Ore Place are the ruins of a significant late medievalmanor 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]
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]
