Without fail every book that I borrow from the library about Sussex teaches me something new about my home county. This latest one was some of the old place names people used to use. One was Pemsey....what we now call Pevensey. It's given me just the nudge I needed to write a little something about our trip over there last month.
It's quite a hike across Sussex to get to this part, so we've only made it across a couple of times. Many centuries ago Pevensey was a bustling harbour [it was probably bigger than it is now] which attracted the attention of those wishing to invade. It has Roman remains and an impressive castle built to defend it from such folk. The red eagle on the village sign harks back to the arms of the de Aquila family. Euguenulf was one of those who came over with William the Conqueror. This member of the family died at the Battle of Hastings, but one of his descendents, Gilbert, received the 'Rape [borough] of Pevensey'.
Besides fancying a poke round a place I'm not that familiar with I also wanted to catch the free 'Bewitching Pevensey' exhibition which was coming to the end of its run that weekend. It was held at the Mint House [shown below] which is a 16th century timber framed house. It's had several different incarnations over its long life, but from 1908-2013 it was an antique shop. Over the past few years the Friends of the Mint House have been working hard restoring it with the aim of reopening it as a museum and eco centre.
In recent months it's held some very original and interesting sounding slightly left of field events [ie right up my street] and having finally made it over this one was no exception. Whilst only scratching the surface here, I learnt a huge amount about magical practices and how the accusations of witchcraft affected those within Sussex itself. Usually those who ended up under such charges were old and poor women. However, not every case followed this trajectory and I was fascinated to learn about Edward Roydon who was a glover so both male and working within a profession. He stood accused by people he would have known and although he was acquitted, the records show that he still felt a need to make a fresh start. He moved across from this area over into West Sussex. For me locally our local victim of these atrocities was Margaret Cooper, who came from the village of Kirdford not far from me. She too went against the stereotypes for she was married to a surgeon. She faced a charge sheet of offences and the use of waxen dolls. Sadly despite protesting her innocence she was hanged in the spring of 1575 over at East Grinstead. In both of these cases it seems likely that the truth was that trouble had sprung from some sort of dispute and those seeking revenge realised that by jumping on the witchcraft mania they could achieve their aim. So many lives taken over spun lies. On a more upbeat note that fabulous carving is part of one of the overmantles inside the house and if you fancy a festive tipple perhaps that Sussex speciality for glow worm wine might tempt you......it claims to be an excellent cure for drunkenness and lust. I think I'll pass this time thanks!
This charming building has the claim to fame of being in its heyday the smallest courtroom and townhall in England. It still has the original dock and bench plus the two cells beneath. If you get a chance to chat to the volunteers in these places they've always got more juicy info to share. It's now a tiny museum with all sorts of randoms exhibits, but I was amazed to hear that the director goes to the trouble of organising a free history fortnight every August which covers all sorts of varied happenings.
This is Betty and Bill Breach. Now Mr Breach enjoyed a tipple or three which, from her actions, presumably his wife wasn't totally on board with. One day she found him in the pub again and lost her rag. She swiped his drink out of his paw and threw it in his face and then stamped on the glass. Unfortunately for her these actions were witnessed by a local rather halfcut magistrate who decided to press charges. Big mistake. Unsurprisingly Betty had the sympathy of most around her and when the constable ordered her to be released she stood her ground and refused to walk out of cell until the 'numskull' who'd put her there in the first place came and apologised to her in person. Betty won the day!
To finish with a few more varied shots to give you more of an idea of what it's like here. Despite it being a cold, raw sort of day we were delighted by our time spent here.
Arilx
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