Page:Notes on the churches in the counties of Kent, Sussex, and Surrey.djvu/345

Rh generally the trefoil leaf in different patterns, not much raised, and never undercut. On one capital is a rude carving of figures, the prominent subject being the crucifixion. The mouldings of the arches much resemble those of the chancel arch of East Blatchington, where however the trefoils are far superior. The lower part of the tower is Norm., the upper stages being of later addition. At each side of the bottom of the tower, though on the southern side now concealed, is a low, wide, segmental arch, springing from shafts with capitals, Norm., and intended for communications between the tower and the aisles, which last extend as far westward as the tower does. These arches are now closed by masonry erected within the original shell of the tower, which, as examination will prove, was of slight construction; wherefore apparently it was found necessary to strengthen that part of the building by a solid casing, of far greater thickness than the Norm. wall, throughout the entire interior. For some observations on the peculiarity of aisles to the tower see the Note on Sandhurst, Kent. An ancient stone coffin and cover, the latter adorned with a cross, having been exhumed at Seaford, they have been fixed perpendicularly the former in the north, the latter in the south, wall on the outside of the church. (A.D. 1291) "Ecclia de Sutton cum Seaford;" the same in (Val. Eccl.); and it is still the official designation. See the Note on Sutton.—That a monastery existed in the neighbourhood of Seaford, dedicated to St. Andrew, about A.D. 1058, we are informed by comparing (M. Alford, Annal. Eccl. Angl. Sax. torn. II, 394,) with (Acta Sanctorum, Mens. Julius, 612). The situation however is now entirely unknown, nor was it very near Seaford, the expression used being "pene tribus leugis," almost three leagues, from "Sevordt." A conjecture has been proposed, that the site of this monastery may have been at Lewes, which town is known to have contained an ancient church dedicated to St. Andrew. (Suss. Arch. Coll. I, 49.)—Tanner on the authority of a MS. of Archbp. Sancroft, alludes to a hospital of St. James at Seaford, which was annexed to the prebend of Bargham at Chichester. (Monast. VI, 777.) This must have been identical with the hospital of St. James at East Blatchington; which see.

220. .—Tanner states, that, towards the end of K. John or beginning of K. Henry III, Jeffery Lacy gave the manor of Sadlescomb to the Knights Templars in exchange for West Greenwich, and that a preceptory was then founded at Sadlescomb. (Monast. VI, 817.) If however there was any