THE ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE 215 



which, as a criterion, we would prove the date of the 

 building. 



At the bottom of the south aile, between the west and 

 south doors, stands the font, which is deep and capacious, 

 and consists of three massy round stones, piled one on 

 another, without the least ornament or sculpture : the 

 cavity at the top is lined with lead, and has a pipe at the 

 bottom to convey off the water after the sacred ceremony 

 is performed. 



The east end of the south aile is called the South 

 Chancel, and, till within these thirty years, was divided off 

 by old carved gothic framework of timber, having been a 

 private chantry. In this opinion we are more confirmed 

 by observing two gothic niches within the space, the one 

 in the east wall and the other in the south, near which 

 there probably stood images and altars. 



In the middle aile there is nothing remarkable ;' but I 

 remember when it's beams were hung with garlands in 

 honour of young women of the parish, reputed to have 

 died virgins ; and recollect to have seen the clerk's wife 

 cutting, in white paper, the resemblances of gloves, and 

 ribbons to be twisted in knots and roses, to decorate these 

 memorials of chastity. In the church of Faringdon, which 

 is the next parish, many garlands of this sort still remain. 



The north aile is narrow and low, with a sloping ceiling, 

 reaching within eight or nine feet of the floor. It had 

 originally a flat roof, covered with lead, till within a cen- 

 tury past, a churchwarden stripping off the lead, in order, 

 as he said, to have it mended, sold it to a plumber, and ran 

 away with the money. This aile has no door, for an 

 obvious reason ; because the north-side of the church-yard, 

 being surrounded by the vicarage-garden, affords no path 

 to that side of the church. Nothing can be more irregular 

 than the pews of this church, which are of all dimensions 

 and heights, being patched up according to the fancy of 

 the owners : but whoever nicely examines them will find 

 that the middle aile had, on each side, a regular row of 

 benches of solid oak, all alike, with a low back-board to 



