ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE 267 



might celebrate divine service, saving the rights of the mother 

 church of Basynges. Yet all the while the prior of Selborne 

 grants with such reserve and caution, as if in doubt of his 

 power, and leaves Gurdon and his lady answerable in future 

 to the bishop, or his ordinary, or to the vicar for the time 

 being, in case they should infringe the rights of the mother 

 church of Selborne. 



The manor-house, called " Temple," is at present a single 

 building, running in length from south to north, and has been 

 occupied as a common farmhouse from time immemorial. The 

 south end is modern, and consists of a brewhouse, and then a 

 kitchen. The middle part is a hall twenty-seven feet in length 

 and nineteen feet in breadth ; and has been formerly open to 

 the top, but there is now a floor above it, and also a chimney 

 in the western wall. The roofing consists of strong massive 

 rafter work ornamented with carved roses. I have often looked 

 for the lamb and flag, the arms of the Knights Templars, with- 

 out success ; but in one corner found a fox with a goose on his 

 back, so coarsely executed that it required some attention to 

 make out the device. 



Beyond the hall to the north is a small parlor with a vast 

 heavy stone chimney-piece, and at the end of all the chapel or 

 oratory, whose massive thick walls and narrow windows at once 

 bespeak great antiquity. This room is only sixteen feet by six- 

 teen feet eight inches, and full seventeen feet nine inches in 

 height. The ceiling is formed of vast joists, placed only five 

 or six inches apart. Modern delicacy would not much approve 

 of such a place of worship ; for it has at present much more 

 the appearance of a dungeon than of a room fit for the recep- 

 tion of people of condition. . The field on which this oratory 

 abuts is called Chapel Field. The situation of this house is very 

 particular, for it stands upon the immediate verge of a steep, 

 abrupt hill. 



Not many years since this place was used for a hop-kiln, and 

 was divided into two stories by a loft, part of which remains 

 at present and makes it convenient for peat and turf, with 

 which it is stowed. 



