ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE. 375 



LETTER XXVI. 



THOUGH the evidences and documents of the Priory and parish of 

 Selborne are now at an end, yet as the author has still several things 

 to say respecting the present state of that convent and its Grange, 

 and other matters, he does not see how he can acquit himself of 

 the subject without trespassing again on the patience of the reader 

 by adding one supplementary letter. 



No sooner did the Priory (perhaps much out of repair at the 

 time) become an appendage to the college, but it must at once 

 have tended to swift decay. Magdalen College wanted now only 

 two chambers for the chantry priest and his assistant ; and therefore 

 had no occasion for the hall, dormitory, and other spacious apart- 

 ments belonging to so large a foundation. The roofs neglected, 

 would soon become the possession of daws and owls ; and, being 

 rotted and' decayed by the weather, would fall in upon the floors, 

 so that all parts must have hastened to speedy dilapidation and a 

 scene of broken ruins. Three full centuries have now passed since 

 the dissolution a series of years that would craze the stoutest 

 edifices. But, besides the slow hand of time, many circumstances 

 have contributed to level this venerable structure with the ground, 

 of which nothing now remains but one piece of wall about ten feet 

 long, and as many feet high, which probably was a part of an 

 outhouse. As early as the latter end of the reign of Henry VII., 

 we find that a farmhouse and two barns were built to the south of 

 the Priory, and undoubtedly out of its materials. . Avarice again 

 has much contributed to the overthrow of this stately pile, as long 

 as the tenants could make money of its stones or timbers. 

 Wantonness, no doubt, has had a share in the demolition ; for 

 boys love to destroy what men venerate and admire. A remark- 

 able instance of this propensity the writer can give from his own 

 knowledge. When a school-boy, more than fifty years ago, he 

 was eye-witness, perhaps a party concerned, in the undermining 

 a portion of that fine old ruin at the north end of Basingstoke 

 town, well known by the name of Holy Ghost Chapel. Very 



