King Johns House, Tollard Royal

Description

King John's House, Tollard Royal, incorporates a centre of about 1240 with a Medieval NW addition, remodelled in the late 16th century, a Medieval SW addition of which only foundations are known, and a timber-framed east range which replaced the 13th century solar wing. The house was restored in 1888-9. Tollard Park to the south is mentioned in 1405 and originally belonged to the house. It was altered before 1928 (Pevsner; Oliver; Pitt-Rivers). King John's House is in a good state of repair but is untenanted. The 13th century work has been exposed revealing the stone construction. The building has the typical layout of a 13th century hall with additional 15th century wings which have been plaster-faced, colour-washed and have modern wooden casement-windows. The roof and chimneys are modern. A restored doorway is visible on the SW side and two lancet windows on the SE. The 13th c. foundations found at the SW angle are not visible as the site is overlain by flower-beds. A porch on the NE and the building adjoining the NW angle are modern additions. (PastScape–ref. Field Investigators Comments F1 NVQ 23-APR-54)

King John's House was presumably the manor house of either Tollard Govis or Tollard Lucy. The stone central block of the present house was in the mid 13th century a cross wing, north of which stood the hall. The wing was of two storeys, perhaps with one room on each floor; a garderobe chamber projected from its south-west corner. Several medieval windows survive; those on the ground floor are small double-splayed lancets, most of those on the upper floor have two lights and internal seats. In the 17th century a chimney stack was inserted, dividing each floor into two rooms, a large timberframed cross wing was added at the eastern end, and a stair turret, perhaps replacing a stair which had been in the hall, was built on the north side. Under the direction of A. H. L.-F. Pitt-Rivers the house was extensively restored in the 1880s, some early 19th-century additions were removed, and a single storey extension was built north and north-west of the medieval block. After 1966 a pagoda, of two storeys, was built in the garden. (VCH 1987)

Comments

Site of a royal hunting lodge of King John. The house dates back to the mid C13. Augustus Pitt-Rivers, the 'Father of English Archaeology' inherited the house and spent many years restoring the old building.