John of Gaunts Palace, Kings Somborne

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Old Palace Farm

In the civil parish of Kings Somborne.
In the historic county of Hampshire (Modern Authority of Hampshire, 1974 county of Hampshire).

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 C16, was refronted during C17/C18 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, C16 and later buildings and field boundaries associated with Palace Farm. Described in 1591 as a 'verey fayer and anncyent house'. Tradition says the present building is on the site of the stables.

This site has been described as a;
Palace.
The confidence that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Possible.
Masonry footings remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.
This site is a Grade 2 listed building protected by law*. (Images of England number 140773)

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SU36003085

Modern Map from

Good for landscape form and features

Modern Map from

Good for general location

Air Photo from

1st edition OS Map from

Sources of information, references and further reading

PastScape number; 227601

County Sites and Monuments Record number; 25184

Web site links
- http://www.hants.gov.uk/hampshiretreasures/entries/v09p065e01.html
Books
- Page, Wm (ed), 1911, VCH Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Vol4 p470-2
  Williams-Freeman, J.P.,1915, An Introduction to Field Archaeology as Illustrated by Hampshire (London) p226
Journal Articles
- 1985, Medieval Archaeology Vol29 p181

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The information on this web page may be derived from information compiled by and/or copyright of English Heritage and other individuals and organisations.

It is an offence to disturb a Scheduled Monument without consent. It is a destruction of everyone's heritage to remove archaeological evidence from any site without proper recording and reporting. Don't use metal detectors on historic sites without authorisation.

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*The listed building may not be the actual medieval building, but a building on the site of, or incorporating fragments of, the described site.

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This record last updated on Friday, April 6, 2007

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