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Getting back to nature- Heritage
It’s impossible to visit the delightful village of Selborne in Hampshire without being reminded of its connection to the naturalist Gilbert White. Indeed, the village is world famous because of both him and his enchanting book, The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne that was published in 1788 and is widely recognised as a classic. The book is based on over 17 years of observing birds, wildlife and plants in his garden and around the village itself and the letters of correspondence to his friends detailing them. It has now been in print for over 200 years and is one of the most published books in the English language.
Gilbert was born in the village in 1720 at the old rectory, the eldest of eight siblings, his father had been a barrister until he married the heiress Anne Holt and retired from the bar. After living in Sussex and Surrey until the age of 9, White moved back to Selborne with his family to live at The Wakes, a 16th century house in the main street.
Gilbert was a small and thin, yet prim, upright man, who was always described as being a very gentle man as well. His character meant he was courteous to all and of course had a great love of nature. Greatly admired by his peers, his life was to be a full and happy one and on the surface he came across as a sane serene person, yet, he still had his struggles and perils and was often criticised for appearing to be selfish and lazy. Although he never eventually married, he did find time to have acquaintances with ladies that knew him, though it was his work and his adoration of nature that ultimately captured his heart.
Little is known of his education and he may well have been taught at home for a time by his father, but we do know that he did attend schools at nearby Basingstoke and Farnham, before moving on to Oriel College, Oxford. Here he gained both a Bachelors and Masters degree and was also where he met his lifelong friend and companion, John Mulso.
Although only the ones written by Mulso survive, it is the letters of correspondence between the two that give us a comprehensive insight into White, for no one knew him better than his college friend. It was also Mulso who encouraged Gilbert to write his famous book in the first place. It seems that even from the outset that he had a belief in what Gilbert had to offer the world and it is this faith and continued support that encouraged his friend to publish his work.
The book came about due to Gilbert being a committed diarist and record keeper. The notes he kept were organised into his Garden Calendar, which became the basis of the book. His whole life was dedicated to this one book and needless to say, his benevolent character shines through in its pages. His writing boasts a unique and gentle, poetic quality in a simple catalogue of the year’s changes; 
1783
Feb. 14. Showers. A perfect & lovely rain-bow
Mar. 14. Daffodil blows
June. 11. Soft rain all days. Snails come forth in troops
June. 24. Vast dew, sun sultry, misty and hot
Oct. 3. The hangar is beautifully tinged. Leaves fall apace. Acorns innumerable
As Gilbert began the antiquities side of the book, Mulso became increasingly worried about the books overall quality fearing this would spoil the ‘sweet and elegant simplicity’ of the natural side. Gilbert nonetheless persevered with it, trusting his own judgment and the book eventually appeared in print in the winter of 1788. Naturally, upon completion, Gilbert’s valued friend was one of the first to read the book, impeccably timed when Mulso was confined to bed with the flu. Overall, he was very pleased with the finished work, remarking that it was very handsome, although the engravings did not satisfy him. The book did not cause any immediate stir in literary circles however when first published and its first review was by Gilbert’s brother John, in issues of Gentleman’s Magazine which no doubt gave it wider attention.
As well as writing, Gilbert also turned his mind to mathematical calculations. Upon hearing of a balloon flight from London, he estimated the exact time it would pass over Selborne so that the villagers would not miss the spectacle. After the book’s publication, Gilbert continued with his journals and also went on to become curate of the village, having served at various Hampshire parishes over the years, but not wanting to become a vicar elsewhere so that he could remain close to his family home in Selborne.
The Wakes is now a museum devoted to his life and is furnished in 18th century style, the interior very dull and drab, which has been recreated to illustrate the difficult conditions the man worked under. There are displays of his studies as well as the original manuscript to his famous book. The museum was opened in 1954 and was made possible by a donation from Robert Oates, on condition that it also contained displays on the lives of two of his ancestors, both explorers, Frank Oates and Frank’s more famous nephew Captain Lawrence Oates. Frank was widely travelled with tales of the tropics, whilst Lawrence was part of the ill-fated trip to the South Pole where he perished with Captain Scott in 1912, after uttering the immortal words “I’m just going outside and may be sometime”. Scott later wrote of his colleague's action as “the act of a very gallant gentleman”.
Apart from Gilbert’s house, the village has many other interesting buildings and features. Opposite the Wakes, is an area of green known locally as the Plestor, meaning play area, where fairs and markets were once held and has attractive cottages on one side. This leads up to the Church of St Mary, which dates back to 1180, built on the site of a Saxon church. The church nave is still as Gilbert would have known in his days but the chancel was virtually rebuilt by his great nephew and architect, William White in 1856. There are two stained glass windows commemorating Gilbert inside the church. The first depicts St Francis of Assisi preaching to the birds and also shows the church and old Vicarage where Gilbert was born. The other window marks the bicentenary of his death and features some of the plants and animals that fascinated him, depicted in circular panels.
Outside in the churchyard, is the base of the Great Yew tree that was sadly felled by a storm in January 1990. It was 1400 years old and probably planted after the missionary Birinus came to spread Christianity in these islands.
Gilbert himself is buried in the churchyard. The grave is simply marked, at his request, with a stone engraved GW June 23 1793. There is also the grave of John Newland the Trumpeter, who was leader of the Selborne Tithe Riots of 1830, who would summon his supporters by blowing a trumpet. His mob terrorised the villagers and he evaded arrest by hiding in the local woods by day, returning to his home by night.
Also opposite the Wakes, to the south, is a small building formerly the butcher’s shop. Gilbert planted four lime trees, two of which still survive, in front of it to hide ‘the sight of blood and filth from ye windows’. Further along is The Queen’s Hotel, formerly known as The Compasses and was the scene of a memorable wild wedding party, so graphically described by Gilbert. 
Behind the Selborne Arms public house, is the zig-zag path cut by Gilbert and his brother John. This leads up to Selborne Hanger, a steep, beech-clad hillside overlooking the village, crowned by the Wishing Stone and a wide common with magnificent views. Tradition has it that one must walk backwards three times, whilst blindfolded around the stone and then sit on it and make a wish. If you don’t fall over with giddiness, and by the way, it is not cheating to put your left hand on the stone to steady yourself, then maybe your wish will become true.
To the southern end of the village is a drinking fountain in the form of a lion’s head flanked by two windmills. Water from the Well Head Stream, one of the village’s main water sources, flows through the lion’s mouth into a trough and serves as a reminder of Victorian times when it was the main water supply to the village. It was presented by Mr T J Mills, a native of Selborne, to the village in 1879. The two windmills are a pun on his name.
As you wander round this Hampshire village, it soon becomes apparent that both Selborne and White compliment each other. Without White, Selborne would not be the famous village it is today and without Selborne, White wouldn’t have been able to write his book. Together though, they make a wonderful piece of history, of which it’s many visitors find adoring.
© Craig Roberts
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