206 Some Account of the Parish of Monkton Farleigh. 



sleeping together, this attended with some circumstances I can not 

 write. In one of our most decent parishes I am now visiting, two 

 women, on the point of lying-in, are terrified beyond expression at 

 the idea that men will sleep in their rooms at that time." 



Look upon the picture thus presented, and then at that which our 

 Union Poor House at AvonclifFe now presents. An average of one 

 hundred persons of both sexes, representing the whole extreme 

 poverty o£ a population of 10645 persons. The sexes separated so 

 as to provide, as far as such means can, against impropriety or in- 

 decency. The class of persons represented — the sick, the very aged, 

 and the feeble only. Separate sick wards and ample and skilful 

 medical attendance for each sex. Cleanliness, order, and sanitary 

 arrangements fully provided for. The labor test enforced on va- 

 grants and the few able-bodied malingerers who still infest the house. 

 Admirable schools for the orphan or deserted or destitute children, 

 with out and in-door recreation and labor. Economy watched over 

 and the whole institution governed by a body of guardians, chosen 

 out of the locality, thoroughly acquainted with its wants, and, as a 

 rule, cheerfully and efficiently giving their unpaid labor, spared from 

 the gains of life, for the benefit of their poorer neighbours. 



If it were possible, and it is found amongst other nations to be 

 possible, to have no poor relief, it would be better, and no doubt the 

 present system, especially in its out-door features, is very imperfect ; 

 but compare the in-door system with that which obtained within 

 the memory of a living generation, and surely it is one o£ the most 

 promising and beneficial changes of the age. 



Peculiar Names of Places. 



I append a list of our field-names, taken principally out of the 

 tithe apportionment papers. I do not profess to give the derivation 

 of the names, some are no doubt fanciful, as Pennsylvania and the 

 Mountains ; some are probably corruptions, as Plaisterers and Starve- 

 all ; and some are directly historical, as Pound Piece and Mary's 

 Croft (the fish-pond and the croft of St. Mary^s Priory) ; but the 

 majority have had their origin in the combined vanity and industry 

 of man. Men, as David says, "think that their houses shall 



