Among the singularities of this place the two rocky, hollow lanes, the
one to Alton, and the other to the forest, deserve our attention. These
roads, running through the malm lands, are, by the traffic of ages, and
the fretting of water, worn down through the first stratum of our
freestone, and partly through the second; so that they look more like
water-courses than roads; and are bedded with naked rag for furlongs
together. In many places they are reduced sixteen or eighteen feet
beneath the level of the fields; and after floods, and in frosts, exhibit
very grotesque and wild appearances, from the tangled roots that are
twisted among the strata, and from the torrents rushing down their broken
sides; and especially when those cascades are frozen into icicles,
hanging in all the fanciful shapes of frost-work. These rugged, gloomy
scenes affright the ladies when they peep down into them from the paths
above, and make timid horsemen shudder while they ride along them; but
delight the naturalist with their various botany, and particularly with
their curious filices with which they abound.
The manor of Selborne, was it strictly looked after, with all its kindly
aspects, and all its sloping coverts, would swarm with game; even now
hares, partridges, and pheasants abound; and in old days woodcocks were
as plentiful. There are few quails, because they more affect open fields
than enclosures; after harvest some few landrails are seen.
The parish of Selborne, by taking in so much of the forest, is a vast
district. Those who tread the bounds are employed part of three days in
the business, and are of opinion that the outline, in all its curves and
indentings, does not comprise less than thirty miles.
The village stands in a sheltered spot, secured by the Hanger from the
strong westerly winds. The air is soft, but rather moist from the
effluvia of so many trees; yet perfectly healthy and free from agues.
The quantity of rain that falls on it is very considerable, as may be
supposed in so woody and mountainous a district. As my experience of
measuring the water is but of short date, I am not qualified to give the
mean quantity. I only know that
Inch. Hund.
From May 1, 1779, to 28 37!
the end of the year,
there fell
Jan. 1, 1780, to 27 32
Jan. 1, 1781
Jan. 1, 1781, to 30 71
Jan. 1, 1782
Jan. 1, 1782, to 50 26!
Jan. 1, 1783
Jan. 1, 1783, to 33 71
Jan. 1, 1784
Jan. 1, 1784, to 33 80
Jan. 1, 1785
Jan. 1, 1785, to 31 55
Jan. 1, 1786
Jan. 1, 1786, to 39 57
Jan. 1, 1787
The village of Selborne, and large hamlet of Oakhanger, with the single
farms, and many scattered houses along the verge of the forest, contain
upwards of six hundred and seventy inhabitants.
We abound with poor, many of whom are sober and industrious, and live
comfortably in good stone or brick cottages, which are glazed, and have
chambers above stairs; mud buildings we have none. Besides the
employment from husbandry, the men work in hop-gardens, of which we have
many, and fell and bark timber. In the spring and summer the women weed
the corn, and enjoy a second harvest in September by hop-picking.
Formerly, in the dead months they availed themselves greatly by spinning
wool, for making of barragons, a genteel corded stuff, much in vogue at
that time for summer wear, and chiefly manufactured at Alton, a
neighbouring town, by some of the people called Quakers; but from
circumstances this trade is at an end. The inhabitants enjoy a good
share of health and longevity; and the parish swarms with children.