The church entrance on the east side
The only main road in and out of Telscombe is a by-road from southease and
this winds its way over the hills into the village. This small hamlet is quite
untouched by the passing of time and its quietness, is its beauty, its timelessness
its character. In 1933 the entire village of Telscombe was bequeathed to the
Brighton Corporation by Mr Ambrose Goram, who for many years had taken a paternal
interest in the place.
The Manor-House has the original Tudor cellars or Priest Holes, where the
priests hid in the reign of elizabeth and which were subsequently used by
smugglers. The church was locked upon our visit to this villlage and as such
we have no internal photographs to display on this page.
The church of Telscombe or Tittelscombe was given by King Edgar to the Abbey
of Hyde, Winchester, in 966.The church which is Norman, was one of the first
to introduce flood-lighting. A charming picture the illuminated shrine is
from the tower with the iron gates of the chancel, the old Norman arches made
new with their carved capitals, and the east window set in a wall on which
are painted the Madonna and the Archangel Gabriel. The Early English arcaded
font is magnificent carved with little arches and elegant windows, 13th century.
There are unfortunately some bad renovations within the church carried out
over the years and the mock-Norman chancel arch and the paintings on the walls
are among the worst to be seen anywhere. The central capital of the chancel
arcade is interesting and has stiff leaf foliage and corbels like those of
Rodmell and St.Annes at Lewes.
Telscombe gave three men to England in the war, and their names are on the
wall here, where hangs an illuminated story of the church's patron saint,
and example to village churches everywhere.
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