Prostitutes Winchester

A vigil in the UK is part of an ongoing struggle to establish a memorial for prostitutes known as the Winchester Geese. On August 28, 2020, supporters gathered to remember these women denied proper burial. The Cross Bones Graveyard in Southwark, London, is where many women of the night were laid to rest.

Medieval Context

The Winchester Geese were prostitutes operating in the area under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Winchester during medieval times. The brothels they worked in were called stewhouses. These women faced harsh treatment and stigma. During this period, the local prostitutes were known as Winchester Geese. These prostitutes were not licensed by the City of London or Surrey authorities, operating instead under the Bishop’s control.

Burial Practices and Exploitation

The bishops of Winchester grew rich from rents, shares in brothel profits, and fines imposed on the prostitutes themselves. Despite this exploitation, the women were denied Christian burial rites. Church teachings condemned prostitution, and prostitutes were prohibited from burial in Christian cemeteries. The Cross Bones Graveyard became their resting place.

Historical Legacy

The brothels in the liberty were established by King Henry II. In 1161, Henry of Blois, the Bishop of Winchester, was the largest brothel owner in England. The nickname Winchester Geese was derogatory – contracting venereal disease was called being bitten by a Winchester goose. Today, the site serves as a memorial for the outcast women, sex workers, and Winchester Geese. The graveyard, saved from developers, now honours the estimated 15,000 paupers and sex workers buried there.

*TAGS* – Cross Bones Graveyard, Southwark stewhouses, Bishop of Winchester brothels