In 1537, after the suppression of the monasteries, Titchfield Abbey was transformed into a grand mansion called Place House.
The abbey was granted to Thomas Wriothesley, later Earl of Southampton, who was a loyal civil servant to King Henry VIII. He played a key part in the king’s suppression of the monasteries and was given monastic lands as a reward.
Central to Wriothesley’s new domain were the 11 manors and 5,000 acres (2,024 hectares) surrounding Titchfield Abbey. He transformed the main abbey buildings into Place House, a residence fit for a rising courtier.
Several royal visitors were entertained at Place House, including Henry VIII, Edward VI and Elizabeth I. William Shakespeare was a friend of the family and probably visited. It is thought that some of his plays were first performed at the house.
On the death of the 4th Earl of Southampton, Titchfield passed through several families, until it was eventually dismantled in 1781.
Disclaimer
The text and pictures on this page are derived from the 'Heritage Unlocked' series of guidebooks published in 2004. We intend to review, update and enhance the content in the near future as part of the Portico project, whose objective is to provide information on the history, significance, research background and sources for all English Heritage properties.
