The History and Antiquities of Horsham Part 4

(From a survey of the county of Suss.e.x, printed in the year 1730; at present in the possession of Miss Cove, Albion Terrace.)

[Picture: Finis]

APPENDIX

Having princ.i.p.ally confined the limits of the foregoing account, to a circle of about 4 or 5 miles around the town of Horsham, we have omitted previously to notice the priory of Rusper, a building of great antiquity, and closely connected with that borough, by the endowment of the church to its nuns. Very little of the ancient edifice remains at present, I shall therefore insert a very brief account of the nunnery, as given by Sir William Burrell, in his interesting MSS. preserved in the British Museum.

"On the north wing of the east front of the nunnery, towards the orchard, the foundations of additional building, and the arch of a cellar are visible, 58 feet in extent, and east of the present house. It is probable a similar wing was on the south aspect and thereby formed a Greek II. The ancient apple trees which cover the flank, render such an idea very problematical." Near the building is a very deep well, said to have been used as a place of destruction for those members of the convent, who had dared to break their vows of chast.i.ty.

Near Mrs Delves tomb at Horsham, is the headless bra.s.s figure of an ecclesiastic, supposed from the letters T C in the cope, to cover the remains of Thomas clerk, a former rector.

[Picture: Rusper Nunnery]

[Picture: Bra.s.s Figure]

[Picture: Bra.s.s Figure]

Footnotes

{12} Dallaway page 355 vol 2.

{26} Declaration of Chantries in the Augmentation office.

{31} Dallaway.