Castrum Dheriam (The Gatehouse Record)

In the historic county of Sussex.
Modern Authority of Uncertain.
1974 county of Uncertain.
Medieval County of Sussex.

Castrum Dheriam has been described as a Timber Castle although is doubtful that it was such.

There are uncertain remains.

Description

Mentioned in 1216 when held on behalf of Henry III. King writes "Described as having been defended against Louis of France and his partisans by Philip d'Albini and William de Wawz (i.e. Sir William de Casingham,'Willikin of the Weald', the Sussex guerrilla leader). The proper names in this chronicle (Ann. Dunstable) are sometimes very wildly rendered, but the allusion to d'Albini suggests this is Arundel, if it is a castle at all. It is more likely to be Rye (castrum de Ria?) held in the Winchelsea fighting of this year (hist. des Ducs, 182-3, 187) and erroneously described as a castle by the Dunstable annalist."

Dum igitur Lodowicus Londoniis resideret, orta est guerra in Suthsexia contra suos apud castrum Dheriam per Filippum de Aubeni et Willelmum de Wawz, qui fuerant ex parte regis. (Ann. Dunstable)

Comments

Questionable as a separate now lost site. Gatehouse accepts King's suggestion this was a reference to the town of Rye. Rye was not walled in 1216 (The Town walls were built in the C14.) but the natural position is moderately defensive. Rye did contain a strong house (une forte maison) of Geoffrey de Saye in 1216 although it is not suggested here that this house was the 'castrum Dheriam'.

Sources of information, references and further reading

Further information may be available from the holder of the county Historic Environment Record.

Books
- King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 474
Primary (Medieval documents or transcriptions of such documents - This section is far from complete and the secondary sources should be consulted for full references.)
- Luard, H.R (ed), 1866, 'Annales Prioratus de Dunstaplia' in Annales Monastici (Rolls Series 36) Vol. 3 p. 48 online copy
  Michel, F. (ed), 1840, Histoire des ducs de Normandie et des rois d'Angleterre (Paris: J Renouard) p. 182-3, 187 online copy

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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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