A Bit of Lewes History

Extract from: A Day’s Ramble in and about the Ancient Town of Lewes, by Gideon Algernon Mantell

Published in 1846

Pages 51 – 54

But the most important structure then remaining ,
was the Dove – cote , the walls and roof of which
were kept in tolerable preservation , from the build
ing being used as a granary .

It was in the form
of a cross , with entrances for the pigeons under
each gable – end ; the cells , or recesses for the
birds , were ingeniously constructed of hewn chalk ,
and were between three and four thousand in
number ; they were arranged in parallel rows , and
extended over the interior face of each wall .

It
measured ninety feet in length from east to west ,
and the same from north to south ; the height
to the roof was about thirty feet .

This interesting
structure , to the disgrace of the parties concerned ,
was pulled down for the sake of the materials some
forty years since.

(Footnote – ‘An engraving , from a sketch taken by me when a boy , is published , in Archeologia , vol , xxxi . p . 431 .’)

From that time portions of the
Priory walls have been demolished , as the proprie
tor of the estate required either road or building
materials , till a few ivy covered masses alone
remain .

But the most lamentable spoliation of late
years , was the demolition of the stone portals of the
grand entrance , which were removed to widen the
road .

The plate in Watson , vol . i . p . 42 , shows these interesting remains as they appeared at the time of their destruction ; for they had undergone
but little change the last forty years .

Many attempts had been made by myself , and
others , to ascertain the site of the chapter – house , and
the search had long been abandoned as unavailing ,
till the projected line of railway revived the hopes
of the Lewes antiquaries ; as a cutting forty feet
wide , and twelve feet deep , was required .

This excavation was begun in October 1845 .

The first object of interest discovered was a leaden
coffin with six handles , five feet four inches long ,
containing the remains of a female skeleton , and
portions of the cere – cloth ; the coffin was surrounded
with thin slabs of Caen stone .

On Tuesday , October 28th , at the depth of but
two feet beneath the turf , were laid bare several
compartments formed by low walls , that appeared
to have supported a stone or paved floor ; some
of these were still covered by slabs of Caen stone .

One of them contained an oblong leaden coffer or
cist , two feet eleven inches long , twelve inches
and a half broad , and eight inches deep . This
was carefully removed , and upon clearing the earth
from the top , the word GUNDRADA , in distinct cha
racters , met the gaze of the astonished spectators !

Carefully pursuing the discovery , in a short time another cist of similar form , but rather larger , was exhumed from the adjoining recess ; on its lid
was engraven WILLELM . * signifying Willielmus , or
William !

Footnote – ‘When I first saw the cists , the name WILLELM . or rather
WILLEL , and a character denoting the syllable mus , that is , Willelmus ,
was perfect . On my visit a few weeks since , I found that WILLE only
remained , the other characters were destroyed , and a hole appeared in
their place , the lead having been broken away ; thus , what time had
spared 800 years , modern Vandalism has already defaced.’)

Here then were the coffins of the founder
and foundress of the Priory of Saint Pancras .

Both cists contained a considerable number of
bones ; they were carefully removed to Southover
church , and placed , pro tempore , in their present
situation .

These leaden cists are somewhat compressed from
the pressure of the superincumbent earth , and the
bottoms are corroded ; they are without ornament ,
except that the outer surface is divided into irregular
lozenge – shaped compartments by beaded ridges .

The lids are merely folded over the sides ; the
names are deeply cut across the lid , close to one end .

From their small size it is clear that they were
constructed to receive the bones long after the first
interment , in consequence of the decay of the
original coffins ; and it is probable that this took
place in the time of Henry II . , when the remains of
William and Gundrad were transferred from their tombs in the original church of the Priory , to the chapter – house of the new and more splendid edifice ,
styled by the old chronicler the ” great church of
Saint Pancras ; ” the building of which was begun
on the anniversary of the founder’s death , in 1243 .

The characters inscribed on the lids , the G , and
M , especially , are considered by Mr. Blaauw to
indicate the thirteenth century ; and those on
the monumental tablet of Gundrad , are supposed
to be referable to the same period .

We may ,
therefore , with certainty conclude , that when the
remains of the Earl and his lady were removed
from their first sepulchre to their final resting – place ,
the bones were carefully collected , enclosed in leaden
cists , and deposited under splendid cenotaphs ; to one
of which belonged the marble tablet of Gundrad ,
now so fortunately recovered .

The bones are of
firm texture , and in a good state of preservation .
Those of Gundrad comprise nearly the entire series
of a female skeleton , and indicate the stature of the
countess to have been about five feet eight inches .