Page:Notes on the churches in the counties of Kent, Sussex, and Surrey.djvu/185

Rh windows, except those of the private chapel; and part of the chancel was rebuilt with brick, beside recent alterations, the former having been effected beyond memory. Not very many years ago there were, and may be now, in the chancel, good examples of paving tiles of various dates, beginning with E.E. The north wall of the chancel retains an ambry. Between the two chancels was a little wood-work of unusually early date, which was removed a few years ago. Beside that above stated, other reparations have been made with brick. In the windows of the northern, or "Betterinden," chancel are some remains of coloured glass, including the figure of a knight in armour, supposed to be that of the founder, De Betterinden, owner of the estate surrounding the church.

Behind the house of Bourne farm is a large field, called "Bourne Town Field," but now part of the estate of Conghurst, of which the house and principal portion are in the adjoining parish of Hawkhurst, to which field is attached a traditionary tale, such as may be found in many other places; for instance at Waldron in Sussex; which see. It is related, that this spot was originally fixed on for the site of the parish church, but that every night the work performed in the preceding day was pulled down, and the materials conveyed to the place, where the church now stands, and where the parties concerned eventually erected the building, overcome by the pertinacity, with which their first intention was opposed. As it is, the church is very inconveniently located, completely on one side of the parish; but in Bourne Town Field it would have been still more in an angle, nearer to the boundary, and quite removed from the far larger portion of this extensive parish.

280. .—A.D. 1031 as soon as Canute had returned to England, he gave to Christ's church in Canterbury the port of Sandwich, and all the issues from either side of the port; so that, when the sea was at its utmost height, if a vessel should be tossing about as near as it could approach the land, and any one should stand in the vessel, having in his hand a small axe, called by the English "a taper axe," which he was able to throw upon the land, the right of the ship became due to the ministers of Christ's church. (Gibs. Chron. Sax. 153.) The following is another report of the same transaction: " Cnud, rex Anglorum, dedit ecclesiæ Christi portum de Sandwic, et omnes exitus ejusdem aquæ ab utraque parte fluminis, ita ut natante navi in flumine cum plenum fuerit, quam longius de navi potest securis 10