Monument record 1676/2 - Royal Hunting Lodge at Geddington

Site of Royal manor house and hunting lodge, extant until 1374. Summary from record 1676/2/1: Building remains have been observed during groundworks for a housing estate

{1} Royal Hunting Lodge (perhaps SP 89558308), immediately north-east of Geddington church. There was a small royal estate of one hide here in 1086, which was later enlarged. In 1129–30 £17 was spent in 'the making of the King's house at Geddington'. Subsequent additions and repairs were made but none is recorded after 1285. No building remained standing after 1374 {4}. The site, according to Bridges, was north-east of the church in a close called Castle or Hall Yard, where irregularities suggested the existence of foundations {5,6}. The area, which was called Castle Close in 1717 {7}, is now covered by a modern housing estate.

{2} Part of the old building was said to remain in 1741.

{3} The site of a royal palace mentioned frequently in royal itineraries and charters during the C12th and C13th was watched during demolition for a housing estate. Many lines of walls 6ft thick were noted and many green-glazed floor tiles and examples of decorated stone recovered.

{4} Geddington was a hunting lodge in Rockingham Forest. It was noted in 1086 as one hide of land belonging to the king's manor of Brigstock. The land was enlarged, and in 1129-30 an account of £17 was made 'in the making of the king's house at Geddington'. Subsequent additions and repairs were made but none were recorded after 1285, and the buildings evidently fell into ruin, for none remained standing in 1374.

The site of the manor house (according to Bridges II 309) was immediately to the NE of the church, where irregularities suggest the presence of foundations. (Nothing visible on APs).

{5} Documentary references to a medieval hunting lodge at Geddington. Recorded as a Royal estate of 1 hide in 1086, it was later enlarged in 1129-30. £17 was spent on constructing The King's House. Further additions were made until 1285. It did not survive later than 1374.

{6} There are documentary references to "a free chapel" which was part of the medieval hunting lodge.

{7} Site name: Castle Close.

{9} The indicated site is now occupied by a modern housing estate.

{10} Detailed descriptions of the various episodes of building works carried out during the 13th century. Appears to have been mainly of timber construction. From 1285 no more repairs are recorded.

{11} Remains discovered in 1960 when the site was first developed included medieval foundations of a part of a building with three large rooms, an L-shaped passageway flanking a square room to the west and two small rooms opposite, across the passage. Green glazed tiles were found in the area of the square room and also part of the adjoining passageway. There was evidence of heavy burning. Gwen Brown inspected the site in 1964 after another new house had been built to the west of the first development. In the trenches not filled in, some faced stone was observed.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.51/Site 6 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77380.

<2> 1741, Memoirs of Stukeley, p.80 6/9/1741 (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN46906.

<3> Wilson D.M.; Gillian Hurst D., 1965, Medieval Britain in 1964, p.201 (checked) (Notes). SNN3819.

<4> Brown R.A.; Colvin H.M.; Taylor, 1963, The History of The Kings' Works (Vol.II), p.943-44 (unchecked) (Series). SNN3801.

<5> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.309 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77326.

<6> Markham C.A., 1899, History and Antiquities of Geddington, p.50-52 (unchecked) (Book). SNN48144.

<7> 1717, Map of Geddington, (unchecked) (Map). SNN28636.

<8> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP88SE21 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<9> Baird, J, 1969, Field Investigators Comments, F1 JB 22-JUL-1969 (Note). SNN111452.

<10> Bellamy, B, 1986, Geddington Chase: History of a Wood, p. 25-28 (Book). SNN115125.

<11> Brown, G, 1964, Geddington Castle (Note). SNN115599.

Record last edited

Nov 1 2023 3:12PM