The Lists of Saxon Churches in the Domesday Monachorum and White Book of St Augustine

( 60 ) THE LISTS OF SAXON CHURCHES IN THE DOMESDAY MONACHORUM, AND WHITE BOOK OF ST. AUGUSTINE. BY GORDON WARD, M.D., F.S.A. THE Domesday Monachorum is an ancient manuscript book preserved in the Chapter Library at Canterbury. It has recently been pubhshed in the third volume of the V.C.H. of Kent but with little editing or discussion. It commences with a list of churches and of the dues which they paid to the Archbishop at Easter. This is foUowed by a second hst from which it is seen that certain churches had others grouped under them in the manner of rural deaneries. The third hst contains only a few names and contains a statement of the dues paid " before the coming of Lord Lanfranc the Archbishop ". At the end of this last is a sentence to the effect that " what is before written " was ordained and instituted by Lanfranc. This can hardly refer to the dues before his coming (although it has actually been read in this sense) and so must apply to the first two lists. It foUows that these hsts were compiled in the time of Lanfranc (1070- 1089). But we can go further than this. The second hst includes the churches subordinate to MUton Regis and Newington by Sittingbourne. These are stated to have been given by the Conqueror to the Abbey of St. Augustine in 1070 (Reg. Regum Anglo-Norm. 35, 39). It is true that the author of this register queries the deed of gift, but his only expressed reason for so doing is that Faversham, whose church was also given, was not terra regis and so not within the Conqueror's gift. It is however recorded as terra regis in Domesday Book, so that we may perhaps accept the deed of gift to the Abbey as genuine. We have then some presumptive evidence that the D.Mon. hsts were drawn up in the very first year of Lanfranc as Archbishop. This view SAXON CHURCHES IN DOMESDAY MONACHORUM. 61 is further supported by the inclusion of churches named after their Saxon possessors, a feature discussed when deahng with the Rochester churches in Vol. XLIV of Arch. Cant. An even more significant fact is the curious mistake which occurs in recording the name of the church of Acrise. This is written " Aqus " and the letters of this strange word are very similar to the Saxon letters A-c-r-i-s but are not at aU hke the Latin letters. The inference is that this mistake arose from the copying of a Ust written in Saxon letters, of which several are actually reproduced in the D.Mon. If we add to these considerations the reasonable likelihood that Lanfranc would not have long delayed this measure of reform, we may say with some assurance that the churches mentioned were of Saxon foundation, and may now pass to the first Ust. THE EIRST LIST. In deahng with this and the other lists all Latin words have been translated, but place names have been reproduced as they are in the original except only that diphthongs have been extended and Saxon letters represented by their usual equivalents. The churches have been numbered for convenience of reference and these numbers fohow on from those of the Rochester churches. This list commences with the words " These are the customs of the Archbishop at Easter from presbyters and churches." Then follow eightyeight names each preceded by " De " and followed by the amount to be paid. Most of those which had subordinate churches pay large sums. Of the remainder the great majority pay some multiple of 7d., commonly 28d. But the last twelve names on the hst vary between 3d., 7d. and 12d. These are not placed in order and it is quite possible that both the 3d. and 12d. entries are errors for 7d. This mistake is easy to make when copying Roman numerals and would explain what is otherwise difficult to account for, namely, the departure in these cases from the normal unit of 7d. which was the unit in use before the Conquest and which also appears in the church Ust of Saint Augustine in 62 SAXON CHURCHES IN DOMESDAY MONACHORUM, the White Book (P.R.O.—E. 164/27). We may perhaps hazard the suggestion that these anomalous sums, occurring at the end of the Ust, are partly to be explained by the injury commonly suffered by the exposed end of any parchment roU in frequent use. The eighty-eight churches are :— 153. Middeltune, 10s. less 4d.—MUton Regis. 154. Maegdestane, 10s. less 4d.—Maidstone. 155. Cyrringe, 10s. less 4d.—Charing. 156. Wy, the same [i.e. 10s. less 4d.]—Wye. 157. Taenham, 2s.—Teynham. 158. Wingeham, 2s.—Wingham. 159. Eastrege, 10s. less 4d.—Eastry. 160. Limminges, 32d.—Lyminge. 161. Apeldre, 7s.—Appledore. 162. Doforis, 55s.—S. Martin le Grand, Dover. 163. Folcestane, 50s.—FoUcestone. 164. Boctune, 28d.—Boughton Monohelsea. 165. Aho Boctune, 28d.—Boughton Aluph. Of the four Boctunes in Kent one is entered as subordinate to Maidstone, and this can hardly be otherwise than Boughton Malherbe, for the manor of Boughton Malherbe was part of the larger manor of HoUingbourne, whose church was also subordinate to Maidstone. We are thus left with three Boctunes from which to choose the " two Boctunes " of the pre-Lanfranc Ust, which are presumably the same as Nos. 164 and 165 above. Of these three, one—Boughton under Blean—was a demesne manor of the Archbishop and the other two were both in Saxon times manors of Earl Godwin. These latter are both credited with churches in D.B. whereas none is recorded for Boughton under Blean. In these circumstances the above identifications seem inevitable, at least until further information comes to hand. 166. Rumenea, 32d.—S. Nicholas, New Romney, see under 218. 167. Rokynges, 28d.-~Ruckinge. 168. Sandhyrste, 28d.—Sandhurst. AND WHITE BOOK OF ST. AUGUSTINE. 63 169. Ruluindaenne, 28d.—Rolvenden. 170. Wndecyrce, 28d.—Woodchurch. There seems to be an error here, " Wnde " for " Wude ". There are several such in this record. There was one other Woodchurch in Kent, also known as Acol, in Thanet. It is not mentioned in this hst although it seems to be one of the two churches mentioned in D.B. as being in the Archbishop's manor of Monkton. It is likely that the existence of two churches distinguished by a name showing them to have been buUt of wood should be interpreted as evidence that most of the churches in this list were of stone. 171. Binnigdaenne, 28d.—Benenden. 172. Sealtwude, 28d.—Saltwood. 173. Wodnesbeorge, 28d.—Woodnesborough. 174. Leocham, 28d.—Ickham. The form in the original is an obvious misreading for leocham, a usual form of the name. 175. Biscopestune, 28d.—Possibly Bishopstone, west of Reculver. The sea is continuaUy gaining on the land at this point and it may weU be that a church has disappeared but no memory or record of such a church remains. The identification is therefore doubtful. Possibly Reculver itseU. 176. WeUe, 28d.—WestweU. 177. Grauenea, 28d.—Graveney. 178. Berewic, 28d.—Berwick hamlet in Lymne. The barn and outhouses of the manor house at this place contain blocks of Caen stone and also incorporate mouldings which Canon G. M. Livett (who most kindly accompanied the writer to this and other sites) pronounced post-Reformation. Whether any of the Caen stone once formed part of a chapel can hardly be said until the barn blows down, but there was certainly an important establishment here, although there are no obvious pre-Conquest remains. It may seem curious that this church should be mentioned and Lymne itself omitted, although we know that the latter had several daughter churches. It is tempting 64 SAXON CHURCHES IN DOMESDAY MONACHORUM, to suppose that we have not reaUy two churches but two names for one church. The objection to this view is that Lymne was held of Aldington manor and Berewick of Barton ahas Northwood manor near Canterbury so that confusion was unlikely. The more probable explanation of the absence of any record of dues from Lymne is that this was the seat of the Archdeacon of Canterbury who had these dues as his own perquisite. 179. Prestentune, 28d.—Preston next Faversham. 180. Ospringe, 28d.—Ospringe. 181. Faeuresham, 28d.—Faversham. 182. Wicham, 28d.—Wickhambreaux. 183. Certeham, 28d.—Chartham. 184. Godmaeresham, 28d.—Godmersham. 185. CiUeham, 28d.—Chilham. 186. Mundingham, 28d.—Great Mongeham. 187. Merseham, 28d—Mersham. 188. Cnoltune, 28d— Knolton. 189. Sandwic, 28d.—S. Clement, Sandwich. 190. Burna, 28d.—Patrixbourne. 191. Burna, 28d.—Bekesbourne. There were many places caUed Burna in Kent. Of the others Bridge is the Burne of St. Augustine in D.B., Bishopsbourne is No. 360 (see under) and Northbourne is No. 257. Littlebourne was another of the manors of St. Augustine, whose churches do not appear in these hsts, and Brabourne is No. 192. AU of these are at some time caUed only Burne, Burnes, Burna, etc. 192. Bradeburna, 28d.—Brabourne. 193. Cranebroca, 28d.—Cranbrook. 194. Wealemere, 28d.—Walmer. 195. Colredan, 28d.—Coldred. 196. Middelea, 28d.—Midley. 197. Fordwic, 28d.—Fordwich. 198. Werhorna, 28d.—Warehorne. AND WHITE BOOK OF ST. AUGUSTINE. 65 199. Wealdwarescare, 28d.—Waldershare. 200. CyUindaenne, 28d.—ChUlenden. 201. Trulege, 28d.—Throwley. 202. Aeslinge, 28d.—Eastling. 203. AeUiam, 28d.—Elham. 204. Hardan, 28d.—Upper Hardres, or Lower Hardres. Both of these had a church in 1086 (D.B.) and there is nothing to show which is here referred to. 205. desham, 28d.—Adisham [Initial omitted in error]. 206. TUemannestune, 28d.—TUmanstone. 207. Smithatune, 28d.—Shingleton chapel in Nonnington. This identification is uncertain and is based on the foUowing facts. In the White Book of St. Augustine this place and ScriveUnge are rated together at one suling. Scrivelinge apparently degenerated to Shrinlding which is given in Bagshaw's Directory as an alternative name for Shingleton. Smithatune should therefore be close to, or a part of, Shingleton. There was undoubtedly a chapel at this place which is therefore probably the chapel of Smithatune. 208. Hyruuerthestun, 28d.—Not identified. The church of Harrietsham is unexpectedly absent from these lists and it is perhaps just possible that the manor of Herbilton in this parish was once that of Hyruuerthestun. 209. Cert, 28d.—Great Chart. 210. Baedericesdenne, 28d.—Bethersden. 211. Hadinwoldungdaenne, 28d.—High Halden. Several intermediate forms of this name are known. 212. 213. Wealtham and Pytham, 28d.—Waltham and Petham. 214. Rumenea, 31d.—S. Clement, Old Romney. This name has already appeared as No. 166, paying 32d. The two sums added together make 63d., that is, nine times the usual unit of 7d. It is not unreasonable to suppose that i i 66 SAXON CHURCHES IN DOMESDAY MONACHORUM, this sum of 63d. was fixed when Old and New Romney were stUl one for most purposes. That there was such a time the history of the district makes quite certain, nor is it clear that they are differentiated in D.B. 215. Hathfelde, 10d.—Hothfield. 216. Plucelea, 10d.—-Pluckley. I can offer no explanation for these sums which cannot weU be explained as due to careless transcription. 217. Niwantune, 7d.—Newington by Sittingbourne. The V.C.H. (p. 255) makes this Newington by Hythe, but if this view be accepted it is difficult to explain the Niwantune subordinate to Dover (No. 250) which the V.C.H. also explains as " ? Newington near Hythe". No church can weU have been subordinate to another, to which it therefore paid its chrism fee (as the records of St. Augustine show), and yet have also paid its chrism fee direct to the Archbishop. We cannot therefore expect to find any name in both hsts and difficult identifications must seek some other solution. 218. Kynigtune, 7d.—Kennington (see note later). 219. Syrran, 7d.—Sarre. 220. Heortege, 7d.—Harty in Sheppey. 221. Bidindaenne, 7d.—Biddenden. 222. Sturmude, 7d.—Stourmouth. This church was given to Rochester in 1089 (Dugdale, Monast. vi. 175), a fact which affords further evidence of the early date of this hst. 223. Raette, 7d. (see under No. 265). 224. Saesealtre, 7d.—Seasalter. 225. Baethdesmere, 7d.—Badlesmere. 226. Hamme, 7d.—Ham near Sandwich. 227. Bereham, 7d.—Barham (see also No. 360). 228. Ottrindaenne, 7d.—Otterden. 229. Pytte, 3d.—Pett chapel in Charing. This is now incorporated in the garage of Pett Place. In D.B. this is in Little Chart manor. AND WHITE BOOK OF ST. AUGUSTINE. 67 230. Denentune, 7d.—Thannington. Confusion between " d " and " t " is frequent in D.Mon. The two letters are closely allied, and the capital " Th " of Anglo-Saxon is our " D " with a stroke through the upright, so that confusion was very easy. 231. Luddenham, 7d.—Luddenham. 232. Oran, 7d.—Oare. 233. Piuingtune, 7d.—Pevington. The church was dedicated to St. Mary and the parish has long been absorbed in that of Pluckley. 234. Blean, 12d.—Blean. 235. Northtune, 7d.—Norton. 236. Kynardingtune, 12d.—Kenardington. 237. Elmestede, 12d.—Elmsted. 238. Eardlanestune, 7d.—Orlestone. The original was no doubt " Eardlauestune ". 239. Haestingelege, 12d.—Hastingleigh. 240. Sineredaenne, 7d.—Smarden. The original presumably had " Smeredaenne". A monk of Christ Church who copied this list many years later wrote " Smeredenne " (Lambeth, 1212, foho 345). These mistakes in the reading of minims are very frequent at aU periods but it has seemed best not to disregard them but to strive as far as possible for strict textual accuracy in these church names, which are in many cases the earhest and best forms known and are far more rehable than those of Domesday Book. Indeed, in addition to their ecclesiastical significance, these hsts are of considerable interest to those whose conversation is of place names and their historical importance. THE SECOND LIST. This Ust commences a new column in the D.Mon. and at the top of this column we find the dues payable by the Abbey of Saint Augustine set out as foUows :— " These are what are owed every year from Saint Augustine to Christ Church. The sacristan of 68 SAXON CHURCHES IN DOMESDAY MONACHORUM, S. Augustine is to place seven pennies on the altar of Christ or shaU give them into the hand of the sacristan of the church of Christ. The Abbot, or he who shaU be in the place of the Abbot, by suitable servants, must send to the church of Christ 30 loaves such that four are always worth one penny, and two of the best sheep, and three full amphoras, two of mead and the third of ale, and 600 pence. AU these should be paid on Holy Thursday (in cena domini)." It wUl be noted that St. Augustine pays with particular formahty the 7d. chrism fee and with less formahty the large sum of 600 pence. The mention of " the Abbot or he who shaU be in the place of the Abbot " was possibly prompted by the fact that the last Saxon Abbot lost his head at the Conquest and fled the country in 1070—i.e. about the time that this Ust may weU have been drawn up. The fact is briefly recorded by Thomas of Elmham—" Egelsinus fugit", and by other writers. This second hst is broken up into sections, each of which may be said to represent a rural deanery for lack of any more accurate term. It is probable that they were the direct ancestors of present day rural deaneries. CHURCHES SUBORDINATE TO S. MARTIN LE GRAND. This section is introduced with the words " These churches pertain to Saint Martin of Dover " and it is a section full of difficulties of identification. 241. Saint Peter's (Sancti Petri)—Whitfield. 242. Saint Mary (Sancte Marie)—Poulton. There is nothing to show which of aU the churches with these not uncommon dedications are intended. But it is observable that these rural deaneries are in the main composed of churches at no great distance from the mother church and we must accordingly expect to find them near Dover. If we then proceed to ehminate the churches which are elsewhere mentioned, we are left with those of Whitfield and Poulton. AND WHITE BOOK OF ST. AUGUSTINE. 69 These have the dedications required. The next entry is " Within the city five churches (monasteria)." " Monasterium" is occasionaUy used instead of " ecclesia" or " cyrce " but apparently with the same meaning. These churches were discussed in Arch. Cant., Vols. IV andXX where it is made quite clear that two of them were actuaUy situated in the same buUding as St. Martin's itself, each having one part of the trefoU east end but functioning for aU parochial purposes as a separate church. The other three are well known to history. The five are numbers 243 to 247 below. 243. Saint Nicholas in St. Martin le Grand. 244. Saint John the Baptist in St. Martin le Grand. 245. Saint Mary. 246. Saint Peter. 247. Saint James. 248. Ceorletun—Charlton by Dover. 249. Denetun—Denton. 250. Niwantun—Newington by Hythe. There is a serious difficulty about this identification which is also encountered in considering the whereabouts of the manor of Neventone in D.B. The church and the manor were evidently in the same place for both are closely identified with Dover. The manor is stated to be in the Hundred of Bewsborough of which Dover was the centre. But Newington by Hythe has never been known to be in this Hundred. It was in the Hundred of Folkestone which belonged to Wilham de Archis whose daughter and heir Emma married as her first husband Manasses Count of Guisnes (Trans. Brit. Arch. Assoc. 1844). This Count in 1120 gave the church of Newington to the Monastery of St. Leonard of Lonlay (Idem, from History of the Counts of Guisnes, liv., 126), and it is presumed that he had this church as part of Emma's marriage portion. AU this goes to show that Newingtonby- Hythe belonged to the de Archis famUy from the earhest period. The Niwantun or Neventone in Bewsborough Hundred, on the other hand, belonged to quite a different family, that of Hugh de Montfort who was Warden of Dover 70 SAXON CHURCHES IN DOMESDAY MONACHORUM, Castle under the Conqueror. I do not know how this difficulty is to be overcome, but the complete absence of any Newington in the neighbourhood of Dover obhges one to accept the identification of this church pertaining to St. Martin with Newington near Hythe. The next few names give rise to problems of another sort. They are written as foUows: " AeweUan. n. ecclesias. Itu.. AeweUan. Waltun." The V.C.H. translates this " AeweUan (EweU), two churches. Again AeweUan (EweU), Waltun (Walton.)" This translation supposes that " I tu " is a shortened form of the latin "iterum"—again. But this is not borne out by the fact that it is foUowed by a Ml stop, nor by the contraction mark used, an opinion in which Prof. A. G. Little emphaticaUy concurs. Therefore " Itu " must be the name of a church. We are left with the apparent improbability of there being three churches in EweU. But this is not reaUy a source of difficulty. There are three manors of EweU in D.B. and the word was used to cover a district which was, as the name imphes, near the water or river above Dover. We can therefore Ust the churches as foUows :— 251. AeweUan (first church)—Temple EweU. 252. AeweUan (second church)—River. 253. Itun—Eythorne. This is almost within the Dover district but the spelling is most abnormal and the church in 1291 was in the Deanery of Sandwich. But Eythorne is not otherwise mentioned in these hsts, although it was a manor at least as early as 805 (Birch, Cart. Sax. 318), and it is difficult to suggest any other identification. 254. AeweUan (third church)—Buckland. 255. Waltun—Walton farm near Folkestone. This again is a doubtful identification. The manor of Folkestone was sometimes described as " otherwise Fohkestone- Walton " (Arch. Cant., X, 129) and there is no doubt that Walton was a place of much importance. But there is no certain trace of there ever having been a church there. But this objection would apply to several names in these AND WHITE BOOK OF ST. AUGUSTINE. 71 hsts and it is not impossible that WiUiam de Archis may have seen fit to bestow one of his manor churches on St. Martin, indeed, as a near neighbour, he may weU have done so. 256. Chue—West CUff. 257. Burnan—Northbourne. Here is another problem. Northbourne was a manor of St. Augustine as early as 618 (Thomas of Elmham, ui., 144) and its church was the head of a large deanery (White Book). And it is not particularly near Dover. Nevertheless it is hard to suggest any other identification. Bournes are scarce near Dover except the river Dour, and aU the parishes bordering on that have already been mentioned. The problem remains unsettled for the suggestion of " ? Bishopsbourne " in the V.C.H. is equaUy open to aU manner of objections. 258. Chue—S. Margaret at Cliff. 259. Gutiestun—Guston. CHURCHES SUBORDINATE TO FOLKESTONE. This section commences with the words " To Folcestan pertain ". The first church mentioned is :— 260. Awoluescyrce—Hawkinge. This is evidently a church named after some Saxon owner. It was Eadwuffeschurch perhaps or that of AdehUf, a name which occurs in D.B. But in neither case are we assisted towards the identification of the place for no one of any such name is known to have Uved near Folkestone. But since Hawkinge was one of the most important sections of the great manor of Folkestone, and is not otherwise mentioned in these hsts, we may provisionaUy adopt this identification. 261. Bilicean—Beachborough in Newington. This also is a problematical identification. It occurs four times in D.Mon. BUice pays Romescot of 4s. ; Hugh de Montfort has one suling at BUec and Adam fitzHubert one den attached to BeUinge. In D.B. these two last holdings 72 SAXON CHURCHES IN DOMESDAY MONACHORUM, are said to be at Behce. One supposes that the word was pronounced BeU-each, sometimes enough slurred to produce the form BeUinge. We learn no more about it in D.B. except that it was in Hayne Hundred and belonged to Hugh de Montfort, that is, no more of immediate use to us. Now, Newington has always been considered to be in Folkestone Hundred but in Domesday Book is clearly stated to be in that of Bewsborough. The most reasonable explanation of this apparent anomaly is to suppose that Hugh de Montfort was moving his manors, where needful, into new Hundreds, that is, was causing them to attend Hundred Courts in which he had most influence. It is certain, judging from what happened in other cases, that the Lord of Newington would not wish his tenants to take their pleas (and fees) to the Hundred Court of Folkestone if he could obtain the fees for himseU by ordering them to attend the Court of the Hundred of Bewsborough. Beechborough, although in Newington parish, was apparently not part of the manor of Newington which came within Bewsborough Hundred for it is listed as a separate manor in the Hundred of Hayne. This latter adjoins the parish of Newington on the west, that is, that part of the parish in which Beachborough is placed. The Hundred of Hayne was one of the Hundreds given to Hugh de Montfort together with others forming a compact group around Lymne and Hythe. He might therefore quite weU divert the men of Beachborough to the Hundred of Hayne, even U they were formerly accustomed to attend the Hundred Court of Folkestone. If one may now suppose that this was actuaUy the state of affairs when our church Usts were compUed, it is reasonable to identify Belice and Beachborough for Beachborough was formerly Belche-berghe (Arch. Cant., I l l , 260) and "Belche" is a very likely late form of " BeU-each " or " BeUce ". One suspects that the later manor of Newington-Belhouse was one in which both Newington and Behce were combined and that " Belhouse " is only another ahas for this place. But it cannot be denied that an identification based on rather surer ground would be very welcome. AND WHITE BOOK OF ST. AUGUSTINE. 73 262. Ciricetun—Cheriton. 263. Sumafeld—Swingfield. The form " Sumafeld " is probably an erroneous transcription of " Sinnafeld". This latter form is also adopted by the writer of Lambeth, 1212. Other forms of the name are Swynefelde in 1253 (Arch. Cant., XII, 214) and 1271 (Arch. Cant., VI, 240) and Swynfelde in 1346 (Arch. Cant., X, 129). 264. Ealhham—Alkham. In a private communication Prof. EUert EkwaU writes of this name, " I suggest that Alkham goes back to an 0. E. Ealh-ham, ealh being Old English for ' temple.' " This identification certainly fits the facts and can be adopted without hesitation since the more obvious Elham has already appeared as No. 203. 265. Fleota—Fleet manor in Ash by Sandwich. It is known (Arch. Cant., 1,243) that the castle of Richborough was within the manor of Fleet and that the latter was part of the manor of FoUtestone, a fact which explains its inclusion in the deanery of Saint Eanswith. Within this castle was a chapel of Saint Augustine of which the history is given in the 7th Report of the Research Committee of the Society of Antiquaries. One might therefore conclude that this must have been the Fleota chapel mentioned in these lists. But we have also to remember that there was a church of Raette paying 7d. annuaUy to the Archbishop, that is, a church more important than that of Fleota (see No. 223). This word " Raette " seems to connect with the first syUable of the older forms of Richborough, for example, Ratebourc in 1072 (Cotton Aug. II. 36) and Ratteburg in 1197 (Arch. Cant., I, 243) not to mention Ritupiae during the Roman occupation. There is no simUar name in Kent and the chapel which held the wondrous footprint of Saint Augustine must surely be represented by Raette in these Usts. In this case Fleota must refer to a separate manorial chapel somewhere near Fleet farm. This view is also taken by Somner (Roman Forts, p. 6) but there seems to be no other record of this chapel. 74 SAXON CHURCHES IN DOMESDAY MONACHORUM, 266. Huhcham—Hougham. 267. Achalt—? AshiU farm in Folkestone. There are several places in Kent caUed by names such as Achalt, meaning Oak Wood, but none which particularly suggest themselves as the sites of churches. It is a mere guess that AshiU Farm, long since vanished, in Folkestone may have been the site of the chapel of Achalt. This farm is shown on old maps in the Radnor Estate Office but there is no chapel indicated. Leland reported, " Toward a quarter of a myle owt of the towne is a chapel of St. BotuUe ", and this was about the distance of AshiU, but the report of foundations of a chapel on the road to the Warren has also to be remembered (Mackie's History of Folkestone, p. 27). 268. Hleodaena—Lydden. 269. WuUerestun—Woolverton in Alkham. The manor house of Woolverton was demolished some thirty years ago but there remains adjacent to its site a most interesting cottage built of Tudor brick, the finest flint work, Caen stone, cement and 13th century stone mouldings. It has a large east window, now blocked up, which would seem to be of the time of Henry VII or thereabouts (Canon G. M. Livett most kindly visited it with me, else I should not have dared to date the mouldings, etc.). This was certainly not buUt for its present purpose and may weU incorporate the remains of more than one chapel built on this site. CHURCHES SUBORDINATE TO LYMNE. This section commences with the extremely abbreviated introduction "Ad Limenam". This church is not recorded as paying fees to the Archbishop and has thus escaped previous mention. It is No. 270 of the Saxon churches of Kent so far discussed. The subsidiary churches of the Lymne deanery seem to have been mostly in Romney Marsh. 271. Laurenti circe—S. Lawrence, New Romney. 272. Martini ecclesia—S. Martin, New Romney. 273. Iue circe—Ivychurch. AND WHITE BOOK OF ST. AUGUSTINE. 75 274. Beunede circ' or Bennede circ'—Brenzett. Brenzett church is dedicated to Saint Eanswith, which is sufficient evidence that it was of Saxon foundation even U we had not the further knowledge that it was long connected with S. Eanswith of Folkestone—certainly from 830 (Birch, Cart. Sax., 396). It ought in consequence to be found in these hsts. Brenzett is Bren-seota, meaning Bren-settlement, but the original form of the syUable " Bren " is not known. But popular etymology, which did not hesitate to shorten Hadinwoldungdaenne to Halden, could certainly shorten Beunede-seota to Brenzett (Brensete in D.B.) and this is probably what happened. 275. HUde—Lydd. 276. Siwoldescirc'—?.S. Mary in the Marsh. Nothing seems to be known of the Siwold to whom this church belonged. It is just possible that his name was also attached to Silouesbregge (Arch. Cant., XII, 212), a forgotten bridge which gave name to an equaUy forgotten manor of which part was in Newchurch Hundred. Of the churches in that Hundred Newchurch is next in the list and Snave belonged to Saint Augustine and so is not to be expected here. There remains S. Mary church, attached to a village which has lost whatever name it had before the church was buUt. The Une of this argument is very thin and it would be unwise to regard this identification as more than a guess. 277. Niwan circ'—Newchurch. 278. In Hythe. U. ecclesie—S. Leonard, Hythe, and 279. S. Mary, West Hythe. 280. Aelsies circ'—Eastbridge. AM was the tenant of Eastbridge before the Conquest (D.B.). 281. Blacemannes o'—Blackmanstone. Blacheman was the tenant of Blachemenestone in the time of King Edward (D.B.). 282. Mertumnes c'—Hope AU Saints. The V.C.H. identifies this as "? St. Martin's" but if this were the case the word would at least—judging from 76 SAXON CHURCHES IN DOMESDAY MONACHORUM, other names in these hsts—have been in the genitive singular, Mertumni. Curiously enough the same authority identifies number 272, Martini ecclesia, as "the church of Martin". I think it is a rule in these hsts that the name of a saint is expressed in Latin, that of a mere man in Anglo-Saxon. But we know nothing of any Saxon caUed Mertumn and the identification with Hope is only arrived at by exclusion. 283. Deman c—Dymchurch. 284. Ordgares c—Orgarswick. 285. BUswithetun—BUsington. 286. Bunnigtun—Bonnington. 287. Ealditun—Aldington. 288. Straeta—Chapel at Court at Street. 289. Sellinge—SeUindge. 290. Kyngestun—Kingsnorth (but see under No. 361). 291. Vndetun—Wootton. 292. SwirgUdan c'—Swarhng chapel in Petham. CHURCHES SUBORDINATE TO LYMINGE (ad Limminges). 293. Wihtricesham—Wittersham. 294. Petri ecclesia—S. Peter, Newenden. 295. Martines circe—Postling. This identification is based on a balance of probabihties. There were two churches at Postling in 1086 (D.B.) and the present church is of the 11th century according to some authorities (Arch. Cant., XXX, 193, 198). Yet it does not appear in these hsts under its own name. It is true that the tenant before the Conquest was Sbern Biga and not Martin. But this Osbern Bigg had eleven houses in Canterbury as weU as manors in other parts of Kent and may weU have had Martin as a sub-tenant at Postling, very hkely with the status of a freeholder. But one is almost ashamed to put forward arguments of this type and can only hope that better information wiU one day be avaUable. 296. Stanford—Stanford. 297. Hortune—Monks Horton. AND WHITE BOOK OF ST. AUGUSTINE. 77 298. Stutinge—Stowting. 299. Birichalt—Bircholt. 300. Stealhnge—SteUing. 301. Aqus—Acrise. 302. Peadleswurthe—Paddlesworth near Lyminge. CHURCHES SUBORDINATE TO MILTON REGIS (ad Middeltune). 303. Northcip'—Warden in Sheppey. The original bears an abbreviation mark which would ordinarily warrant the reading "Northciper". But the scribe uses this mark in any case in which the end of a word is cut off, for example, to indicate the portions in brackets of Circ (e), C(irce), Den(arios), Denar(ios), etc. It is thus impossible to say how Northcip' should be written in full. The churches of MUton manor, and of other manors, were given to Saint Augustine by the Conqueror and we have in the White Book a hst of the churches subordinate to that of Milton Regis which is itseff described as a mother church paying 32 pence to Saint Augustine. No church caUed Northcip' appears in this White Book Ust but there are two churches not named but described as being in Sheppey. This rather suggests that Northcip' must be meant to describe North Sheppey. Since Minster and Eastchurch are otherwise accounted for in these hsts we are left with Warden, in which parish it may be noted Saint Augustine was a considerable land owner. 304. Legesdun—Leysdown in Sheppey. 305. Rodmaeresham—Rodmersham. 306. MUstede—-MUsted. 307. Tunsteal—TunstaU. 308. Bacelde—BapchUd. 309. Bradegare—Bredgar. 310. Bobinge—Bobbing. 311. Tanga—Tonge. 312. Eastoyrce—Eastchurch in Sheppey. 78 SAXON CHURCHES IN DOMESDAY MONACHORUM, CHURCHES SUBORDINATE TO NEWINGTON (ad Niwantunum). 313. Heordlyp—Hartlip. 314. Raenham—Rainham. 315. Vpcyrcean—Upchurch. 316. Stacabere—Stockbury. 317. Halgastaw—Lower Halstow. 318. Sexburgamynster—Minster in Sheppey. This name is further evidence of the Saxon origin of this Ust for the Normans were not friendly to the Saxon saints as very many records assure us. 319. Niwecyrce—Borden. The churches of Newington by Sittingbourne were also given to Saint Augustine and we have a list of them in the White Book in which the place of Niwecyrce seems to be taken by Borden. CHURCHES SUBORDINATE TO TEYNHAM (ad Taenham). 320. Duddingtun—Doddington. 321. Stane—Stone by Faversham. 322. Cilhnge—Selhng. 323. Aetwangeraede—Iwade. This identification is not greeted with any enthusiasm by the writers in the V.C.H. I take it that the word means " At Wangeraede " and we can neglect the first syUable. Wangeraede by shortening in the common speech might become Wade or Warde and the latter word represents the pronunciation which Hasted found current in his time (Hasted, vi., 203). Moreover, part at least of Iwade was in the Hundred of Teynham. How the modern spelling developed can hardly be determined until some intermediate forms are avaUable. In the Taxatio Ecclesiastica (1291) Iwade appears to be included amongst the unnamed chapels of Teynham. CHURCHES SUBORDINATE TO WINGHAM (ad Wingeham). 324. Aesce—Ash by Wingham. 325. Nunningitun—Nonnington. AND WHITE BOOK OF ST. AUGUSTINE. 79 326. Rytlinge—Ratling in Nonnington. 327. Wimlingweald—Womenswold. 328. Wielmestun—Walmestone Farm in Wingham. 329. Eadredestun—Elmstone. In regard to the last name I have the misfortune to differ to some extent from Prof. EkwaU. He is of the opinion that Atterton, the old name of Archer's Court in River Parish (Hasted, ix., 439), might weU be derived from an earher Eadredestun and on these grounds would suggest that this is the identification which should be adopted. But Atterton was a place of which the possession was disputed between Saint Martin le Grand and Hugh de Montfort, Constable of Dover castle (D.B.). Whoever was the real owner it seems most unlikely that the advowson should have belonged (U there was an advowson) to anyone but the Prior of Saint Martin. Neither propinquity nor ownership connects Atterton with Wingham. Elmstone on the other hand is an adjoining parish, but whether Eadredestun degenerated into Elmstone or the latter is an alternative name remains to be demonstrated. CHURCHES SUBORDINATE TO MAIDSTONE (ad Maegdestane). 330. Boxlea—Boxley. 331. Dythnge—Detling. 332. Thornham—Thurnham. 333. Ealdingtun—Aldington manor in Thurnham. 334. Holingaburna—HoUingbourne. 335. Welcumeweg—East Sutton. Welcume-weg must be read with a later name in this list, Wulacumba, which is certainly Ulcomb. Welcume-weg would thus be the Ulcomb-way or Ulcomb road, which apparently gave its name to a church and village. This method of forming place names has not died out in that district for there is stiU a hamlet caUed Chartway there. The direct road from Sutton Valence to Ulcomb—long since made discontinuous—would pass by the one church which we expect to find in this list but which at first sight '80 SAXON CHURCHES IN DOMESDAY MONACHORUM, seems absent, namely, East Sutton. It is therefore not unreasonable to suppose that this was the church of Welcumeweg. 336. Leanham—Lenham. This was a church of Saint Augustine and so might be expected not to appear in this list. The explanation lies in a plaintive note in the White Book—" But there are certain churches among these which pay chrism pence to the church of Our Saviour every year, but how this happens unless by our negligence is not known. These are the church of Lenham, the church of Fordwich, the church of Fauersham, the church of Middletone, the church of Newentone, and perhaps there are others." This note was written not later than the year 1200 and was even then very possibly a copy of an earlier entry. 337. Boctun—Boughton Malherbe (see No. 164). 338. Wulacumba—Ulcomb. 339. Hlyda—Leeds. 340. Langalea—Langley. 341. Suthtun—Sutton Valence. 342. Cert—Chart Sutton. 343. Hedekaruna—Headcorn. 344. Fridenastede—Frinsted. 345. Gmthhyrste—Goudhurst. The original shows copyist's errors, namely—" m " for " ui " and " th " for " d ". The " th " used is the Saxon letter. It is possible that Guithhyrste was the proper form at this date. 346. Maeredaen—Marden. CHURCHES SUBORDINATE TO WYE (ad Wy). 347. Aescedefford—Ashford. The V.C.H. is in error in transcribing this name as Aescedesford. 348. Crundala—Crundal. 349. Broca—Brook. AND WHITE BOOK OF ST. AUGUSTINE. 81 350. Dreamwurthe—Tremworth in Crundal. 351. Haenostesyle—HinxhiU. 352. Brixiestun—Sevington. This identification was approached in the foUowing way. Brixiestun ought to be found in the Wye district or at least within the Uberties of Wye. When those churches which are mentioned in these hsts have been plotted on a map, Sevington stands out as not apparently mentioned although it had a church in 1086 (D.B.). Next, Domesday Book is consulted to see if by any chance it belonged to Brixi in the time of King Edward. At first sight the answer is in the negative for the owner is named Bresibalt, which is not very hke Brixi. On the other hand, it is very much more unlike any other known Saxon name and it does bear some resemblance to Brixi Cilt, by which title Brixi is commonly laiown in D.B. Indeed, it is almost impossible to explain the anomalous Bresibalt except by supposing that it is an error of the D.B. scribe for Brixi CUt. In that case Brixi did own Sevington and we may identify it with the Brixiestun of our hst. 353. WyUan—EastweU. WyUan or WeUe included both EastweU and WestweU (No. 176) but only EastweU belonged to Wye. 354. Haudkashyrste—Hawkhurst. This, although at a distance, was within the hberties of Wye. CHURCH SUBORDINATE TO CHARING (ad Cyrringe). 355. Eardingtun—Egerton. THE UNNAMED DEANERY. The last group in this Ust has no head church mentioned although a clear line is left for its insertion. The Ust is rather misceUaneous so that no particular mother church suggests itseU as appropriate. But amongst the churches paying heavy dues at Easter that of Eastry, paying as much 12 82 SAXON CHURCHES IN DOMESDAY MONACHORUM, as Milton, Maidstone, Wye, etc., has stUl no deanery apportioned to it. It might possibly fUl the vacant space but there is nothing which points to any certainty in the matter. The churches are :— 356. Ebbenea—Ebony Isle. 357. Wylmingtun—WUmington. Of the various WUmingtons in Kent the Borough of Wylmyntone in Street Hundred (Arch. Cant., XII, 212) gave name to a manor which was still existing in 1253 and had existed since 697 when it was caUed Wieghelmestun (Birch, Cart. Sax., 97). Even then it had an older name which had been disused—"BerdeUiameswicum". Hasted (viii., 308) deals with the later history of the manor which is probably now represented by Harringe near Street. With this pedigree one might expect to find it possessed of a chapel but I know of no record of one here or at any other East Kent Wilmington. 358. Cealueloca—ChaUock. 359. Brygge—Bridge. 360. Berham—Bishopsbourne. 361. Alter Berham—Kingston. We have aheady encountered Barham in No. 227 so that we have now the problem of finding three Barham churches, a problem of the type which we have already met at EweU and Sutton. Each of these names must have at one time covered a large area which had subsequently to be divided into three parishes. Fortunately there are several Saxon charters to help us with the particular case of Barham. In 809 we read of seven aratra at Beoreham (Birch, Cart. Sax., 328) of which nevertheless the southern boundary is another Bereham. The northern boundary is Ealdhuninglond which we can identify with certainty for it was given by its owner, named Aldhun, to Christ Church in 799 (Birch, Cart. Sax., 293-4). It was then described as " on Biora ham " but the charter is endorsed "Burnan", that is, Bishopsbourne. We have therefore, in the 809 charter, seven aratra bounded on the north by Bishopsbourne AND WHITE BOOK OF ST. AUGUSTINE. 83 and on the south by Barham. The seven aratra can only be Kingston, as a glance at the map wUl show. The fact that their western boundary was Hardres affords further evidence. We can therefore say that the three churches of Barham were Bishopsbourne, Kingston and Barham. But this puts us in a predicament because we have already met with a church caUed Kyngestun, No. 290. This, I think, must have been Kingsnorth, of which there is no other entry in these hsts. 362. Monasterium Aethyrnan—Herne. 363. Garwynnetun—Garrington in Littlebourne. A tradition of a nunnery persists at this place and is probably the last faint remembrance of this church. 364. Natindune—Nackington. 365. HaranhyUe—HernehiU. THE THIRD LIST. Before discussing these deaneries it wiU be well to set out the third hst. It contains no new names and commences with the introduction, "This is the old institution before the coming of Lord Lanfranc the Archbishop." It concludes with the words, "But Lanfranc of blessed memory ordained and instituted as is before written." The detaUs of the dues are :— From Middeltune 2 sesters of honey and 2 sheep and 8 lambs and 60 loaves and 12 pence and at Pentecost 600 pence. From Megdestane (Maidstone) one sester of honey and 8 lambs and 60 loaves and 12d. for wine and 14d. for oU. The same was given from Cyrringe, from Wy, Taenham, Wingeham, Estrege. From Liminges one sester of honey and 2 wethers and 30 loaves and 7d. From Apeldre one sester of honey and 30 loaves and 4 lambs and 7d. for oil and 6d. for wine. 84 SAXON CHURCHES IN DOMESDAY MONACHORUM, From Dover one sester of honey and 30 loaves and 2 sheep and 7d. and 600 pence. From Folkestane one sester of honey and 30 loaves and 2 wethers and 7d. and 600 pence. From the two Boctunis, from each 4 lambs and 30 loaves and 13d. SimUarly from Rokinge. A LIST OE THE CHURCHES OE ST. AUGUSTINE. This hst is copied amongst several other eleventh century documents in the White Book of St. Augustine. The copy was made about the year 1200 but the clerk who made it had the unfortunate habit of bringing his material up to date so that the list contains at least one church, that of St. Laurence Hospital, founded as late as 1137 (Somner's Canterbury, p. 72). But the majority of the churches mentioned were probably in an original list contemporary with those of Rochester and Canterbury. The Ust falls into natural divisions and is of particular interest because it includes what we may caU a rural deanery of Northbourne and also shows how the churches given by the Conqueror were dealt with. The names in this hst are given as briefly as possible below. Where they have not been previously mentioned they are numbered in series with the former lists and the chrism fees are given after each. The Ust opens with the words, " These are the churches of the tenure of Saint Augustine, of Canterbury and beyond." Those in Canterbury are :— 366. S. Paul the Apostle, before the gate of the monastery. 367. S. Mary before the gate of the castle. 368. S. Sepulchre. 369. S. Laurence Hospital. 370. S. MUdrethe. 371. S. John. 372. S. Margarete. AND WHITE BOOK OF ST. AUGUSTINE. 85 373. S. Andree. 374. AU Saints. There is then a section introduced by the very definite words, "At Northbourn these are subordinate to the church of Saint Augustine the mother church of the same vUle " and concluded with the words, "And they are members of Northbourn "—meaning, probably, of Northbourn manor. The churches are :— 375. Moningham 7d.—Little Mongeham. 376. Suttane 7d.—Sutton near Northbourne. 377. Scholdone 7d— Sholdon. 378. Siberdeswelde 7d.—ShepherdsweU. 379. Beauwesfelde 7d.—Bewsfield. This identification might be queried on the ground that no such church is known and that Bewsfield is usuaUy identified with Whitfield of which the church is already recorded, No. 241. But the geography and manorial history of the parish both make a second church quite hkely. 380. Langedune—East Langdon. Smedetone—Shingleton, No. 207. The explanation of the appearance of this church in both lists is probably to be found in the note under Kennington, see later. 381. The chapel of Ripple—Ripple. Whether the foUowing churches were also in Northbourne deanery is not clear but the mention of the chrism fee makes this quite possible. 382. Littlebourne 7d.—Littlebourne. 383. Stodmerche 7d.—Stodmarsh. Fordwich—Fordwich (see note under No. 336). 384. Stureie 7d.—Sturry. 385. Chistelet 7d—Chislet. 386. The chapel of Bere—West Bere. 387. S. Mary in Thanet—Minster. 388. S. Peter 7d.—Broadstairs. 389. S. John Baptist 7d.—Margate. 86 SAXON CHURCHES IN DOMESDAY MONACHORUM, 390. S. Laurence 7d.—Ramsgate. 391. S. Nicholas at Stanores—Stonar. This entry corrects the traditional dedication to S. Augustine, which no doubt arose because the Abbey possessed Stonar (Test. Cant., U., 327). I t also adds a church of S. Nicholas where we might expect it—at one of our earhest ports. 392. S. Peter at Sandwich—S. Peter. The two foUowing churches were given by the Conqueror :— Fauersham—Faversham (see Nos. 181 and 336). 393. The chapel of Cheldewich—Sheldwich. We come next to the rural deanery of Milton Regis introduced with the words " Middeltone with aU its chapels by grant of the Kings, namely, WiUiam Henry and Stephen. These are the chapels of the same church which there receive the chrism and there pay their pence." Two churches in Scapei—Leysdown and Warden. 394. Elmeleie is a very smaU island and pays 3-|d.— Elmley. 395. Morinestune 7d.—Murston near Sittingbourne. Tanges 7d.—Tonge, No. 311. Bachechilde 7d.—-BapchUd, No. 308. Rodmeresham 7d.—Rodmersham, No. 305. MUstede 7d.—MUsted, No. 306. Bredegare 7d.—Bredgar-, No. 309. 396. Sithingebourne 7d.—Sittingbourne. Bobinge 7d.—Bobbing, No. 310. TunstaUe 7d.—Tunstall, No. 307. 397. Bikenore 7d.—Bicknor. This group closes with the words, "But they do not pertain to Middeltone but there receive the oU and pay pence. The mother church of Middeltune pays 32d." Unlike the churches of Northbourn, those of MUton had been taken out of the manor by the Conqueror's gUt. The Newington churches foUow on but are introduced with words which suggest that they now formed one deanery with AND WHITE BOOK OF ST. AUGUSTINE. 87 Milton—" Again, there are chapels of Newentone receiving the oil there, to wit (at) Middeltune, and paying pence." Two churches in Sheppey—Minster and Eastchurch. Renham—Rainham, No. 314. Opchirche—Upchurch, No. 315. Halgestowe—Lower Halstow, No. 317. Stokeburi—Stockbury, No. 316. Herlepe—Harthp, No. 313. Bordene—Borden, No. 319. It will be noticed that the names in these Usts of Saint Augustine are very much less archaic than those in the D.Mon. This iUustrates, perhaps, a form of editing which was not very unusual. Although there is no break in the list the next group of churches is obviously not connected with Newington or Milton. ScheUinge—Selling, No. 322. 398. Swalchue—Swalechffe. 399. Prestune—Preston by Wingham. Lenham—Lenham, No. 336 (see note). 400. The chapel of Rattune—Rayton in Lenham. Kenington—Kennington, No. 218. The inclusion of this church in both hsts is explained by a note at the end, "Item, be it remembered that the church of Keningtone pays to this church in one year and in the next year to the church of Holy Trinity; where it receives the oU, there it pays. SimUarly also the church of Smedetune used to pay 7d. but by permission they (the pence) are kept back." 401. Wiuelesberge 7d.—WUlesborough. 402. Borewaremerch—Burmarsh. 403. Snaves 7d.—Snave. 404. Brkchirche 7d.—Brookland. This place was caUed Broke and not Brookland during the early part of its history. Prof. A. G. Little has kindly •confirmed the reading " Brkchirche". Demcherd—Dymchurqh, No. 283. 88 SAXON CHURCHES IN DOMESDAY MONACHORUM, 405. Stones in Oxoniaie 7d.—Stone in Oxney. 406. Tentwardenne 7d.—Tenterden. 407. Strithindenne 7d.—Frittenden. Frittenden was a den of Lenham and had long been vested in the Abbey. There was certainly a mistake in transcription here and the form " Strithindenne " existed only in the copyist's imagination. CONCLUSION. From these four Usts it is clear that churchmen of the end of the eleventh century were familiar with a form of organization closely akin to the rural deaneries of more recent years. These church groups were smaUer than was the case later and their exact constitution took into consideration not only convenience of access but also the internal economy of the manorial system. Thus Fleet was in the manor of Folkestone and, apparently for this reason, was also in the Folkestone deanery. For the same reason Hawkhurst was attached to Wye as its mother church. But the case of Marden shows that the manorial status was not the only factor, for this parish was part of Milton manor but was not in MUton deanery, nor was given with that deanery to Saint Augustine. It is also clear that the deanery subordinate to a rehgious house might be augmented by gift of a church with which neither propinquity nor manorial status would have brought it into connection. It is not quite clear whether these deaneries existed before the conquest. But it is difficult to understand the heavy dues charged to certain churches in the " institution " before the coming of Lanfranc except on the supposition that these churches were in turn receiving dues from subordinate churches. The only obvious link between mother churoh and subordinate chapel is the chrism fee, that is, the fee paid for the consecrated oU used in baptism. Whether this oU was used also in other sacraments does not appear ; that, was certainly not the case at aU periods of our history. A AND WHITE BOOK OF ST. AUGUSTINE. 89 special payment for sacramental wine appears in the old institution, the sum in question being 6d. This would appear to have been discontinued. Although these fees are the only stated bonds between mother and daughter churches, the expression " mother church " may properly be held to signffy that some closer co-operation was reaUy in question. Even so, one cannot help being struck by the very casual nature of the relationships revealed in the White Book. It is to be hoped that some student of church history, better equipped than I am and more learned in the Latin tongue as used by the priesthood, wiU see fit to deal with this subject of early rural deaneries. In the meantime it is interesting to be able to record that the Rochester and D.Mon. lists give the names of 365 Saxon churches in Kent, whUe the White Book adds others which bring the number up to 407. If some few of the latter may not be reaUy Saxon, we may set against them churches in Canterbury and elsewhere which certainly existed but find no place in these records, for example, that at Reculver. I think we can assert with confidence that there were over 400 Saxon churches in Kent. Of about twenty of these there are stiU tangible Saxon remains. This perhaps speaks well for the care and reverence of our ancestors but, alas, between 300 and 400 have utterly disappeared and of many of these even the sites are quite unknown. NOTE.—In numbers 170, 240, 260, 261, 280, 294, 303 and 347 the spelling above differs from that given by the V.C.H. in some smaU detaU. The former has been repeatedly checked.