Chapel site at Ewe
Down, Exceat Bridge, Cuckmere Valley
- By Bruce Milton & Peter
Bidmead
A small team of
volunteers have been excavating a small site believed to be a chapel, which lies
along the banks of the Cuckmere River just north of Exceat Bridge, east of
Seaford.
It was found, depicted as
a ruin on a map of 1618, during a research project of the Litlington area of the
Cuckmere Valley being undertaken by Peter. This map was drawn by John Dewarde
when he was instructed by the Commissioners of Sewers for Pevensey Rape to
survey the tidal floodplain of the Cuckmere Levels.
Early documentary
evidence could suggest this could be the lost site of St James hospital,
originally a leper colony and later the site of Peter’s hermitage recorded in
1372.
The site is on a level
platform above the river cliffs on the west bank, adjoining Brockhole Bottom and
lies directly opposite a causeway on the eastern bank which crosses the brooks
in the direction of West Dean. This is a footway about a metre in height rising
above the floodplain, and is also depicted on Dewarde’s map. The causeway and
chapel site are likely to be connected and may well indicate the location of an
ancient river crossing point such as that at Bramber on the Adur and Pynham on
the Arun; however no evidence of a crossing exists today.
Although no trace remains
above ground, a geophysical survey was carried out last June and revealed the
foundations of a building measuring approx 27m x 7m. This compares closely with
the size, shape and position to the chapel shown on Dewarde’s map. It also
suggests this was typical of general purpose hospitals built in the 12th/13th
Century.
We started excavating in
November by opening up initially two trenches at both ends of the structure,
each running the full width to catch both west and east side walls of the
building, Trench 1, to find the north end of the building and Trench 2 to
determine the floor structure and explore certain anomalies shown in the side
walls on the geophysics. A smaller trial Trench 3 was added to determine the
south-western corner and establish the full width and length of the building.
Trench 1 contained
foundations of the two side walls, each one approx.650mm wide and consisting of
compact flint and mortar. This trench was further extended to determine the
north western corner and fragments of faced stone were found. The north east
corner proved to be interesting in that it appears the walls continue in a
curved direction. Could this be some indication of an apsidal end to the north
of the building?
Trench 2 again contained
the both side walls, each similar in construction as found in Trench 1. However,
there were further features found at the eastern side, which could explain some
of the anomalies shown on the geophysics. It appears that a much smaller wall
lies outside the main structure and appears to run parallel with the east wall.
Between the two walls lies an area of compact mortar approx 140mm thick and
appears to be a floor surface, the extent though remains unknown and requires
further excavation. The area between the two side walls only contained a scatter
of flint nodules but as yet no evidence of a floor.
Trench 3 again proved the
existence of the western wall but will require extending to find the corner of
the building.
We aim to continue
excavating very shortly to find out more about the size and structure of this
building and to find if there is an apsidal end to it. We would also like to
find out whether this building was indeed a chapel at all as little dating
evidence has been found.
If anyone would like to
help in this excavation please let either myself or Peter know.
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