(St. Lawrence's day, the patron of the church,) under a grant from King Edward I. and Kilburne mentions another having been kept on the 14th of February, but which in his time had been long discontinued.

Within the parish were formerly five crosses, two alone of which remained in Kilburne's time, which he terms Watch-houses, and very probably were so converted, after the reformation. These crosses were intended as stimulants to piety, in the dark ages of popery and superstition. *

The most considerable portion of woodland in this parish, is on the western side adjoining to Goudhurst, being part of the Fryth woods, at present the property of E. J. Curteis, Esq. of Windmill-Hill, near Battle. The soil is various, generally a clay, abounding with marle, but in the northern parts, there is a considerable portion of sand. The only manufactory carried on in this place, is of worsted, by Mr. B. Winch, who employs a number of hands.

Hawkhurst contains several genteel residences, of which it may be expected some notice should be taken.

The most ancient, perhaps, is ELFORDS, which, passing through the families of Castleman, Conghurst and Roberts, was, in the 12th of Elizabeth alienated by Edmund Roberts to Richard Boys, Gent. in which name and family it remained upwards of two centuries; but by purchase has become the property of Mr. Richard Winch. It stands, a small distance eastward of the church and is an object of much picturesque interest; being analagous with the surrounding scenery.

A little removed from this, southward, is a substantial residence erected within these few years by Jesse Gregson, Esq. at a considerable expence.

And beyond this last is Lillisden, a neat modern fronted

*For an account of religious, memorial and boundary crosses, &c. see Britton's arch. antiquities. vol. 1.