WESTMESTON, a parish in the hundred of STREET, rape of LEWES, county of SUSSEX, 5 miles (N. W. by W.) from Lewes, containing, with the chapelry of East Chiltington, 494 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry of Lewes, and diocese of Chichester, rated in the king's books at £22. 4. 2., and in the patronage of G. Courthope, Jun., Esq. The church, dedicated to St. Martin, is principally in the early style of English architecture, having a plain Norman arch between the nave and the chancel, decorated with the remains of a painting of the signs of the Zodiac: it contains several ancient monumental slabs, and a rudely-constructed circular stone font. At the east end is an ancient chapel, the burial-place of the Marten family. Anthony Shirley, who acquired some celebrity as a traveller and writer, in the time of James I., was born here. A charter for an annual fair on Martinmasday was granted by Edward II. The dividends arising from £244. 8. 11. three per cents., the amount of sun dry subscriptions, are applied for the education of poor children.