King John's House, Medieval museum in Romsey, England
King John's House is a three-part stone structure built with flint walls, featuring an early English window with geometric details on its west side. Inside, the rooms hold collections of objects from medieval times onward, showing how the building's purpose changed over centuries.
The house was built around 1230 and first served as a hunting lodge, then later took on a new role as a guest house connected to a nearby abbey. This shift in purpose shows how the building adapted to changing needs in the region.
Walking through the rooms reveals layers of occupation spanning centuries, showing how people adapted and used these spaces. The building functions today as a gathering place where visitors connect with the local past through the objects and spaces that remain.
Visitors need to arrange a visit in advance, as the house operates with set opening times rather than drop-in access. A small café on-site provides refreshments and is open during most visiting hours.
Restoration work uncovered faded wall paintings and markings from the Middle Ages, including rare merchant symbols hidden beneath later layers. These hidden traces reveal that people from different trades used the house and hint at the commerce of that era.
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