Castlefacts³

Castello of Hamo Petit, Brantham

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

There are uncertain remains

Name	Castello of Hamo Petit, Brantham
Alternative Names
Historic Country	Suffolk
Modern Authority	Suffolk
1974 Authority	Suffolk
Civil Parish	Brantham

Translations from the Dodnash Priory Charters under Brantham (Taxatio, 129) include following references to a castle: 'in closely datable document only until 1202 (71-2).... and not long afterwards William (son of) Helte gave land adjacent to the small castle (castello) of Hamo Petit (77)' and '(77) grant in pure and perpetual alms by William son of Helte to the canons, for saluation of his soul and those of his father..... of that part of his land at Brantham above "Aldefeld", which abuts on the castle (castello) of Hamo-Petit. Early C13'. (Suffolk HER ref. Harper-Bill)

Gatehouse Comments

Since this seems to be a use of the term castello to mean a manorial centre the most likely location must be that of Brantham Hall, which is earlier than C15 in origin and which was originally moated. In 1202 this was probably a timber building. However this is by no means a certain identification and the nearby Brantham Court (TM127343) has a name suggestive of a manorial centre although some distance from the parish church. Harper Bill footnotes (p. 17n66) that 'there were four manors in Brantham, One of these came to be known as Brantham Hall, another as Braham Hall, near the hamlet of Cattawade (Copinger, Manors vi, 22-3)'. Braham Hall, at TM099335, is also moated but seems to be the submanor of Brantham.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

County Historic Environment Record

www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MSF18897&resourceID=1017

OS Map Grid Reference	TM119339
Latitude	51.9630889892578
Longitude	1.08422994613647
Eastings	611955
Northings	233915