Clipstone, King John's Palace

Has been described as a Certain Palace (Royal), and also as a Certain Fortified Manor House

There are masonry ruins/remnants remains

NameClipstone, King John's Palace
Alternative NamesClipeston; Clypston; Clippestone; Clippeston
Historic CountryNottinghamshire
Modern AuthorityNottinghamshire
1974 AuthorityNottinghamshire
Civil ParishClipstone

A Royal residence before 1164. Rebuilt in stone c 1180, when it became the principal hunting lodge in Sherwood Forest. Documentary evidence of successive building phases, including royal chambers and chapels, a great hall, stables and gateway, and ruinous by 1525. Excavations in 1956 revealed the outline of a probably late 13th century building contemporary with the present standing remains, surrounded by a ditch and palisade, with a probably associated fish pond. The site has been very much disturbed by ploughing and stone robbing. Traces of earlier building, form no coherent plan, and there are only faint traces of rebuilding known to have taken place in the 14th/15th Century. Pottery finds range from 12th/13th to 15th/16th Century. A scatter of Roman pottery was also found on the site. (PastScape ref. Rahtz, 1960 and HKW)

The ruins stand in land atop a SE facing slope, and comprise in the main only the stone rubble core. No traces of the ditch are to be seen on the surface, and the fish pond to the E has now been filled in, apparently by the county council. (PastScape ref. Field Investigators Comments–F1 BHS 25-MAR-74)

Gatehouse Comments

A large, important and significant palace of the Plantagenet kings. Unfortunately described as a 'hunting lodge' by Colvin in the History of the King's Works and by Rahtz which may have lead to its importance as a royal palace being overlooked. Excavation by Time Team in 2011 found probable chapel foundations. Pottery expert Paul Blinkhorn pointed out the C15/C16 pottery finds were of drinking vessels only, with no cooking or eating vessels of this date. He associated these with the demolition of the buildings circa 1470-1530. Outside of the scheduled area it is likely that standing medieval walls, incorporated into more modern houses in the village, represent the recorded gatehouse. The Wikipedia entry as of 14 July 2012 (mainly authored by archaeologist James Wright) is an outstanding online resource and should be consulted. It is likely (if not maliciously interfered with) to remain the easiest to access quality resource until James Wright and Andy Gaunt can publish a monograph. The promised monograph was be published June 2016 at A Palace For Our Kings

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

This is a Grade 2 listed building protected by law

Historic England Scheduled Monument Number
Historic England Listed Building number(s)
Images Of England
Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSK603647
Latitude53.1765289306641
Longitude-1.09874999523163
Eastings460340
Northings364770
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink
Copyright Dave Barlow of Abaroths World All Rights ReservedView full Sized Image
Copyright Dave Barlow of Abaroths World All Rights ReservedView full Sized Image
Copyright Dave Barlow of Abaroths World All Rights ReservedView full Sized Image
Copyright Dave Barlow of Abaroths World All Rights ReservedView full Sized Image
Copyright Dave Barlow of Abaroths World All Rights ReservedView full Sized Image
Copyright Dave Barlow of Abaroths World All Rights ReservedView full Sized Image
Copyright Dave Barlow of Abaroths World All Rights ReservedView full Sized Image
Photo by Philip Davis. All Rights Reserved

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Latitude 53° 10' 35.78" Longitude -1° 5' 55.46"

View full Sized Image
Photo by Philip Davis. All Rights Reserved

() above

Latitude 53° 10' 35.78" Longitude -1° 5' 55.46"

View full Sized Image
Photo by Philip Davis. All Rights Reserved

() above

Latitude 53° 10' 35.78" Longitude -1° 5' 55.46"

View full Sized Image
Photo by Philip Davis. All Rights Reserved

() above

Latitude 53° 10' 35.78" Longitude -1° 5' 55.46"

View full Sized Image
Photo by Philip Davis. All Rights Reserved

() above

Latitude 53° 10' 35.78" Longitude -1° 5' 55.46"

View full Sized Image
Photo by Philip Davis. All Rights Reserved

() above

Latitude 53° 10' 35.78" Longitude -1° 5' 55.46"

View full Sized Image
Photo by Philip Davis. All Rights Reserved

() above

Latitude 53° 10' 35.78" Longitude -1° 5' 55.46"

View full Sized Image
Photo by Philip Davis. All Rights Reserved

() above

Latitude 53° 10' 35.78" Longitude -1° 5' 55.46"

View full Sized Image
Photo by Philip Davis. All Rights Reserved

() above

Latitude 53° 10' 35.78" Longitude -1° 5' 55.46"

View full Sized Image
Photograph by Andrew Herrett. All rights reservedView full Sized Image
Photograph by Andrew Herrett. All rights reservedView full Sized Image
Photograph by Andrew Herrett. All rights reservedView full Sized Image
Photograph by Andrew Herrett. All rights reservedView full Sized Image
Photograph by Andrew Herrett. All rights reservedView full Sized Image
Photograph by Andrew Herrett. All rights reservedView full Sized Image
Photograph by Andrew Herrett. All rights reservedView full Sized Image
Photograph by Andrew Herrett. All rights reservedView full Sized Image
Photograph by Andrew Herrett. All rights reservedView full Sized Image
Photograph by Andrew Herrett. All rights reservedView full Sized Image
Photograph by Andrew Herrett. All rights reservedView full Sized Image
Photograph by Andrew Herrett. All rights reservedView full Sized Image
Photograph by Andrew Herrett. All rights reservedView full Sized Image
Photograph by Andrew Herrett. All rights reservedView full Sized Image
Photograph by Andrew Herrett. All rights reservedView full Sized Image
Photograph by Andrew Herrett. All rights reservedView full Sized Image
Photograph by Andrew Herrett. All rights reservedView full Sized Image
Photograph by Andrew Herrett. All rights reservedView full Sized Image

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

  • < >Wright, James, 2016, A Palace For Our Kings The history and archaeology of a Mediaeval royal palace in the heart of Sherwood Forest (Triskele Publishing) < >
  • Wright, James, 2008, Castles of Nottinghamshire (Nottinghamshire County Council) p. 54, 62
  • Bealby et al, 2001, A Celebration of King's Clipstone - 1000 years of History
  • James, T.B., 1990, The Palaces of Medieval England (London; Seaby) p. 78, 170
  • 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. 918-21 (plan)
  • Wylie, J.H., 1894, History of England under Henry IV (London: Longman) Vol. 2 p. 400 online copy
  • Wylie, J.H., 1894, History of England under Henry IV (London: Longman) Vol. 1 p. 140 online copy
  • Stapleton, A., 1890, A History of the Lordship of King's Clipstone or Clipstone in Sherwood, Nottinghamshire (J Linney) online copy
  • Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol. 3 Part 2 p. 224 online copy
  • Turner, T.H., 1851, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol. 1

Journals

  • Brennan, N., 2015, ‘A Time Team evaluation at King John’s Palace, Clipstone: a medieval palace in Sherwood Forest’ Transactions of the Thoroton Society of Nottinghamshire Vol. 119 p. 45-56
  • 2014, 'Hunting King John's palace in Sherwood Forest' Current Archaeology Issue 287 p. 11
  • Wright, James and Gaunt, Andy, 2013-14, ''A palace for our kings' – A decade of research into a royal residence in the heart of Sherwood Forest at Kings Clipstone, Nottinghamshire' Castle Studies Group Journal Vol. 27 p. 234-251
  • Gaunt, A. and Wright, J., 2013, 'A romantic royal retreat, and an idealised forest in miniature: the designed landscape of medieval Clipstone, at the heart of Sherwood Forest' Transactions of the Thornton Society of Nottinghamshire Vol. 117
  • Gaunt, Andy, 2013, 'Archaeologists further knowledge of Palace in Sherwood Forest' HeritageDaily online copy
  • Petersen, Erik, 2010, Jan 16, 'Saving King John's Palace from ruin' Nottingham Post (News report) online copy
  • Wright, James, 2004, 'A Survey of King John's Palace, King's Clipstone, Nottinghamshire' Transactions of the Thoroton Society of Nottinghamshire Vol. 108
  • Crook, D., 1976, 'Clipstone Park and 'Peel'' Transactions of the Thoroton Society of Nottinghamshire Vol. 80 p. 35-46
  • Rahtz, Philip A. and Colvin, H., 1960, 'King John's Palace, Clipstone' Transactions of the Thoroton Society of Nottinghamshire Vol. 64 p. 21-43

Primary Sources

  • Stubbs, Wm. (ed), 1870, Chronica Magistri Rogeri de Houedene Vol. 3 (London: Longman - Rolls series 51) p. 240, 243 online copy
  • 1887, The Great Roll of the Pipe for the eleventh year of the reign of King Henry the Second, A.D. 1164-1165 (Pipe Roll Society Publications 8) p. 53
  • 1905 The Great Roll of the Pipe for the twenty-third year of the reign of King Henry the Second, A.D. 1176-1177 (Pipe Roll Society Publications 26) p. 57-8 online copy
  • 1906 The Great Roll of the Pipe for the twenty-fourth year of the reign of King Henry the Second, A.D. 1177-1178 (Pipe Roll Society Publications 27) p. 86 online copy
  • 1907, (reprinted 1930), The Great Roll of the Pipe for the twenty-fifth year of the reign of King Henry the Second, A.D. 1178-1179 (Pipe Roll Society Publications 28) p. 80-1, 84 online copy
  • 1908, (reprinted 1930) The Great Roll of the Pipe for the twenty-sixth year of the reign of King Henry the Second, A.D. 1179-1180 (Pipe Roll Society Publications 29) p. 137 online copy
  • 1910, The Great Roll of the Pipe for the twenty-eighth year of the reign of King Henry the Second, A.D. 1181-1182 (Pipe Roll Society Publications 31) p. 19 online copy
  • Stenton, D.M. (ed.), 1929, The Great Roll of the Pipe for the seventh year of the reign of King Richard the First, Michaelmas 1195 (Pipe roll 41) (Pipe Roll Society Publications 44) p. 15
  • Stenton, D.M. (ed.), 1948, The Great Roll of the Pipe for the eleventh year of the reign of King John, Michaelmas 1209 (Pipe Roll 55) (Pipe Roll Society Publications 62) p. 109, 112
  • Slade, F.C. (ed.), 1951, The Great Roll of the Pipe for the twelfth year of the reign of King John, Michaelmas 1210 (Pipe Roll 56) (Pipe Roll Society Publications 64) p. 126
  • Hardy, T.D. (ed), 1833, Rotuli litterarum clausarum in turri Londinensi asservati (Record Commission) Vol. 1 p. 441b, 533, 544 online copy
  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1901, Calendar of Patent Rolls Henry III (1216-25) Vol. 1 p. 124-5 online copy
  • Stamp, A.E. (ed), 1930, Calendar of Liberate Rolls Henry III (1240-1245) Vol. 2 (London: HMSO) p. 254, 257 view online copy
  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1916, Calendar of Close Rolls Henry III (1242-47) Vol. 5 p. 214, 495
  • Stamp, A.E. (ed), 1937, Calendar of Liberate Rolls Henry III (1245-1251) Vol. 3 (London: HMSO) p. 102-3 view online copy
  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1916, Calendar of Close Rolls Henry III (1242-47) Vol. 5 p. 214
  • Evans, D.L. (ed), 1959, Calendar of Liberate Rolls Henry III (1251-1260) Vol. 4 (London: HMSO) p. 12, 18-19 view online copy
  • Stamp, A.E. (ed), 1927, Calendar of Close Rolls Henry III (1251-53) Vol. 7 p. 8, 25, 352
  • Stamp, A.E. (ed), 1931, Calendar of Close Rolls Henry III (1254-56) Vol. 9 p. 325-6
  • Stamp, A.E. (ed), 1932, Calendar of Close Rolls Henry III (1268-72) Vol. 14 p. 382
  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1896, Calendar of Close Rolls Edward III (1327-30) Vol. 1 p. 194-6, 237-8 online copy
  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1905, Calendar of Patent Rolls Edward III (1348-50) Vol. 8 p. 185 view online copy
  • National Archive E101/542/24 online reference
  • National Archive E101/460/18-19 online reference
  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1911, Calendar of Patent Rolls Edward III (1358-61) Vol. 11 p. 515 view online copy
  • National Archive E101/460/20-21 online reference
  • National Archive E101/135/20 online reference
  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1903, Calendar of Patent Rolls Henry IV (1399-1401) Vol. 1 p. 529, 549 view online copy
  • Rymer, Thomas, 1727 (2edn) Foedera, conventiones, literae, et cujuscunque generis acta publica Vol. 8 p. 205, 400 online copy
  • Nicolas, H. (ed), 1834, Proceedings and Ordinances of the Privy Council of England Vol. 4 p. 284
  • National Archive E364/77 rot. B online reference E364/81 rot. D [online reference > http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATLN=6&CATID=4772399&SearchInit=4&SearchType=6&CATREF=E364%2F81]
  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1907, Calendar of Patent Rolls Henry VI (1429-36) Vol. 2 p. 473 view online copy
  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1910, Calendar of Patent Rolls Henry VI (1452-61) Vol. 6 p. 104
  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1897, Calendar of Patent Rolls Edward IV (1461-67) p. 226-7 view online copy
  • SC11/12 (Survey of 16 Henry VIII) The National Archives reference

Other

  • Andy Gaunt, 2017, Geophysical Magntometer Survey of King John’s Palace in Sherwood Forest. Castle Field, Waterfield Farm, Kings Clipstone, Nottinghamshire. (SK6033364766) (Mercian Archaeological Services MAS024) online copy
  • Andy Gaunt, James Wright, Sean Crossley and David Budge, 2015, Excavation of the Medieval Boundary Ditch of King John's Palace, Kings Clipstone, Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire (Mercian Archaeological Services MAS010) online copy
  • Wright, James, 2013, The King's Houses - A palace or a mere hunting lodge? The story of a 20th century misidentification of a Mediaeval royal residence in Sherwood Forest (Mercian Archaeological Services CIC Occasional Papers 2) online copy
  • Wright, James, 2013, Brammer Farm House and Arundel Cottage Standing Building Report (Mercian Archaeological Services CIC) online copy
  • Time Team (Mike Aston et al), 2012, April 8 (1st broadcast), 'King John's Lost Palace' Time Team TV Programme (Time Team, a Videotext/Picture House production for Channel 4) view online
  • < >Gaunt, Andy, 2011, Clipstone Park and the Kings Houses (University of Birmingham) (MA Dissertation and Geophysical survey) online copy < >
  • Gaunt, Andy, 2011, Geophysical resistance survey of King John's Palace, Clipstone, Nottinghamshire (Nottingham County Council) online copy
  • Wessex Archaeology, 2011, King John's Palace, Clipstone, Nottinghamshire Archaeological Evaluation and Assessment of Results (Wessex Archaeology 77500.01) online copy
  • Kings Clipstone History Group, 2010, Kings John's Palace or the King's Houses online copy
  • Wright, James, 2010 Dec 9, pers. corr.
  • English Heritage, 2009, Heritage at Risk Register 2009 East Midlands (London: English Heritage) p. 63 online copy
  • Mordan, J and Wright, J., 2005, Condition Survey of King John's Palace, King's Clipstone, Nottinghamshire (Nottingham County Council)
  • Pre Construct Geophysics, 2004, Limited resistivity and magnetometry survey