SELBORNE. XI 



borne Hill with its Hanger, the church would appear to occupy 

 the highest ground southward of the visitor. The path at last 

 merges in the carriage-road, not very far from where the Alton 

 branch leaves the deep lane ; and onward to the church the road 

 is so deep and crooked, and the few houses so straggling, that 

 though so well seen at a distance one is actually in Selborne before 

 knowing it. Opposite to the Playstow, or " Pies tor," as White 

 calls it after the local pronunciation, the road makes a turn to the 

 left and again to the right ; and the second turn, which brings one 

 in front of the church and the Playstow, with White's late resi- 



dence on the other hand though a little in advance, may be re- 

 garded as the " west end" of the village of Selborne. The road, 

 or street as we may call it, is a natural pavement here as well as in 

 the deep lanes ; and this character extends to great part at least 

 of the Playstow, which is rough, stony, and in bad order, and the 

 sycamore tree is stunted and has its leaves half covered with 

 dark spots of fungi as early as the end of August. The church, 

 which is described by White himself, is finely situated, but the 

 tower is stuccoed out of all keeping with the building. The 

 vicarage appears remarkably clean and snug, and there are 

 some good houses near the Playstow ; and the late dwelling of 

 the antiquary and, naturalist, though the modern wings are 



