More information : (SK 60346477) - King John's Palace (Remains of) (NR). (1)
A Royal residence before 1164. Rebuilt in stone c 1180, when it became the principal hunting lodge in Sherwood Forest. Documentary evidence of successive building phases, including royal chambers and chapels, a greta hall, stables and gateway, and ruinous by 1525.
Excavations in 1956 revealed the outline of a probably late 13th century building contemporary with the present standing remains, surrounded by a ditch and palisade, with a probably associated fish pond (see plan). The site has been very much disturbed by ploughing and stone robbing. Traces of earlier building, form no coherent plan, and there are only faint traces of rebuilding known to have taken place in the 14th/15th Century.
Pottery finds range from 12th/13th th 15th/16th Century. A scatter of Roman pottery was also found on the site. (2-3)
The ruins stand in land atop a SE facing slope, and comprise in the main only the stone rubble core. No traces of the ditch are to be seen on the surface, and the fish pond to the E has now been filled in, apparently by the county council. Published 25" survey 1959, revised. (See photos taken 1959 and 1974). (4)
King John's Palace, Grade II. (5)
SK 603 647. King John's Palace. Scheduled no. NT/101. (6) |