IT is one of Hampshire’s oldest surviving buildings – with parts dating back nearly 800 years.

King John’s House in Romsey was once the main building in a major medieval complex.

Many early features, including the roof timbers, graffiti cut into the medieval plaster and a rare bone floor can be seen by visitors.

The history of the site of King John’s House’s gardens can be traced back to the late 1530s, when King Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries. Then King John’s House and the surrounding land belonged to the Romsey Benedictine nunnery.

Today the Heritage Centre in Church Street is made up of three parts – the mid-13th century King John’s House, a Tudor cottage which houses the tea rooms, and a Victorian building which is home to the museum.

Now King John’s House is in need of some tender loving care to preserve parts of the building which suffered damage in last winter’s storms.

Daily Echo:

Repair work will cost £8,352 – half of which would be covered by a Community Asset Fund Grant if an application to Test Valley Borough Council is successful. However, the centre needs support from the public if it is to get the cash.

Manager Anne James said: “To get the grant though we have to have evidence of support from the community so, please, it takes two seconds to click on our Facebook link and click like or comment.

“There are numerous areas of medieval plaster on the walls of King John’s House which need reinstating, and the walls have not received a coat of protective limewash for over ten years.”

She added that the museum has not had any interior renovations for 13 years and had suffered damage to ceilings and walls when water came in through the roof last winter.

Test Valley Borough Council, as the landlord, has repaired the roof, but the interior repairs are the responsibility of the trustees.

The council decides on the latest round of grants in January. If successful King John’s House would shut down for a short period soon after for the repairs to be carried out before reopening in March.

Anne said that the repairs were only a short-term measure to preserve the fabric of the building and in the long-run the trustees hope to make a lottery grant for £50,000 to upgrade the museum with audio guides and more hands-on exhibits.

Before they can apply for the Lotto cash King John’s House must gain official museum accreditation from the Arts Council. To help them achieve this they are being |mentored by Karen Wardley from Southampton's Tudor House Museum.

Support King John’s House’s community asset application at facebook.com/pages/King-Johns-House-Heritage-Centre.