Castello of Hamo Petit, Brantham (The Gatehouse Record)

In the civil parish of Brantham.
In the historic county of Suffolk.
Modern Authority of Suffolk.
1974 county of Suffolk.
Medieval County of Suffolk.

OS Map Grid Reference: TM11953391
Latitude 51.96309° Longitude 1.08423°

Castello of Hamo Petit, Brantham has been described as a probable Timber Castle.

There are uncertain remains.

Description

Translations from the Dodnash Priory Charters under Brantham (Taxatio, 129) include following references to a castle: 'in closely datable document only until 1202 (71-2).... and not long afterwards William (son of) Helte gave land adjacent to the small castle (castello) of Hamo Petit (77)' and '(77) grant in pure and perpetual alms by William son of Helte to the canons, for saluation of his soul and those of his father..... of that part of his land at Brantham above "Aldefeld", which abuts on the castle (castello) of Hamo-Petit. Early C13'. (Suffolk HER ref. Harper-Bill)

Comments

Since this seems to be a use of the term castello to mean a manorial centre the most likely location must be that of Brantham Hall, which is earlier than C15 in origin and which was originally moated. In 1202 this was probably a timber building. However this is by no means a certain identification and the nearby Brantham Court (TM127343) has a name suggestive of a manorial centre although some distance from the parish church. Harper Bill footnotes (p. 17n66) that 'there were four manors in Brantham, One of these came to be known as Brantham Hall, another as Braham Hall, near the hamlet of Cattawade (Copinger, Manors vi, 22-3)'. Braham Hall, at TM099335, is also moated but seems to be the submanor of Brantham.

Sources of information, references and further reading

County Historic Environment Record (or Sites and Monuments Record) number(s) BNT Misc; BNT 022; BNT 002.

Books
- Harper-Bill, C., 1998, Dodnash Priory Charters (Suffolk Records Society, Suffolk Charters 16) p. 17, 87
  Copinger, W.A., 1910, Manors of Suffolk Vol. 6 p. 22-3 online copy

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