ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE. 373 
knowledge of the intention thereof. We can only suppose that as 
the prior, besides thurset and pillory, had also furcas, a power of 
life and death, that he might have reserved this little eminence as 
the place of execution for delinquents. And there is the more 
reason to suppose so, since a spot just by is called Gally (Gallows) 
Hill. 
The lower part of the village, next the Grange, in which is a pond 
and a stream, is well known by the name of Gracious Street, an 
appellation not at all understood. There is a lake in Surrey, near 
Chobham, called also Gracious Pond; and another, if we mistake 
not, near Hedleigh, in the county of Hants. This strange de- 
nomination we do not at all comprehend, and conclude that 
it may be a corruption from some Saxon word, itself perhaps 
forgotten. 
It has been observed already, that Bishop Tanner was mistaken 
when he refers to an evidence of Dodsworth, “ De mercante feria 
de Seleburne”’ Selborne never had a chartered fair ; the present 
fair was set up since the year 1681, by a set of jovial fellows, who 
had found in an old almanack that there had been a fair here in 
former days on the first of August ; and were desirous to revive so 
joyous a festival. Against this innovation the vicar set his face, 
and persisted in crying it down, as the probable occasion of much 
intemperance. However, the fair prevailed but was altered to the 
29th of May, because the former day often interfered with wheat- 
harvest. On that day it still continues to be held, and is become an 
useful mart for cows and calves. Most of the lower house-keepers 
brew beer against this holiday, which is dutied by the exciseman, 
and their becoming victuallers for the day without a license is 
overlooked. 
Monasteries enjoyed all sorts of conveniences within themselves: 
Thus, at the priory, a low and moist situation, there were ponds 
and stews for their fish ; at the same place also, and at the Grange 
in Culver* Croft, there were dove-houses ; and on the hill opposite 
to the Grange the prior had a warren, as the names of The Coney- 
Crofts and Coney Croft Hanger plainly testified.+ 
Nothing has been said, as yet, respecting the tenure or holding 
of the Selborne estates. Temple and Norton are manor farms, 
and freeholds ; as is the manor of Chapel, near Oakhanger, and 
also the estate at Oakhanger House and Blackmoor. The priory 
* Culver, as has been observed before, is Saxon for a pigeon. 
+ A warren was a usual appendage to a manor. 
