Page:Notes on the churches in the counties of Kent, Sussex, and Surrey.djvu/97

65 Vicarius ejusdem" (elsewhere "Vicaria de Garheth), £5 6s. 8d.; consequently the total = £38 13s. 4d.; whereas the value of the entire benefice of "Garde," i.e., Crayford = £26 13s. 4d. In both (A.D. 1291) and (Val.Eccl.) Erith stands in Dartford deanery, and Crayford in that of Shoreham, the subsisting arrangement.

Brasses in Erith Church: John Ailmer and wife, 1405; Roger Sencler, 1421; wife of John Wode, 1471; John Aylmer and two wives, 1511; Edw. Hawte and wife, 1537; man in armour, and woman. Altar tomb and effigy of Eliz. countess of Shrewsbury, daughter and heir of Sir Rich. Walden (Weever). (Reg. Roff.)—In this parish Lesnes Abbey (Lesnes or Westwood Abbey, so called in charters of K. John and K. Edward II. Monast. VI, 456, 457) was founded in 1179, and dedicated to St. Thomas, by Chief Justice Rich. Lucy. (Lambarde.)—The church of Lesnes was given by Richard Lucie to the church of the Holy Trinity, London, and the prior, &c.; no date, but temp. K. Stephen and Archb. Theobald, therefore between 1135 and 1154. It is styled the parish church of Lesnes, A.D. 1452. The abbey was dissolved in 1525. (Reg. Roff. 325, 330, 342.) These statements can no otherwise be reconciled with Lambarde's account of the foundation of the abbey, than by the conclusion, that a church existed at Lesnes previous to the erection of the monastery. Whether or not afterwards the two remained distinct, or were incorporated, there is no evidence to show.—The site of Lucy's abbey is about a mile and three quarters westward from Erith church. About the middle of the seventeenth century (perhaps, for no date is given. A. H.) labourers disinterred several stone coffins and effigies within the ruins of the abbey, particularly one effigy with fleurs-de-lis in many places, in good preservation, covering a tomb, wherein was found a body, entire, but dried up, wrapped in lead, (Hasted.) 116. .—Now Street, in the parish of Limpne, famous for a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary, called "The Chapel of our Lady of Court of Streete," or "Court at Strete," the principal scene of the impostures of Elizabeth Barton, "The Holy Maid of Kent," A.D. 1525. Street gives the name to a hundred.

117. .—This church is an insignificant building.—In the parish was a mansion of Knights Templars. (Harris.) 118. .—The church consists of chancel, nave, north and south transepts, square west tower with a short shingled