1875
© 2022 Andrew Hobbs, CC BY 4.0 https://doi.org/10.11647/OBP.0262.11
[Pettitt’s Scribbling Octavo Diary for 1875, interleaved blotting, with an almanack]1
[Above first entry, in Hewitson’s hand:]
A Hewitson’s Diary
Preston
[Anthony and Margaret Hewitson, their five children and Margaret’s brother Joseph lived above the Preston Chronicle office and stationery shop at 125 Fishergate. Hewitson, aged 38, had owned the Chronicle for nearly seven years and was making a comfortable living from it, alongside freelance reporting, printing, and Margaret’s stationery business. There are no entries from 31 May to 14 October, when Hewitson lost the diary during a move to the countryside for the summer.]
January
Friday 1 January 1875 I thank God for seeing another new year. After celebrating the opening of the new year—perhaps not too wisely but too well, got to bed about 2. Up at 8.45. Working all day. Finished work at 1.30 on Saturday morning.
Saturday 2 January 1875 This day the Chronicle was enlarged from 48 to 56 columns.2
Sunday 3 January 1875 In house all day—reading about arctic voyaging in the aft[ernoo]n & evening.3
Monday 4 January 1875 At work all day. Registered Christened my daughter’s birth to-day & named her Mabel.
Sunday 10 January 1875 Had a Turkish bath this forenoon. Went into one room & stayed a little when the heat was nearly 200 degrees.
Monday 11 January 1875 In shop all day & at night to the Theatre with my wife & son Horace to see the pantomime of “Little Bo Peep”. Pretty fair; good transform[atio]n scene.4
Tuesday 12 January 1875 Ditto & to Theatre with my son Ethelbert at night. New servant Margaret from Penrith came to-day.5 Wages 2/- per week. She’s a girl of about 16 y[ea]rs old.
Wednesday 13 January 1875 To Manchester to-day to look at a steam boiler. My boiler & engine6 are too small. Took Bakewell,* who is versed in machinery with me. Not satisfied as to price. Returned at 6.10 in evening.
Thursday 14 January 1875 Working in office & shop all day. At night the travelling agent of Shand, Mason & Co called upon me & had a glass.7 Aft[erwar]ds I was writing—throng till midnight. To-d
Friday 15 January 1875 This morning’s papers announced Mr Gladstone’s resignation as leader of the Liberal party.8 Finished work at midnight.
Saturday 16 January 1875 Up at 7 & into shop & remained in more or less all day. At night one Draper,9 proprietor of Ormskirk Chronicle, waited upon me along with another person & we had three glasses at Shelley Arms. Later on Mr G S Kenyon10 (Claughton) called & informed me that he had passed the College of Physicians, Edinburgh & later Ned Ambler* & Will France* called & we had a glass.
Sunday 17 January 1875 In house, reading &c all day till evening then to Unitarian Chapel with my daughter Florence; aft[erwar]ds to father-in-law’s;* home at 10.00.
Monday 18 January 1875 Making out bills &c all day nearly till 9 at night.
Tuesday 19 January 1875 Same till 10.
Wednesday 20 January 1875 Same
Thursday 21 January 1875 To day found a very bad leakage in boiler & had to borrow a portable engine & boiler from Mr T Standing.11
Friday 22 January 1875 Got in portable affair to-day. A big job.
Saturday 23 January 1875 To Bolton to day with Mr Livesey12 & Mr Bakewell* to look at a boiler—no go. Then to Halshaw Moor;13 then home.
Sunday 24 January 1875 Easy day. To Unitarian Chapel at night.
Monday 25 January 1875 Making out bills.
Tuesday 26 January 1875 Bill making out & ill with sore eyes—inflamed.
Wednesday 27 January 1875 Making out bills.
Thursday 28 January 1875 Making out bills &c &c
Friday 29 January 1875 In shop & office
Saturday 30 January 1875 In shop & office all day.
Sunday 31 January 1875 Had a Turkish Bath this morning. In aft[ernoo]n & evening reading Theodore Parker14 to my father-in-law* who was “floored”.15
February
Monday 1 February 1875 Making out bills. At night went to the Mitre Inn16 which, with other property, I have bought. Told landlord (Banks17) I should raise his rent from £80 to £100 a y[ea]r also take some of the premises from him, but gave him a lease. He was satisfied.
Tuesday 2 February 1875 Making out bills all day.
Wednesday 3 February 1875 Rose at 8.30. Making out a/cs [accounts]. At night to theatre with wife & saw a farce “Punch & his Persecutors”—a burlesque upon a fellow named Jim Emmet who recently summoned three young fellows for snowballing him.18
Thursday 4 February 1875 A very hard day’s work & therefore a very good day’s work. All work is religion. At it till 11.30 at night.
Friday 5 February 1875 Rose at 8.45. Worked hard all day—in shop—writing for paper &c till after midnight.
Saturday 6 February 1875 Up at 9. At work all day till 9.30. Then Will Atherton* & Pateson* called & we talked about my intended engine.
Sunday 7 February 1875 Got up at 11.45. Had dinner & then drove to John Milner’s,19 Myerscough, on business. Daughter Florrie with me. Awful dark back.
Monday 8 February 1875 Making out bills all day except a little in forenoon when I went with Pateson* to Mr J Clayton’s20 foundry as to my engine. Looked through the foundry works. Very extensive & first class.
Wednesday 10 February 1875 Ditto
Thursday 11 February 1875 Working till midnight.
Saturday 13 February 1875 Ditto to 11 o’c[loc]k.
Sunday 14 February 1875 Rose at 11.40 this forenoon. In aft[ernoo]n read Sterne’s Tristram Shandy;21 aft[erwar]ds father-in-law* came & then mother-in-law* & spent the evening with us.
Monday 15 February 1875 Making out bills. Joe begun his new lodgings to-day.22
Tuesday 16 February 1875 Same. To-day Dr Kenealy23 was elected MP for Stoke in place of Ge[orge] Melly;24 & John Mitchell25 [sic] for Tipperary. Wonders never cease. Father in law* gave up McVities house in Cannon-st[ree]t26 to day & stayed with mother-in-law* at our house at night.
Wednesday 17 February 1875 Father & mother-in-law* to Sheffield; I went to Clapham Cave & inspected it.27 Fine day; remarkable cave. Home at 7 pm.
Thursday 18 February 1875 Employed in office all day.
Saturday 20 February 1875 Same
Sunday 21 February 1875 Did not get up till late. In aft[ernoo]n read Tristram Shandy & a lecture on Kent’s Cavern.28
Monday 22 February 1875 Making out bills &c to-day.
Tuesday 23 February 1875 Same partially. Had two glasses of port wine with Mr H C Walton29 this aft[ernoo]n.
Wednesday 24 February 1875 Sub-editing &c to-day. Herald & Guardian enlarged their supplements to-day. Owing to a defect in Herald machine I printed sup[plement] for the proprietors.30
Thursday 25 February 1875 This evening Mr Joseph Dearden31 died. He was the Corporation beadle. Working in shop & office all day & till 11 at night.
Friday 26 February 1875 Working in shop & office all day.
Saturday 27 February 1875 Same. Paid for interest &c on money & rent in connec[tio]n with Mitre property to J Forshaw.32 Total purchase money £3,500; have paid £500 myself. At night, after shop closed had a chat & glasses of beer with friend Pateson.*
Sunday 28 February 1875 Had a Turkish bath this forenoon. In aft[ernoo]n read Tristram Shandy & a lecture on atoms.
March
Monday 1 March 1875 Dearden buried to-day. Went to funeral with Mr W[illia]m Livesey* & Mr Boyden.33 We three went in a carriage & being cold & Mr Livesey not well returned after funeral service in chapel. It was a public funeral. In shop in aft[ernoo]n & writing at night.
Tuesday 2 March 1875 Ordinary working to-day.
Thursday 4 March 1875 Same & working till 11 o’c[loc]k at night.
Friday 5 March 1875 Same & working till 12 at night.
Saturday 6 March 1875 Up at 7; working till 10.20 at night.
Sunday 7 March 1875 Up at 12 at noon. Reading in aft[ernoo]n & evening.
Monday 8 March 1875 My new boiler from Joe Clayton’s, Soho Foundry, came to-day. A very good one. Price of it & putting up to be £150. Sent back Standing’s agricultural engine & boiler (which I had borrowed) to-day. To Tradesmen’s Ball with my wife to-night.
Tuesday 9 March 1875 In office & shop all day. Had to give men allowance drink to-day.34 My son Bertie’s birthday to-day.
Thursday 11 March 1875 Same. New boiler had fire put under it this evening, so more allowance drunk. This allowance business particularly amongst mechanics & bricklayers is an unfair & damnable thing. They have no right to anything beyond their wages; but they might idle their time or “jerry” their work so one has to submit to this blackmailing process.
Friday 12 March 1875 Working all day. Boiler in excellent trim & worked well.
Saturday 13 March 1875 Shop soon after 7 o’c[loc]k & at work till 10 at night.
Sunday 14 March 1875 Rose at 11 this forenoon. In house all day.
Monday 15 March 1875 In shop & office.
Wednesday 17 March 1875 Visited Lancaster Asylum for the Insane to-day to get particulars of it with the view of giving a descript[tion]n of same in Chronicle.
Thursday 18 March 1875 Working in shop & office till 12 at night.
Saturday 20 March 1875 Rose at 6.30 & in shop till 10 at night.
Sunday 21 March 1875 To tea this aft[ernoo]n with my wife to one Croasdale,35 Will France’s* relative.
Monday 22 March 1875 Not over well—too merry last night. Brother in law John Wilson* here. He got me to draw up a print circular as to his business at Lancaster, his manager—Heap—having started business on his own a/c [account].
Tuesday 23 March 1875 Working in shop & office all day.
Sunday 28 March 1875 Remained in home till 10 at night; then with wife went to Jones’s plasterer,* where there was a party & remained till 12.30.
Monday 29 March 1875 Rose at 8.30; shut up shop at 3 pm; aft[erwar]ds had a jaunt to Leyland in a conveyance with wife, sons, France,* Bond* & their wives. Had tea 1/6 each; home at 8.
Tuesday 30 March 1875 In office & shop all day.
Wednesday 31 March 1875 Went to laying of first stone of first place—an hotel—at St Anne’s on the sea, between Lytham & Blackpool this forenoon. Master Clifton, a boy,36 son of T H Clifton MP37 for North Lancashire laid it. St Anne’s is a wild sand hill spot; intended at some time to be a watering place. After ceremony to a luncheon at Clifton Arms, Lytham. Home at 6 with Harry Hawkins* who called upon me at night.38
April
Thursday 1 April 1875 At work in shop & office all day.
Friday 2 April 1875 Ditto & shop
Sunday 4 April 1875 Will France* & I had a Turkish bath this forenoon. In aft[ernoo]n he, his wife, Mr Jones,* plasterer, Walter Bond,* printer & Mr Jolly,39 spirit dealer & their wives &c had tea at my house & spent the night with us. A very lively affair.
Monday 5 April 1875 Up at 8.15 & working more or less though not so very well all day.
Tuesday 6 April 1875 (Same). At night went up to Harry Hawkins,* Springfield, Fulwood. Had tea then met, there, Mr Tullis,40 contractor & Mr Irvine,41 barrister & had a lively time of it. A big discussion about the Bible occupying part of the time.
Wednesday 7 April 1875 Same as to work.
Saturday 10 April 1875 Same. This aft[ernoo]n my father-in-law* came over from Morecambe. At night I went to see Dr Brown,42 Winckley Square, as to a Chancery case. Had a glass or two of wine after a chat. He is a very nice fellow fond of a quiet joke
Sunday 11 April 1875 Went to Unitarian Chapel this forenoon & brought away my books. I am the only printer who goes to that chapel. I have endeavoured to please the Congrega[tio]n & promote the cause by printing in my paper sermons—very heterodox—& yet some of them have taken a printing job to a Methodist.43 At night had a pleasant time with father in law,* France,* Pateson* &c
Monday 12 April 1875 In shop main of day.
Wednesday 14 April 1875 This aft[ernoo]n my wife went to her father’s* at Morecambe with Llewie & Mabel.
Thursday 15 April 1875 In shop &c all day. At night spent an hour & a half at Will France’s*. It was his birthday & he was giving a party.
Friday 16 April 1875 Working in shop & office all day.
Saturday 17 April 1875 In shop all day.
Sunday 18 April 1875 To Morecambe with Florence my daughter this morning. Walked from Hest Bank to Morecambe along sands side. Beautiful walk—tide in, sea birds flying about. Spent a good part of day on pier where my father in law* has a refreshment room.
Monday 19 April 1875 Home at 8.10. In shop most part of day.
Tuesday 20 April 1875 Same. At night had walk & a few glasses with Will France.*
Wednesday 21 April 1875 In shop all day & stayed in house main part of night. To bed at 10.30.
Thursday 22 April 1875 This forenoon, soon after 10, Mr W Fort,44 dentists, Lune-st[ree]t, Preston had a paralytic stroke in our shop whilst talking with me. Got him a stimulant, took him home, & got a doctor. At work all day aft[erwar]ds .
Friday 23 April 1875 At work all day.
Sunday 25 April 1875 This morning Mr Fort,45 who had never rallied, nor properly recovered consciousness, died. Age 58. At 8.20 to my father’s,* at Lancaster, with my sons Bertie & Horace. My wife went there from Morecambe on Thursday. A nice day.
Monday 26 April 1875 Returned with my two sons from Lancaster early this morning. Wife returned in aft[ernoo]n.
Tuesday 27 April 1875 Working all day.
May
Saturday 1 May 1875 A beautiful morning. Only a poor show of May day decorations amongst horses.46 Had a few glasses at France’s* at night.
Sunday 2 May 1875 Reading &c & had a walk in aft[ernoo]n with my two lads Bert & Horace.
Monday 3 May 1875 Working all day
Tuesday 4 May 1875 Same & at night went up to Mr Metcalfe’s47 at Ashton with France.* Our wives had had tea there before. Returned soon & stayed at France’s* till late.
Wednesday 5 May 1875 In shop &c all day
Friday 7 May 1875 Ditto. To-day Fryer48 signed agreement to take his warehouse in Cannon-st[ree]t for 7 years—rent £46-10.
Saturday 8 May 1875 Same more or less
Sunday 9 May 1875 Reading Baedeckers Guide to Paris49 —a splendid little work nearly all day.
Monday 10 May 1875 This aft[ernoo]n I, my wife, & children Llewellyn & Mabel with France’s* wife & youngest child had a drive by Ashton, Lea, Cottam, Woodplumpton, Broughton & on to Myerscough (& Roebuck); then home; beautiful. At night Banks50 (Mitre) signed agreement to take place for 7 y[ear]s—rent £101-10 per year.
Tuesday 11 May 1875 In shop & office all day.
Saturday 15 May 1875 Same. My father* came over from Lancaster this aft[ernoo]n. At night he & I went into Orchard which was full of shows &c. We went into some—my sons Bert & Horace with us—& had a few shots in shooting galleries.
Sunday 16 May 1875 Had a walk this aft[ernoo]n with my two sons Bert & Horace & father* through Avenham & Miller parks.
Whit Monday 17 May 1875 Great processions to-day in town. Very fine, Catholic guilds particularly—but Protestant schools were greater.51 In evening I, my two sons & father* had a walk & saw two or three drunken young women—one shamefully inebriated. At 10.20 I & my wife went to Glasgow by a cheap trip.
Tuesday 18 May 1875 Landed at Glasgow at 5.30 this morning. Went to steamship Iona, along with many of the excursionists, had a wash & breakfast on board & sailed down Clyde, through Kyles of Bute to Tichnibrough [Tighnabruaich]; then back—staying at Rothesay a while—& then to Glasgow, landing at 7.15. Aft[erwar]ds to the Royal. Slept at Washington.52
Wednesday 19 May 1875 Rose at 8, breakfast, looked through Glasgow Cathedral & St George’s Square & then by train to Balloch; aft[erwar]ds by steamboat to Tarbert, opposite Ben Lomond. A beautiful sail. Got back to Glasgow at 5 o’c[loc]k; tea at Washington & left by train at 6.20
Thursday 20 May 1875 Landed at Preston at 2 o’c[loc]k this morning, home & found all children right. To bed & up at 8. In shop & office all day.
Sunday 23 May 1875 At 9.10 this morning I & wife to L[iver]pool; in aft[ernoo]n to London which place we reached at 9.45 & stayed at an hotel in Arundel St[ree]t.
Monday 24 May 1875 Up at 8, took lodgings at Mrs Holman’s coffee & dining house, 143 Fleet St[ree]t, then to Zoological Gardens; then to Madame Tussaud’s exhibition; then to House of Commons; then to Cremorne Gardens; & got back to lodgings at 11.30 at night.
Tuesday 25 May 1875 To several places for a/cs [accounts];53 then to Webb st[ree]t trying to find School of Anatomy,54 which had b[ee]n shifted; then to Bernard Bussey’s* in Grosvenor Park, Camberwell, where we had dinner; then with him to House of Commons & Westminster Abbey. Spent night in looking about.
Wednesday 26 May 1875 To the Derby race,55 by road, with wife. An immense sight. Never saw anything like the life on the road, the multitude at race, & the scenes coming back. Got to lodgings at 10.30.
Thursday 27 May 1875 Returned to Preston by train reaching here at 3.40. Working in shop till 11. Found all right.
Friday 28 May 1875 My new engine started to-day; but not in perfect working order; it will be more right next week. A beautiful horizontal engine made by Omman[e]y & Tatham of Salford.
Saturday 29 May 1875 In shop & office till 7.10; then went & had a Turkish bath. At night Will France* called & had a glass.
Sunday 30 May 1875 In house all day—packing, reading &c
Monday 31 May 1875 From this date to Monday Oct 25 no entry appears, owing to this book being lost. In the interval we have had our children at a cottage belonging to Mr Adam Leigh,56 Lea, not far from Clock House on the right hand side of the road at the turn, just before reaching Clock House. Rent for six months 3/6 per week.
Have not had much time to spare for pleasure at Lea; but for all that have spent some very comfortable hours.
October
Thursday 14 October 1875 Young Squire Wilson-Ffrance, Rawcliffe Hall, burnt (“for fun”), the old peg mill57 in Little Eccleston this evening.58
Friday 15 October 1875 [No entry.]
Saturday 16 October 1875 Gave to each purchaser of Chronicle, picture representing Archbishop & Bishops of England & Wales.59
Sunday 17–Sunday 24 October 1875 [No entries]
Monday 25 October 1875 Joe Wilson, jun[io]r (brother in law)* who has served his time with me began as journeyman to-day or rather as my foreman.60 Wages 35/= per week for first year; £2 aft[erwar]ds. Supper & presentation tonight in honour of his coming of age & being out of his time. Proceedings very jolly.
Tuesday 26 October 1875 Rose at 8.30. Not over excellent in spirits, having had too many last night. In aft[ernoo]n I, wife & several other parties went to W J Parkinson’s,* Myerscough House; had tea, a dance, supper & a chat &c. Returned about midnight.
Wednesday 27 October 1875 At work about 8.45 & kept hard at it till 6 o’c[loc]k at night when I went to Harry Hawkins’s,* Springfield, whither my wife & two sisters in law had previously gone. Had tea. Aft[erwar]ds played at cards. Remained till 11 o’c[loc]k.
Thursday 28 October 1875 This forenoon went to Garstang. Young Wilson-Ffrance, & two London swells named Burt & Dixon, were brought up on remand at Garstang Town Hall for ducking in a water tank, & burning, one wig & gown of one Mr Mugliston, barrister, of London at Ffrance’s residence—Rawcliffe Hall. Mugliston had come down to defend Ffrance in a case of debt. The matter was arranged—apologies etc., Ffrance has been a terrible wild foolish “shaver”.61
Friday 29 October 1875 My father in law* bought to day Bank Top in Penwortham, the property of W J Parkinson,* Myerscough House, for £595.62
Saturday 30 October 1875 Up at 9.45—did not get to bed till 2 in morning; working all day till 3 pm when I went to see our children at cottage Lea road.
Sunday 31 October 1875 Mother in law* down at my cottage this weekend.
November
Monday 1 November 1875 Working all day in shop & office
Wednesday 3 November 1875 Ditto
Thursday 4 November 1875 Same. Looked in, with my son Ethelbert, at Exhibition63 this evening, for a little while.
Friday 5 November 1875 Hard working in shop & office all day. My wife, children &c left cottage at Lea for home to-day. Weather bad & our time for renting cottage about up.
Saturday 6 November 1875 Good deal of talk to-day as to Mayoralty of Preston as to whom the honour should fall upon. All uncertain. At work till about 10 pm.
Sunday 7 November 1875 Stayed in house all day arranging pictures in sitting room &c. At night reading Darwin’s Origin of Species.64
Monday 8 November 1875 Working in shop.
Tuesday 9 November 1875 Joe Hallmark65 elected Mayor of Preston to-day. He’s an ironmonger—a plain genial, decent sort of fellow. There was a luncheon aft[erwar]ds at which talk “ran high”. Chas Fryer,66 late mayor, elected Town Clerk to-day in place of R Ascroft*, resigned.
Wednesday 10 November 1875 Working in shop all day. At night to the Exhibition to get particulars of the scientific department. Aft[erwar]ds had a pint of beer with Will Atherton* &c &c then home at 11.10.
Thursday 11 November 1875 Working in office all day.
Saturday 13 November 1875 To bed at 2 am; up at 9.30; working all day.
Sunday 14 November 1875 Mayor’s procession to Parish Church to-day. Went to Town Hall & shook hands congratulating mayor; then away.
Monday 15 November 1875 In shop all day. My father-in-law* here.
Tuesday 16 November 1875 My father in law* p[ai]d for Bank Top property to-day.
Wednesday 17 November 1875 This evening went to [E]xhibition.
Thursday 18 November 1875 Working all day & till 10.30 at night.
Friday 19 November 1875 At work all day till after midnight.
Saturday 20 November 1875 This evening went to Walton-le-Dale to a rearing supper of H Snape—of a house between Walton & Higher Walton. Stayed till 10.30; got rather too much whiskey punch, but spent a pleasant evening. Home at 11.5.67
Sunday 21 November 1875 Had a Turkish bath this forenoon.
Monday 22 November 1875 Early this morning Councillor James alias “Pepper” Parker died, at his residence Winckley Square. He had led a dissolute life. Died wealthy.68
Tuesday 23 November 1875 Working all day. At night went to Exhibition (at Corn Exchange) with three of my children—Florrie, Bertie & Horace. I went up to outside of building, upon a specially constructed platform & saw a fine electric light displayed.69
Wednesday 24 November 1875 At work all day. At night to a great meeting in the theatre condemnatory of the duty (5 per cent) on cotton goods sent from England to India.70 Mr E Hermon,* MP for Preston, in chair. Numerous speeches & some of the “orators” wretched speakers. The operative men surpassed, in speaking, the masters.
Thursday 25 November 1875 Very hard day’s work in writing, book-keeping &c
Friday 26 November 1875 Writing hard all day. Pepper Parker buried to-day. No public sympathy. George Galloway,* manufacturer, & John Bamber,71 joiner, candidates for his seat. At work till 2.30 on Sat[urday] morning.
Saturday 27 November 1875 Working in shop & office all day.
Sunday 28–Thursday 30 November 1875 [No entries]
December
Wednesday 1 December 1875 Working all day. In evening on election business & later on to Exhibition; thence to a sort of supper at Angel Inn with members of the Scientific Council72 & got more whiskey punch than did me good.
Thursday 2 December 1875 Up & at work by 8.35 but not well & went & had a Turkish bath. Aft[erwar]ds at work till 10 at night.
Friday 3 December 1875 Working hard all day.
Saturday 4 December 1875 Same up to tea time & then gossiping on election matters &c
Sunday 5 December 1875 Reading; at night went with my wife to Will France’s* & had a smoke & a glass.
Monday 6 December 1875 Working & knocking about.
Wednesday 8 December 1875 Same
Thursday 9 December 1875 In shop & office till evening & then to an elec[tio]n meeting of Mr Galloway’s* supporters.
Friday 10 December 1875 Working in connection with paper all day.
Saturday 11 December 1875 Same—up at 6 & at work till 9 when I went out with two friends on elec[tio]n matters & did not return till after midnight.
Sunday 12 December 1875 Reading in house greater part of day except for a period in aft[ernoo]n when I & my wife went to see our children’s grave at cemetery.
Monday 13 December 1875 Working in shop all day. At night to three ward meetings in favour of Mr Geo[rge] Galloway.* Good meetings. Aft[erwar]ds went to Bull Hotel with Mr Galloway &c & remained there discussing vital election moves till after 11 o’c[loc]k.
Tuesday 14 December 1875 In shop & office till about 8.35 & then, being requested, went to a private meeting to arrange for to-morrow’s warfare.
Wednesday 15 December 1875 Election Day—St John’s ward—great fight. Money spent on both Bamber’s & Galloway’s* side. Bamber won by 70 votes. Galloway w[oul]d, I think, have won but for treachery of one of the men who agreed to work on his side & then went over to the other. In the evening I had sundry glasses & later on went to hear a reading by “Leo Ross”73 at Town Hall, with my wife & Florrie my daughter.
Thursday 16 December 1875 Busy in shop &c all day.
Friday 17 December 1875 Same till after midnight. To bed at about 2 am Sat[urday] morning.
Saturday 18 December 1875 Up & at work by about 7. Kept at work till 8.30. This was our sheet almanack day. After 8.30 had a few glasses with friends & later on H. L. Whitehead74 and I did a little chamming75 in my shop. Stayed up with him till about 12.
Sunday 19 December 1875 Got up late & read.
Monday 20 December 1875 Working all day. Bought a safe to-day for £15-10 from Mr H C Walton,76 auctioneer, & had it fixed in shop.
Wednesday 22 December 1875 Same till 10.30 at night.
Thursday 23 December 1875 Same till midnight.
Friday 24 December 1875 Brought out Chronicle to-day; tomorrow being Xmas Day. Gave an office almanack to day—a good one.
Saturday 25 December 1875 Had a Turkish Bath this forenoon. I & my wife & family had a turkey & plum pudding for dinner. In aft[ernoo]n I played at Beggar My Neighbour77 with my children. At night went to Will France’s* & had a glass or two & a pipe.
Sunday 26 December 1875 In afternoon had a walk with my sons Bert & Horace to Bank Top, Penwortham—place my father in law* has bought.
Monday 27 December 1875 This forenoon took my wife & my children Florence, Bert, Horace & Llewellyn to Southport. Very mild day. On getting to Southport we saw the pier—rode to end & back; then to Winter Gardens & Aquarium & after sauntering about for a while returned home. At night I & my wife went to pantomime at Theatre—Parkinson’s;* “Cinderella” being given by opera company. Full house & good performance.
Tuesday 28 December 1875 Working all day. Llewie not so well & sent for doctor—got cold or something.
Wednesday 29 December 1875 This morning Paley’s mill, off London Road, was burned down. At night I went to see Harry Hawkins* who had been ill for several days. Stayed about 3 hours & came back with Mr Tullis,78 calling at his house for a short time, & then home.
Thursday 30 December 1875 Busy working in shop all day.
Friday 31 December 1875 Same. At night Will France* called & had a few glasses. I let new year into his house & then came to let it into my own. It being deemed lucky—an “old wife’s” tale—for a dark complexioned man to do this. Sat up till about 2 am Sat[urday] morning. This year has been a prosperous one for me & on behalf of myself & my wife & family. I thank God for all his goodness.
1 Lancashire Archives DP/512/1/8.
2 The eight-page Preston Chronicle went from six columns per page to seven, the equivalent of more than one extra page.
3 The British Admiralty had announced plans for an expedition to the North Pole via Smith Sound, to be led by Sir George Strong Nares.
4 A pantomime convention in which characters or scenery undergo a magical change.
5 Unidentified.
6 For the Preston Chronicle’s steam-powered printing press.
7 Hewitson had done some writing work for this fire engine manufacturer (see 21 September 1874).
8 William Gladstone had led the Liberals to a surprise defeat in the 1874 general election.
9 Peter Draper (1824–1890), Conservative journalist, former editor of another Ormskirk paper, the Advertiser (Liverpool Weekly Courier, 6 December 1890, p. 7). His Chronicle was published 1872–78.
10 Possibly a brother (unidentified) of Hewitson’s friend James Kenyon.*
11 Thomas Standing (b. 1824), agricultural machinery merchant, Fishergate.
12 Probably William Livesey.*
13 A district of Farnworth near Bolton.
14 See 25 March 1866.
15 Hung over?
16 On the opposite side of Fishergate to Hewitson’s current premises.
17 Joseph Banks (b. 1828) ran this pub 1873–1881.
18 A Mr Emett of Great Avenham Street, Preston had objected to the noise of the snowballers. Defence solicitor, Mr Blackhurst, asked: ‘Had you not a huge funny-looking nightcap, with a knob at the end, when you made your appearance at the window?’ The three snowballers had then shouted ‘Here’s Punch!’ and targeted Mr Emett, who returned fire with lumps of coal. A snowball broke a window. The snowballers were fined ten shillings each plus costs (PC, 16 January 1875, p. 5). Hewitson reviewed the skit (PC, 6 February 1875, p. 5).
19 See 23 July 1874.
20 Joseph Clayton (1801–1885), engineer and ironfounder, he designed and installed the boilers of the Houses of Parliament and the British Museum (PH, 5 December 1885, p. 7).
21 Laurence Sterne, The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (Dublin, 1759–1767).
22 Joseph Wilson, brother of Hewitson’s wife Margaret, working for Hewitson as a printing apprentice, had lived with his employer throughout his apprenticeship.
23 Edward Kenealy (1819–1880) later became infamous as defence barrister in the Tichborne Claimant trial.
24 George Melly (1830–1894), had resigned as MP for Stoke to concentrate on his businesses. He was an unsuccessful Liberal candidate for Preston in an 1862 by-election.
25 Irish republican radical journalist John Mitchel (1815–1875) was elected unopposed. He had been sentenced to 14 years of transportation for treason in 1848 because of his journalism, but escaped to the United State in 1853. He was denied his seat as a convicted felon.
26 See 30 November 1874.
27 Spectacular cave now known as Ingleborough Cave, near the village of Clapham in the West Riding of Yorkshire. Hewitson’s visit appeared as no. 26 in his ‘Sights and Incidents’ series (PC, 27 February 1875, p. 6).
28 A cave near Torquay, Devon.
29 See 21 June 1865.
30 Preston’s two biggest papers published smaller Wednesday editions (supplements) besides main Saturday editions. Hewitson’s Chronicle published only on Saturdays. Such co-operation between rival papers was not unusual.
31 Joseph Dearden (1811–1875) had carried out ceremonial duties such as carrying the mayor’s mace for 38 years. One of the ‘Seven men of Preston’ who signed the first pledge of total abstinence from alcohol in 1833; local historian, publishing a history of the temperance movement and writing for local newspapers (PC, 27 February 1875, p. 4). He left 800 books, plus engravings, autographs and old playbills (PH, 21 April 1875, p. 8).
32 See 2 January 1874.
33 George Boyden (1835–1924), part-owner and editor, Preston Herald. Had worked for papers in Stamford, Tiverton and Bristol before Preston, He later became owner-editor of the Stratford-on Avon Herald for more than 40 years until his death (Leamington Spa Courier, 22 August 1924, p. 4). Marie Corelli was awarded a farthing damages against him for libel in 1903 (PH, 19 December 1903, p. 4).
34 See entry for 11 March 1875; customary supply of drink to labourers at set stages of a piece of work.
35 Possibly James Croasdale, landlord of the Market Hotel, Tithebarn St.
36 John Talbot Clifton (1868–1928), who became a traveller and hunter, after Eton and Cambridge.
37 See 6 March 1866. Clifton had become an MP in 1874.
38 The seaside resort of St Annes, named after Lady Anne Bentinck, the aunt of Sir John Talbot Clifton’s wife. The Clifton family of Lytham Hall owned the land.
39 James Jolly, wine and spirit merchant of Friargate, possibly the same Jolly who courted the vicar’s wife while her marriage was still a secret (see 28 June 1872).
40 There were three Tullis brothers, all builders, who created many of Preston’s major buildings: Alexander (1819–1891), David (1822–1902) and the latter’s son, also David (c. 1848–1902), also a builder.
41 Probably Pearson Robert Irvine (d. 1881).
42 Dr Charles Brown (1836–1925), author of Sixty-Four Years a Doctor: Reminiscences of Sir Charles Brown, an Octogenarian Lancashire Doctor (Preston: George Toulmin & Sons, 1922).
43 Possibly George Toulmin, Hewitson’s rival and former employer.
44 William Fort (1817–1875), Conservative, Anglican.
46 Horses were decorated with brasses and ribbons on May Day, particularly in Northern England.
47 Possibly John Metcalf (c. 1843–1900), hot water engineer.
48 Frank J. Fryer, soap and candle maker, presumably a sitting tenant (see 21 August 1881).
49 Published in English 1867.
50 See 1 February.
51 The Catholic Guilds were friendly societies, clubs providing welfare benefits.
52 Washington Hotel, Sauchiehall St, demolished 1935.
53 Probably advertising agents, to sell advertising space for national products and/or to collect fees owing.
54 Edward Grainger’s School of Anatomy in Webb St near Guy’s and St Thomas’s hospitals had closed in 1842.
55 The famous horse race at Epsom, 18 miles south of London.
56 See 30 March 1872.
57 Type of windmill that could be turned to face the wind.
58 Robert John Barton Wilson-Ffrance (1855–1897), heir to a large Fylde estate, had an old windmill in Little Eccleston soaked in paraffin and set fire to it (the flames could be seen for miles) to celebrate winning a county court case at Garstang, brought by the landlady of the Black Bull, Great Eccleston, for £25 owed for board, lodging and refreshment for himself and four of his friends from summer 1874. The defence was a ‘plea of infancy’, as he was still a minor as a ward in chancery. As the landlady left court, she was heard to say: ‘He’s 13st. weight and nearly six feet high —a nice infant, certainly!’ (Berwickshire News, 12 October 1875, p. 6).
59 Many newspapers gave or sold the same sheet of engravings, presumably produced by a London printer, to mark the Church Congress, a meeting of the worldwide Anglican church, in Stoke.
60 Wilson had completed his printing apprenticeship.
61 The barrister, probably Henry B Mugliston (b. 1849), had tried to stop Wilson-Ffrance from setting fire to the windmill.
62 Wilson had retired from running the Morecambe pier refreshment rooms. The house included stable and coachhouse, and three-quarters of an acre of gardens.
63 The Preston Exhibition of Works of Art, Industry, &c.
64 Darwin’s book had been first published in 1859, and was in its sixth edition by 1875, the ensuing debate still fierce, reignited in 1874 by a lecture from the eminent scientist John Tyndall (1820–1893), who Hewitson admired.
65 Joseph Bithell Hallmark (1834–1892), ironmonger, Conservative, Anglican, ‘quick, sanguine and tenacious; has excellently-sized cheeks; washes himself well’. He left £11,739 (PTC).
66 See 4 June 1874.
67 A celebration of the completion of building work on Birch House, Walton-le-Dale, the new home of Henry Snape (1829–1878), auctioneer and timber dealer, Poor Law Guardian.
68 See 2 November 1874.
69 Hewitson’s friend Pateson had helped set up the electric light.
70 The duty was removed on all but the highest quality goods in 1879, and abolished completely in 1882.
71 John Bamber (1823–1881) of Ribblesdale Place, joiner and builder, Conservative.
72 Organisers of the scientific part of the recent exhibition, including Hewitson’s friend Robert Pateson.*
73 Elocutionist and dramatic reader.
74 Henry Lawson Whitehead (1836–1925?) of Avenham Terrace, wholesale grocer. Liberal, Wesleyan.
75 Drinking champagne (to excess): Jonathan Geen, Green’s Dictionary of Slang, https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/vqrwbli.
76 See 21 June 1865.
77 Card game.