Singleton

SINGLETON, a parish, in the union of West Hampnett, hundred of Westbourn and Singleton, rape of Chichester, W. division of Sussex, 6 miles (S.) from Midhurst; containing, with the hamlet of Charlton, 563 inhabitants. The parish comprises about 2200 acres: the village is situated on the road from London to Chichester, by way of Midhurst. The living is a discharged rectory, annexed to the vicarage of West Dean, and valued in the king's books at £6. 13. 4. The church is in the later English style, with a square tower. Henry Smith, about 1640, left land to the poor, now producing £60 per annum. St. Roche's or Rook's Hill, which rises 702 feet above the sea, skirts the southern boundary of the parish; and near its summit is an ancient encampment known by the name of the Trundle, a corruption of Roundal, indicating its circular form. It includes an area of about five acres, has a deep fosse, and an outer and inner vallum; the inner vallum is raised to the height of about four feet all round the edge of the inclosure. In the centre are remains of a cell, now level with the ground, the walls of which are composed of flints cemented with mortar so hard as to render them almost immovable; its size is 14 feet by 11.