Charleston Manor, West Dean, Sussex

I Location

Site Location
West Dean
National Grid Reference
TQ 520 006
County
traditional: Sussex
now: East Sussex
Diocese
medieval: Chichester
now: Chichester
Type of building/monument
Manor House

II General Description

General view.

General view.

Charlton Manor is situated 0.6 miles NW of West Dean church (qv). The earliest datable feature in the W range is a late Norman window, set in the N wall at first-floor level, presumably to light a first-floor hall. An east range was added in the early 17thc. It was doubled by the erection of a new range along its north side in the late 18thc.

III Exterior Features

2. Windows

(i) West Range, N wall

First floor, window.

First floor, window.

First floor, window.

First floor, window.

First floor, window.

First floor, window.

First floor, window.

First floor, window.

This window comprises two round-headed lights under a plain relieving arch. The central en delit shaft has an attic base with spurs and carries a waterleaf capital with an exposed bell. Engaged half-columns on the inner face (intrados) of each jamb have attic bases and voluted waterleaf capitals. The shafts carrying the relieving arch are en delit, and have attic bases and waterleaf capitals. The rear of the central shaft is squared (probably to receive shutters) and has a flat fillet. Internally, the head of each light is chamfered, but the jambs are plain.

Dimensions
internal h. of each light 1.08 m
internal w. of each light 0.38 m
h. of capitals 0.16 m

VII History

Is this 'Alured's Chapel, Charleston'? (see Sussex Archaeological Collections 1851, 47).

VIII Comments/Opinions

Probablyc.1180 (Datedc.1200 by Pevsner). The central capital, with its exposed bell, is a Transitional type. The waterleaf has prominent curling tips, but these are not quite crockets as yet.

IX Bibliography

  • W.H. Godfrey, Sussex Notes and Queries 4, 1932, 33-39
  • I. Nairn and N. Pevsner, The Buildings of England: Sussex. Harmondsworth 1965, 622
  • 'Alured's Chapel, Charleston, Detail Of Window', Sussex Archaeological Collections 4, 1851, 47.
  • 'West Dean - Charleston Manor', ROHAS Report No. 1075
  • M. Wood, The English Medieval House, 32, 346