Page:Notes on the churches in the counties of Kent, Sussex, and Surrey.djvu/287

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NOTES TO SUSSEX.
231

106. Grinsted, East.—The existing church is the third in a century and a half, the first having been destroyed by lightning about A.D. 1684, shortly after which time the tower was reerected. In 1785 it fell, so injuring the body of the church, that it was necessary partially to rebuild it. Sackville College was founded under the will of Robert, second Earl of Dorset, dated 1608, for certain poor men and women. Near the ruins of Brambletye House in this parish are vestiges of another edifice, which was moated, and the original mansion of the estate, till it was deserted after the completion of the new one, which likewise is now a ruin. (Horsfield's Suss. I, 390, 386.)—This church possesses a lofty square west tower battlemented with pinnacles at the angles, much resembling from a little distance the fine Perp. towers of the West of England, and well suiting its situation, on the summit of a high ridge of hills. The town contains many old houses, principally of timber and plaster. In a remote part of this extensive parish, about three miles from the church, and near Forest Row, stand the ruins of Brambletye House, but they are of little interest. Among the remaining portions is the entrance tower, upon a stone in the front of which are the letters , and below them the date 1631. "The moated vestiges of the original mansion," spoken of by Horsfield above, could not be perceived. The estate of Brambletye is noticed in (D.B.) under the name of "Branbertei" in the hundred of "Grenestede."

107. Grinsted, West.—The church contains a Norm. doorway. (Horsfield's Suss. II, 252.) Here are two Brasses; one of a lady, whom the inscription "sixty years ago" stated to have been Philippa, wife of John Halsham, one of the daughters and heirs of David de Strabolge, Earl of Atholl; died A.D. 1395. The other Brass is of a man and woman under canopies, by a note taken at the above date Sir Hugh Halsham (died 1441) and wife Jocosa (died 1421). (Cartwright.) The inscriptions were supplied from the Burrell MSS. (Horsfield, ut sup.) For remarks on these memorials consult (Monum. Brasses, 86, 92, 131, 154.)

108. Guestling.—The church, which at first may be supposed to be attributed to Luet, really stood at Guestling; for the entry in (D.B.) runs thus:—"In eodem hundredo tenet Robertus de comite unam Eerlangam, &c. Ibi æcclesia.—In the same hundred Robert holds of the earl one Ferlanga, &c. There is a church." The hundred previously named is "Gestelinges," the manor so