of Hove. The Prestons in this county are numerous, some being parishes, others not.
204. Preston, East.—This place, situated between Worthing and Little Hampton, is called East Preston in distinction from West Preston, an estate, it does not appear ever to have been a parish, in Rustington. The parish of East Preston has suffered from the encroachments of the sea, though less so than the adjoining one of Kingston. The terrier, dated 1635, mentions parcels of glebe land; there called "Holy Breadths," or, according to the spelling of the document, "Holly-breads;" which had been lost in the sea: for example, "The fourth Holly-bread is in the sea; item, Thomas Hixhood has one Holly-bread which is in the sea." Three parcels of glebe described in the terrier have been absorbed since it was made.—East Preston is annexed to Eerring.
This church consists of chancel, western tower terminating in a stone spire, north and west porches. The north door is of Norm. character, possibly replaced from an earlier building, and the lofty tower arch Perp.; in other respects the body of the edifice may be styled E.E., though the walls have been much patched; and the tower is later. In the east end are three round-headed long windows, the central larger and higher than the others, under as many arches divided by shafts of Weald marble with trefoil capitals. Some Perp. windows have been inserted, and other modern ones copied from them. The west porch is of stone, the northern recently rebuilt. Crosses have been formed of paving-tiles high up in three sides of the tower, of which two remain. There is no exterior mark of separation for the chancel, the roof of the nave having been reduced in height; but within are portions of a low stone wall, which seems to have been surmounted formerly by a wooden screen.
205. Pulborough.—Brasses: Thomas Harling, canon of Chichester, 1423; Mille and wife—he died 1452; Edmund Mille. A chapel, "now totally dilapidated," stood formerly at Newbridge in this parish. "Episc. Registr.: Capellæ de quibus non fit mentio in P. Nichol' Valore: Capella de Newberge in Pulbergh." (Cartwright's Dallaway.)—Old Place, of which some portion still exists, is said to have been erected temp. K. Henry VI, and that a barn belonging thereto appears from its lancet windows, &c. to be more ancient (Qy . Could this barn have been the original chapel? A.H.) Numerous Roman remains have been found in this parish. (Horsfield's Suss. II, 163, 164.)
