Dedisham Manor Formerly Owned by 3 Major Families

Throughout most of its existence, Dedisham was held as a sub-manor of Goring and the families who owned it, were Lords of the latter estate. In the year 1271, Henry Tregoz held the manor of Dedisham having obtained in 1256, a charter of free warren therein. (Claus Rot. 41. Hen III. m 3)How it had devolved to him does not appear, but the Charter was confirmed in 1301 to his son Thomas Tregoz, and the manor ultimately descended to Sir Roger Lewknor, who died in 1543, leaving four daughters his coheirs.

In 1547 Dedisham was granted by King Edward VI to Sir Richard Blount, Lieutenant of the Tower (in what way the manor reverted to the Crown we are presently unable to say) to be held by Knights' service, and it remained in his family until after the death of Richard Blount* in 1629 whose daughter sold it to the Onslow family.

In 1786 John Williams Onslow, (having obtained it by bequest from Lord Onslow) sold the manor to Charles, Duke of Norfolk.

Mr Dallaway says that the park was converted into farms, and that Dedisham or Detsum Place, after having been ransacked by Sir William Waller's soldiers in 1643, fell into decay, but that some of the offices were for many years occupied for farming purposes. We may, however, observe that the park attached to Dedisham in part survives, and bears the name Mansfield Park of which Col. E. J. St John's residence was probably one of the South Lodges.

In Burr. MSS, 5187, p232, the Manor is described as Daddesham, alias Dedisham, alias Dodesham, alias Deddisham, alias Deadsome, alias Mansfield Park.


* In the Church are memorials to Katherine, ye daughter of Richard Blount, and his wife Mary, dau of Sir William West, Lord de la Warr: the said Katherine died 1st March 1617, aet 26, leaving her estate to her four sisters, Elizabeth, Ann, Martha and Jane. Mrs Jane Blount died 29 Jan 1621, and her monument was executed by her sister Martha Blount.

Elizabeth Blount married Reginald St John; Anne died unmarried.

The Parish Registers contain the baptism of William, son of William Blount, gent, 1st October 1627, and the burials of Mrs Katherine Blount 1st March 1617 & William Blount, gent., 14 Oct 1624; and Richard Blount Esq., 4th May 1629.

Burrell quotes from Dulwich Col MSS:
"5 Edw 6 Deddisham Manor & Park &c held by Richard Blount, Knt.;
4 & 5 Ph and Mary, Sir Thomas Blount Kt. seized of Manor;
1 Mary, 1 Aug. Keeper of the Manor Ric. Blunt;
26 Eliz Manor &c recovered by Thomas West & others against Richard Blount, Esq.;
34 Eliz R Blount seized;
11 Jac The king seized."

Taken from "Castles, Manors & Mansions of Western Sussex" by Dudley George Cary Elwes FSA, 1876