Page:Notes on the churches in the counties of Kent, Sussex, and Surrey.djvu/268

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214
NOTES TO SUSSEX.

the dress of temp. Q. Elizabeth. The walls were in some parts three feet thick. There were vaults beneath the hall. On the left hand in approaching the house from the road stands a large fragment of the original buildings, now used as a barn, and called "Chapel Barn," from an idea that it contained the chapel of the mansion. The partition-walls of the interior have been completely removed, that they might not interfere with the present use of the erection, but that it was once spanned by flooring is evident, beside that a stone fireplace belonging to the large upper room remains perfect. At the southern end, near the entrance from the hall, there seems to have been a small oblong apartment, its length being generally in the direction of east and west, which may possibly have been the chapel; but nothing could be perceived, whereby even a probable conjecture could be formed upon the subject.—"There is also an ancient farm-house at Hall Green, in which are some curiously-pointed windows, and armorial bearings on the ceiling, but, from their decayed condition, nothing certain can be ascertained of its history." (Horsfield's Lewes, II, 67.)

57. Chiltington, East—Is annexed to Westmeston both in (A.D. 1291) and in (Val. Eccl.), and is now accounted but a hamlet to that parish, although other parishes intervene between the two. It now stands in the (Clergy List) as a curacy belonging to Westmeston. The chapel consists of western tower with a tiled cap, nave, and chancel. It is said to have been erected in the sixteenth century by a Chaloner, a neighbouring landowner, but the tower and the west end of the nave are Tr. Norm., if not Norm., and the lower portion of other walls seems older than the superstructure. Moreover the Taxation of Pope Nicholas is evidence both of the existence of a chapel here toward the conclusion of the thirteenth century, and also that it was connected with Westmeston at that early period, as it still remains.—Close to the chapel is a farm-house, having some remains of ancient brick walls, beside other vestiges.

58. Chiltington, West.—The church is an ancient structure, having a Norm. doorcase and arcade. The chancel and south aisle are far more ancient than the west end of the building." (Horsfield's Suss. II, 162.)

59. Chithurst.—A curacy attached to the rectory of Iping. (Clergy List.)

60. Clapham.—This very short church consists of chancel, nave, north and south aisles, and tower with a shingled cap at