348 
ANTiaUITIES OF SELBORNE. 
running in length from south to north, and has been occupied 
as a common farm-house from time immemorial. The south end 
is modern, and consists of a brew-house, and then a kitchen. 
The middle part is a hall twenty-seven feet in length, and nine- 
teen feet in breadth ; and has been formerly open to the top ; but 
there is now a floor above it, and also a chimney in the western 
wall: the roofing consists of strong massive rafter- work orna- 
mented with carved roses. I have often looked for the lamb and 
flag, the arms of the knights templars, without success ; but in 
one corner found a fox with a goose on his back, so coarsely exe- 
cuted, that it required some attention to make out the device. 
Beyond the hall 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 six- 
teen 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. For the outside I refer the reader to the 
plate, in which Mr. Grimm has represented it with his usual 
accuracy. 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 he found his mind influ- 
enced by the prevailing opinion of the reasonableness and eflftcacy 
of prayers for the dead ; and, therefore, in conjunction with his 
wife Constantia, in the year 1271, granted to the prior and con- 
vent of Selborne all his right and claim to a certain place, placea, 
called La Pleystow, in the village aforesaid, " in liberam, puram. 
