Page:Notes on the churches in the counties of Kent, Sussex, and Surrey.djvu/442

370 decimarum reponendam (?) ibidem, dotavit Capellam eandem libere, et donavit in perpetuam elemosinam possidendum. Postmodo idem Eadulfus Scot dictam Capellam, ixmo. die Maij, anno Domini Mo. CCo. octogesimo primo, tempore fratris Roberti Kilwardeby, tune Cantuarie archiepiscopi, de ejus licentia consecrari et dedicari in honore beate virginis Katerine, non obstante appellatione rectoris de Orpyntone in hac parte ad sedem apostolicam, sicut fert."

"In the times of the king of the English, Henry III, son of King John, who reigned in England fifty-six years and twenty days, there was a certain Ralph Scot abiding in the parish of Chelsfield, near the royal highway lying between Parnborough and Halsted, where is the cross called Scot's Crouch. Which Ralph indeed removed himself from that place to Ocolte, by buying there lands and sundry possessions, and by constructing there a certain mansion called the Hall. On which account that place is called Scot's Ocolte. And because the aforesaid Ralph, and others inhabiting the said place, for hearing divine services wandered to Chevening, and elsewhere in all directions, from their parish church of Orpington; and because, through the distance of the place from the said parish church, many perils of souls befell there, this Ralph Scot, and a certain Hervey Goldsmith, a layman, inspired by God, as is believed, in a certain green space at Ocolte called Hartleap, where on festivals took place a common assemblage of laity by those inhabiting the said place, caused to be erected out of their own goods a certain chapel in honour of St. Katherine, virgin; the first stone being laid by the said Ralph in the foundation of his own chapel. And after the completion of the said chapel this Ralph Scot, out of the lands he had acquired, out of a moderate-sized close near the cemetery for the house of the chaplain there, and also out of a certain croft of his situated opposite the said chapel, for the erection of buildings for the collection of tithes to be stored therein, freely endowed the said chapel, and gave to be possessed in perpetual alms. Afterwards the same Ralph Scot (procured) the said chapel, on the ninth day of May, A.D. 1281, in the time of brother Robert Kilwardeby, then archbishop of Canterbury, by his licence to be consecrated and dedicated in honour of St. Katherine the virgin, notwithstanding the appeal of the rector of Orpington interposed in this matter to the apostolic see, as he alleges."

245. .—Chancel, nave, west porch, square tower at east end of northern side of nave, vestry north of the chancel, apparently rebuilt on an old site, and Perp. private chapel westward of vestry. The building is E.E., though the tower arch has Norm, features, with some Dec. and Perp. work. The tooth moulding runs round the west door, which may be Tr. Norm., or early E.E. The roodloft stairs seem to exist in the south wall of nave. There are remains of a stoup at the west door, and the lower part of tower is vaulted.

273. .—The ancient church is still standing, and still used as a barn, being full of corn when visited, wherefore the interior was inaccessible. It is about sixty feet long, appearing to have had two windows in each side, with one and a door in the west end ; the east end was entirely concealed. The hood mouldings have been so carefully destroyed, that no idea can be formed of the style of architecture. From the present condition of the walls the suppression must have been procured by deception. A duplicate copy of the deed of