Beaulieu Royal Hunting Lodge

Has been described as a Possible Palace (Royal)

There are no visible remains

NameBeaulieu Royal Hunting Lodge
Alternative NamesBellus Locus Regis
Historic CountryHampshire and the Isle of Wight
Modern AuthorityHampshire
1974 AuthorityHampshire
Civil ParishBeaulieu

In the reign of King John, the principal hunting lodge in the new Forest was in the parish of Beaulieu. In 1204 he granted the lodge and its land to the Cistercian monks from Faringdon in Berkshire, who founded Beaulieu Abbey on its site. (PastScape ref. HKW)

Gatehouse Comments

The Abbey dominates the history of this site and the earlier hunting lodge is not mentioned in the VCH or other histories. Its form is lost but must have stood very near to the Abbey. Given the access to the New Forest woodlands in the area the lodge may have been mainly of timber. Not to be confused with the C16 hunting lodge of Lord Wriothesley built in the former abbey gatehouse. (This is well described in Emery, Anthony, 2006, Greater Medieval Houses Vol. 3 (Cambridge) p. 308-9)

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSU388025
Latitude50.8215408325195
Longitude-1.45018005371094
Eastings438800
Northings102500
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.

Calculate Print

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. 983
  • Page, Wm, 1911, VCH Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Vol. 4 p. 650-55 (parish history- does not mention hunting lodge) online transcription

Primary Sources

  • Dugdale, William (Caley, J., Ellis, H. and Bandinel, B. (eds)), 1817-30 (originally pub. 1655-73), Monasticon Anglicanum (London) Vol. 5 p. 683 (Abbey foundation charter)