St John the Baptist's Church, Clayton

The ancient village of Clayton, situated where the main route from London to Brighton crossed an east–west track at the foot of the South Downs, existed at the time of the Domesday survey in 1086, when it was called Claitune or Claitona. It was at the southern end of the parish of the same name, which covered 1414 acre of mostly rural land running north (and downhill) from the summit of the South Downs. The manor of Clayton was held at that time by William de Watevile for William de Warenne, who built the nearby Lewes Castle. The church was in the possession of Lewes Priory, which had been given it by de Warenne in 1093. The original dedication of St John the Baptist's Church was All…

St John the Baptist's Church is a typical example of the simple two-cell (nave and chancel) layout found at many pre-Norman Conquest churches in Sussex. and the three 10 in moulded shafts on each side. The jambs terminate in bulky chamfered imposts. The chancel, renewed in the 19th century, measures 19.5 x. The east window is a three-light lancet with mullions, set below a segmental-arched hood mould. There are two narrow lancets in the south and north walls as well, and a blocked window of Anglo-Saxon origin on the latter. The walls are just over 2 ft thick. The nave formerly had a pair of porticus-style side chapels, but little trace of these remains—although blocked windows and fragments…

is one of two others in the parish.]] St John the Baptist's Church was listed at Grade I by English Heritage on 28 October 1957. Such buildings are defined as being of "exceptional interest" and greater than national importance. As of February 2001, it was one of 16 Grade I listed buildings, and 1,028 listed buildings of all grades, in the district of Mid Sussex. The ecclesiastical parish of Clayton with Keymer covers three villages, each with one Church of England parish church, and surrounding rural areas towards Burgess Hill, Ditchling and Hurstpierpoint. Keymer is served by St Cosmas and St Damian Church, which also has Anglo-Saxon origins but was rebuilt in 1866. Hassocks, now linked…