is evident that the name of almost every vilor or farm within the district is derived from them.” The church build at the end of the village, was erected at the formation of the parish by bishop Ralph in 1230. It has a nave and north aisle with a small sepulchral chapel appendant. In this portion of the church which belongs to the manor of Dedisham, is a curiously sculptured female figure,
destitute of any inscription, but traditionally said, to belong to a member of the family of Tregoz.—There are also two other mural monuments, with small painted alabaster effigies of women in the ancient dress of their times. The first of which we give a sketch,
appears particularly “en bon point,” and is represented kneeling on a cushion, in the act of prayer. The following inscription, now almost illegible, appears beneath.
here lieth katharine blount, youngest daughter of richard blount esq., of dedisham, (descended from sir walter blount knt. lord mountjoy) and mary wife to the said richard, daughter to sir william weste, knt., lord de la war, which katharine deceased march 1, 1617, in the 27th. year of her age. she left her estate to her 4 sisters, viz. elizabeth, ann, martha, and jane, to whose pious memory they erected this monument.
The remaining monument is to the memory of mistress Jane Blount, ob. 1614.
In the pavement is a large slab of Sussex marble, with an inscription to the memory of Richard Bradbridge gent., and Denys his wife, with their children, ob. 1633.
The tower is massive, and like all those in the Weald, surmounted by a spire of shingles,
supported upon four upright beams of a length and diameter very seldom seen.
This parish which is bounded on the east by Warnham, west by Rudgewick and Billinghurst, north by Rudgewick, and south by Itchingfield, approaches nearer in form to a circle than any other, and is intersected in several directions by 3 turnpike roads. From the excellent slate quarries in the vicinity, slabs containing 100 square feet, and about 5 in thickness have often been raised. Several rare botanical plants are found in this parish, some indigenous, and others originally introduced by Dr. T. Manningham a former rector, well versed in that science.