Dedisham Manor
Has been described as a Possible Fortified Manor House
There are earthwork remains
Name | Dedisham Manor |
Alternative Names | Dachesam; Dachesham; Daddesham; Dodesham; Deadsome; Detsum Place; Detsom; Mansfield Park |
Historic Country | Sussex |
Modern Authority | West Sussex |
1974 Authority | West Sussex |
Civil Parish | Slinfold |
"Detsom" Manor, Slinfold, has had a long and chequered history, and a lot of digging in the archives is needed to study what exactly went on here. The building itself is a "listed" building, and has in centuries past, been also known as, or recorded in historical documents as, Dachesam or Dachesham, We know that, in 1329, Thomas Trego was granted a licence to crenellate 'Dachesam'. and some circles this site has been suggested as Great Dixter, but tenurial history suggests it is the "Mainly C18 house enclosed by a semi-circular moat which joins the River Arun to form the north side. A Medieval fishpond is present to the southeast of the house."
It was the principal manor of Slinfold Parish; It was divided between Slinfold and Rudgwick. Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as Dachesam; Dachesham, Dackesham, Dodesham, or Daddesham., and often also, the capital "D" was replaced by the letter "T", so we had taddesham, Toddesham, etc. It is situated partly in Slinfold and partly in Rudgwick; Winbolt speculates “that Dedisham, like so many medieval manors, rose near the Roman Road, and, naturally enough, in its construction were used freely the building materials found on the site of the camp” (of Alfoldean). He also observes that “Roman Brick has been turned up in its gardens” (SAC Vol LXIV., P. 84). (Symond 2007 – the quote is from PastScape)
At Dedisham House repairs laid bare a fine example of Sussex daub and wattle work (Apedaile 1928). Roman material from the site of Alfoldean Roman station has been used in the construction of Dedisham, and Roman brick found in the gardens (Winbolt 1923). The building suffered bomb damage during WWII, but has been repaired (OS. 1956) Dedisham, a much restored house of mainly C18 appearance and of little architectural interest. Now divided into two residences. Not outstanding. It is enclosed by a semi-circular homestead moat, the open ends adjoining the River Arun which forms the N side
A pondbay across a small stream to the W impounded water to fill the moat, but only the SE side is now wet. The original causewayed entrance over the E side is flanked by short lengths of earthen rampart. The present rampart is across the pondbay from the W at TQ11300264, 200 m SE of the house, is a rectangular, probably Medieval, fishpond, waterfilled and in good condition (OS. 1971). (West Sussex HER)
Not scheduled
This is a Grade 2 listed building protected by law
Historic England Scheduled Monument Number
Historic England Listed Building number(s)
Images Of England
Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid Reference | TQ111328 |
Latitude | 51.084400177002 |
Longitude | -0.414889991283417 |
Eastings | 511120 |
Northings | 132870 |