The Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty
Winchester
The Hospital of St Cross & Almshouse of Noble Poverty lies nestled in the ancient water meadows and park land that holds SSSI status and SAC status. The Grade 1 listed buildings, comprises a range of impressive Tudor buildings all set within two quadrangles, a Norman Chapel, a medieval tower, and beautiful gardens. The Hospital of St Cross hosts 25 almshouse apartments which provide sheltered accommodation for elderly residents. The Hospital is open to all visitors, including our Historic House members.
Job Title: Porter (& Visitor Services)
Location: Winchester
Status: Full-Time Permanent (live-in post)
Salary: ÂŁ25,000 per annum (& includes free accommodation)
Days: Wednesday to Sunday
Core Hours: 9:30 – 5pm*
Holiday Entitlement: 33 days
Accommodation Provided: 2/3-bedroom flat above the Porter’s Lodge.
The Porter’s Role:
The Hospital of St Cross & Almshouse of Noble Poverty is open 363 days of the year. Shorter opening hours between November – March. *We expect all candidates to be aware of the weekend working hours with early openings and late lock ups.
The Master and Trustees of the Hospital of St Cross wish to appoint a Porter. This is a pivotal role at the Hospital and one which has been in existence for centuries.Â
Our Porter lives on site and is responsible for the security of the buildings and grounds; managing a small gift and souvenir shop; and providing a warm welcome alongside a plethora of information to visitors. The successful candidate will be interested in learning about the Hospital’s 900-year history and work well with the local Parish who have been worshipping at St Cross Chapel since 1507. In addition to the daily responsibilities the Porter undertakes several ceremonial duties in the Chapel of St Cross.
The Porter is based in the Porter’s Lodge set within a Medieval tower; from which the traditional Wayfarer’s Dole is still available to pilgrims and visitors upon request. The Porter’s Lodge also welcomes the visiting Camino de Santiago pilgrims.
As the Porter at The Hospital of St Cross, you’ll be working as part of a close-knit team, providing the highest level of customer service, and creating memorable experiences for all our visitors; whilst also ensuring the day-to-day safety and security of our site, our historical collections, and our residents. Working around the different buildings at St Cross you will be welcoming and engaging; with a talent for bringing the characters & stories of the sites 900-year history to life. Tasks will be as diverse as organising guided tours, sourcing an exciting range of souvenir and gifts for our shop, completing inventory checks, covering events at weekends, and, out of office hours; alongside selling tickets to our visitors from all around the world.
About You:
The role demands a positive attitude, flexibility, exceptional people skills and the ability to use your initiative. You will have a suitable level of fitness to carry out the fundamental requirements of the job profile, which will involve walking around all areas of the site, including the two medieval towers, with their 200 odd steps!
You don’t have to be a historian; but an interest in history and a willingness to learn is key.
We are an equal opportunities employer and truly value a diverse workforce, and welcome applications from all backgrounds.Â
The Hospital of St Cross is committed to treating our staff and our whole community with dignity and respect. We aim to represent diverse identities within our staff and our whole community whether this be by race, culture, religion, sexual orientation, gender, disability, or social background. We work to ensure that staff fulfil their potential within a proactive caring environment.
Closing date: 1st March 2024
Interviews: w/c 11th March 2024
Please visit www.hospitalofstcross.co.uk/contact-us/vacancies for more details:
The successful candidates will be subject to a DBS check.