Page:Notes on the churches in the counties of Kent, Sussex, and Surrey.djvu/331

Rh Church-field" (sic). "It was afterwards removed into the south transept, which is divided from the nave by a gothic screen." It was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. (Horsfield's Suss. I, 176.) This statement affords some countenance to the idea elsewhere expressed, that chantries and private chapels, originally distinct buildings, were, in some instances, subsequently transferred to the churches of their respective parishes.

203. near Brighton.—This church has only chancel, nave, and small western tower; though insignificant in size, and possessing little ornament, this is an interesting building, being entirely in one style, E.E., without the admixture of any other. The east window has three lights, lancets, the central the highest, being placed side by side within a large arch. In the south wall of the chancel are a piscina, and three sedilia of different grades separated by shafts, all under trefoiled arches. In the north wall is an ambry; also a sepulchral monument, of which the brasses, which were small, are lost; below is a Perp. altar-tomb, the sides richly carved; in the slab of Weald marble is engraved a name dated about 1623. The south door, now built up, had a porch, but not original; the north door has none. On the nave wall, on either side of the chancel arch, are fresco paintings, which were uncovered some years ago, but they are very indistinct. The tower has a wooden cap; the font is modern.—"Prestetone" is stated in (D.B.) to be in "Sumerleg" hundred, which comprised besides only the manors of "Filleicham," Sidlesham; "Seleisie," Selsey; and "Westringes," Wittering; all belonging to the bishop, and held by him. Of Prestetone it is also declared, that "it was always attached to the monastery:—Ipse episcopus tenet Prestetone, et semper fuit in monasterio" (D.B.): that is, I conceive, the monastery connected with the cathedral. Being unable to discover any Preston in the neighbourhood of Sidlesham, &c., I was utterly at a loss to identify this place, but believe the matter to be explained by an entry in the (N. R.), which mentions "Preston Episcopi" after Patcham, before Blatchington, and among several other contiguous parishes. I therefore conclude Preston near Brighton to be the "Prestetone" described as above in (D.B.) and have assigned to it the Domesday name and church: but, if this is correct, it is a very strong example of what I have noted in some other instances, particularly Burgemere, of a hundred including a spot quite detached from the remainder. This vicarage is united with that