King John's House

King John’s House is one of those buildings you treasure forever. It’s right in the centre of the Hampshire market town of Romsey.

But, intriguingly represents 750 years of history which is one of those treasures you must never forget in our modern 21st century lives.

It’s officially known as Romsey’s heritage centre, and just yards away from the town ancient Norman Abbey, is a treasure for the local community and visitors alike.

King John’s House dates from the 13th century, and today, along with the Tudor building alongside is both a period flavour tea room with a meeting room upstairs on the first floor.

My first introduction was while attending a musical concert at the Abbey, that we adjourned for drinks and titbits on the first floor of King John’s House. Since then the quaint tea rooms, known locally as Miss Moody’s provide a magical attraction to the town centre and capture the historical moments of the town. Inside, it’s a world apart from the hustle and bustle of the town. Try the tea and scones, you’ll be spoilt forever.

In King John's House visitors today can see many early features, including the roof timbers, graffiti cut into the medieval plaster and a rare bone floor. The Tudor cottage is a late Tudor/early Jacobean timber-framed house.

The Victorian museum features aspects of Romsey life during the Victorian and Edwardian period. The 'old gunshop' has been reconstructed upstairs, using original fixtures, fittings and display items from the period

A treasure indeed!