378 ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE. 



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 ist 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 2 Qth 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 house- 

 keepers 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, t 



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 

 * Culver, as has been observed before, is Saxon for a pigeon, 

 t A warren was an usual appendage to a manor. 



