Page:Notes on the churches in the counties of Kent, Sussex, and Surrey.djvu/360

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NOTES TO SUSSEX.

258. Uckfield.—The entry in (A.D. 1291), quoted in the Note on Buxted, proves an early origin of the church here, as a chapel to Buxted. The church, with the exception of the tower, which is surmounted by a shingled spire, has recently been rebuilt, with enlargement, which was greatly needed. Uckfield is now constituted a distinct benefice, having been severed from Buxted.—In the main street here, at the corner of Church Lane, and opposite to the King's Head Inn, some ancient masonry exists, which seems to have been part of a domestic building. It has been much mutilated in adapting the place to the business of the occupant, a baker, but doorways, a store recess or closet, and part of one or two windows may be traced very distinctly.

259. Udimere.—(Val. Eccl.) declares, that this rectory had been appropriated to Robertsbridge Abbey, which accounts for the annexation of Udimere to Salehurst in (A.D. 1291) and (N. R.)

260. Wadhurst.—This church contains thirty iron graveslabs. (Suss. Arch. Coll. II, 199.)

261. Walberton.—"On the 31st of March 1817 a discovery was made in a field, near the dwelling-house of General Sir W. Houston, at Avisford Hill, seven miles from Chichester, on the road to Arundel. It originated in the circumstance of making a hole with an iron crow-bar in the earth, for the purpose of setting up hurdles to inclose sheep, which bar met with repeated resistance, at about six inches deep. This circumstance induced the man, with assistance, to clear away the surface, when they perceived a stone, similar to the gritt-stone found near Petworth: it measured in length four feet, breadth one foot eight inches, and eight inches thick, forming a covering of a solid chest or coffer; which being taken off, the inside proved to be neatly hollowed out, in an oblong square, nearly four feet in length, and eighteen inches deep: the sides of the coffer were four inches in thickness. The objects, which presented themselves, consisted of pottery of the coarse light red kind, and colour of common flower-pots. There were two red earthen basons, the size of large breakfast-cups, placed in saucers; six plates of the same coarse ware, the size of dessert plates, nine others, smaller; two earthen candlesticks, six inches high; two earthen jugs, of a globular shape, eight inches in diameter, with a teapot-shaped handle attached to them, and a narrow neck, that would not admit a finger; another jug, of the same size, with a spout and handle like a cream-pot. In a circular saucer, engrailed all