Castlefacts³

Castrum Dheriam

Has been described as a Questionable Timber Castle (Other/Unknown)

There are uncertain remains

Name	Castrum Dheriam
Alternative Names
Historic Country	Sussex
Modern Authority	Uncertain
1974 Authority	Uncertain
Civil Parish

Mentioned in 1216 when held on behalf of Henry III. King writes "Described as having been defended against Louis of France and his partisans by Philip d'Albini and William de Wawz (i.e. Sir William de Casingham,'Willikin of the Weald', the Sussex guerrilla leader). The proper names in this chronicle (Ann. Dunstable) are sometimes very wildly rendered, but the allusion to d'Albini suggests this is Arundel, if it is a castle at all. It is more likely to be Rye (castrum de Ria?) held in the Winchelsea fighting of this year (hist. des Ducs, 182-3, 187) and erroneously described as a castle by the Dunstable annalist."

Dum igitur Lodowicus Londoniis resideret, orta est guerra in Suthsexia contra suos apud castrum Dheriam per Filippum de Aubeni et Willelmum de Wawz, qui fuerant ex parte regis. (Ann. Dunstable)

Gatehouse Comments

Questionable as a separate now lost site. Gatehouse accepts King's suggestion this was a reference to the town of Rye. Rye was not walled in 1216 (The Town walls were built in the C14.) but the natural position is moderately defensive. Rye did contain a strong house (une forte maison) of Geoffrey de Saye in 1216 although it is not suggested here that this house was the 'castrum Dheriam'.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

OS Map Grid Reference
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