Where is King Aurther's Round Table?

Question

I say it's in Winchester, England's old Capital. But everyone thinks it's in Cornwall or something like that...

So where is it?

Answer 1

James, I bought that Table in the Auction last week. It is on its way to my castle.

Some day when you come to this side of the Atlantic you may have Dinner with me.

Trust you eat Non Vegetarian.

Answer 2

There is indeed a round table in Winchester. However, carbon dating has revealed that is dates from the 1270s, after the reign of the legendary King Arthur. It was made during the reign of King Edward I, who had a fascination with Arthur and wanted to emulate him by having his own round table. The idea of Winchester being Camelot is also highly dubious. It was suggested in the poem by Sir Thomas Malory, 'Le Morte D'Arthur', but he actually got many of his places mixed up.

Arthur's round table, if it existed, has not been found by archaeologists. It is still debatable where exactly King Arthur had his court, with various theories supporting Tintagle in Cornwall, Glastonbury in Somerset, North Wales and Edinburgh.

Answer 3

Apart from the famous Round Table on display in the great hall of Winchester Castle, travellers around the country will find "Arthur's Round Table" still pointed out at various locations in the British landscape:

Arthur's Round Table Stone Circle, Mayburgh (Cumberland)
Arthur's Table, Caerleon (Monmouthshire)
Bwrdd Arthur, Llanddona (Anglesey)
King's Knot, Stirling (Stirlingshire)
Pen y Fan, Brecon (Brecheiniog)

What of the Winchester Round Table then? In 1976, this became the subject of extensive scientific investigations. It was first recorded at Winchester in 1463 and had probably been painted with a likeness of Henry VIII in 1522. Now, tree-ring and radiocarbon dating methods and a study of carpentry practices revealed that the table was constructed in the 1270s, at the beginning of King Edward I's reign. This was during the period when the King had taken a great interested in all things Arthurian and had even been present at the opening of Arthur's supposed tomb at Glastonbury. The table was probably used at the many tournaments which Edward liked to hold. These were sometimes known as "Round Tables".

King Arthur's Round Table at Winchester does not date from the early 6th century, though it is considerably older than many people gave it credit for. Its place in the Great Hall of Winchester Castle certainly pre-dates Malory, Winchester is first identified as the great Camelot of legend by Sir Thomas Malory in his "Le Morte D'Arthur" which was first printed by Caxton in 1485.

Answer 4

A table reputed to be King Arthur's hangs on the wall of Winchester Cathedral, but Winchester is not the location of Camelot.

A number of places have been suggested as being the location of Camelot, but no 'proof' of it's true location has been found (if it existed as a singular place, as opposed to a conceptual place ).

Answer 5

King Edward's replica round table is in Winchester Castle not Cathedral. You will see a picture of it in the Wickipedia entry for Winchester Castle.

Answer 6

The Round Table is a myth ...

Arthur probably existed but not as King of all the Britons ... more likely as king of one of the ancient kingdoms of Britain.

The books on this by Bernard Cornwell probably tell the story best...

Answer 7

New research has suggested that Arthur was in fact a general in the Roman Empire and would not in that case of had a round table like most myths they are based on a little fact the juiced up a bit to make a better story.

Answer 8

There is a round table on the wall in Winchester Town Hall.

I doubt whether that is THE round table.

The real one, if in fact there was one, will be in Camelot and there is much contention where that is today - but possibly in Cadbury, Devon

Answer 9

The round table is part of a fabled history.

It MAY have existed, but no one really knows exactly where Camelot, if it actually existed, was, then it's pretty safe to assume no one knows where a particular piece of furniture supposedly in Camelot is now.

Answer 10

The man at the corner shop's name is arthur maybe he will have a connection to the King and the table?