Page:White - The natural history of Selborne, and the naturalist's calendar, 1879.djvu/400

378 reason to suppose so, since a spot just by is called Gaily (Gallows) Hill.

The lower part of the village, next the Grange, in which is a pond and a stream, is well known by the name of Gracious Street, an appellation not at all understood. There is a lake in Surrey, near Chobham, called also Gracious Pond; and another, if we mistake not, near Hedleigh, in the county of Hants. This strange denomination we do not at all comprehend, and conclude that it may be a corruption from some Saxon word, itself perhaps forgotten.

It has been observed already, that Bishop Tanner was mistaken when he refers to an evidence of Dodsworth, "De mercante feria de Seleburne.” Selborne never had a chartered fair; the present fair was set up since the year 1681, by a set of jovial fellows, who had found in an old almanack that there had been a fair here in former days on the 1st August; and were desirous to revive so joyous a festival. Against this innovation the vicar set his face, and persisted in crying it down, as the probable occasion of much intemperance. However, the fair prevailed, but was altered to the 29th May, because the former day often interfered with wheat-harvest. On that day it still continues to be held, and is become an useful mart for cows and calves. Most of the lower housekeepers brew beer against this holiday, which is dutied by the exciseman, and their becoming victuallers for the day without a license is overlooked.

Monasteries enjoyed all sorts of conveniences within themselves. Thus, at the priory, a low and moist situation, there were ponds and stews for their fish; at the same place also, and at the Grange in Culver* Croft, there were dove-houses; and on the hill opposite to the Grange the prior had a warren, as the names of The Coney-Crofts and Coney Croft Hanger plainly testify.†

Nothing has been said, as yet, respecting the tenure or holding of the Selborne estates. Temple and Norton are manor farms, and freeholds; as is the manor of Chapel, near Oakhanger, and also the estate at Oakhanger House and Blackmoor. The priory