 530,000 visits.

The amount of surplus cash left over each year after depreciation is also up, despite overall income falling.


Swimming facilities - one of the strongest performing areas

The report shows that the site is clearly operating in a financially sustainable manner - with key income coming from two areas - health and fitness, and the swimming facility (pictured above).

Leader of Winchester City Council, Cllr Keith Wood, says the prime aim is to ensure that leisure facilities will continue to be provided for the city's residents: "There are currently over 500,000 visits to the centre annually. This report gives us some valuable information as to what can be provided and the costs of delivery.

"The next stage will be for us to look at the costs and benefits of the different options, including refurbishment of the existing centre, in the light of the many competing service pressures on our budgets. I want to move quickly to a clear decision and hope to indicate how we propose to proceed in July."

You can look at the full report on the Winchester City Council website. (You can see the PDF download facility on the right-hand side of the page.)