186 THE ANTIQUITIES [LETT. 



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 parlour 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 sixteen 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 reception of 

 people of condition. The field on which this oratory abuts is 

 still 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. 



LETTER X. 



THE Priory at times was much obliged to Gurdon and his 

 family. As Sir Adam began to advance in years he found his 

 mind influenced by the prevailing opinion of the reasonable- 

 ness and efficacy of prayers for the dead; and, therefore, in 

 conjunction with his wife Constantia, in the year 1271, granted 

 to the prior and convent of Selborne all his right and claim to 

 a certain place, placea, called La Fleystow, in the village afore- 

 said, " in liberam, puram, et perpetuam elemosinam." This 

 Pleystow, 1 locus ludorum, or play-place, is a level area near the 

 church of about forty-four yards by thirty-six, and is known 

 now by the name of the Plestor. 2 



1 In Saxon Jjlcgcstofa, or plcgsfoln ; viz. Plegestow, or Plegstow. 

 5 At this juncture probably the vast oak, mentioned p. 5, was planted by 

 the prior, as an ornament to his new acquired market-place. According to 



