ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE. 405 



questered situation gave a check to resort, and the neglected 

 roads rendered it less and less accessible. 



That it had been a considerable place for size formerly appears 

 from the largeness of the church, which much exceeds those of 

 the neighbouring villages ; by the ancient extent of the burying 

 ground, which, from human bones occasionally dug up, is found 

 to have been much encroached upon ; by giving a name to the 

 hundred ; by the old foundations and ornamented stones, and 

 tracery of windows that have been discovered on the north-east 

 side of the village ; and by the many vestiges of disused fish- 

 ponds still to be seen around it. For ponds and stews were 

 multiplied in the times of popery, that the affluent might enjoy 

 some variety at their tables on fast days ; therefore the more 

 they abounded the better probably was the condition of the 

 inhabitants. 



