LESSNESS, a chapelry in the parish of ERITH, hundred
of LESSNESS, lathe of SUTTON at HONE, county
of KENT, 2 miles (N. N. W.) from Crayford. The population
is returned with the parish. An abbey for
Black canons, in honour of St. Mary and St. Thomas the
Martyr, was founded here, in 1178, by Richard de Lucy,
Chief Justice of England, and sometime regent of the
kingdom, who assumed the habit, and shortly after
died in this house; its revenue, at the dissolution, was
estimated at £186. 9., and the site was granted to Cardinal
Wolsey, towards the endowment of his colleges.
There is a place of worship for Baptists on Lessness
heath.