I have noticed that in some parishes in Hampshire and IOW that it seems to have been customary, at least in the 18th and early 19th centuries, to have a certain number of places in church set aside for the inhabitants and workers of the old farms of a district. If the farm was sold, the right went to the new owner. I found vestry records of a church refurbishment where there was a plan for seating, showing the names of properties with pew allocations. In a will a testator gave 'one sitting for herself in church' to his wife when the farm was to be passed on to his son. Has anyone come across similar rights in West Sussex? Margaret Major #5836

hello Margaret you will find a plan of Henfield seating in the church, there is no date but from the people on it would think about 1830. Christine