Page:Notes on the churches in the counties of Kent, Sussex, and Surrey.djvu/229

 NOTES TO SUSSEX.

1. .—This very small church possesses some interesting peculiarities. It consists only of chancel, nave with south porch and a bell turret over the west end, and a recent addition on the northern side. The original character of the structure appears to be Norm. The chancel arch is round, with zigzag moulding. The east wall was built very thick, with a set-off on the exterior, near the level of the eaves of the roof; and there is an arch in the interior, sunk into the wall, under which the altar stood. This arch is pointed, and below the angle of it is a Tr. Norm. or E.E. window, the imposts of the arch having Norm. features. In the east wall, south of the arch, is an E.E. trefoil-headed piscina, of rather large size.

2. .—(A.D. 1291) "Ecclia de Alciston cum Collinton;" which last name certainly ought to have been read "Lollinton," that is, Lullington: no difficult mistake in deciphering old manuscripts. Or it may have been an error of the transcriber of the Taxation. The existence of this mistake is proved by the entry in the Nonæ Roll (about A.D. 1341) of "Alcystone cum capella de Lullynton."

Alciston church contains two piscinas. (Horsfield's History of Sussex, I, 332.)

No one of any observation can ramble over the Sussex Downs without noticing the numerous banks, with or without a ditch on either side, which occur in various directions, sometimes extending in a straight line to a considerable distance, and generally losing one or both extremities in a valley, or a smaller hollow; on the opposite side of which they may however occasionally be traced again. Frequently also there are dykes, branching off from, or crossing, the others at right angles, or diagonally. In some instances, or under certain circumstances, these embankments may have been used as defences, but their most usual appearance and position do not favour the idea, that they were originally intended for warlike purposes. My own impression