Mary Magdalen and St. Mary-in-the-Castle; but they are all defunct. And to the west of the town about half a mile appear the ruins of a Priory, dedicated to the Holy Trinity; and beyond this was a hospital, of which the Bailiffs and Jurats were visitors before the dissolution. They have now [the revenues] of the land, which they give to the poor. The site of the Priory was presented to Sir John Baker, of Sissenhurst, in Kent, and his descendants enjoy it, except a fourth part, valued at £15 per annum, which came by marriage of one of the Bakers to Ellsworth, and was given by the last will of Richard Ellsworth, of Wickham, county of Somerset, dated July 11th, 1719, to teach poor children to read and say the catechism, and buy them Common-prayer books; and the donor is likewise said to have given away all his abbey lands to charitable uses, declaring it sacrilege to enjoy the same. The Priory, before its dissolution, was removed to Warbleton in this county, about 18 miles distant. There were two free schools in the town for teaching townsmen’s boys, but they were incorporated into one, and endowed with about £60 per annum. There are also two charity schools – one in each parish, endowed with about £10 per annum for instructing poor children. [These were the so-called Dame schools provided for in the other charities, Saunders and Parkers]. The Corporation have no land to support their dignity, and so maintain their Court Hall, prison and other public buildings, bridges, &c by an assessment on the inhabitants and on lands, &c in the liberty. The bridges comprise several wooden plankings, some with hand-rails, across the Bourne, to connect High street with All Saints street and intermediate lanes or alleys, [such as the Creek, Lower-lane, Upper-lane, &c]. then follows a list of the Barons in Parliament from the 45th of Edward III, to the twelfth of Queen Anne.
Extract from Patent Rolls:-
Pat.c 2, Fol. 1 To Sir Thomas Pelham, Hastings, Rape and Hundred
Test. 29 Oct.
pat. 1. Rich. III. To Rob. Brokenbury and the male heirs of his body.
Hasting, Late poss. Of Rob. And Humphrey Cheyne. Test. 28 Mai.
pat. 14. Henry IV. To John Pelham, his heirs and assigns, Hasting’s Rape. Test. 21 Nov. m.13
pat. 23, Henry VI., to Thos. Hare, knt., Hastings Castle, lordship, Barony and house. Test. 29 July. m.19
Thos. Pelham, of Laughton, Bart. Died 2nd December, 1624, seised of the Castle, Honour, Barony and Rape of Hasting, which he held -
