NOTES TO SUSSEX.
14. Ashburnham.—"The church Gibson mentions as having being built by John Ashburnham Esq., grandfather to then present lord, and consisting of three chancels." (Sussex, by M. A. Lower, 1831, p. 42.)
20. Beddingham.—Chancel, nave, north aisle, south porch, and west tower. Piers and arches between nave and aisle Tr. Norm., or early E.E. A south aisle has been destroyed, but a pier remaining on that side is earlier than those opposite. Tower Perp., containing numerous old stones, of which several have Norm. mouldings. The clerestory windows, now closed, seem to have been pointed quatrefoils. East window now Dec. The larger portion of, if not all, the outer wall of the body of the edifice has been rebuilt, but the north wall of chancel has some traces of very small Norm. windows.
21. Beeding.—Only chancel, nave, south porch, and west tower not in the centre of that end of the building. Some remains of Norm. work, some E.E., and more debased Perp. The church has been larger, but has been sadly treated.
36. Botolph's.—Chancel, nave, modern south porch, and small west tower, entered only from nave. An E.E. north aisle is demolished. Chancel contains piscina and ambry. East window a Dec. insertion. A Norm. window remains in south wall of nave. The idea that the chancel arch is Anglo-Saxon may be correct, the style of it being peculiar; but it seems doubtful whether the half-round forming the inner soffit of the arch originally terminated in corbels, as now, or whether shafts were continued thence down the side piers.
37. Bourne, East.—This church well deserves inspection. It is large, comprehending chancel, nave, north and south aisles, with chancel and porch to each, west tower, and vestry on exterior of east end of high chancel. Aisles divided into two portions, beside chancels, and each has possessed a newel stair to roof, the northern being without, the other within, the building. In chancel are piscina, three sedilia separated by shafts, and a quadrangular ogée-topped niche or ambry in the eastern wall, all apparently coeval with vestry. Small niches in western face of the two eastern piers between nave and aisles. Chancel and nave Tr. Norm., nearly E.E. Some Dec. work, including good screens, and some Perp. Windows of north aisle have at angles of jambs light semi-octagonal shafts, the faces of which are concave, of Dec. date. The old parsonage, now almshouses, may be Perp., but it is in ruinous condition. The "vaulted apartment," p. 204, at the Lamb inn, is an ancient cellar of a single bay.
42. Bramber.—Of the original church the chancel and transepts have been destroyed, what was the central tower now forming the chancel. There are no traces of an aisle on either side of the nave. Of the Castle the only vestiges are one high fragment of a tower, and portions of the outer walls, A farm in the parish, south-westward from the church, called Magdalen Farm, may possibly have been connected with the hospital of St. Magdalen in Bramber. An old house in the village street, near the Vetus Pons, is curious. Part is greatly dilapidated, but it has been handsomely ornamented, alterations and decorations having been made about temp. Q. Eliz. or K. James I.
47. Buncton.—This small, but interesting, building of Norm. date, with later alterations and repairs, comprises only chancel and nave, with a recently erected bell-turret on the west end of the latter. Of the chancel the two-light east window is Dec.; there is an ogée-headed piscina; two brackets, one new, in the east wall; and in the northern side a large pointed arched ambry, with a shelf of
