All this refers to the 3-rail wooden oak fencing around the
Church. There has been one like the present one for probably the past
200
or even 300 years; a completely new (but identical) fence was installed during
2020.
The following is copied from Lower's "Parochial History of Chiddingly", pages 238 and 239.
"The Church occupies a commanding situation near the centre of the parish. The surrounding church-yard is amply stored with memorials of the departed, and encompassed by wooden rails, which are kept in repair by the tenants of the respective farms, a certain portion being supported by each. The respective rails are marked with the initials of the tenants, and are, in consequence, denominated church-marks. This primitive custom, though not confined to the parish, is peculiar to this part of the county. I subjoin a document of the last century, in which the liabilities of each farm are stated. It purports to have been "transcribed by John Herring, Vicar, Nov. 17th, 1772."
AN ACCOUNT of the Church-yard Marks of the Parish of Chiddingly taken from ancient records, beginning at the North-West corner, and so to ye East, with the number of feet each mark contains:-
Feet
John Chatfield, Clerk, for ye Freights maintains 33
Ditto,
for ye Hilders
34
The owner of Eades Land at
Whitesmith
2ft 6 ins )
John Bannister near
Holm's-Hill
2 )
John Reed, nr. ye
Dicker
2 ) all in one piece
Richard Turner, gent, for Goodmans
2 )
William Thorpe, nr. ye
Dicker
2 )
Sir John Dyke,
maintains
9
Rose Fuller, esq., for ye
Parsonage
20
Thomas Cayley
maintains
6 )
Edward Russell, near the
Dicker
6 ) one piece
The Park
Farm
45
Tart's land at Swansbrook
7
Highlands, Ld.
Pelham
22
Brightling (Charity)
Lands
9
The Hale
Farm
16
The Gun
Lands
6
The Stroud
Lands
9
The Gatehouse
Farm
40
Easterfield
Farm
11
Stonehill
Farm
16
Rich. Holman's Farm, Pickhill
8
Burghole Farm, Dewdney
5
Beard's Land, belonging to the
Hale
6
Attree's Land, Pickhill
5
Peaks
Farm
29
The Old-Mill
lands
5
Thunders-Hill, Ramsbeach, and Willetts
20
Rich. Turner, gent, for Shirleys
8
Farley's
Farm
34
West-street
6
J. Holman, for Land near the
Stream
12
Relfs Land, near
Whitesmith
9
Alchorn's Bird-in-hand, a gate and two
posts 5
The late Miller's Land, at Muddles Green (stile) 8
Mr. Willard's Farm at
Whitesmith
24
Burghill
Farm
40
Thomas Bray, for land near the
Dicker
3 )
J. Ellis for ye Goosenest
3 ) one piece
Wm. Pink at
Nash-street
3 )
Henry Stephens, for land nr. ye
Dicker
3
George Medley, Esq., for ye
Purchase
8
The Shelf Land belonging to Burghill
Farm
10
Nash Street Lands belonging to Burghole
Farm 16
Robert Smith's Land near ye
Dicker
5
)
Abr. Langham's Land, near Holmes
Hill
5ft 6 ins ) one piece
Richard Turner, gent, for Holmes
Hill
4
)
Stuckles
Land
3ft 6 ins ) one piece
Woodfall Down, now occupied by W. Elphick
3ft 6 ins )
Rose Fuller, Esq., for the Pickes
Land
6
Part of Foxhunt
Farm
10
Thomas Hickes for Newington's
Land
5
The Place Farm including ye
Gate
32
Edward Holman, for Smith's Land (William Tourle) 6
Willm.
Reynolds
6
The Stream
Farm
29
**************
This totals to 685 feet. I believe Freights is now called Friths, and I believe Goosenest is now Briar House in Nash Street.