At Dissolution, Otham was serving as a grange of Bayham Abbey — Bayham was amongst the twenty-nine houses chosen by Cardinal Wolsey for early dissolution in 1526, in order to fund new schools and colleges in Ipswich and Oxford.
It took some time to settle Bayham’s affairs, but in 1533 the manor of Otham was sold to Sir Edward Guildford. It was quickly sold on to William Kensley and on again, through marriage, to the Rootes family in the 17th century. In 1694 John Acton sold Otham manor to Thomas Medley, with whose descendants it remained for 180 years. In 1879 the manor was sold to the Duke of Devonshire.
Following the Reformation the grange farm and chapel were altered and adapted for use as a regular farm – the chapel saw use as a barn, stable and store and its windows and south and west doors were blocked up with brick and a new entrance made in the north side. The artist Martin Lower notes that the roof had been thatched up until c.1826, when a new slate-covered roof was provided.
The chapel is listed (Grade II*) and was also scheduled in1967. The formal scheduled monument description is HERE
During the last forty years Otham Chapel has been repaired and restored; the blocked windows have been re-glazed and it is available to hire for Weddings and Parties.
