Page:Notes on the churches in the counties of Kent, Sussex, and Surrey.djvu/171

Rh was intended; and its small size shows, that it could originally have been intended to accommodate few or none, beyond the members of the proprietor's family and household.

This is certainly a very interesting specimen of ancient domestic architecture, few, if any, more perfect examples of the same date, transition from E.E. to Dec., toward the conclusion of the thirteenth century, existing in this kingdom; particularly as it retains traces of the arrangement of Norman dwellings, in the separation to a certain extent of the lower from the upper portion of the mansion. Unfortunately the shaft of the chimney and the hood of the fireplace have been destroyed, otherwise the building generally might be easily restored; and from the extraordinarily sound condition of the walls they promise to endure, if permitted, for ages yet to come. The farm-house is joined to the old one on the western side. I have good reason to believe, that this curiosity was entirely unknown to some of our most experienced architectural antiquaries till I examined it in January 1846, though it has been and is occasionally visited. It must be added, that one of our best authorities upon such subjects places the date of Sore Place later than is above given.

The interior arrangement of the building just mentioned precisely resembles, with regard to the living-rooms, that of another small manorial residence, at Warley in Essex, as described in a document preserved among the muniments in the chapter-house, Westminster, namely, a "hall with a bedchamber" and a "chapel." This document is supposed to date not later than A.D. 1280, consequently the Warley mansion must have been, nearly at least, contemporary with that of Sore. (Archæol. Journal, V. 152, 153.)

263. .—The church comprises chancel, nave, south aisle nearly even eastward with the chancel, south porch, and square west tower with a shingled spire. There are some E.E., some later, portions. Part of the walls have been rebuilt. In the east end were lancet windows, now one poor Perp. The lower part of the tower is perhaps E.E. Interior not seen.—Brass: John Malmaines, 1440. (Harris.)

264. .—Described under the hundred of Besborough, and clearly to be identified as Polton near Dover, which is still (I am informed) a separate parish, though containing no church, and only three houses, of which one is St. Hadigund's abbey farm, another, built within seventy or eighty years, stands near the site of the church; respecting the demolition of which last