Otham nr. Polegate / Otham Abbey

Hussey (1852) writes: "At Otham farm are the remains of a chapel, now used as a stable.- This chapel was probably the Church of St. Lawrence of Otham, mentioned in a deed of Ranuph of Iclesham". Harrison (1920) writes: "There was a Premonstratensian Abbey here (12th c.) but the monks moved to Bayham Abbey in 1203, The chapel of St. Lawrence, built by the monks, was a stable in 1826.: The Victoria County History (Sussex, vol. 2, 1973) notes: "The abbey of St. Mary and St. Laurence was founded about 1180 by Ralph de Dene, who granted his land and chapel of Otham in Hailsham parish with other lands and rents in the neighbourhood to establish a house of Premonstratensian canons. [...] The bleak and unhealthy situation of Otham, out in the marshes and even now hardly accessible in winter, and the poorness of their endowments soon rendered life so unbearable that the canons began to consider the desirability of removing [...] After the removal Otham sank to the position of a grange, a canon no doubt being frequently resident there to act as bailiff of the farm and to serve the chapel, which was evidently kept up, as in 1404". [NB: the VCH's entry cites Salzman's 'History of the Parish of Hailsham' (1901: 173-193) as source,] The Pastscape site, English Heritage [www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=408329] [accessed 31 January 2013] notes: "St Laurence's Chapel dates from about 1350. [...] The chapel, now a storehouse, is of flint and greensand with greensand dressings, much repaired with various materials. [...] The building is in poor condition."