SELBORNE. 
borne Hill with its Hanger, the church would appear to occupy 
the highest ground southward of the visitor. The path at last 
merges in the carriage-road, not very far from where the Alton 
branch leaves the deep lane ; and onward to the church the road 
is so deep and crooked, and the few houses so straggling, that 
though so well seen at a distance one is actually in Selborne before 
knowing it. Opposite to the Playstow, or " Plestor," as White 
calls it after the local pronunciation, the road makes a turn to the 
left and again to the right ; and the second turn, which brings one 
in front of the church and the Playstow, with White's late resi- 
dence on the other hand though a little m advance, may be re- 
garded as the " west end" of the village of Selborne. The road, 
or street as we may call it, is a natural pavement here as well as in 
the deep lanes ; and this character extends to great part at least 
of the Playstow, which is rough, stony, and in bad order, and the 
sycamore tree is stunted and has its leaves half covered with 
dark spots of fungi as early as the end of August. The church, 
which is described by White himself, is finely situated, but the 
tower is stuccoed out of all keeping with the building. The 
vicarage appears remarkably clean and snug, and there are 
some good houses near the Playstow ; and the late dwelling of 
the antiquary and naturalist, though the modern wings are 
