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The comprehensive gazetteer and bibliography of the medieval castles, fortifications and palaces of England, Wales, the Islands.
 
 
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Firle Place

In the civil parish of Firle.
In the historic county of Sussex.
Modern Authority of East Sussex.
1974 county of East Sussex.
Medieval County of Sussex (Rape of Pevensey).

OS Map Grid Reference: TQ47350715
Latitude 50.84486° Longitude 0.09144°

Firle Place has been described as a Fortified Manor House but is rejected as such.

There are masonry ruins/remnants remains.

This is a Grade 1 listed building protected by law*.

Description

Firle Place is a country house probably built by Sir John Cage in the early 16th century, however part of it may date to the late 15th century. The present exterior almost wholly dates to the 18th century, as it was remodelled between 1744 and 1754 by Thomas Gage, 1st Viscount Gage and the eastern part of the house was added between 1754 and 1783 by William Gage, 2nd Viscount Gage. (PastScape)

The exterior of this mansion dates almost wholly from the C18. But the western half was built in the early C16, probably by Sir John Gage who was Constable of the Tower in Henry VIII's reign (d 1557). Part may even date from the late C15. Its exterior was then georgianised by the first Viscount Gage between 1744 and 1754. (Listed Building Report)
Comments

Suggest castle site rejected by King as C17-C18 house. A reference in the Domesday Book to 'custodes castelli', probably the garrison/wardens of Pevensey, may be the cause of this site being consider that of a castle.
There was a medieval house here, the home of the Gage's a family of knightly status. There is nothing to suggest that house was moated but it is not impossible it had some decorative crenellations and some domestic security features.
Links to archaeological and architectural databases, mapping and other online resources

Data >
PastScape   County HER       Listing   I. O. E.
Maps >
Streetmap   NLS maps   Where's the path   Old-Maps      
Data/Maps > 
Magic   V. O. B.   Geology   LiDAR   Open Domesday  
Air Photos > 
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Sources of information, references and further reading
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The bibliography owes much to various bibliographies produced by John Kenyon for the Council for British Archaeology, the Castle Studies Group and others.
Suggestions for finding online and/or hard copies of bibliographical sources can be seen at this link.
Minor archaeological investigations, such as watching brief reports, and some other 'grey' literature is most likely to be held by H.E.R.s but is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded here, or elsewhere, but some suggestions can be found here.
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*The listed building may not be the actual medieval building, but a building on the site of, or incorporating fragments of, the described site.
This record last updated 26/07/2017 09:19:31

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