Page:Notes on the churches in the counties of Kent, Sussex, and Surrey.djvu/124

88 fixed at a spot called Beaulieu in Bayham. The monks were of the Premonstratensian Order. (Monast. VI, 910.) About 1770 or 1780, possibly earlier, the roof of the abbey church was entire, but the steward of the estate, unknown to the owner, pulled it down for the purpose of using the timber in repairing the farm premises on the property, to the eventual destruction of the building.

Of the ancient castle of Scotney a small portion only is standing, whereof a round tower bears much resemblance to one at Ostenhanger.

187. .—Of this church the turret for two bells at least is late Norm., but the building is very unattractive.—Here is "a most curious antient pulpit cloth, of crimson velvet, richly embroidered, with the words 'Jesu Maria' plentifully worked on it, and two large female figures in gold embroidery kneeling before two altars, with a book on each, with a scroll issuing out of their mouths, and underneath this imperfect inscription, Orate po ana Johs ... od ..." (Hasted.) The pulpit cloth is formed out of an old popish vestment; it is in tolerable preservation, and might be easily restored in a drawing; it well deserves to be copied.

188. .—At what period this church was desecrated I do not discover; most probably on the suppression of the abbey by K. Henry VIII. Some ruins still exist, but merely walls covered with ivy.—A.D. 1660 Sir Thomas Peyton of Knowlton provided timber, with the intention to repair the church, but in the night the country people stole the whole, together with the pulpit, pews, &c., which still remained in the ruined building. (Hasted.) Both East and West Langdon churches are mentioned in (Val. Eccl.) as then existing; and the latter name yet appears in the (Clergy List). An abbey was founded here A.D. 1192 by Will, de Auberville. The church of Oxney (near Deal) was granted to it "anno regni regis Edwardi tricesimo" (i.e. K. Edward I, A.D. 1302-3). A charter (undated) of Gunnora de Shoveldone (Sholdon) and Dionisia de Newsole bestows the chapel of Newsole upon the abbey. (Monast. VI, 897, 899.) For a notice of Newsole see Colred, in which parish it was situated. 189. .—"Ramsgate, alias Romansgate." (Kilburne.)—The church is described as possessing a central tower ornamented with an exterior arcade. Originally it was one of three chapels to Minster, and was made parochial with the others.