The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-22 00:00:00

The British Archaeological Association•

Yesterday morning the members of this asseela• .•
on, whose headquarters for the present week areal
Hastings, paid a visit to Rye and Winchilsea, the
atter of which is full of 'interesting historical asars"
ciations, many of which were explained by Mr. it
C. Stillman. It appears to have derived its name
from Wincheling, son of Cissa, who was the founder
of the South Saxon kingdom. In 1066 William the
Norman landed here, and Henry 11. in 1188. 111
1266 the town was stormed by Prince Edward/
and young Simeon de Montfort' as defeated. 111
1287 the old town of Winchilsed'' s swallowed. 0
la
The
by the sea on the eve, of St. Aga .to-fili
afterwards became the place of import fq4riench
wines, for which massive crypts were built, and ill
the time of Henry VI. was one of the chief ports (:)f
embarkation for France. In 1630 it was pillaged
by the French, and in 1380 by the Spaniards'
Henry VIII. built the Castle of Camber, 0°
ruins of which are still standing. In the church are
three altar tombs of the time of Edward 1., called
Crusaders, or Knights Templars, one of whom i°
supposed to be a member of the Oxenbridge family.
Among the objects which excited considerable inte-
rest is a Convent of Gray Friars, of which the choir,
with some beautiful arches and windows, still ro'
mains. To-day, by permission of the Marquis Cam'
den, the members of the Association propose to via 3
13ayham. Abbey. There are few remains of the,
abbey buildings, except the walls and the ruins 1:11*
the chapterhouse, cloisters, and gatehouse. They
will also visit the palace of the Archbishop of Call"
terbury at Mayfield, which will be explained by gr'
Edward Roberts, F.S.A. It was erected by St'
Dunstan in the tenth century. Provincial synou°
were held in 1332 and 1362, and Archbishops Mc°-
pham, Stratford, and Islip died there. Queen Eliza-
beth visited Sir Thomas Gresham at Mayfield, ana
Thomas May, the historian of the Long Parliament'
was born in the palace in 1595. The palace ail'
manor were surrendered by Archbishop Cranmer t°
Henry VIII. in 1545, and the Kiug granted the
estate to Sir Henry North. It subsequently beeaille
the property of Sir T. Gresham. The principal
_
object deserving notice in ruins of the old palaeo
is the magnificent banqueting hall, which is 70 feet
long and 30 feet wide ; the three arches which
formerly supported the open roof are still remain-
ing entire. The accidental falling of some plaster
at the upper end of the hall discovered a 1111" d
formed of roses, carved in stone, which is suPl?ese.
to have been the spot where the Archbishop's chair
,
was placed. The grand staircase, leading to what
were the principal apartments, is a massive piece o;
stonework, and leads into a large wainscoted room,
St'
wherein are deposited the celebrated reliques ofr.
Dunstan—namely, his sword, an anvil, and haulm'
The east end of the palace is now used as a fariu-
house.

" LORDS AND LADIES." By the author of " Mar-
garet and her Bridesmaids," &e. 3 vols.—"' Lords and
Ladies' is a most amusing novel. The plot is thoroug.llll.
original, and it is worked out with much hutnour and ski
The characters in the book aro capitally drawn. 3-11."
Jocelyn and his wife, Captain Crabshawe, Frank Sulu/veil'
114°
and Kate Daintree aro admirably finished portraits.
book id an admirable one for holiday time."—The Stan