Portsmouth Kings House

Has been described as a Certain Palace (Royal), and also as a Certain Fortified Manor House

There are no visible remains

NamePortsmouth Kings House
Alternative NamesKing's Hall
Historic CountryHampshire and the Isle of Wight
Modern AuthorityPortsmouth; City of
1974 AuthorityHampshire
Civil ParishPortsmouth

The king himself had houses built there, for in 1197–8 £2 18s. 3d. was spent on the improvement of his houses and hall (curia) at Portsmouth, and in the same year 4s. was accounted for as the rent of building sites. (Pipe R. 9 Ric. I.) From these accounts, and from the sums spent in the following year on tables and benches for the king's house, it would appear that the latter at least was new. (Pipe R. 10 Ric. I.) In 1298 it was in such bad repair that it threatened to collapse, and an inquisition being taken as to its value, the hall, with certain other houses, was assessed at £40, the chapel at £20, and the site at 2s. (Misc. Inq. file 36, No. 13) The position of this building may be marked by the name Kingshall Green, which was given to the site of the former Clarence Barracks in Penny Street. (East). (VCH)

Richard had the buildings protected by a ditch. Henry III had the buildings repaired from time to time and built a chamber and chapel for the Queen. (PastScape ref. HKW)

Gatehouse Comments

Site now near to City Museum which was formerly Clarence Barracks.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSZ636995
Latitude50.790699005127
Longitude-1.10046994686127
Eastings463600
Northings99500
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

No photos available. If you can provide pictures please contact Castlefacts

Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant.

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Books

  • Osborne, Mike, 2011, Defending Hampshire: The Military Landscape from Prehistory to the Present (Stroud: The History Press) p. 244 (listed in Appendix)
  • Salter, Mike, 2002, The Castles of Wessex (Malvern: Folly Publications)
  • Quail, Sarah, 1994), The Origins of Portsmouth and the First Charter (City of Portsmouth) p. 19
  • Barron, W.G., 1985, The Castles of Hampshire and Isle of Wight (Paul Cave) p. 41
  • Renn, D.F., 1973 (2 edn.), Norman Castles of Britain (London: John Baker) p. 285
  • Colvin, H.M., Brown, R.Allen and Taylor, A.J., 1963, The history of the King's Works Vol. 2: the Middle Ages (London: HMSO) p. 988
  • Page, Wm (ed), 1908, VCH Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Vol. 3 p. 174 online transcription
  • East, R. (ed), 1891, Extracts from Records in the Possession of the Municipal Corporation of the Borough of Portsmouth p. 753

Primary Sources

  • Pipe Rolls 1194-8 (see Pipe Roll Society for published references)
  • Hardy, T.D. (ed), 1833, Rotuli litterarum clausarum in turri Londinensi asservati (Record Commission) Vol. 1 p. 117 online copy
  • C145/36(13) (Survey of 1278) The National Archives reference (calendared in Maxwell Lyte, H.C., 1916, Calendar of Inquisitions Miscellaneous (Chancery), preserved in the Public Record Office (H.M.S.O.) Vol. 1 No. 1115)

Other

  • Dave Hopkins, 2004, Extensive Urban Survey - Hampshire and the Isle of Wight (English Heritage) Download copy