Page:Notes on the churches in the counties of Kent, Sussex, and Surrey.djvu/246

200 throughout have been fresh pointed, so that the appearance of the building is entirely altered. The above description was first framed from observations taken during its old state, having been corrected from a subsequent inspection. Consult also Suss. Arch. Coll. (II, 272 to 284), particularly for the account and representation (279, 280) of a curious monumental slab, recently discovered in the north wall of the church.—It is stated (ut sup. 276), that there was formerly a chapel at Norton, a hamlet on the northern side of this parish. In my visit of inquiry at Norton I could neither perceive, nor hear of, the site or remains of the chapel; though the fact of it having once existed seems to be known. 32. .—This church has been greatly altered. The chancel has some Norman features, but two sedilia, on the same level with a shaft between them, and a piscina are of later date. Close to the seats is a low, roundheaded door, blocked up, but visible without. In the southern wall of the nave is a deep recess, perhaps originally connected with the rood-loft, but too small for the passage upwards, and large for an ambry, beside that it could have had no door. It is much ornamented in front, having a foliated pointed arch, and slight engaged shafts at the sides. On the outside two arches appear in the south wall of the nave, as if there had once been an aisle. The eastern of these arches is remarkably wide, and completely "horseshoe" in shape, while the other is smaller, and of the usual proportions; the object of this arrangement evidently being, when the perforation was made, to leave undisturbed the recess above described with its accessories, whatever they might be.

It may here be mentioned, that, among the churches near the coast westward from hence to Shoreham inclusively, there is scarcely an instance, if one, beside Bishopstone (so far as I have examined, and where the nave has not been entirely rebuilt) in which the church does not appear to have been larger formerly than at present. Although in general no traces of the destroyed erection are visible, above ground, yet occasionally they are manifest; as at Rottingdean, and at Telscombe before the recent restoration. Also it is frequently clear, that the mutilation of the church occurred at an early period, though it may be difficult, or impossible, to say when. The mode too is equally involved in obscurity, but it is by no means improbable, that, in some cases, perhaps not in all, the damage may have been the result of hostile irruptions. For further remarks on this point see the Note on Rottingdean.