The Peasants' Revolt
In 1381, the year of the Peasants' Revolt, when the people rebelled against their lords, the owner of Otterden was attacked. The people were looking for documents such as manorial court rolls, which the majority could not read, but which they blamed for the conditions under which they lived. Any documents found were burnt and many records vital for local history were lost.Archaelogia Cantiana (vol.3. p401) In June of 1381, "Richard Baker of Lenham, together with others, came with force and arms to the house of Thomas ot'yngton, there took the said Thomas feloniously and carried him out, and threatened him with loss of life to the said (words missing) ............... William Sporier of Canterbury, with many others unknown, came to the house of the said Thomas Ot'yngton, and there feloniously broke open his doors, and upon him did make an assault the said Thomas despaired of his life."
It could be that the peasants destroyed the manor records of Otterden and that is why there is a big gap before the next information is recorded.