Text first Published in Along The Furlong, December, l998.

Gilbert was born in Selborne, amidst the chalk downs of Hampshire, on 18th July 1720. He went to university and took holy orders, and was offered various positions. His dream was to return to Selborne, and eventually he became curate there. However, his first love was always that of natural history. These were days of tranquillity as he sat in his study surrounded by books, a pioneer naturalist of his time, recognising the dependence of living things upon each other. He has been called the first ecologist, but saw himself as a scientist, making and testing theories, and recording observations such as the arrival and departure dates of migrant birds. His Selborne residence is now a museum.

Gilbert was a cheery and genial companion, and communicated his findings to others and gained a good reputation. He later retrieved the letters he had written and called the collected manuscripts "The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne".  It is a compilation of 110 letters to two of Gilbert's friends and this book made him famous near the end of his days in 1789.  It is one of the best-selling books of all time and is generally regarded as the first work of its type.   The book is based largely on Gilbert's original observations and includes such topics as the mysteries of migration.   An end-to-end read would be an endurance test through every letter and would be hard going (as Gilbert's language is rather on the tight side and full of Latin words) — but by careful selection one can appreciate the writer's sharp mind and lively eighteenth century sense of humour.

Gilbert resided in Selborne for a quarter of a century, and many times made the 40-mile bumpy journey to Findon. He then continued 25 miles eastwards along the ridge of the downs to Delves House in Ringmer to visit his Aunt Rebecca. She had the quaint name of Rebecca Snooke, and no doubt looked forward to her nephew’s visits, especially at Christmas.

In the 1700s, coaching was hazardous, and travel was a serious business. There was a grave likelihood of being held up by highwaymen, outlaws or road agents. Prayers were said and wills were often written before venturing forth on a journey such as Gilbert undertook from Selborne.

Although the age of horse-drawn transportation was in its hey-day, journeys were tedious. Coach springing was not invented until the latter part of the 1700s, when travel improved. Gilbert's rattling conveyance would have often been uncomfortably crowded; in summer the atmosphere would have been oppressive inside the jogging vehicle traversing the downs. Mist and sun smeared the windows, and if one sash was lowered, someone always complained about the draught.

Ten miles per hour, including changing horses, would have been a good pace when maintained for thirty miles, with a heavy passenger coach. The difficulty in timekeeping on the Findon country roads can be left to the imagination. Many a coach was bogged down in the ruts as it plied across the Findon Downs and had to be dragged out by pinched and shrivelled coachmen hunched against the weather.

Each coach arrival in Findon brought a small measure of excitement. Any passing vagabonds would join in the general pandemonium looking for a chance to pick a pocket or two. There would have been chickens half-heartedly pecking for grit in The Square, and great bawls of laughter amidst the jolly hubbub inside the bustling inn. Mine Host usually appeared in the doorway of the great posting and coaching-house to chat with the driver and groom.

Continue if you would like to read Timothy Passes Through Findon.

 Back to Gun Inn Index

 Back to Main Index

This is Findon Village — www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created by Valerie Martin exclusively for documenting life in Findon.