The cemetery was consecrated A.D. 1275, when the right of burial was granted with certain reservations in favour of the mother church. Brasses: Nich. Manston, 1444; woman with armorial bearings. At Manston, of which the mansion is converted into a farm-house, was a chapel, of which "the remains are very considerable" (there is no intimation when it was erected). "At a small distance from the church" (of St. Laurence) "to the eastward are the remains of a small chapel, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, now converted into a cottage. There was a chantry founded in it, for the support of which several lands hereabouts were given," &c. (Hasted.) For Nich. Manston's memorial see (Monum. Brasses, 67.)
190. Lee.—Brass: Eliz. Couhyll, 1513. (Reg. Roff.)
191. Leeds.—"Ibi duo arpendi vineæ: there are two arpents of vineyard." (D. B.)—Bishop Goldwell (of Norwich) is stated to have founded a chantry in the south part of the nave of Leeds church, temp. K. Henry VII. (Monast. VI, 215.) For a similar establishment in Great Chart church see the Note on that place.—The priory, or abbey, of Leeds was founded by Rob. Crevecceur and his son Adam (Lambarde), A.D. 1119 (Hasted). In addition to the castle, which is still occupied as a residence, the place contains Battle Hall, a house not far from the church, quite distinct from the priory, which has remains indicating it to have been some religious building.—According to Kilburne, of the castle, " the outmost gates" and the site of the ancient mill only are in the parish of Leeds, the remainder lying in Bromfield.
"De hoc manerio habet abbas S. Augustini dimidium solinum, pro excambio parchi episcopi baiocensis. The abbot of St. Augustin's has half a sowling of this manor in exchange for the park of the bishop of Bayeux." (D. B.) It is not stated what land the abbot gave in exchange, but we know that Bishop Odo possessed a park at Little Bourne.
192. Leigh.—Anciently called Leuga or Lega, perhaps because situated within the "Leuga de Tonebrige;" i.e. "The Lowy." Hasted however says that Leuga in Saxon signifies a feeding or pasture; on which matter see the Note on Tonbridge. At this day the level meadows westward of Tonbridge town toward Leigh are named "The Lew." Leigh must formerly have been a very extensive parish, Bidborough, as well as Penshurst, having been taken out of it. Compare the Notes on those two places. Brasses in the church: John Stace, 1591, a small recumbent figure over an inscription: another, a small square with neither
