ANCIENT VINEYARDS IN ENGLAND.
['To THE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR."]
Sza,—Heaven knows there is enough obscurity about our place-names without importing into speculation about them the hypothesis of a change of climate. Has Mr. Crewdson made any attempt to ascertain what are the earliest documents in which the two places in Westmoreland named " Vineyard" are mentioned P If the names date from early times, it is not difficult to imagine that they were conferred by some of the brethren who, exiles from the sunny South, fondly traced some resemblance in these fields to the vineyards attached to religions houses in France. Of course, this is pure specula- tion also, though not so daring as that which suggests the business of vintage on the flanks of Shap Fell. Names are far more enduring than stone and lime. An instance occurs to mind. On the east shore of the Bay of Lace is the farm of Kirkchrist. The chapel which gave its name to the land has long since vanished, but still the field adjoining it is known as Jerusalem Park.—I am, Sir, &c.,
49 Lennox Gardens, May 16th. HERBERT MAXWELL.
Previous page
