ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE. 
405 
questered situation gave a check to resort, and the neglected 
roads rendered it less and less accessible. 
That it had been a considerable place for size formerly appears 
from the largeness of the church, which much exceeds those of 
the neighbouring villages ; by the ancient extent of the burying 
ground, which, from human bones occasionally dug up, is found 
to have been much encroached upon ; by giving a name to the 
hundred ; by the old foundations and ornamented stones, and 
tracery of windows that have been discovered on the north-east 
side of the village ; and by the many vestiges of disused fish- 
ponds still to be seen around it. For ponds and stews were 
multiplied in the times of popery, that the affluent might enjoy 
some variety at their tables on fast days ; therefore the more 
they abounded the better probably was the condition of the 
inhabitants. 
