St Catherine’s Hill and Mizmaze, just south of Winchester, is a nature reserve offering fine views of the city to those who manage the strenuous climb to the top. It is also steeped in history: here you will find the site of an ancient fort and chapel, and a not-so-ancient turf maze.
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History Of St Catherine’s Hill
Iron Age settlers built a fort on the hill 2,500 years ago. Its circular ramparts ringed the top of the hill, giving ample opportunity to observe the surrounding countryside.
The group of beech trees at the top is known locally as “The Clump”. Beneath them lie the remains of St Catherine’s Chapel, a Norman structure built 900 years ago. The chapel was destroyed in 1537.
There are differing explanations for the naming of the hill, and of the chapel that was built upon it. According to one source, it derived its name from the circular form of the hill fort, St Catherine having been martyred upon a wheel. Alternatively, it is locally thought that she was the patron saint of hilltops (having supposedly ascended to heaven from Mount Sinai), and the name is in use for hills elsewhere in the region.
The Winchester Mizmaze
To the left of The Clump is the Winchester Mizmaze, one of eight historic turf mazes still remaining in England. Cut into the chalk, with no junctions or crossings, this is not a maze in the modern sense but a labyrinth. It is 624m long and formed from nine nested squares, in a pattern similar to that used for the traditional game of Nine Men’s Morris. Unusually for a turf maze, its form is rectangular rather than circular.
The origins of the Mizmaze are obscure. Although medieval in design, it is thought to date from the 17th century. Local tradition links it with Winchester College, as boys from the school used the hill as a recreational area. The legend is that it was carved one summer by a boy who had been banished to the hill for bad behaviour. With nothing else to do, he drew on his knowledge of classical maze design and set out on the lonely task of measuring out the maze. The story ends with the boy drowning on the last day of the holidays!
Tolling The Labyrinth
Far fetched though this tale may seem, no other explanation has been found for the creation of the maze. It is equally uncertain what it was intended for. It is thought that some medieval mazes may have been built for penitential rituals but a recreational purpose is more likely by the time of the 17th century. Certainly, walking around the maze (known locally as “tolling of the Labyrinth”) became a regular pastime for the College schoolboys.
The maze fell into disuse for a while, but it was recut in the late 19th century. The practice of tolling the Labyrinth was resurrected and has continued to the present day.
Getting To St Catherine’s Hill
St Catherine’s Hill is close to St Catherine’s Park and Ride. It took us a little while to find it: the best place to park is in the car park on Garnier Road. The path to the top of the hill is on your left as you leave the car park.
When you have visited the mizmaze you can enjoy the walking trails around the nature reserve and the views across the city.
10 thoughts on “Ancient Mysteries: St Catherine’s Hill And Mizmaze, Winchester”
Nice place. I walked up to the hill in July, this summer. It is a beautiful place. I was told at St Cross church that the Maze was used by pilgrims. Those who could not travel far as pilgrim, could walk around to the middel of the maze on their knees in order to get forgivness or help. It took me 13 minutes to walk around and around to the middle. On my feet though. Elisabeth from Norway.
Hi Elisabeth, thanks for stopping by. I’d heard that story about using mazes for pilgrimages – obviously they were used for lots of different purposes over the centuries.
No longer at the side of the A33 as it has been grassed over in this area. The A33 was closed when the M3 opened on the other side of the hill, where it runs through the chalk hill and known as Twyford Cutting which itself runs through Plague Valley.
Hi Bill, thanks for the update. I will amend the article!
Used to play up there when I was growing up in Stanmore Estate. The Clump was said to be haunted so of course we would go up there at night and run like the wind if there was a sound. Was always interested in the history and thank you for the article. I now live many thousands of miles away but remember those happy days playing in the water meadows and on the Hill. Wonderful place to grow up.
Hi Martyn, thanks for your comment. I suppose that, given its history, it’s not surprising that people thought The Clump was haunted!
Just thought I’d share that St. Catherine’s Hill and the miz-maze are part of Gladys Mitchell’s 1947 novel, “Death and the Maiden”, and this is what brought me to this site. Thanks for the photos and information, they help me better visualize the story. I live on the west coast of the United States and have never visited England in person, though often in books, films,and television.
That’s interesting! It’s an atmospheric place, and would be a good setting for a story like that…
remember being taken there by my uncle FRANK whilst on holiday in the 1950s always wondered if it was still there ,always fasinated by the maze
Used to play there as a kid in the early 60’s. Had some great times.