Earnley

Has been described as a Possible Fortified Manor House

There are uncertain remains

NameEarnley
Alternative NamesErnles; Ernley
Historic CountrySussex
Modern AuthorityWest Sussex
1974 AuthorityWest Sussex
Civil ParishEarnley

Near the parish church' is site of fortified manor of the Ernley (alternatively Ernle or Ernles) family. Supposed once surrounded by moat. (Guy 1984)

The seat of the Ernles, a large castellated mansion, surrounded by a moat, stood near the church. (Elwes)

The house now called Earnley Manor at SZ81669702 is grade 2 listed and 'This is an C18/early C19 refronting of an earlier building. Two storeys. Four windows. Stuccoed. Parapet. Tiled roof. Glazing bars intact.' (Listed Building Report)

Gatehouse Comments

Is the earlier building a remnant of the medieval manor? Even on the 1st edition OS map of 1875 there is nothing that suggest a moat near the church and there has been some development around the church since then further masking the medieval landscape. Earnley is a parish close to the coast and, therefore, arguable at risk from raids by the French and French privateers. The is no reason, other than the complete lack of any remains, to think Elwes account was not true but this does read as a a secondary account and no checkable source is given. Not recorded in PastScape. The given map reference is for the parish church.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSZ816969
Latitude50.7662696838379
Longitude-0.844079971313477
Eastings481620
Northings96930
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Guy, John, 1984, Castles in Sussex (Phillimore) p. 127
  • Elwes, Dudley George Cary, 1876, A history of the Castles, Mansions, and Manors of Western Sussex (London: Longmans) p. 75 online copy