PEVENSEY CASTLE,

SUSSEX.

PEVENSEY, though now a small village, was formerly of some note. Its Castle is of undoubted antiquity; and, from the great number of Roman bricks worked into its walls, is supposed to stand on the site of a still more ancient edifice.

At this place William the Conqueror made his debarkation; and about eight miles from hence was fought the decisive battle of Hastings. The town and castle of Pevensey was given by the Conqueror to Robert, earl of Morton in Normandy, his brother by the mother's side, who was created earl of Cornwall in the succeeding reign. He was succeeded in his possessions by William, earl of Morton and Cornwall, who, on being refused the earldom of Kent, entered into a rebellion; whereupon the king seized upon this town and castle, and gave them to Gilbert de Aquila, with all the land thereunto belonging. In the lifetime of his immediate successor, this town and castle reverted to the crown; and after divers changes they, by gift from king Henry II. became the property of Richard de Aquila, whose posterity enjoyed them quietly till the reign of Henry III. when Gilbert de Aquilla, by disorderly conduct, made himself obnox

PEVENSEY CASTLE.

ious to the king, who seized upon all his estates. This honour, in the nineteenth year of his reign, the king granted to Gilbert Marshal, earl of Pembroke, during pleasure. In the twenty-fifth year of his reign he gave the honour to Peter de Savoy, uncle to his queen, and afterwards granted him the inheritance thereof, with the Castle and its appurtenances.

Before the reign of James I. this Castle was a part of the possessions of the dutchy of Lancaster; for James, by his letters patent under the seal of that dutchy, dated 18th of June, granted to Edward, earl of Dorset, the castle of Pevensey and portreve of Pevensey, to hold the same during his life.

For a considerable length of time this Castle had been held by the Pelham family, under a lease from the dutchy of Lancaster, till some years since his grace the late duke of Newcastle gave up to the late earl of Wilmington, on his being created baron Pevensey. It now belongs to the Northampton family.