ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE. 373 



knowledge of the intention thereof. We can only suppose that as 

 the prior, besides thurset and pillory, had also furcas, a power of 

 life and death, that he might have reserved this little eminence as 

 the place of execution for delinquents. And there is the more 

 reason to suppose so, since a spot just by is called Gaily (Gallows) 

 Hill. 



The lower part of the village, next the Grange, in which is a ppnd 

 and a stream, is well known by the name of Gracious Street, an 

 appellation not at all understood. There is a lake in Surrey, near 

 Chobham, called also Gracious Pond ; and another, if we mistake 

 not, near Hedleigh, in the county of Hants. This strange de- 

 nomination we do not at all comprehend, and conclude that 

 it may be a corruption from some Saxon word, itself perhaps 

 forgotten. 



It has been observed already, that Bishop Tanner was mistaken 

 when he refers to an evidence of Dodsworth, " De mercante feria 

 de Seleburne " Selborne never had a chartered fair ; the present 

 fair was set up since the year 1681, by a set of jovial fellows, who 

 had found in an old almanack that there had been a fair here in 

 former days on the first of August ; and were desirous to revive so 

 joyous a festival. Against this innovation the vicar set his face, 

 and persisted in crying it down, as the probable occasion of much 

 intemperance. However, the fair prevailed but was altered to the 

 2Qth of May, because the former day often interfered with wheat- 

 harvest. On that day it still continues to be held, and is become an 

 useful mart for cows and calves. Most of the lower house-keepers 

 brew beer against this holiday, which is dutied by the exciseman, 

 and their becoming victuallers for the day without a license is 

 overlooked. 



Monasteries enjoyed all sorts of conveniences within themselves- 

 Thus, at the priory, a low and moist situation, there were ponds 

 and stews for their fish ; at the same place also, and at the Grange 

 in Culver* Croft, there were dove-houses ; and on the hill opposite 

 to the Grange the prior had a warren, as the names of The Coney- 

 Crofts and Coney Croft Hanger plainly testified/}- 



Nothing has been said, as yet, respecting the tenure or holding 

 of the Selborne estates. Temple and Norton are manor farms, 

 and freeholds ; as is the manor of Chapel, near Oakhanger, and 

 also the estate at Oakhanger House and Blackmoor. The priory 



*' Culver, as has been observed before, "is Saxon for a pigeon, 

 t A warren was a usual appendage to a manor. 



