Basing House – Past, Present, and Future

Hello and welcome to the new Basing House project blog!

In future posts we will bring you news of the project as it develops between now and the big relaunch next summer – plus some stuff we hope you will find interesting about this fascinating historic site, and some of the challenges we’ve faced and how we’ve decided to tackle them.

A bit of background…

Queen Elizabeth I visits Basing House in 1601

Recognising the great importance of Basing House and the vulnerability of some of its remains Hampshire County Council bought the site in the early 1970’s to preserve it and to allow it to be enjoyed and studied by all.

Although parts of the site have been open to the public for many years (during the summer months only) we have lacked resources to provide the first class facilities that Basing House and its visitors deserve ,  from basics like on-site refreshments and good toilets to a range of aids that will help schoolchildren and families – indeed people of all ages and backgrounds – to learn about the tremendous history of the site.

Achieving these long-held ambitions has now been made possible by generous grants from the County Council itself, the Heritage Lottery Fund, Basingtoke & Deane Borough Council, Renaissance South East and the Friends of Basing House.

Our Ambition

We feel sure that anyone who is already familiar with Basing House and its stories will, like us, love its natural beauty, treasure its historic remains and be enthralled by its great stories. Our aim is to share this gem with more people – encouraging them to visit, helping them to learn in new ways about the people who lived there and the dramatic events that happened, and providing them with the facilities and services that will make them want to come again  – and tell their families and friends and about it too!

For more information about the history of Basing House and future plans visit our website: www.hants.gov.uk/basing-house.

Explore our blog:

– About
– Past, Present, Future
– A New Chapter
– A New Logo
– Coming next…