ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE 323 



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 supplement- 

 ary 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 apartments 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 con- 

 tributed 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 out-house. 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 over- 

 throw 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 remarkable instance of this pro- 

 pensity the writer can give from his own knowledge. When 

 a schoolboy, 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 providen- 



