Hospitaller estates in Sussex

Much land was donated to the Hospitallers work in Sussex. This included farm land, manors, estates and use of some churches. 

Land owned by the Hospitallers included:

  • Angmering
  • Arundel
  • Balcombe
  • Berwick
  • Blakefield
  • Bolney
  • Bramber
  • Broadwater
  • Broc
  • Chichester
  • Cokeham
  • Combe (nr Lancing)
  • Compton
  • Eastbourne
  • Eddewarth
  • Firle
  • Heyshed
  • Heyshott (nr Midhurst)
  • Hickstead
  • Icklesham
  • Kingston (nr East Preston)
  • Lancing
  • Lewes
  • Loxwood
  • Midhurst
  • Ockling
  • Offham (nr Lewes)
  • Pende (nr Shoreham, probably lost to the sea in 15th century)
  • Poling (nr Littlehampton)
  • Rumbold's Wyke (nr West Hampnett, Chichester)
  • Sedlescombe
  • Shipley
  • Shoreham
  • Sompting
  • Smalebrook
  • Southwick
  • Twineham (nr Hickstead)
  • Up Marden (nr Chichester)
  • Withyham Manor (nr Crowborough)
  • Winchelsea
  • Woodmancote.

Poling

This became the main Hospitaller commandery in Sussex after a twelfth century grant. 

In 1338 there was a house with garden and dovecote, 47 acres of land, 54 acres of pasture, 16 acres of meadow and other holdings in Offham, Combe, Ockling, Midhurst, Upmardon, Icklesham and Rumbalds Wyke. 

The household consisted of the preceptor or commander, another Knight of St John, a chaplain, a key-keeper and a cook, two grooms and two clerics for collecting the voluntary contributions. 

The house also had to cater for hospitality to visitors and travellers. 

Part of the Hospitallers' house at Poling still exists, with their chapel attached to it.