Bexhill Manor of Bishop of Chichester

Has been described as a Certain Palace (Bishop), and also as a Certain Fortified Manor House

There are masonry ruins/remnants remains

NameBexhill Manor of Bishop of Chichester
Alternative Names
Historic CountrySussex
Modern AuthorityEast Sussex
1974 AuthorityEast Sussex
Civil ParishBexhill

Formerly a Manor House of the Bishops of Chichester. It is stone-built and of irregular plan. The oldest part is L-shaped, the two arms running N and W. At the junction there is a small wing, probably Elizabethan. There is evidence of 14th century work in places. The house was fortified in 1447 (VCH).

Considerable alterations and additions made to the original structure are in keeping with the style of the old house. The best original work is visible on the E side of the N wing, facing the court.

The Manor House was largely demolished 5-6 years ago, but some interior and exterior footings and walls, much restored, were incorporated into what is now known as "Manor House Public Gardens".

The gardens also incorporate the former barn, library and stables of the house (Field Investigators Comments–F1 GWR 26-MAY-52). (PastScape)

Gatehouse Comments

It is unlikely that the licence to crenellate issued in 1447 resulted in anything other than decorative crenellations, although the house may well have had some defensive features before then.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceTQ746079
Latitude50.8450698852539
Longitude0.479299992322922
Eastings574640
Northings107990
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Calculate Print

Books

  • Emery, Anthony, 2006, Greater Medieval Houses of England and Wales Vol. 3 Southern England (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) p. 440
  • Thompson, M.W., 1998, Medieval bishops' houses in England and Wales (Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing) p. 168, 173
  • Salzman, L.F. (ed), 1937, VCH Sussex Vol. 9 p. 116

Antiquarian

Primary Sources

  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1927, Calendar of Charter Rolls 5 Henry VI - 8 Henry VIII, AD 1427-1516, with an appendix, 1215-1288 Vol. 6. (HMSO) p. 94-5 online copy

Other

  • Harris, R.B., Oct 2008, Bexhill Historic Character Assessment Report: Sussex Extensive Urban Survey Download copy
  • Payne, Naomi, 2003, The medieval residences of the bishops of Bath and Wells, and Salisbury (PhD Thesis University of Bristol) Appendix B: List of Medieval Bishop's Palaces in England and Wales (available via EThOS)
  • Martin, D., 1975, Bexhill – The Manor House (unpubl. Rape of Hastings Architectural Survey report 0183)