Ore Place

Ore Place are the ruins of a significant late medieval manor house in the northern outskirts of Hastings, East Sussex, England.^[1] The remaining parts of the building consist of walls up to 3m high and 0.7m thick and below ground archaeological remains. It is a Scheduled monument.^[2]

Ore Place
Location of Ore Place in East Sussex
Location	Hastings, East Sussex
Coordinates	50.879223°N 0.5847064°E / 50.879223; 0.5847064
Built	late 16c/early 17c
Scheduled monument
Official name	Manor house (remains of), Ore Place
Designated	4 December 2014
Reference no.	1002271

History

Historian Thomas Walker Horsfield claimed in his History of Sussex that Ore Place was built by John of Gaunt.^[3][4] Based on a 1991 partial excavation, the building is thought to date from the late 16c or early 17c.^[2]

Horsfield also states the building had been used as a religious home,^[3][4] the home of Sir Richard Steele, and subsequently the residence of the Crispe family.^[3]

The house was rebuilt in 1874^[5] and became the home of the Dowager Lady Elphinstone.^[3][4] Ore Place subsequently came under the ownership of the eccentric Farmer Atkinson who allowed it to fall into disrepair.^[6]

French Jesuits extended and converted the building to become a theologate, which opened in 1906. Amongst the students there was Pierre Teilhard de Chardin from 1908-1912. The learning centre had 20,000 books and could accommodate 100 students^[6][7] and continued to be used until 1926.^[6]

During World War II the building was requisitioned for the Royal Army Service Corps for use as a records office.^[8] Military use continued after the war, with the Army Catering Corps records department joining the RASC in April 1947.^[9]

The Victorian house was demolished in 1987.^[5]