King Johns Palace also known as the King's Houses was an important royal residence for the Plantagenet kings. The ruins are only a small part of this important royal residence. The part of the site that has been investigated has yielded a wealth of information that confirms there was a complex of high status buildings on this site. Royal records show that this was the favoured residence for the Plantagenet Kings when in the area. It was only during the 20th century that the ruins became known as a hunting lodge. In an age when the court had to travel to spread the burden on local food and forage supplies, Henry II, Richard I, John, Henry III, Edward I, Edward II, Edward III, and Richard II all stayed for weeks or even months at a time in Clipstone. Ideally situated at the heart of ancient Sherwood, and only a day’s ride from Nottingham, they could enjoy the pleasures of the beautiful countryside and rich hunting away from the main palaces. Situated on the high ground above the River Maun with the Great Pond of Clipstone to the east, the site would have been fairly secure and very pleasant.   The deer park, over seven miles in circumference was enclosed in 1178/79 with a wooden pale of sharpened wooden stakes. The Great Pond provided water to power the mill and the fish it contained were an essential source of protein, especially as only fish could be eaten on a Friday.

A variety of materials were used to construct the building. The ruins are constructed of local sandstone and magnesium limestone, probably from Mansfield Woodhouse. Records show that other buildings were constructed of timber on stone foundations or wholly of timber. The later buildings were roofed using sandstone slates from Mansfield. A layer of dressed stone blocks (ashlar blocks) would have been laid in an inner and outer course using a lime mortar. Stone rubble held together by mortar would then have been packed between the inner and outer face blocks and the wall left for some time whilst the mortar set (unlike modern cement, lime mortar sets very slowly). During the hardening period more ashlar blocks would have been dressed on site to have a smooth face ready for the next course.