Basing House

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Entrance gate to the Basing House ruins, Old Basing.

Basing House, Hampshire, was a major English Tudor palace and castle that once rivalled Hampton Court Palace in its size and opulence. Today only its foundations and earthworks remain. The ruins are a Grade II listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.^[1]

1 History
2 Location
3 Access
4 Notes
5 External links

[edit] History

Basing House was built in 1535 as a new palace for William Paulet, 1st Marquess of Winchester, treasurer to King Edward VI, Queen Mary I and Queen Elizabeth I.

In its final form, Basing House was made up of two linked houses. The Old House was located within a defensive ring of earthworks and walls, whilst the more modern New House was a more domestic building located outside the defences. A bridge and gateway linked the two across and through the defences; a link that was to prove fatal in the final battle for Basing House. Taken together, the house had 380 rooms, was five storeys high and was considered by many to be the greatest private house in the country.

At the time of the outbreak of the English Civil War in 1642, Basing House belonged to John Paulet, the fifth Marquis of Winchester, who was a supporter of King Charles I. As a consequence, parliamentary troops attacked Basing House on three different occasions, with the defenders successfully driving off the first two.

The final siege started in August 1645 when Colonel John Dalbier, with 800 troops, took up position around the walls. The garrison held out, despite further reinforcements to the attacking force, until Oliver Cromwell arrived with heavy artillery. By October 13, 1645, the New House had been taken and the defenses of the Old House breached. The final storming took place across the link from the New House. Many valuable goods were carried off and a fire destroyed the building.

John Paulet had his estates confiscated and was sent to the Tower of London on a charge of high treason, although these charges were later dropped, and the site of Basing House returned to him by King Charles II. His son Charles Paulet became wealthy again as a consequence of his support for William of Orange during the Glorious Revolution. This wealth was used to pull down what was left of Basing House and to build a new house at Hackwood.

[edit] Location

Basing House is located in the village of Old Basing, approximately one mile east of the centre of the town of Basingstoke, in the north of the English county of Hampshire. The house is situated close to the upper reaches of the River Loddon. Because of congestion in Old Basing, the car park for the house is situated several hundred yards away and is accessed by an attractive riverside walk.

[edit] Access

The extensive ruins of Basing House, together with a small explanatory exhibition, are open to the public. At the time of writing (November 22, 2004), the ruins are open from April to September, Wednesday to Sunday, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., with an admission charge of £1–2. For more details see the Basing House web page in "External links" below.