Home > Basing House
Basing House, Hampshire, was a major English Tudor palace and castle that once rivalled Hampton Court Palace in its size and opulence. Today only the foundations and earthworks remain.1 History
Basing House was built in 1535 as a new palace for Sir William Paulet, the first Marquess of Winchester and 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 defenses. The two were linked by a bridge and gateway across and through the defenses, a link that was to prove fatal in the final battle for Basing House. Taken together, the house had 380 rooms, was 5 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 ICharles I ( 19 November 1600 30 January 1649) was King of England, Scotland and Ireland from 27 March 1625, until his death. He famously engaged in a struggle for power with Parliament; he was an advocate of the divine right of kings, but his foes in Parl. As a consequence, Basing House was attacked by parliamentary troops on three different occasions. The first two attacks were successfully driven off by the defenders.
The final seige started in August of 1645Events February 15 New Model Army is founded officially June 14 English Civil War: Battle of Naseby 12,000 Royalist forces are beaten by 15,000 Parliamentarian soldiers June 28 English Civil War the Royalists lose Carlisle July 2: Fight at Alford, Aberdee 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 CromwellOliver Cromwell ( April 25, 1599 September 3, 1658) was an English military leader and politician. After leading the overthrow of the British monarchy he ruled England, Scotland and Ireland as Lord Protector from December 16, 1653 until his death, which i arrived with heavy artillery. By October 13October 13 is the 286th day of the year (287th in leap years). There are 79 days remaining. Events 54 Roman Empire emperor Claudius I dies after being poisoned by his wife Agrippina. 1307 All Knights Templar in France are simultaneously arrested by agents 1645Events February 15 New Model Army is founded officially June 14 English Civil War: Battle of Naseby 12,000 Royalist forces are beaten by 15,000 Parliamentarian soldiers June 28 English Civil War the Royalists lose Carlisle July 2: Fight at Alford, Aberdee 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 LondonThe Tower of London is officially Her Majesty's Palace and Fortress, The Tower of London although the last ruler to reside in it as a palace was King James I ( 1566- 1625). The White Tower the square building with turrets on each corner that gave it its n on a charge of high treason, although these charges were later dropped, and the site of Basing House returned to him by King Charles IICharles II ( 29 May 1630 6 February 1685) was the King of England, Scotland and Ireland from 30 January 1649 de jure or 29 May 1660 de facto until his death. Charles II's father, Charles I, had been executed in 1649 following the English Civil War; the mo. His son Charles PauletCharles Paulet, 1st Duke of Bolton (c. 1625 27 February 1699), who became the sixth Marquess of Winchester on his father's death in 1675, was MP for Winchester and then for Hampshire from 1660 to 1675. Having supported the claim of William and Mary to the 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 .
