Page:Notes on the churches in the counties of Kent, Sussex, and Surrey.djvu/333

Rh 206. .—"In Ghestelinges hundred. There are five churches paying sixty-four shillings. There are an hundred saltpans of 8 15s. and seven acres of meadow, and a wood of two hogs. In the manor itself is a new borough, and there are sixty-four burgesses paying £8, less by two shillings. In Hastings are four burgesses and fourteen borderers, &c.—Ibi v æcclesiæ reddentes lxiiii solidos. Ibi c salinæ de viii libris et xv solidis, et vii acræ prati et silva ii porcorum de pasnagio. In ipso manerio est novum burgum, et ibi lxiiii burgenses reddentes viii libras ii solidis minus. In Hæstinges iiii burgenses et xiiii bordarii, &c." (D. B.) This description affords no clue for the identification of the spot intended, which, thus far, appears an utter impossibility, as no place, now existing in that part of Sussex, will answer to the above account. The hundred saltpans imply close vicinity to the sea; it will be observed, that there is mention of a "new borough" in the "very manor" and that Hastings is specially named as a different place. It is hardly possible, that New Winchelsea can be meant, because Rameslie is declared to have possessed five churches A.D. 1086; whereas above two hundred years afterwards, when the town of Winchelsea had been removed to its present site, it contained only three churches, beside that the precise history, supported as it is by remaining documents, of that removal militates against such a supposition. Compare the Note on Winchelsea. The position of Rameslie in the hundred of Guestling seems to restrict our researches to a confined district, or perhaps the "new borough" of Rameslie might be found in an extension into Sussex of Promehill, belonging to the county of Kent, which was overwhelmed by the sea about A.D. 1280, temp. K. Edward I, and of which (consult the Note there) little appears to be known at this day, that little comprising somewhat conflicting statements. Originally I was disposed to think, that Rye (which is otherwise unnoticed in D. B.) might be signified by Rameslie, but the Note on that town will show, that there is evidence of its importance at an earlier date than temp. K, William I, when moreover it was known under its present appellation.

207. —Church consists of chancel, nave, north and south aisles, south porch, and square bell-turret (nearly new) over the west end. There is also a late Perp. chapel at the east end of each aisle, the northern having wooden mullions to the windows; each chapel contains a piscina; the southern being mutilated. All the remaining old windows are Perp. under 18