St Cross gardens (or allotments) occupy an open, sunny, fertile area bounded by a flint wall on the west (Back Street) and north (Cripstead Lane) sides. On the East and South sides they are bounded by the Lockburn Stream. They are the property of The Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty. They are entered from Cripstead Lane.

The Lockburn stream arises in the town centre and was a medieval culvert that served as Winchester’s only main drain until the 1870s.

Part of the allotments was once gravel pits belonging to the Bishop of Winchester, although since medieval times they have been field or garden land. Pottery collected on one allotment over several years included small shards ranging in date from Roman and Saxon times to the Victorian era – evidence of the spread of mulch from the middens.

The allotments, which are in demand from people all over Winchester, contain a large communal shed, trees, storage trunks and seats to mark the individuality of the holders. The shed, which has a vehicle inspection pit, was over 100 years old when it was rebuilt in 2016.

There are 89 plots which vary in size from 21 sq.m to 216 sq m. Water for the plots is provided either from the Lockburn Stream or from any one of three hand pumps.