ascribed to Gervase of Canterbury, who flourished in the time of Richard the first." Portions of the dormitory and of the refectory only remain. (Monast. IV, 586.) The above statement is transformed by Horsfield (in his Hist, of Sussex) into a foundation of the nunnery by Gervase Archbishop of Canterbury!—A family, by name Mutton, owning a small farm here called Normans, believe themselves to have possessed the property ever since K. William I; and the present representative claims to have a chest, which his ancestor brought over with him from Normandy. (Horsfield's Suss. II, 273.)
216. Rustington.—A good church, comprising chancel, nave with north and south aisles, an addition to the east end of the former making a sort of transept, a heavy western tower, north and west porches. The south aisle has been rebuilt very recently; the piers and arches north of the nave, together with the font, seem to be Perp., but the remainder of the nave, together with the tower are Tr. Norm. The chancel and arch are E. E., the east window being new. From the transept is an open squint, and another from the south aisle appears to have been filled up. On the northern side of the chancel arch, is what may have been an entrance to the roodloft. The existing piscina was brought from elsewhere, but in the transept is preserved the broken basin of one, which was richly ornamented, and in the north wall of the same place is fixed a much mutilated carving of our Saviour with two figures beneath, which was found in the chancel, the back of it forming part of the steps to the altar. The east window of the transept is a late Perp. insertion. The porches are both ancient, but the wood-work is so much decayed, that little of the mouldings can be traced. Several dilapidated oak benches are worked up among the pews.
217. Rye.—From distinct recognitions of the circumstance in later charters it appears, that privileges were granted to Rye by K. Edward the Confessor; who, it is stated, bestowed this place and Old Winchelsea on the abbey of Fecamp in Normandy; which grant, being found inconvenient, was resumed by K. Henry III, A.D. 1246, other estates in Gloucestershire and Lincolnshire being given in exchange. (Holloway's Hist, and Antiquities of Rye, Lond. 1847, 4, 5, &c.) In the official deed of K. Henry III, just alluded to, and which is dated 15 May, 1247 "the patronage of the church" is mentioned, among other things, as having been conferred by K. Edward on the foreign abbey; whence we learn the existence of a church here in Saxon
