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Haslemere in Surrey County England History and GeographyHASLEMERE, a borough, market town, and parish, in the second division of the hundred of GODALMING, county of SURREY, 12¼ miles (S.W. by S.) from Guildford, and 43 (S.W.) from London, containing 887 inhabitants. This place is situated in the southwest angle of the county, where it borders on Sussex and Hampshire, whence the termination of its name, Mere, signifying a boundary; and the prefix alludes to the numerous coppices of hazel which grow in the vicinity. There is a tradition that the ancient town stood on the side of a hill to the east of the present, where the foundations of buildings have frequently been discovered, its destruction being ascribed to the Danes. It was probably rebuilt before the Conquest, as it is mentioned as a borough in Domesday-book. In the reign of Henry II. it appertained to the see of Salisbury, and in 1393, the bishop procured a grant for holding a market and a fair, but these had fallen into disuse previously to the grant of the charter by Queen Elizabeth. The town stands on very high ground, and is remarkably clean; it is well supplied with water, but neither lighted nor paved. There is a silk crape manufactory, which formerly afforded employment to more than one hundred persons, but it is at present on the decline; and near the town is a paper-mill, for making fine paper only. The market is on Tuesday; and there are fairs for cattle, May 13th and September 26th. A charter for the reestablishment of the market and fair, which had fallen into disuse, was granted in the 38th of Elizabeth, in which it is also stated that 'the burgesses had from time immemorial, at their own costs, sent two members to parliament.' This is a borough by prescription, the officers belonging to which, consisting of a bailiff, constable, searchers and sealers of leather, and ale-tasters, are chosen annually at the court leet, in April or May. The privilege of electing representatives hasonly been regularly exercised since the 27th of Elizabeth: the right of election is vested in the resident freeholders, or burgage tenants: the bailiff is the returning officer; and the patronage of the borough belongs to the Earl of Lonsdale. The living is a perpetual curacy, annexed to the rectory of Chiddingfold, in the archdeaconry of Surrey, and diocese of Winchester. The church, dedicated to St. Bartholomew, is an ancient edifice, situated on an eminence to the north of the town, and consisting of a nave, north aisle, and western tower. Here is a place of worship for Independents. A National school for poor boys of Haslemere and the adjoining parishes is kept in the market-hall. On a common near the town is an unendowed almshouse for eight poor persons, erected in 1676, through the exertions of James Gresham, Esq. A hill, called Blackdown, at a short distance from the town, affords a view of the sea and the surrounding country to a great extent; and in the vicinity is a telegraph. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
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