NHER 8608 (Monument record) - Site of Manor House

Site of Manor House (OS) marked east of church.
In a newspaper article of 1901, see (S1), the rector said that the site had often been confused with that of the priory, the more so because human bones had been found there.
There are also references to a Hall west of the church, which was also confused with the priory, but it is not clear whether this should really be 'east' and is the same as the Manor House.
E. Rose (NAU)

(See NHER 8510, site to west called Hall Close in 17th century).

Site is in part a partially disused cattle sale yard (which has been there for at least 70 years) and partly a new road called Priory Close, thus keeping up the confusion!
The 1836 map marks this as Hall Close.
The confusion over the plot west of the church may have arisen because the rectory stood here before moving northwest to its present site, but see above and site NHER 8510.
(S2) (NRO Rye MS 17) seem to have started the priory story; he mentions a large barn on Hall Close 'seemingly for religous purposes'.
It is also marked as this on (S3).
E. Rose (NAU) 15 November 1978

18 October 1989. Site visit by A. Rogerson (NAU) and informant [1].
Trench, 1m wide, dug east to west across former parcel.
Average depth 95cm.
In one area, see 1:1250, a large feature or features (depth 95cm minimum) containing layers of burnt red soil, burnt clay, clay and loam, charcoal lenses, capped by a layer of whelk shells.
To west of feature, no features; and topsoil truncated and overlain by recent cobbling.
To west normal soil depth of about 30cm.
Subsoil natural yellow brown loam.
On spoil in area of feature(s) large collection of 13th to 14th century unglazed sherds.
1? Early medieval rim, 1 glazed medieval; almost all sherds previously collected.
E. Rose (NAU) 10 August 1979.

Casual find before 10 May 2008 in back garden of 51 Market Manor.
Rim sherd of medieval unglazed bowl rim and base sherd of micaceous GRE [2].
A. Rogerson (NLA), 12 May 2008.