348 ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE. 



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

 as a common farm-house from time immemorial. The south end 

 is modern, and consists of a brew-house, and then a kitchen. 

 The middle part is a hall twenty-seven feet in length, and nine- 

 teen feet in breadjh ; 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 orna- 

 mented with carved roses. I have often looked for the lamb and 

 flag, the arms of the knights templars, without success ; but in 

 one corner found a fox with a goose on his back, so coarsely exe- 

 cuted, 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 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 reception of 

 people of condition. For the outside I refer the reader to the 

 plate, in which Mr. Grimm has represented it with his usual 

 accuracy. 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 influ- 

 enced by the prevailing opinion of the reasonableness and efficacy 

 of prayers for the dead ; and, therefore, in conjunction with his 

 wife Constantia, in the year 1271, granted to the prior and con- 

 vent of Selborne all his right and claim to a certain place, placea, 

 called La Pleystow, in the village aforesaid, " in liberam, puram, 



