More information : (Name centred SU 73925112) Palace Gate Supposed
site of Palace (NR)
(Name centred SU 73895123) Wall (NR) (SU 73795108) Chapel (NR)
(Remains of) (NAT). (1)
"A palace is said to have existed at Odiham, and it is possible
that a house for the accommodation of the royal household may
have been built after the castle (SU 75 SW 11) had fallen into
ruins. Nothing now remains of the ancient palace except a few
old stones with carved heads in a farm-house called Palace Gate
Farm.... The house probably stands on the site of the entrance
to the mansion which is described in 1630 as 'a fair gatehouse
of brick, cornered and windowed with stone' (a) Meetings of the
Privy Council were held at Odiham in 1576 and 1591 (b).
The site of the manor, by which is probably meant the remains of
the royal mansion, is mentioned in deeds of 1718 and 1723-4 (c)."
The house mis-called The Priory was formerly the Rectory. The
main block is Queen Anne, of red brick and stone. The Older
portion, dating from the middle of the 15th century, is a wing
built of stone, running N-S, and apparently consisting formerly
of a single large hall, c 82' x 13' with a fireplace a little
S. of the middle of the E. side. It had two floors, lit by a
range of windows with cinquefoiled pointed lights under square
heads, and a 4-centred arched doorway at its N. end. The
building fell into decay and the northern end is still ruinous;
the rest has been converted into a study, bedrooms etc. (2)
The royal palace, built during the 15th & 16th centuries; was
probably a series of substantial dwellings, enclosed by a wall,
extending over the area now occupied by Palace Gate Farm, the
vicarage and the Priory. Apart from the old wing of "The
Priory", traces of the Palace above ground are very meagre, but
an extensive series of interconnected, vaulted cellars is known
to exist.
The palace may have been destroyed during the Civil War, when
as many as 5000 troops were quartered in the town at one time. (3)
"The three properties - 'The Priory, The Vicarage and Palace
Gate Farm - incorporate the remains of previous buildings. At
'The Priory' the remains are of a stone-built hall presumably
the original house. At the Vicarage and Farm they are parts of
timber framed buildings of the 16/17th centuries with much
reused brick. In my opinion, a mansion existed at the Priory
which, though a royal residence was hardly a palace, with
probably other buildings extending east to the Farm. There is
no evidence for a gatehouse at the Farm and the 'few old carved
heads' (V.C.H.) are modern". (4)
(Centred at SU 73825198)
Forming a wing of the house called 'The Priory' are the remains
of a stone-built building of 15th c. date. Where it is a ruin,
though overgrown internally, it is well-preserved, and the
remainder is incorporated into the present house which is
largely in Queen Anne style. The original building appears to
have been substantial and is most likely to have been the royal
residence traditionally known as the palace; it is erroneously
described on the O.S. 25" as "Chapel".
The Vicarage contains some timber framing and 16/17th century
brick. A farm building at Palace Gate Farm is timber framed,
though much restored and a barn is built largely of 16/17th
century brick. As stated by Mr. Thomas the carved heads which
are let into the wall of a building at the farm entrance are
modern.
A row of large trees in the farm is called "The Avenue" but has
no apparent significance. The wall published on O.S. 6" 1932
contains much 16/17th century brick but is merely a boundary
wall. (For the position of these latter features see 1:2500 map
diagram).
In short, the remnants of buildings at the Vicarage and Farm
are probably the out-buildings to a mansion at the Priory.
No evidence of "Interconnected cellars" was gained apart from
the normal local traditions of tunnels. (5)
No change. (6)
The Palace Gate buildings comprise a 17th century two-storey
block and a long 15th/16th century block which are now
cottages, two 18th century barns and a 15th/16th century
granary. All these buildings, together with the wall to the
north, are Grade 2*.
The Vicarage is 15th/16th century with later alterations. Grade
2*.
The Priory, a U-shaped group, has an 18th century main central
block, a partly-ruined 15th century east wing, and a modern
west wing with 16th century porch. Grade 2*. (7)
SU 737511. The eastern wing of the Priory is a 15th century
stone hall with features noted elsewhere in domestic buildings
of the later Middle Ages, particularly in priests' houses. For
several centuries this building was the rectory house of a
large parish provided also with a vicarage, a rare arrangement. (8)
No change. As described, see GPs. (9)
Palace Gate Farmhouse, 19th century granary (cf. Authority 7), and
barns, listed grade 2.
The Vicarage, listed grade 2.
The Priory, listed grade 2*. (For full descriptions, see Housing
List.) (10)
Additional bibliography. (11)
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