HASLEMERE, a parish and borough and market-town,
in the second division of the hundred of GODALMING,
county of SURREY, 12 miles (S.W. by S)
from Guildford, and 43 (S.W.) from London, containing
S87 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 i<i
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 has only 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 edffice,
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 pf
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.