ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE. 



349 



et perpetuam elemosinam." This Pleystow,* 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.f 



It continues still, as it was in old times, to be the scene of re- 

 creation for the youths and children of the neighbourhood ; and 

 impresses an idea on the mind that this village, even in Saxon 

 times, could not be the most abject of places, when the inhabit- 

 ants thought proper to assign so spacious a spot for the sports 

 and amusements of its young people. J 



As soon as the prior became possessed of this piece of ground, 

 he procured a charter for a market from king Henry III. and 

 began to erect houses and stalls, " seldas," around it. From this 

 period Selborne became a market town : but how long it enjoyed 

 that privilege does not appear. At the same time Gurdon re- 

 served to himself, and his heirs, a way through the said Plestor 



In Saxon Pleger^Oj? or Plej^of ; viz. Plegestow, or Plegstow. 



t At this juncture probably the vast oak, mentioned p. 5, was planted by the prior, as an 

 ornament to his new acqaired market place. According; to this supposition 'the oak was aged 432 

 years when blown down. 



t For more circumstances respecting the Plestor, see Letter II. to Mr. Pennant. 



Bishop Tanner,, in his Notitia Monastica, has made a mistake respecting the market and fair 

 at Selborne : for in his references to Dodsworth, cart 54 Hen. Ill m. 3. he says, " De mercatu, 

 et feriade Seleburn." But this reference is wrong; for, instead of Selebnrn, it proves that th 

 place there meant was Lekelmrne, or Legeborne, in the county of Lincoln. This error was copied 

 from the index of the Cat. !MSS. Angl. It does not appear that there ever was a chartered fair at 

 Selborne. For several particulars respecting the present fair at Selborue see Letter XXVI. f 

 these Antiquities. 



