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Freemantle Kings House

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Frigidum Mantellum; Gottington Hill; King Johns House; Freytmauntel

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

This site has been described as a;
Palace.
  It is probable that this site was a medieval fortification or palace.   Nothing visible remains.
The hunting lodge of Freemantle Park from documentary evidence was extant in 1183. The building of the house is recorded in the Pipe Rolls for 1180-1183. Henry III in 1251 ordered a new house to be built. It was to consist of a hall, kitchen, chapel, first floor chambers and cellar. Stabling for 80 horses is also mentioned. The building was finally completed in 1256. In 1276 the sheriff of Southampton was ordered to permit the demolition of the king's houses of Freytmauntel. In the 2nd half of C14 references to the Kings Lodge within the park were made. The lodge comprised several 'houses', some tiled, others thatched. Isaac Taylors 1759 Map of Hampshire and early Ordnance Survey Maps show the supposed site of King John's House on top of King Johns Hill (or Cottington's Hill). Finds recovered from hill top supports this siting. Most of the area of the hill top has been disturbed in the construction of a wireless station. No evidence of the exact site of the hunting lodge has been obtained.
I suspect that this formed a complex of buildings along with Tidgrove King House (qv)
The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SU52695676

Air Photo from multimap logo

Air Photo and general mapping

1st edition OS Map from old maps logo

Mid to late 19th century maps

Modern Map from Ordnance Survey logo

Landscape form and features

Modern Map from streetmap logo

General location and route planning

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number is 236622
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 20999 'grey' literature, such as watching brief reports, held by H.E.R.s is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded in this website.

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The bibliography owes much to various bibliographies produced by John Kenyon for the Council for British Archaeology, the Castle Studies Group and others.
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This record last updated on Monday, June 15, 2009

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