Page:Notes on the churches in the counties of Kent, Sussex, and Surrey.djvu/414

346 placed north and south. The upper portion of the tower likewise has been finished with brick. The lower part, as well as a fragment of the west end of, probably, the south aisle, are Norm., though a later window has been inserted in the west wall of the tower. In the ancient aisle wall a round-headed doorway, and the capital of the southern jamb may just be traced. From the rudeness of the masonry these portions appear to be early, and it is just possible, that they may even be ante-Norm. The tower arch, if existing, is quite obliterated by the new building. North of the tower, as if at the west end of a former north aisle, remains a large arch, and in the wall to the north of it a niche, having a cinquefoil-headed canopy within a quadrangular border, and below the bracket is a square flower. These are Perp.—Brass: Henry Elyott, wife and twenty-three children, 1503. (M. & B.)—Though not actually named, the church of this place may possibly have existed A.D. 1086, and be named in (D. B.) See the Note on Bramley.

113. .—In some part of this parish a Roman pavement is reported to have been discovered some years ago, but it was not preserved.

114. .—The manor of Wotton was given by K. Cedwalla and his Q. Keneldritha to Christ's Church, Canterbury A.D. 687. (Monast. I, 95.) A. D. 1010 Archbp. Elfege appropriated the same for the clothing of the monks. (Utsup. 83, note e.)

In very early times a chapel was erected at Okewood, now Oakwood, Hill, in a remote part of this parish, toward the border of Sussex. It existed A.D. 1290; was farther endowed by Edward de la Hale ; was considered as belonging to the rectory of Wotton; and the lands bestowed by Hale were seized in the reign of K. Edward VI. Since that period the emolument of the chapelry has been augmented by various private donations, as likewise from Queen Anne's Bounty. The building had much decayed in 1673, but was repaired in 1709, and has been preserved in good condition ever since. (M. & B.) The perpetual curacy of Oakwood, possessing an income of 322, is mentioned together with the rectory of Wotton in the (Clergy List) ; whence it would appear, that the property may have been restored; but it is stated to be very slenderly endowed. The chapel contains a small brass of Edwardus de la Hale in armour, 1431. Hale is popularly called the founder of the chapel; wherefore we may infer him to have been the benefactor noticed above.