Page:Notes on the churches in the counties of Kent, Sussex, and Surrey.djvu/138

100 ; as it is likewise in (Val. Eccl.), where "Mabscombe" is described as a rectory, but valued only at five marks, and discharged from king's tenths. It should be observed, that the manor of Maplescombe was of such consideration, as to be named more than once in (D.B.) The ruins of the church still exist, (1849) in a large field, south of the house upon the estate. The building was very small, having no aisle, the east end being semi-circular, and the west end having no window. The coigns were not dressed, but formed with larger flints than elsewhere; the wall, at the lower part, is three feet thick. A hole in the wall, as if stones had been picked out, in the usual position of the piscina, suggests that this church possibly contained one. The ruins are overgrown by bushes within and without, the interior having been lowered beneath the level of the pavement. Within recollection two baskets of bones, collected here, were carried for re-interment in Kingsdown churchyard. The name is vulgarly known as "Mapscombe," nearly the same with the spelling of (Yal. Eccl.), as above.

212., Darent.—In a document, bearing date in A.D. 1522, to the church of Darent is annexed a chapel "vulgariter nuncupata (vulgarly called) Sancte Margarette Hillis, Grensted, Southedalent, Gillis, et Hillis." (Reg. Roff.) In the description of Darent, toward the close of the last century, it was said, "There are still remaining here the flint walls of an antient building, most probably the church or chapel of South Darent, now used as a malt-house, the building of which stands due east and west." (Hasted.) Unless Thorpe (in his Cust. Roff.), (see the Note on Darent), is wrong in stating South Darent to have been joined with Horton Kirby parish, I conceive Hasted in the above passage, especially compared with the following quotation from him, can only mean St. Margaret's.—The chapel of Helles is named in a decision of Archb. John Peckham, A.D. 1292.—St. Margaret Helles seems, from various old records, "as to its temporal jurisdiction, to have been once a parish of itself, distinct from that of Darent, having within its bounds the several hamlets of Hilles, Grensted, South Darent, and Gills. However, as to its ecclesiastical jurisdiction, it was always accounted but as a chapel to Darent, having the above hamlets within its precincts." It was united with Darent in 1557 (by Cardinal Pole, Harris), after which it was suffered to fall into ruins. Of a portion of the tower then existing it is added, "In the remains of this building there are many Roman bricks, and part of an arch is