Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

John Of Gaunts Palace
Hob Uid: 227601
Location : Hampshire Test Valley Kings Somborne
Grid Ref : SU3600030850
Summary : Medieval Manor house documented in 1362 when it was passed on to the wife of John of Gaunt. The site of the house is indicated by earthworks and fragments of walling. The current building, Palace Farm dates from the 16th century, was refronted during the 17th/18th century and converted into two houses circa 1965. Excavations have also located the remains of an extensive Saxon settlement. Evidence was also recovered for prehistoric occupation, 16th century and later buildings and field boundaries associated with Palace Farm.
More information : [Name centred SU36003085] JOHN OF GAUNT'S PALACE [GT] (Site of) (1) "John of Gaunt's Palace, now called Palace Farm, is situated on the right of the road near the church, some little distance outside the deer-park. Tradition says that the present building is on the site of the stables." (2) Full manorial history. In 1591 it was described as "a verey fayer and Anncyent House". In 1362 the manor passed to the wife of John of Gaunt, and in 1399 to the Crown. (3) The site of the manor house is indicated by an area of broken ground ('A' - SU 36003090), in which fragments of flint walling are visible at 'B' (7m. long, 1m. thick, and 0.4m. high, and including a few mediaeval or tudor bricks) and at (C). Around the site are a number of earthworks mostly very slight and probably indicating the position of the kitchen gardens, etc. Two parallel banks, however, to the west of the site, are too massive (see section D-E) to be so explained and no suggestion can be offered as to their purpose. Palace Farm (at SU36103088 'F') has been almost entirely modernized, externally and internally, but two stone millioned windows (late 16th-early 17th cent.) survive in the west wall. There are no visible traces of earlier work. (4) The site has been allowed to become overgrown and with the exception of the two parallel banks noted by Authy. 4 all is amorphous. Palace Farm is as described. Published 1:2500 (1967) correct. (5) (SU 36003085) John of Gaunt's Palace (NR) Site of (NAT) (6) No change. (7) Evidence of extensive Saxon settlement was found during excavations at the school and churchyard adjacent to, and in the non-scheduled area at the south of, the John of Gaunt Palace site in 1984-5. Indications of prehistoric occupation were also found, together with domestic refuse scatter from the 16th century onwards. Linear features extending beyond the scheduled monument were interpreted as Post Medieval field and orchard boundaries associated with Palace Farm. (8-9) Palace Farm (formerly Place Farm), architectural survey. (10) Palace Farm, 16th century core, refronted 17th/18th century. Converted in circa 1965 into two dwellings, Old Palace Lodge and Palace Farmhouse. Grade 2. The two 16th century stone mullioned windows (authy 4) survive in pieces in the garden. (11)

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Source Number : 1
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Source details : OS 6" 1910
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Source Number : 2
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Source details : Field Arch as Illus by Hants 1915 226 (JP Williams-Freeman)
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Source Number : 10
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Source details : Molyneux N, Hampshire Field Club - Historical Buildings Newsletter
Page(s) : 06-Aug
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Vol(s) : 2, 1983

Source Number : 11
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Source details : Test Valley District, Feburary 1986, 74
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Source Number : 3
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Page(s) : 470-2
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Source Number : 3a
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Source details : Duchy of Lanc Misc Books cxvi fol 4
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Source Number : 4
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Source details : F1 VB 16-FEB-1956
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Source Number : 5
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Source details : F2 CFW 03-DEC-1968
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Source Number : 6
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Source details : OS 1:2500 1967
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Source Number : 7
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Source details : F3 JGB 07-OCT-1982
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Source Number : 8
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Page(s) : 181
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Vol(s) : 29, 1985

Source Number : 9
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Source details :
Page(s) : 31-32
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Vol(s) : (1984-85)

Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Prehistoric
Display Date : Prehistoric
Monument End Date : 43
Monument Start Date : -500000
Monument Type : Settlement
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit

Monument Period Name : Early Medieval
Display Date : Saxon
Monument End Date : 1066
Monument Start Date : 450
Monument Type : Settlement
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit

Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Documented 1362
Monument End Date : 1362
Monument Start Date : 1362
Monument Type : Manor House
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : HA 290
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SU 33 SE 7
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1956-02-16
End Date : 1956-02-16

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1968-12-03
End Date : 1968-12-03

Associated Activities :
Activity type : GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
Start Date : 1971-01-01
End Date : 1971-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1982-10-07
End Date : 1982-10-07

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1984-01-01
End Date : 1985-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
Start Date : 1997-01-01
End Date : 1998-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1997-01-01
End Date : 1997-12-31

Historic England Research Records

John Of Gaunts Palace