Dedisham Manor

Has been described as a Possible Fortified Manor House

There are earthwork remains

NameDedisham Manor
Alternative NamesDachesam; Dachesham; Daddesham; Dodesham; Deadsome; Detsum Place; Detsom; Mansfield Park
Historic CountrySussex
Modern AuthorityWest Sussex
1974 AuthorityWest Sussex
Civil ParishSlinfold

"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 The building itself is a "listed" building, and has in centuries past, been also known as, or recorded in historical documents as, Dachesam or Dachesham, We know that, in 1329, Thomas Trego was granted a licence to crenellate 'Dachesam'.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 Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as Dachesam; Dachesham, Dackesham, Dodesham, or Daddesham., and often also, the capital "D" was replaced by the letter "T", so we had taddesham, Toddesham,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 ReferenceTQ111328
Latitude51.084400177002
Longitude-0.414889991283417
Eastings511120
Northings132870
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Emery, Anthony, 2006, Greater Medieval Houses of England and Wales Vol. 3 Southern England (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) p. 439
  • Jones, R., 2003, 'Hastings to Herstmonceux: the castles of Sussex' in Rudling, D. (ed) The archaeology of Sussex to AD2000 (Great Dunham: Heritage Marketing and Publications) p. 171-8
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 475 (possible)
  • Elwes, Dudley George Cary, 1876, A history of the Castles, Mansions, and Manors of Western Sussex (London: Longmans) p. 204 (misidentified as Dixter) online copy
  • Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol. 3 Part 2 p. 409 online copy

Journals

  • Apedaile, E.G., 1928, Sussex Archaeological Collections Vol. 69 p. 233
  • Winbolt, S.E., 1923, Sussex Archaeological Collections Vol. 64 p. 84
  • Blaauw, William Henry, 1861, ' Royal Licenses to Fortify Towns and Houses in Sussex' Sussex Archaeological Collections Vol. 13 p. 104-117 online copy

Primary Sources

  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1891, Calendar of Patent Rolls Edward III (1327-30) Vol. 1 p. 495 online copy