about 1831 or 1832, when a new church was erected upon the spot.—Cranbrook is styled a Perp. church by Rickman.
85. Crays, The.—Four crays, that is, four manors, or so many portions of the manor, of that name are mentioned in (D. B.); but it is impossible to identify that, wherein the church, noticed in (D. B.), was situated, except that it was not “Sud,” South, “Craie,” which is now called St. Mary. Compare also the Note in Sentlinge below. In the list of churches, which is quoted in the Note on Rochester, among the Crays will be found “Rodulfes Craei,” which, it will be perceived, must signify either Foot's or St. Paul's Cray, probably the latter.
Foot's Cray.—Hasted styles the church “a small mean building;” but adds “seemingly of high antiquity.” On an altar tomb are effigies of a man and a woman, the first much mutilated. Philipott calls them Sir Simon de Vaughan and lady. (Reg. Roff.)
86. Cray, St. Mary.—Merely a chapelry to Orpington, the rector of which possesses the patronage.—Brasses: Isabel Cossale, in a shroud; Richard Avery, and three wives, 1558. (Reg. Roff.)
87. Cray, St. Paul's.—This place is supposed by Hasted to be the manor which was held of Bishop Odo by Anschitill de Ros, where (D. B.) names a church.
88. Crayford.—Though the Domesday name “Erhede” greatly resembles Erith, the description appears most suitable to Crayford, and the church is assigned accordingly. In the Survey Erhede is stated to be not only the property of, but occupied by, the archbishop, and to include three mills of rather high value: “Ibi æccla et tria moldina de l solidis et vi denariis. In totis valentiis T. R. E. valuit xii libras, et tantundem quando receptum erat. Modo xvi libras et tamen reddit xxi libras. There is a church and three mills of fifty shillings and sixpence. The whole value in the time of King Edward was twelve pounds, and the same when it was received. Now sixteen pounds, and yet it pays twenty-one.” (D. B.) It comprised four sowlings of land. The above particulars certainly apply much better to Crayford, than to Erith. The former manor belonged to the archbishop up to the time of K. Henry VII, if not K. Henry VIII (Hasted), and the benefice has remained to the present day in the gift of the archbishop; also mills were more likely to exist at Crayford, as several now do, on the river Cray, than at Erith on the banks of the Thames. See the Note on Erith.—Crayford is called Gard in many old documents.—On the river Cray here
