King John's Hunting Lodge, Axbridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids King John's Hunting Lodge, Axbridge |
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King John's Hunting Lodge
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| Location | Axbridge |
| Area | Somerset |
| Built | 1460 |
| Architectural style(s) | Timber-frame |
| Governing body | Axbridge and District Museum Trust |
| Owner | National Trust |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Official name: King John's Hunting Lodge (Axbridge Museum) | |
| Designated | 9 February 1961 |
| Reference no. | 1059142 |
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King John's Hunting Lodge is a historic building in Axbridge, a town in Somerset, England. It was built around 1460, which was long after the death of King John in 1216. This means King John never actually lived or hunted here!
The building was originally a home for a wool merchant. It is made of wood, with the upper floors sticking out over the lower ones. This style is called "jettied" timber framing. It has three floors and sits on a corner of the town square. Over the years, it has been used for many things. The ground floor had shops, while the upper floors were for living and working. At one point, part of the building was a pub called the King's Head Inn. A carved head of a king, which was the pub's sign, is now kept inside the building, and a copy is on the outside.
In 1971, the lodge was given to the National Trust. They fixed it up because it was in bad shape. Today, the National Trust leases the house to the Axbridge and District Museum Trust. They run it as a local museum, showing off the history of the area from ancient times to World War II. It is also a Grade II* listed building, which means it's a very important historic site.
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The Lodge's Long History
The spot where King John's Hunting Lodge stands today was once home to another building in 1340. That building belonged to someone named John Oldeway and was known as "the stockhouse," with shops inside. The current building, which we know as the lodge, was built much later, around 1460.
When it was first built, the ground floor was used for shops. The first floor had living areas and workshops, while the second floor was mainly for storage and sleeping. This house is one of the best examples of timber-frame buildings in Axbridge. It has three floors, and the upper floors stick out on two sides. You can see curved wooden supports, called brackets, holding up the floors above. The whole structure is built around a strong wooden post at the front corner, which helps support the floors.
In the 1800s and early 1900s, the building changed a lot as different shops moved in. These changes caused the building to get quite run down. Then, in 1930, a woman named Miss Ripley bought it. She used it to store her collection of old items and would let people see them once a year. In 1971, she gave the building to the National Trust. The National Trust then worked hard to repair it and save it from falling apart.
During these repairs, the National Trust tried to bring back its original medieval look. They made the ground floor look like it had open stalls facing the street, just as it would have centuries ago. They also restored the look of the windows on the upper floors to how they might have appeared in the 1500s.
Why is it Called King John's Hunting Lodge?
The name of the lodge is a bit of a mystery! It wasn't built until long after King John died in 1216. The name "King John's Hunting Lodge" first appeared in a book in 1915, when the building was a saddler's shop.
The "king" part of the name might come from a carved king's head that was on the building. This carving was a sign for a pub called The King's Head Inn, which used to be part of the building. We don't know if the head was meant to be King John or another king. The original carved head is now kept safely inside the building, and a copy has been placed on the outside.
Discover the Museum
The National Trust owns King John's Hunting Lodge. It is run as a local history museum by the Axbridge and District Museum Trust. They get help from the Somerset County Museums Service and the Axbridge Archaeological and Local History Society. Until 2011, the museum received money from the local council. After that, they started charging a small fee to help cover the costs of running the museum.
The museum's goal is to show the history, geology (the study of rocks and land), and community of Axbridge and the nearby villages like Cheddar and Wedmore. There are many permanent displays that are updated regularly. The museum also has special temporary exhibitions that focus on different parts of local life and history.
Each room in the museum has a special theme. You can learn about what life was like during World War II or how law and order worked in the past. Another exhibit shows local geology and amazing things found in nearby caves. For example, you can see a sharp flint tool from the Neolithic (New Stone Age) period, found in Ebbor Gorge. The museum also displays paintings of local scenes and interesting objects. One special item is a clock made by John Bilbie, who was part of the famous Bilbie family of clockmakers from Axbridge. You can also see a merchant's table called a "nail." These tables had a flat top with raised edges to stop coins from falling off onto the ground.
See also
- List of National Trust properties in Somerset
