Otham Abbey facts for kids
 Location in East Sussex
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| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Abbey of St. Mary and St. Laurence |
| Order | Premonstratensians |
| Established | c.1180 |
| Disestablished | 1526 |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Ralph de Dene |
| Site | |
| Location | Polegate, East Sussex, England |
| Coordinates | 50°49′47″N 0°15′07″E / 50.829679°N 0.252015°E |
| Visible remains | Chapel |
Otham Abbey was a special religious building called a monastery in Polegate, East Sussex, England. It was built a long time ago, in the Middle Ages.
The Story of Otham Abbey
Otham Abbey started around the year 1180. A person named Ralph de Dene founded it. Its full name was the Abbey of St. Mary and St. Laurence. Ralph gave his land and a chapel at Otham. He also gave other lands and money (called 'rents'). This was to create a home for a group of religious people called Premonstratensian canons. These canons were like monks who followed a special set of rules. Other people also gave land and money to the abbey.
But the place where Otham Abbey was built wasn't very good. It was a bit sad and unhealthy. So, soon after 1208, the people decided to move the abbey. They joined a new monastery at Bayham, which was further north. Sir Robert de Turnham had built this new place.
The original Otham site was kept. It became a 'grange,' which was like a farm run by the monastery. It also kept its chapel. For a while, the land was rented out for farming. Finally, the abbey was officially closed down in 1526.
Today, a building called Otteham Court stands on the old abbey site. It's a timber-framed building from the 1400s. Most of it is now covered in red brick. There is also a small chapel from the 1300s. This chapel is dedicated to St. Lawrence. Both Otteham Court and the chapel are important historical buildings.
