170. Marden, West—Is now comprehended in the parish of Up. Marden, but formerly it possessed its own chapel, which was named by Bp. Seffrid II toward the conclusion of the twelfth century. See the latter part of the Note on Lewes.
171. Maresfield.—A small sand-stone church of chancel, nave, north porch, and west tower, the latter, as in other examples in the same style, large in proportion to the remainder of the edifice. To improve the interior accommodation the porch has been removed from the nave to the tower. The church contains some good ancient woodwork. Some small windowframes yet visible in the rubble wall of the chancel indicate that to be of E.E. date (if not earlier), but the east window is Dec. In the chancel are a plain piscina, and three iron grave-slabs, one with an inscription A.D. 1667. Both nave and tower seem to be Perp.: of the latter the arch is remarkably lofty.—At Nutley in this parish, near the chapel-of-ease recently erected there, is known to have existed a free chapel, which was attached to Lancaster Great Park, within the royalty of Ashdown forest, as part of the lordship of Pevensey, possessing sixty acres of land by grant from one of the De Aquila family It is yet remembered, when ruined walls four feet above the .ground, with stone mullions still remaining therein, were standing in "The Chapel Wood," but the whole has now long been removed. A broken font, apparently E.E., which was dug up in the vicinity, is now preserved at Maresfield vicarage. An entry in the old register of the parish records, that, A.D. 1541, the sacramental cup of Nutley chapel was transferred to Maresfield church.—(Val. Eccl.) describes a "chantry" of " Maryfeld," which name I conceive to signify Maresfield. And elsewhere, under the valuation of Hichelham priory, the "Free Chapel" of "Merysfeld " is mentioned. But there is nothing to explain whether or not the chantry was within the parish church, or whether its chapel stood in another part of the parish. Neither does it appear what is intended by the "Free Chapel," though it may be presumed to be that already spoken of.
172. Mayfield.—A.D. 1389 the church and nearly the whole village of Hayfield were destroyed by fire, but the palace seems to have escaped. (Horsfield's Suss. I, 417.) This statement may give the date and style of the existing church.—Mayfield is well known for the remains of a palace belonging to the see of Canterbury; wherein, as might be anticipated, was a
