98 THE NEW FOREST 



ments of his reign are dated from Lyndhurst. But 

 his Queen, Eleanor of Castille, made Lyndhurst her 

 home during the absences of the King on his 

 wars against the Welsh. In this reign an order 

 was issued for " twenty oaks to make laths for the 

 use of the Queen's manor house at Lyndhurst " : this 

 rather points to repairs or construction on a con- 

 siderable scale. 



In 1388 a hall was built within the lodge, and 

 this hall became called the Verderers' Hall, since 

 the Forest courts were held there. It existed un- 

 touched until 1851, when the house was badly 

 altered, and hi part it exists now. 



The " old house " was repaired and enlarged by 

 Henry VIII, and probably the old porch leading 

 into the back-yard, once the main entrance to 

 the hall, dates from that reign. 1 



In 1634 the King, Charles I, issued letters patent 

 to John Chamberlayne of Lyndhurst " for the new 

 building of divers lodginges for our use and service 

 adjoyning to the old house at Lyndhurst in the 

 Newe Forrest, as also, a Kitchyn, Pastrie, Larder 

 and other offices, and a stable to contain fortie 

 horse according to the plots and directions given 

 by the Surveyours of our Workes. 



" The charges of the materialles and workmanship 

 whereof, according to the estimate thereof made, 



1 See Victoria County History of Hants, vol. ii. 



