142 THE DOVER ROAD 



last died in 1863, unmarried ; and two life-sized 

 marble statues of Tuftons, father and son, in that 

 curious classic conve ition of the late seventeenth 

 century which found such a delight in representing 

 distinguished folk as Roman warriors. Nicholas Tufton, 

 the earl, and his son, Avho died from wounds received 

 in battle, are those thus represented here ; and the 

 statue of the son, scupltured in a sitting position, 

 is a really fine work of art. Beyond this, Rainham has 

 not much to detain the explorer, and being a summer 

 rendezvous for Chatham pleasure-parties and bean- 

 feasters, it is apt to become dusty and riotous when the 

 season of annual outings is at hand. 



The church seen some distance to the left of the 

 road is that of Newington. In the \'cstry is displayed 

 a copy of the last will and testament of Simon Tomlin, 

 dated November 13, 1689. In this disposition of his 

 worldl}^ effects are gifts to relatives and to the poor ; 

 and to his brother-in-law, William Plawe of Stockbury, 

 he leaves " my best beaver hatt and the sum of £15, 

 lawful money of England." It is to be hoped that the 

 legatee got his hat, but, as many provisions of the will 

 do not appear to have been complied with, it seems 

 doubtful. 



There was a priory of nuns established at Newington 

 in early Norman times, but all that is now left of it is a 

 striking legend which proves that when these pious 

 ladies retired from the world they brought some of the 

 world's worst characteristics with them. What they 

 quarrelled about one night will never now be known, 

 but when the morning dawned the Prioress was found 

 strangled in her bed ; which goes to prove that the veil 

 no more goes to make the nun tlian orders black, white, 

 or grey furnish a monk fully forth in true monastic 

 attributes. A clialk pit, about a mile south of the 

 church, called significantly " Nun-pit," is shown as the 

 place where those less holy than homicidal sisters were 

 afterwards buried alive. Other accounts say that 

 these nuns were removed to Minster, in Sheppey. 



