494 THE ANTIQUITIES [LETT. 
success ; but in one comer found a fox with a goose on his 
back, so coarsely executed, that it required some attention to 
make out the device. 
Beyond the liall 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 sixteen 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. 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 lie found his 
mind influenced by the prevailing opinion of the reasonable- 
ness and efficacy of prayers for the dead ; and, therefore, in 
conjunction with his wife Constantia, in the year 1271, granted 
to the prior and convent of Selborne all his right and claim to 
a certain place, 'placm, called La Pleystow, in the village afore- 
said, " in liber am, 'pur am, et iperppJAiam elemosinam." This 
Ple}'stow,^ locus hidoriimi, 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.'^ 
1 In Saxon ^legestofo, or ^kgstafo ; viz. Plegestow, or Plegstow. 
2 At this juncture probably the vast oak, mentioned p. 5, was planted by 
the prior, as an ornament to his new acquired market-place. According to 
