The Sussex Coast - online book

A Literary & Historical travel guide to the Sussex Coast

	HIGH on the Downs, just inland from the Seven Sisters, a conspicuous landmark from far around, stands the tiny village of Friston, marked chiefly by a windmill and a church. The latter, though a tiny sanctuary, is of considerable interest, as indeed to the lover of our history are most of the old churches of Sussex. The walls of the nave are very early Norman, or just possibly Saxon, and an original door and fairly wide window remain walled up. The south door in actual use is still Norman though of later late. The little chancel with four rather flat, round arches, one opening into the nave, two forming arcades on north and south walls, and the fourth, differently arranged, making a recess for the altar is Decorated work ; the roof of the nave is early Perpendicular with extremely massive moulded beams that leave an enormous margin of safety; the eastern tie-beam is strangely bowed downwards to support the rood; heavy timbering and two great buttresses without 276