King John’s House in Romsey has been awarded £175,650, including £58,650 in match funding, by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to look towards the long-term future of the museum and heritage site.
The grant will fund KJH 2030: From Crisis to Confidence, a new project which will create a whole-site masterplan to transform the museum spaces and broaden audience engagement, creating a vibrant local museum for Romsey and ensuring its long-term viability and sustainability.
This vital funding will facilitate a programme of specialist studies and community engagement to inform and shape a long-term strategy to protect this treasured cultural resource for future generations.
The resulting masterplan will help King John’s House tackle low visitor numbers post-Covid, rising costs and financial uncertainty. These factors, also experienced by other small independent museums, have been exacerbated by the fire damage to the site’s Grade I-listed medieval hall in February 2025. The masterplan will also build on the huge support for King John’s House within the wider community which became apparent in the aftermath of the fire.
Match funding has been generously provided by Test Valley Borough Council, Hampshire County Council Councillor Grant, Romsey Town Council, the Pilgrims Trust, Romsey and District Society, the King John’s House Garden Fund, Hampshire Field Club and the King John’s House Steering Group, Trustees and Volunteers.
Freddie Law-Turner, Chair of Trustees for King John’s House, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded a Heritage Fund grant, to help us progress our plans to make King John’s House and Museum a strong, sustainable, independent museum for the people of Romsey and the surrounding area.
“Our aim is always to combine our responsibility to preserve and care for one of the two most important buildings in Romsey with our duty to create a vibrant, engaging local museum for everyone. I would particularly like to thank my fellow trustees, our staff and volunteers who gave their time to shape the application, along with the Cultural Consulting Network and Caroe Architecture Ltd, who contributed so much to it.”
Stuart McLeod, Director of England – London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Thanks to National Lottery players, we are delighted to support King John’s House and Museum as it plans for the future. This funding will help develop a long-term vision for the site, ensuring this treasured heritage asset can continue to engage and inspire local people while building a sustainable future for generations to come.”
Rachel White, Inspector of Historic Buildings and Areas at Historic England, said: “It’s great news that King John’s House have been successful in their bid to fund a framework and plan for the conservation of this exceptional 13th century building. We look forward to continuing to support the museum as they develop plans to secure a sustainable future for the museum for the local community.”
Cllr Colin Burgess, Town Mayor of Romsey, welcomed the news that King John’s House has been successful in its application for a first grant from the Heritage Fund. Speaking on behalf of Romsey Town Council, the Mayor said: “The Council very much values King John’s House as one of Romsey’s key heritage assets. The Council looks forward to restoration of the Grade 1 listed building and the development of the site into Romsey’s Museum, gallery and events venue.”
Following investigative specialist conservation work in recent months, the first stages of the restoration of the Medieval Hall will begin in autumn 2026. A centenary exhibition is planned for 2027, which will be the museum’s first exhibition following the fire. This will mark the ‘discovery’ of King John’s House by former owner Mabel Moody and archaeologist Walter Andrew in 1927 and its recognition as a key part of Romsey’s history.