Kingsthorpe

Has been described as a Possible Palace (Royal)

There are no visible remains

NameKingsthorpe
Alternative NamesKyngesthorp
Historic CountryNorthamptonshire and the Soke of Peterborough
Modern AuthorityNorthamptonshire
1974 AuthorityNorthamptonshire
Civil ParishNorthampton

Kingsthorpe, a village about a mile to the north-west of Northampton, was a royal manor in 1086 and must have contained a royal residence, for Henry I spent Easter here in 1114. It may well have been a hunting lodge, for Kingsthorpe lay with the forest of Rockingham, and adjoined the royal park of Moulton which was attached to Northampton Castle. (HKW)

Gatehouse Comments

Nothing in the VCH tenurial history suggests a royal residence here although there must have a steward house. A complaint was made in 1350 about various people breaking into queen's houses at Kyngesthorp which may have been the stewards house and/or the village houses of her tenants. The manor house, be it an actual royal residence or a simple stewards house used by Henry I, could have been near to the parish church of St John the Baptist at SP746631.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSP746631
Latitude52.2611503601074
Longitude-0.907379984855652
Eastings474600
Northings263100
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

  • 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. 977
  • Salzman, L.F., (ed), 1937, VCH Northamptonshire Vol. 4 p. 81-88 (tenurial history) online transcription

Primary Sources

  • Ingram, James, (ed) 1912, The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (Everyman Press, London) A Cottonian Fragment AD1114 view online transcription (Ingram's translation and notes date from 1823. More recent translations of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles should be consulted for serious study)
  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1905, Calendar of Patent Rolls Edward III (1348-50) Vol. 8 p. online copy