Architecture The school hall contains England's oldest surviving wood double hammer-beamed roof, which used to accommodate the
pilgrims travelling to the
cathedral. The ancient city wall runs around the boundary of the schools games pitches, situated next to the school. A tributary of the
River Itchen flows through the grounds of the school, with the boys able to fish further downstream. Nature reserves in the water meadows have an abundance of wild flowers and birds, and an Iron Age fort comprising a maze at the top of St Catherine's Hill is within walking distance of the school grounds. • Romans • Saxons • Normans • Monks •
Wrens Boarding houses Most boys are day pupils but the boarding programme is open to all. Cathedral Choristers or Quiristers generally board full-time while others return home for the weekend.
Main School There are eight
dormitories, and the building mainly houses the
Winchester Cathedral Choristers and the majority of 'Commoners' (other pupils).
Q School Q School, short for 'Quiristers School', is the property of
Winchester College, because the
Quiristers sing in the
its Chapel Choir and used to be taught separately in this building when they were a full part of the
Winchester College community. However, in the 1960s it became uneconomical for the college to organise a separate school and curriculum from the rest of the boys, who were from Years 9–13, and so from 1966 onwards The Pilgrims' School welcomed Quiristers to be educated with the 'Commoners'. The schools main points for entry are currently Reception (for boys aged 4+), Years 3 and 4 (for boys aged 8+/9+). Boys sometimes join the school in other year groups, and at various times in the year, subject to places being available. ==Headmasters==