Basing House

The remains of the Basing House, once the country's largest private house and the palace of the powerful courtier William Paulet, Marquess of Winchester. The earthwork banks and ditches of an earlier medieval castle still dominate the ruins. The wealth and power of the Paulet family, their loyalty to the crown and nearness to London brought disaster to Basing in the Civil War. After long sieges and bombardments the House fell to Oliver Cromwell in person.

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  To help understand the story and the beautiful but disturbed grounds, visitors can see an exhibition, join occasional guided tours, and watch period demonstrations.... walk through the re-created Jacobean Garden with its Tudor walls... view the story of Basing House exhibition and the tragic war which destroyed it.

   

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  The banks and ditches of a Norman castle were added to five centuries later to turn the house into a powerful fortress that withstood attack for so long during the Civil War. See the The Old House - the foundations and cellars of the Tudor mansion as revealed by the archaeologists and the recently discovered remains of the north wing of the New House, long thought to have been destroyed.

   

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  Take a beautiful Riverside walk along the banks of the River Loddon, past the former manor fish ponds and visit the magnificent Tudor Great Barn. Cross the Canal Bridge over the old London to Basingstoke Canal. The navvies are said to have found treasure as they cut through the ruins 200 years ago.

   

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  School visits
  There are exciting changes for Schools visiting Basing House as part of the redevelopment of the site. Find out about the new hands on teaching sessions for schools.