HER 212 - Site of Esher Place and Wayneflete's Tower, Esher

Site of Esher Place and Wayneflete's Tower (gatehouse), 15th century. The gatehouse built circa 1485 AD by Bishop Wayneflete of Winchester is the sole standing remains of Esher Place. A map of Esher Place, drawn in 1606 by Treswell shows the gatehouse as the entrance to a large court; north and south were long narrow buildings; towards the Mole was a porch leading through a hall into the main dwelling. Excavation in 1912 north of the gatehouse revealed the brick foundations for the buildings shown on the north side of the quadrangle; the remains of a staircase to an upper storey were found at the river end. The house appears to have been built entirely from brick, comparable with Oxburgh Hall, Norfolk, built in 1482. An earlier stone wall had been cut by the brick foundations and probably forms part of an earlier house. The first Bishop's house at Esher was built soon after 1245 and was considerably enlarged around 1331. However, the documentary references to the main dwelling house in the 17th century suggest it pre-dated Wainfleet and was not included in his rebuilding programme. Early in the 18th century the main house and the north and south sides of the quadrangle were pulled down. Investigations have also attempted to search for the "bridge" mentioned on an OS map of 1869-71. Many medium red bricks of unusual size were discovered, some in blocks mortared with a tile course; an area of standing brickwork was identified on the east bank of the river; a large piece of hardwood timber plank apparently decorated with bronze pins was recovered. A moat described at the site in the Victoria County History is no longer traceable.

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Related Records

• SHHER_2995

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