1887

[T J & J Smith’s Small Scribbling Diary with Almanack. No. 6, 1887]¹

[Inside front cover, possibly breakages/damage caused by a servant:]

Joe— half price hand painted globe – 5/-

April 4— Broke ladder

5— Destroyed 2/- worth flower seeds

9 lamp glasses

May 19— Gave boy 1/-

Spoiled piece oil cloth—floor—by letting off gun without instructions.

[In Hewitson’s hand:]

A. Hewitson’s Diary.

Brook house,

 Bilsborrow,

  Nr Garstang.

[In another hand:]

Now the property of his grandson Robert Hewitson Blackmore, 14 Florizel Street, Burwood, Vic

[Anthony and Margaret Hewitson and six of their children lived in a rented rural mansion, Brook House, at Bilsborrow, a hamlet seven miles north of Preston. Anthony, aged 50, owned and edited the Preston Chronicle while Margaret ran an associated shop selling stationery, fancy goods, books, newspapers and magazines. Their two sons, Ethelbert, 22, and Horace, 20, assisted their father as reporters. Hewitson rented out a house at 48 Fishergate Hill and some town-centre commercial property, including the Mitre Inn, Fishergate, and a warehouse in Cannon St. Eldest daughter Florence now lived with her husband in Carlisle. No diary survives for 1886, when the Liberal party had split over Gladstone’s Irish Home Rule policy. Hewitson had parted ways with his former hero and now favoured the breakaway Liberal Unionists and the Conservatives. His newspaper rival, George Toulmin, and his sons George and James Toulmin, had launched a Gladstonian Liberal evening newspaper, the Lancashire Evening Post, in November 1886, strengthening their hold on the competitive local newspaper market. There are no circulation figures for Hewitson’s Preston Chronicle, but its sales were probably falling, far below the 20,000 weekly circulation of the Toulmins’ Preston Guardian.² As in other industries, ‘small masters’ such as Hewitson were being squeezed by the concentration of capital and large-scale production.³]

[on Memoranda page:]

Diary

of

Anthony Hewitson,

Brook house, Bilsborrow

for 1887

[Before first entry:]

God our Father keep me and mine safely under Thy wing, and guide and guard us all this year and always

January

Saturday 1 January 1887 Working moderately all day. B[rother] in L[aw] Jas Wilson* returned home to Aberdeen this forenoon. My wife & I at work till about 10.45 at night; then across to the rooms,⁴ and in fair course to bed.

Sunday 2 January 1887 Rose early; both of us to Brock per 8.15 morning train. In afternoon I finished reading Dr Fothergill’s work on Will Power⁵ and began one by Prof. Young on The Sun.⁶

Monday 3 January 1887 To Preston by train at 10.35, to pay some money & sign my name in respect to my shop property, 21 Cannon St being mortgaged for £400 to Star Bowkett So[ciet]y. My son Horace having got an “appropriation” and I taking it from him for that amount. Money lent without interest for a number of years, else I should not have borrowed it.⁷

Tuesday 4 January 1887 To Preston—easyish work. Home in fair time.

Wednesday 5 January 1887 To Preston with son Horace per train. Working very hard all day till about 9.10 at night. Then home, with Horace, by train. Cold, snow, frost.

Thursday 6 January 1887 To P[resto]n by train; working hard, all day. Nothing very special. Cold, business slack. Letter, I think, from daughter Letty—2^nd since she went to Carlisle.⁸ Home at night by train. Last day this of the three set apart for Preston Great Horse Fair.

Friday 7 January 1887 Hard work from about 9.30 (shortly before which we landed at Preston in the conveyance) till about 12.45 on Sat[urday] morning. Read a little of Geo[rge] Dawson’s lecture on Wordsworth.⁹ Good, clear, healthy, very thoughtful.

Saturday 8 January 1887 Could not get one of my boots on—short Wellingtons—which I had made for me about a week ago. Had to wait until boy borrowed me an elastic sided boot from W France,* shoemaker, who stretched the boot, which some hours afterw[ards] I got & was satisfied with. Home with my wife per 9.35 pm train.

Sunday 9 January 1887 Laid in bed till nearly 11 in forenoon. In aft[ernoo]n I and my wife drove over to W J Parkinson’s,* Myerscough Park & had dinner—turkey, water hen, beef, pudding &c. Afterwards had a long talk, a smoke & some tea & weak uisgebaugh¹⁰ —I watered it heavily. Home.

Monday 10 January 1887 At home all day, writing first part of a lecture entitled “A Thousand Miles in & about Scotland” which I have to give before the Longridge Debating Society on the evening of Feb 3.

Tuesday 11 January 1887 All day at home, going through one of the ledgers—to pick out old a/cs [accounts] and see that nothing was omitted. My son Horace near me, making out a/cs.

Wednesday 12 January 1887 To Preston. Working, sub-editing,* writing &c, till about 9.15 at night. Then home with my wife per 9.35 train. Weather cold & very wintery.

Thursday 13 January 1887 To Preston by train 8.30 morning. Sub-editing* chiefly all day. Home at night by train & did a little work aft[erward]s.

Friday 14 January 1887 By carriage with sons E[thelbert] & H[orace] to Preston. Cold—very heavy fog. In aft[ernoo]n worst fog I ever saw in Preston—about 4.30. Cleared up later on. Working—writing & proofreading—till about 12.40 on Sat[urday] morning. Then across to rooms, where I had a smoke & some whiskey. Read in Geo. Dawson’s Biographical Lectures, & read in Chronicle—to correct it—and then to bed.

Saturday 15 January 1887 To shop about 10.25. Easy working all day. Daughter Florence brought back daughter Letitia this aft[ernoo]n—to Preston first, thence to Brook house. My wife with them at 6.5; I per 9.35 train. Much footballing blocking (crowd—news)¹¹ at Preston.

Sunday 16 January 1887 In aft[ernoo]n reading Professor Young’s work on “The Sun”—very able. Weather cold. Did not go out.

Monday 17 January 1887 Son L[lewellyn]¹² resumed school & it did not start till tomorrow. At home all day, continuing my writing of lecture on Scotland. Awfully cold day—east wind. Never felt so cold a day for at least 25 years. My three daughters (M[abel], R[osaline] & L[etitia]) told me they were very cold—starved at school. Too far from fire. But the master (Balshaw)¹³ crowded up to it & monopolised it. A very considerate master.

Tuesday 18 January 1887 To Preston to work. Son L[lewellyn] to grammar school & before they begin a half holiday proclaimed—or proclaimed at noon. After noon holiday today because five new pupils have come! Nice for masters.

Wednesday 19 January 1887 Working hard—sub editing and writing all day till 9 at night. Then home per train with my wife. Sons H[orace] & L[lewellyn] by conveyance. Son E[thelbert] & daughter F[lorence] to Conservative Soiree in Public Hall & so staid at Preston all night. I suppose young people & fools must have vent holes—safety valve openings—by dances. Dancing is a queer thing—or rather the love of it.

Thursday 20 January 1887 At work all day sub-editing—nothing particular. Home per conveyance at night.

Friday 21 January 1887 A hard throng day. “At it” from 9.5 in morning till about 3 on Sat[urday] morning.

Saturday 22 January 1887 Laid in bed till 9.45; working till 9. Home with my wife & daughter F[lorence] at 9.35 pm.

Sunday 23 January 1887 Stayed in bed till 11. In aft[ernoo]n had a walk up Bilsborrow Lane & down by Matshead Mill. In the mill dam saw some ducks—tame—and a swan which came close to me—wanting me to give it something. In the evening reading Professor Young’s book on The Sun.

Monday 24 January 1887 Remained at home all day. Finished writing greater part of my lecture on Scotland. My daughter Florence left for her home (in Carlisle) this aft[ernoo]n.

Tuesday 25 January 1887 To Preston by train with sons E[thelbert] & L[lewellyn]. Finished my lecture writing. At night—10 o’c[lock]—found Sandham’s son,¹⁴ Banks the butcher,¹⁵ & a points man¹⁶ from Broughton at my home. They had come about auditing some friendly soc[iety]’s a/cs [accounts]. Son Horace went through them with Banks. Aft[erwar]ds they played cards all except pointsman & left about 11.30.

Wednesday 26 January 1887 Working hard all day at Preston. Nothing very special.

Thursday 27 January 1887 At work hard all day—hard—barring times when persons came in to gossip. It is astonishing what time can be used up in gossipping [sic] & what a lot of people there are who have the time. But one may get wisdom from gossip—knowledge of past and present, for though I think I know much, I have very much to learn & I am willing to take a lesson from any honest person.

Friday 28 January 1887 Grinding away at work all day from about 9 in morning till 2 o’c[lock] on Sat[urday] morning.

Saturday 29 January 1887 To work about 10.30 in morning. In shop all aft[ernoo]n and night. My wife & son E[thelbert] to annual dinner and ball of Preston printers, at Mess Rooms, Starkie St[reet]. An association man from Manchester named Slatter¹⁷ (a JP as well) & one of the local officials the first to get drunk. My wife would not dance with Slatter. Mrs Mackay¹⁸ (wife of editor of Herald*) with my wife—my wife left about 12, with son E[thelbert], & we all slept across in the rooms.

Sunday 30 January 1887 Up at 7.45; at 8.20 to Brock. In aft[ernoo]n I my wife & daughter L[etitia] rode over to Churchtown, where we attended service at church. No sermon—some boys catechised,¹⁹ apparently for confirmation, instead. Fine day. Home—tea. Finished Prof Young’s work on The Sun and began Lady Holland’s life of her father—Rev Sydney Smith,²⁰ a healthy, humorous, learned, excellent man I like, very much, SS.

Monday 31 January 1887 To Preston per 8.31 train in morning, with son L[lewellyn], leaving sons E[thelbert] & H[orace] at home, peddling about. I working moderately. The older I live the more am I convinced that employment of some kind—mental or physical—is a necessity for health of mind, soul and body. Inaction is the precursor of illness & if not checked means decay & death. My wife went to Manchester to buy things for shop today.

February

Tuesday 1 February 1887 Working at Preston all day—not hard. Well, while I want to work & to go on working in some way, I don’t want to work over hard. Home at night.

Wednesday 2 February 1887 Fully and somewhat hardly at work—specially in aft[ernoo]n and evening. Writing from about 4 o’c[lock] to 9. Then home with my wife.

Thursday 3 February 1887 To Preston by train with sons E[thelbert] & L[lewellyn]; son H[orace] staying behind to attend Garstang sessions²¹ &c. In the evening I went up to Longridge & read a paper entitled “A Thousand Miles in and about Scotland”—the record of a trip I & my wife had in August 1882. The paper was read before the Longridge Debating Society, or rather under the auspices of that Society. A very bad attendance—weather rough & two other meetings same night in the village. My paper contained much interesting matter—I think so; but I feel sure my reading of it was defective—I mean the style. I’m no reader. But at close a note of thanks was proposed & recorded to me, in very eulogistic terms & it was passed unanimously, & if it had not, by such an audience, I should have wondered much & been highly disgusted as much with myself as those present. Afterwards went in a cab to Mr Wareing’s,²² east of the little, ugly, old church, & stayed all night with them. He is a quarry master and a nice, sensible, genial, elderly man. I had two or three glasses of whiskey; he had some w[hiskey] also.

Friday 4 February 1887 Up soon after 7 o’c[lock]; good breakfast; to Preston per 8.10 train. Did not feel well, but worked hard all day till about 12.30 on Sat[urday] morning.

Saturday 5 February 1887 Rose about 10 o’c[lock]. To work about 10.30. Working fairly easy, all day. Home, with my wife, per 9.35 train—after treating Mr Miles,²³ the station master to a glass of whiskey & having one myself.

Sunday 6 February 1887 Up shortly before 11. Af[terwards] knocking about the house. In aft[ernoon] I & my wife had a walk as far as a farm house opposite Brockholes Arms, then back. In evening read some of life of Sydney Smith, by his daughter.

Monday 7 February 1887 Jobbing about at home. Throng altering a door in forenoon; in aft[ernoon] mending garden fence; at night reading Lady Holland’s Memoir of her father (Rev Sydney Smith). Then went to the railway station to meet my wife.

Tuesday 8 February 1887 In forenoon boy Joseph²⁴ (I accompanying him) drove our older cow to put it in a sale at a place nearly opposite the Brockholes Arms, Claughton. On getting there I had some gossip with the person on whose premises the sale was going to take place—an old man named Gornall,²⁵ formerly joiner in Preston—tall, bulky, pale, mild-looking. Then had some roast beef & potatoes, along with four or five others, in the house; then looked about. Sale commenced about 1.30 in aft[ernoo]n. Miscellaneous household goods &c; also cattle, sheep & hay. I bought a very big carpet bag for 1/-; a marble-racing concern for the children for 2/6; a ladder for 11/-. Did not sell my cow. Gave £15.15. for it at a sale by auction, about a year ago; had today only £12.10 (after much whipping) offered so ordered it to be driven home again. They say “cattle are very down at present”. Evidently they are.

Wednesday 9 February 1887 To Preston by train. Saw Mr Albert Simpson,²⁶ of Elmhurst, nr Garstang & had a talk with him about some strictures of mine upon Alderman Ben Walmsley²⁷ of Preston, for calling him (A.S.) “an ass”. B W has sent me a lawyer’s letter stating that proceedings are going to be taken against me for censuring and commenting upon him. I at work all day—mostly.

Thursday 10 February 1887 At work, hardish, all day & home by trap at night.

Friday 11 February 1887 To Preston per trap, landing shortly before 9 in morning. Consolation—encouragement—just when I had started writing “Stray Notes” this aft[ernoon], in room across, in came my wife saying she had been told t[hat] B Walmsley meant to go on, had retained Jack Addison, QC & that a writ w[oul]d be served upon me in the morning. Finished work about 12.30 on Sat[urday] morning.

Saturday 12 February 1887 Up about 9. Working. Was told in aft[ernoo]n that B Walmsley had decided not to go on with his case against me. I & my wife stayed all night at Preston.

Sunday 13 February 1887 To Brock, both my wife & self, per 8.15 morning train. Aft[erward]s I bothering about. In aft[ernoon] had a short walk, towards Myerscough Hall with my wife & daughters, M[abel], R[osaline] & L[etitia]. In evening reading Memoirs of Rev Sydney Smith. Excellent—sense, wit, humour & goodness.

Monday 14 February 1887 Stayed at home today cleaning up grounds—raking about &c—trying to make myself rurally comfortable. Fresh air—must have done me some good. At night read Sydney Smith’s Life by Lady Holland.

Tuesday 15 February 1887 To Preston. In aft[ernoo]n called on Mr John Cooper* at his office in Winckley St. Though infirm & in his 80^th year he seemed to be in good spirits and still fond of a good story. His son George²⁸ —a barrister—came in. George is a rough, ready, “blueish”,²⁹ easy-going customer. J C lent me life of—Rev Gilpin³⁰ and one on Kisses (verses) by Joannes Secundus.³¹

Wednesday 16 February 1887 Working all day. Nothing very particular. Chit chat³² writing &c

Thursday 17 February 1887 Sub-editing mainly.

Friday 18 February 1887 D[itt]o an article on Note Writing for the paper (Chronicle). Finished work about 12.30. Aft[erwards] read some of Geo Dawson’s lecture on Wordsworth.

Saturday 19 February 1887 To work about 10.15. At it more or less till 9.15. Then with my wife to Brock, per 9.35 pm train.

Sunday 20 February 1887 Stayed in bed till about 11.40 in morning. Then bothering about. In aft[ernoo]n d[itt]o. In evening sleeping & reading Sydney Smith’s letters. A cold, miserable day—drizzly &c—outside. To bed about 11 o’c[lock].

Monday 21 February 1887 To Preston per conveyance with sons E[thelbert], H[orace] & L[lewellyn]. Working moderately all day.

Tuesday 22 February 1887 At work all day. In the evening I & my wife went to the Theatre Royal to see Barry Sullivan³³ play. The piece was the “Gamester”.³⁴ Full house; company good; Barry, who is now about 70 years old, I believe, looked well—good figure, good voice, excellent attitudes, acting and emphasis—a real actor. But I did not like the play—too sad & melancholy & dismal, & ended painfully. Not such a tragedy as I sh[oul]d care to see any more. I & my wife stayed all night in Preston—at the rooms across the way—the rooms in Central W[orking] Men’s Club. We had a few oysters for supper.

Wednesday 23 February 1887 Up soon after 8. To work about 9. At work till 9.20 at night. Writing chit chat in aft[ernoo]n. Home with my wife per 9.35 train.

Thursday 24 February 1887 Working hard all day—sub-editing &c. At night home—late—in conveyance with my son Bertie.

Friday 25 February 1887 Sub-editing, writing notes &c. Called on Will France* in aft[ernoo]n. He has been buying about 300 vol[ume]s of books, from Vicar of Croston, for the Preston Union Workhouse. Gave, I believe, about £2.10.0 for them. Old theology, religious treatises &c—& according to the written list he showed me, such a mess, medley and farrago of arrant rubbish as I never before saw. I finished work about 2.30 on Sat[urday] morning.

Saturday 26 February 1887 To work about 10.30 this forenoon. Sister-in-law Jane Threlfall,³⁵ on coming from Blackleach, Woodplumpton, to Preston market this morning met with an accident—horse began kicking, broke both shafts of conveyance and played havoc with the front part—a devil of a horse. She was bruised & shook. At night I superintended a drawing, in connection with recent Fulwood Church bazaar for a piano in Public Hall, at request of Alderman Forshaw.* Captain Winstanley,³⁶ son of late W Winstanley³⁷ of West Cliff & Chaigeley Manor was the winner. I & my wife home per 9.35 pm train.

Sunday 27 February 1887 In aft[ernoon] drove over, with my wife & daughter L[etitia], to Woodplumpton—they to Blackleach (my wife’s sister’s³⁸) I to W[illia]m Turner’s³⁹ in Bartle. Had tea at W T’s; he is a decent, rough-headed, shrewd little fellow, with a little farm. My wife &c called on me on their return, & we drove home, as we came, through Broughton.

Monday 28 February 1887 I, & my sons E[thelbert] & H[orace], stayed at home today. Removed the poultry shed from the yard near the house to the little meadow over the canal hedge. We have about 60 hens & 2½ cocks; also 5 ducks & drakes.

March

Tuesday 1 March 1887 To Preston with sons E[thelbert] & L[lewellyn]. Horace staying at home. In the evening I and W France* went to Wombwell’s Menagerie near the Orchard. A big collection, but not so very excellent. Some fine lions & tigers, several camels or dromedaries, two very handsome zebras, nearly all the rest mediocre. Home by train about 9.35.

Wednesday 2 March 1887 Working hard all day—till 9.20 at night. Nothing very particular in town. Very considerable complaining about dullness of business.

Thursday 3 March 1887 To Preston by conveyance. Met Mr John Cooper,* who is in his 80^th year. He said “Hulton’s gone”—meaning that ex County Court judge W A Hulton⁴⁰ of Penwortham was dead. He died this morning in his 85^th year. A tall, grave, old-womanly, wilful highly respectable man. J.C. though feeble, looked very well for his years. Home by train at night; son E[thelbert] having gone round by conveyance, to the annual dinner of the Kirkham Hunt, at the De Tabley Arms in Bartle.

Friday 4 March 1887 To Preston by con[veyance] with all my three sons. At work—writing &c &c—till about 2.20 on Sat morning.

Saturday 5 March 1887 Rose just before 10 o’c[lock], breakfasted, to shop; working off and on, all day. Preston North End footballers beaten to day by West Bromwichers at Nottingham. A big, idle, godless, hands-in-breeches-pockets, smirking, spitting crowd in Fishergate waited a considerable time for the result. This sort of crowd frequently congregates, for a like purpose, in this street. Could like to see a hose pipe opened or turned full on them. I & my wife home per 9.35 pm train. Ex-Judge Hulton buried today at Penwortham church.

Sunday 6 March 1887 [blank]

Monday 7 March 1887 To Preston working &c

Tuesday 8 March 1887 Same

Wednesday 9 March 1887 Same till 9.20; then home per 9.35 train.

Thursday 10 March 1887 Ditto as to working, but not so late

Friday 11 March 1887 Same till about 2 o’c[lock], or later, on Sat morning.

Saturday 12 March 1887 To work at 10.30 and “off & on” till 9.20pm, then home.

Sunday 13 March 1887 Fussing about, after getting up late. In aft[ernoon] I & my wife went to feed the hens. At night had a long & pleasant read in the Memoirs of Sydney Smith—conscienscious [sic], industrious, witty, healthy, intellectual Sydney, one of the best, loveliest, kindest, and most humorous of writers & divines.

Monday 14 March 1887 At Preston, working more or less all day. Home at night in the con Very much annoyed at night—hadn’t got key of shop, to close with—son Horace had it; to wait till 10.50 before I c[oul]d see my foreman, who had another key; then had to send for errand boy’s key (mine with son H) so as to get into our rooms across, having to sleep there by myself, for last train out to Brock was timed to leave Preston at 9.35pm. No fire; whiskey did not warm me; don’t think I got rightly warm in bed till about 5.30 next morning.

Tuesday 15 March 1887 Foreman’s wife brought me some hot tea & two eggs & a muffin. Very kind & considerate. Off to Ingleton by 8.10 morning train per L.N.W. Railway. Had a first class free pass. Saw my wife on platform at Brock station waiting for 8.30 train by which to go to Preston. Explained to her (through carriage window) cause of my stay in Preston. Reached Ingleton, via Low Gill Junction, shortly after 11. Hills lined & ridged & seamed with snow. East wind. Got some information for 2^nd edition of my Ingleton Guide.⁴¹ Tried for a couple of advertising farmers;⁴² didn’t succeed; got dinner and tea at Broadwood Cottage (Mr J Hewitson’s⁴³). Had a chat with Tom Boyd.⁴⁴ Got sundry glasses of gin. Left per 6.15pm train; arrived at Brock about 9; home; had some warm milk; went out 9.45 to station and met my wife.

Wednesday 16 March 1887 To Preston, by train, with sons E[thelbert] & H[orace] & L[lewellyn] by train. I & son E[thelbert] home by train 9.35 at night. On getting home, learned that sons H[orace] & L[lewellyn] (who had set off home per trap) had met with an accident, on high road, near Barton vicarage—a butcher named Dixon, with another man named Mayor from Preston, both drunk, furiously drove his trap while on wrong side, into them—sons thrown out, somewhat shaken, our trap very badly smashed, & horse broke loose, & ran away though aft[erwards] recovered—stopped—about half a mile north. Leg cut and knee hurt. Shall endeavour to make the reckless brutes (Dixon and Mayor, who, I learn, paid no heed to shoutings to go slower & get on their right side) pay for all the damage &c.⁴⁵

Thursday 17 March 1887 18. All of us (I, son Self and sons E[thelbert] & L[lewellyn] to Preston per 8.30 train. I working all day & getting information about the two Preston brutes. Home, per train, at 6.5pm getting out at Broughton & gathering up information on the way.

Friday 18 March 1887 To Preston, making inquiries &c ditto; put Preston brutes in my lawyer’s hands. Sub-editing, editing &c till about 2 on Sat morning.

Saturday 19 March 1887 Up & to work about 10.30. Pursuing my investigations as to the two Preston brutes. Have them “fast as a thief in a mill”. Had an interview with J Foster⁴⁶ (cotton) about base, bigoted action of some Preston Liberals.⁴⁷ Home, with my wife per 9.35pm train.

Sunday 20 March 1887 In aft[ernoon] had a walk into the field with my wife & daughters M[abel] R[osaline] & L[etitia] to feed poultry—about 60. They ran towards us. Weather rather cold. In evening reading letters of Sydney Smith, following his life by Lady Holland.

Monday 21 March 1887 To Preston per 8.30 morning train. Sub-editing &c. Home at night.

Tuesday 22 March 1887 To Ingleton per 8.25 morning train from Brock, via Low Gill. Foot warmer under my feet in carriage. Occupied main part of my time going on revising my Guide to Ingleton (2^nd edition). On arriving called at my cousin T Moore’s⁴⁸ —he not in. Went to Ingleboro[ugh] Hotel, had some soda water & gin. Then to the Wheat Sheaf Inn where I had a bottle of ginger ale. Aft[rewards] round by Backgate. Called on aunt Prudence.⁴⁹ Next had a look at old house (Bows House—Pan Well House) where I lived with my grandfather.* Then round by the Bank. Had dinner with cousin TM. In aft[ernoon] he went with me about an advertisement or two for my Guide. Back to Brock per train leaving Ingleton at 6.10. Arrived about 9.

Wednesday 23 March 1887 To Preston—working at shop in forenoon. In aft[ernoon] writing & continued doing so till about 9. Then, per 9.35 train to Brock.

Thursday 24 March 1887 Sub-editing, shop working, proof-reading. Home per 9.35pm train.

Friday 25 March 1887 Per 8.30 morning train to Preston. Working from about 9 in morning till 2.10 on Sat morning.

Saturday 26 March 1887 To work about 10.30 in morning. Ordered Napier’s History of Peninsular Campaign—6 vols, new, for 16/-.⁵⁰ Home with my wife per 9.35pm train.⁵¹

Sunday 27 March 1887 In aft[ernoon] had a short walk out—to field—with my wife & daughters M[abel], R[osaline] & L[etitia], to feed the poultry. Later on read & finished Sydney Smith’s letters—566 in all. Excellent—sensible, humorous, healthy, manly. Aft[rewards] read about 40 pages of Life of Frank Buckland, by his brother-in-law Bompas.⁵²

Monday 28 March 1887 Went per 8.30 morning train with my sons to Preston. Attending, moderately, to business. In aft[ernoon] ordered frames for Ingleton Album views.⁵³ At night I my wife & foreman JW⁵⁴ throng putting pictures in the frames. Home per 9.35 train.

Tuesday 29 March 1887 To Ingleton, from Brock per 8.25 morning train, via Low Gill, with album views &c. Morning rather cold, but a nice look of early Spring crept into it as the morning wore on. Got to Ingleton about 11.15—charged me 3d for riding over the bridge from Thornton side to the Midland station on the other side, less than or certainly not more than a quarter of a mile.⁵⁵ Abominable carriage, I was in a 1^st class one. In aft[ernoon] went with cousin T Moore⁵⁶ to Marton’s Arms (old Church Stile) in Thornton. Landlord’s son took me in a conveyance up past Thornton Hall; thence—after looking about in different parts—to base of Hunt’s Cross.⁵⁷ Cousin Thos remained in the road while I & landlord’s son climbed to the top. Fine, wide-reaching view. On returning visited ruins of Thornton Old Hall and went to a small eminence in a field about 300 yards west from which, it is said, some soldiers of Cromwell blew down the old Hall. Stayed at Ingleton, with cousin TM, all night.

Wednesday 30 March 1887 Off to Preston, by 8.45 morning train from Ingleton, by Low Gill. Reached Preston about 11.15. Worked hard all day till about 9.20; then home, to Brock, by train.

Thursday 31 March 1887 Hard working at Preston all day. In the evening wrote a chapter for my Ingleton Guide about Thornton, &c. Alderman B Walmsley’s⁵⁸ base, mean, malicious move to get the Chronicle deprived of Corporation advertisements defeated today, at a meeting of the Town Council, by a majority of 18 to 4.⁵⁹ Home to Brookhouse per 9.35pm train.

April

Friday 1 April 1887 To Preston per 8.30 morning train with sons E[thelbert] & H[orace]. Sub-editing, editing, &c from about 9 till 2.10 on Sat. morning.

Saturday 2 April 1887 Moderate working. In the aft[ernoo]n & evening engaged in Ingleton guide work. Home with my wife per 9.35 pm train.

Sunday 3 April 1887 In aft[ernoo]n reading Frank Buckland’s Life. Af[terwar]ds went with my wife to feed the poultry in the field over the canal. In the evening as usual & reading Life of Buckland—a good, honest, able very interesting fellow.

Monday 4 April 1887 To Preston with sons; son H[orace] at home working in & about. Nothing very particular in town. Home per 9.35 pm train.

Tuesday 5 April 1887 Throng setting potatoes in garden at Brookhouse from about 9.30 in morning till 4 in aft[ernoon]n, when owing to rain, accompanied by some thunder, I had to drop it. Son L[lewellyn] & servant lad Joe were helping—latter going with horse to Preston, to come back with hired carriage; sons E[thelbert] & H[orace] returning with him.

Wednesday 6 April 1887 Sub-editing & writing chit chat &c at Preston. Returned from Preston at 7.20, per carriage. After landing at home & after warming myself, resumed writing chit-chat till about 10.20.

Thursday 7 April 1887 Hard at work at Preston—sub-editing &c—all day till about 6 o’c[lock]. At 7.30 returned in conveyance with son E[thelbert] to Brookhouse.

Good Friday 8 April 1887 Per carriage to Preston—sons E[thelbert] & H[orace] with me. Working very hard all day till about 12 at night. Subsequently revised copy of Chronicle, & finished about 1.15.

Saturday 9 April 1887 Rose at 9.45. To work at about 10.30. Moderately easy work all day. Had a gossip with the Mayor of Preston (Alderman Bibby⁶⁰), Adam Leigh,⁶¹ of Lea, & W Allsup* of Preston & Warton. Brought copy of Professor Norton’s Goethe & Carlyle letters.⁶² Home with my wife per 9.35pm train.

Easter Sunday 10 April 1887 Up about 10. In aft[ernoo]n I & my wife and daughters to field—fed poultry and later on made them extra safe; a weasel, we think, being about. Reading Life of F Buckland.

Easter Monday 11 April 1887 My wife & son E[thelbert] to Preston, I bothering about till noon. Early in aft[ernoo]n drove over to Preston with my daughters M[abel], R[osaline] & L[etitia] and new servant girl. On arriving went to Avenham Park. Many thousands of children there egg-rolling &c. Wonderful, exhilarating sight; but it got monotonous. A band of music in centre w[oul]d improve matters. I & my wife had tea at Mr McKay’s* (editor Preston Herald) in Regent-st[ree]t. Aft[erwards] a glass of whiskey. I & my daughters &c drove home, starting about 8.20pm. Nice, though rather cold, night. On getting home, went to meet my wife who returned from Preston per train due at 9.50.

Tuesday 12 April 1887 At Preston all day sub-editing &c.

Wednesday 13 April 1887 Same & writing chit-chat. Home per trap at about 7.30. Did some work aft[erward]s at home. Son Horace to Lancaster. Sent him to forward a summary to the Times of Mr Caine’s⁶³ (MP) expected speech. But there was no Caine so he was not able to send it. Home to Brook (H[ouse]) about 9.

Thursday 14 April 1887 Working at Preston all day. Our damaged conveyance finished today & I & son E[thelbert] returned by it home. Found, on arriving that the younger cow had given birth to a large, fine wye⁶⁴ calf.

Friday 15 April 1887 At Preston working all day from about 9.15 in morning till nearly 2 on sat morning.

Saturday 16 April 1887 Got up about 9.45. Easy day. Home, with my wife per 9.35 train. To bed about 11.30.

Sunday 17 April 1887 Rose about 10.15. Bothering about. Ginnette’s⁶⁵ circus & menagerie passed on the road north. An extensive, but seedy looking affair. In aft[ernoo]n I, my wife & daughters M[abel] R[osaline] & L[etitia] (son E[thelbert] also turned up) went to field & fed the poultry. One of the hens has got 8 chickens—just out. It was wonderful how they picked about & how the mother looked after them. Instinct—God-given. Fixed up a hut for the hen & chickens. In evening read about 60 pages of Life of Frank Buckland.

Monday 18 April 1887 At work, easy, at Preston all day. Nothing particular locally. Great sensation caused by the London Times newspaper publishing today facsimile of a letter alleged to have been written in 1882, soon after the Phoenix Park (Dublin)⁶⁶ murders, partially excusing or approving of same. Parnell & his friends deny its accuracy—say it’s a forgery &c.⁶⁷

Tuesday 19 April 1887 Working all day at Preston. In the evening we removed our furniture from rooms over Central Working Men’s Club, Fishergate to a little house (like a little shop) in Cannon-street, owned by young McVitie.⁶⁸ Nearer my works. Rent 4/- per week, with rates and taxes, equal to perhaps 1/6 per week. Stayed all night at this little place with my son Horace. Did not go to bed till about 11.30 & was awake & got hardly any sleep after 4.30 in morning owing to noises of cats, people walking & clattering up & down the street &c.

Wednesday 20 April 1887 Working—sub-editing, writing &c—all day till about 8.20 at night then home with sons in trap. One of the daughters of Mr E Wilson⁶⁹ of Broughton House married today to a clergyman—a Bengal curate,⁷⁰ native of Norfolk I think. Good match I expect believe.

Thursday 21 April 1887 At work all day sub-editing &c—till about 7.20 at night.

Friday 22 April 1887 Working from about 9.15 in morning till about 2.30.

Saturday 23 April 1887 Rose at about 9.40. to work at 10.20. Easy work all day. Bought cheap copy of Byron’s letters.

Sunday 24 April 1887 Up at 10.15. Pottering about in forenoon. In aft[ernoo]n drove, with my wife & my daughters R[osaline] & L[etitia] round by St Michael’s, past Myerscough Lodge. Country beginning to freshen up though apparently “backward.” Cold west wind blew. Church & vicarage grounds &c at St Michael’s looked snug, & neat & nice & very tranquil. Called, on getting to Churchtown, at the church,⁷¹ and got particulars of a new reredos⁷² “opened” today. Had a cup of tea at the vicarage (Rev Wilson Pedder’s⁷³). Sat in the room a large number of females—apparently 8 or 10 all seated, at a table drinking tea. Thought they were visitors; but probably vicar’s daughters. He has, I believe, 8 unmarried ones at home. Was told reredos had cost £100, that they thought it was paid for, or that money enough had been raised for it, and had found they were about £60 short! Pleasant discovery. On getting home & after tea finished Life of Frank Buckland and began the “Memoirs of an Ex-Minister”—the Earl of Malmesbury⁷⁴ —very interesting.

Monday 25 April 1887 At work, as usual, at Preston, all day—easy. Home at night. Weather cold.

Tuesday 26 April 1887 Same

Wednesday 27 April 1887 Sub-editing, writing C.C..⁷⁵ Home at about 7.

Thursday 28 April 1887 Same mainly. On going home per conveyance observed sky very lurid on east side & very clear on west. Fine sunset when on high road between Broughton station & Whitehouse bridge c[oul]d see Blackcombe & smoke from Barrow below.⁷⁶ Fleetwood grain elevator very clear. After getting home had a walk to the field, across canal. A little grass growing but all very dry and bare and bleak. Birds whistling. Had also a walk to the railway bridge above Bilsborrow school. Darkness setting in. A weirdly fine sort of night.

Friday 29 April 1887 Hard at work, from arriving at 9 in morning, till about 2 on Sat[urday] morning.

Saturday 30 April 1887 Easy day. At shop & about till about 9.25 then home, with my wife, per 9.35 train, which as usual was late.

May

Sunday 1 May 1887 A nice morning, but somewhat cold. In aft[ernoo]n I, my wife, son L[lewellyn] & daughters R[osaline] & L[etitia] drove to Churchtown—to service at church. A slender congregation, sermon by Vicar’s son,⁷⁷ who seemed to be thinking rather indifferently about it. Prior to service a christening. Font decorated with daffodils & a red flower. After service a funeral. If there had been a wedding the full gamut of church work would have been gone through. On leaving church met Mr R Pedder,⁷⁸ formerly an alderman &c at Preston, now of Finsthwaite, patron of the living here, and brother of the present Vicar. He talked cheerfully, & on leaving bade the children & my wife goodbye. He is about 79. At night read about 70 or so pages of Malmesbury’s autobiography.

Monday 2 May 1887 Easy working all day at Preston. Nothing very particular. Home by conveyance with sons E[thelbert] & L[lewellyn].

Tuesday 3 May 1887 Sub-editing and working about. Home at night. White-washing.

Wednesday 4 May 1887 Working at Preston. In afternoon Archdeacon Hornby⁷⁹ of St Michael’s called at my shop. He ordered one of my books to be sent to him on “Country Churches and Chapels”. Had a short, free, pleasant talk with him. He praised the architecture—style and appearance—of Churchtown (Garstang) church, and did not seem to object at all to the somewhat “high” service there. But the country people in the district he said—& so I said—could not understand the peculiarities of it. He said that in his own district there were some Roman Catholics but no R.C. place of worship & that he visited them & talked to them & they did not object. One reason, I sh[oul]d think, why there are no R.C services or place of worship in St Michaels district will be because the Archdeacon is the chief landlord. I believe he owns the whole or the greater portion of the township. But he talked very pleasantly and liberally. He is looking older, but very cheerful & hale for his years. T Edelston’s⁸⁰ oldest son⁸¹ married today to Miss Wade⁸² —a dressmaker.

Thursday 5 May 1887 Sub-editing, editing, &c—a hard day. Home at night.

Friday 6 May 1887 Working hard all day from about 9.10 in morning till 2 o’c[loc]k on Saturday morning.

Saturday 7 May 1887 To work about 10.20. Easyish day. Nothing very particular. Home per 9.35 train with my wife.

Sunday 8 May 1887 Rose about 9 o clock. In forenoon bothering & working about. In aft[ernoo]n I, my wife, & daughters M[abel], R[osaline] & L[etitia] drove to Churchtown to church. Beautiful day—drive nice. Service at church defective sermon, by Vicar’s son,⁸³ worth about a halfpenny—ordinary, heavily orthodox, expressions dull, nothing new or inspiring, or luminous in it. Can’t tell what good such sermons can do to a heavy, country-headed congregation. After service we drove round by St Michaels. All very rustic, secluded, sweet. Air very pure & sky clear & sun shining warmly. In evening had a read (Malmesbury’s Autobiography) a walk with my wife, and then another read in M’s Auto. A quiet evening—threatening rain—Birds singing—many sorts of birds—several with young ones in the nest.

Monday 9 May 1887 To Preston, sub-editing—agriculture &c. Home by train at night. Nothing special. Finished reading “Eothen”⁸⁴ —a very interesting, beautifully written account of a journey to the East—Palestine &c—by one Kingslake, a barrister. The copy I have read is the 5^th edition, published in, I think, 1847. H.C. Walton,* auctioneer, Fishergate, gave me it.

Tuesday 10 May 1887 Sub-editing, reading, &c.

Wednesday 11 May 1887 Sub-editing, shop work, writing chit-chat—finished CC at home at night.

Thursday 12 May 1887 Sub-editing, editing, &c. Home at night.

Friday 13 May 1887 This forenoon Lawrence Holden,⁸⁵ solicitor & coroner, of Lancaster called on me, at the shop, & spoke to me about editing and printing a d. Crown quarto⁸⁶ shaped monthly (8 pages) paper in the interests of the Conservative party of the Lancaster division—to be given. I told him I would think the matter over. The Conservative party, if it be brought out, will have to pay the whole piper. An antidote to a monthly brought out by Mr Williamson MP,⁸⁷ who is flagrantly liberal with his money for the sake of his Liberal seat for Lancaster. He twice called upon me, years ago, for political instruction, &c.

Saturday 14 May 1887 Easy working all day. Read several pages of Prof Jebb’s “Greek Literature”.⁸⁸ Home at night.

Sunday 15 May 1887 This forenoon I, my wife, & our daughter L[etitia] & son H[orace] to Churchtown church. In aft[ernoo]n I and my son L[lewellyn] walked to within 300 yards of Lord Bective’s⁸⁹ shooting hut in Barnacre. Nice district. Visited the Duke of Hamilton’s old Spa Well about half a mile south-west of the shooting hut. Then walked home. About 11 miles of walking this aft[ernoo]n. At night read a little of Malmesbury’s Autobiography. John Sandham⁹⁰ called and had a talk with me.

Monday 16 May 1887 To Preston by train this morning. Sub-editing. Finished Professor Jebb’s “Greek Literature”. Very compact, admirable work. Home at night per 9.35 train.

Tuesday 17 May 1887 Sub-editing all day more or less. Nothing very special.

Wednesday 18 May 1887 Sub-editing in morning. Wrote my CC in aft[ernoo]n and evening. A young man named Sowrey⁹¹ murdered his sweetheart,⁹² at a Temperance hotel,⁹³ on Fishergate Hill this aft[ernoo]n—shot her. I saw the ambulance carriage go for her body & return to the Mortuary with it. Home per conveyance in evening.

Thursday 19 May 1887 To Preston per 8.30 morning train. Did some work. Returned to Brookhouse per 1pm train. Band of music & some members of local friendly society,⁹⁴ of which I am an honorary member met me. Af[terward]s put on fresh coat &c—band &c in front of my house—band playing. My wife gave them some refreshment. Afterwards we walked in processional order to the White Bull where I presided, short dinner, over which I presided. Toasts, songs, &c, aft[erward]s I went home (leaving men in the room) about 5; real performance being then over. Did some work at home & had a short walk aft[erward]s.

Friday 20 May 1887 To Preston at 8 o’c[lock]. Weather very windy—gale blowing all morning side. Hard at work at Preston all day till about 2 on Sat morning.

Saturday 21 May 1887 Easy sort of day. Home with my wife per 9.35 pm train.

Sunday 22 May 1887 Rose about 10.35. Bothered about. In aft[ernoo]n my wife, son L[lewellyn] & daughters L[etitia] & M[abel] to Churchtown church in the conveyance. A little in aft[ernoo]n and for two or more hours in evening read Malmesbury’s Memoirs. Also read Frederick Harrison’s article on Froude’s Life of Carlisle [sic]⁹⁵ which is very severe.

Monday 23 May 1887 At Preston, working easy all day. Boy Acker’s⁹⁶left today and boy David,⁹⁷ from same establishment,⁹⁸ came in his place. First idle and crafty. Don’t know what the second will be like.

Tuesday 24 May 1887 To Lancaster this forenoon. Saw L Holden,⁹⁹ at his office respecting new monthly proposed new monthly paper. Had a talk with him & Mr Whelan¹⁰⁰ [sic], his nephew & partner. Submitted some particulars. Satisfactory. Little lunch; dinner later; a walk up and round by Castle into Churchyard, then to Preston. Working there till about 7 o’c[loc]k; then home by conveyance.

Wednesday 25 May 1887 Working at Preston all day. Boy, Ackers [Joe] left today and another boy (David) came in his place. A got very lazy, hope D will do better.

Thursday 26 May 1887 To Preston, working all day—sub-editing &c.

Friday 27 May 1887 Working all day. Nothing very particular.

Saturday 28 May 1887 Easyish working. Home at night.

Sunday 29 May 1887 Easy forenoon. To Churchtown, with my wife & daughters R[osaline] & L[etitia] in aft[ernoo]n. In evening reading Malmesbury’s Memoirs.

Whit Monday 30 May 1887 I, my wife, children to Garstang this forenoon. Just after getting into the town, over the bridge met the processions—scholars, Oddfellows, & Catholic Brethren. Large display; very neat, clean & bright looking, & with the bands of music very pretty & effective. In afternoon At 1.45pm I to Oddfellows dinner at King’s Arms. Good, substantial repast. Crowded company. After an afternoon rest for about an hour I returned to King’s Arms. Meeting, speeches, songs &c. I proposed the toast of “Corporation of Garstang”—referred to old charters mystery of the Corporation, to old charters, to one of the Town Clerks (Muncaster) being hanged for siding with the rebels in 1715, to the fairs &c. Dr Chapman¹⁰¹ —a genial, homely, good-looking gentleman—responded to the toast. The Rev. Mr Stones,¹⁰² of St Thomas’s, Garstang—a clean-skinned, pleasant man—in the chair. Port wine good. Home, with my wife, & three of the children in evening. About 8.20 L Clarke,¹⁰³ stationer, of Preston, called to see us. He had a glass of whiskey; so had I.

Tuesday 31 May 1887 This morning I, my wife & my daughters M[abel], R[osaline] & L[etitia] by train to Manchester to see the Exhibition there.¹⁰⁴ A large, fine exhibition. Great display of textile fabrics, vast show of machinery, very large and very excellent collection of pictures. Got home soon after 10 o’c[loc]k at night.

June

Wednesday 1 June 1887 Sub-editing and writing all day mainly. Weather very cold—nearly or quite as cold as March weather. Wind in the east, where it has been more or less for many weeks.

Thursday 2 June 1887 Writing, sub-editing &c all day.

Friday 3 June 1887 Ditto. (Rain). Working from about 9 in morning till 2.30 on Sat morning.

Saturday 4 June 1887 Up at about 10. Easy-ish day. Change—to sunshine & warmth with weather. Home per 9.35pm train.

Sunday 5 June 1887 Rose at 10.50 in morning. In aft[ernoo]n I, my wife, and daughters R[osaline] & L[etitia] to Churchtown church. Trees & fields beginning to look very beautiful. Sermon a poorish one as usual. In evening mending up a place for some young ducks. Afterwards had a walk with my wife & daughters R[osaline] & L[etitia] into Bilsborrow Lane. Full moon. Beautiful evening. Could see Black Combe, Coniston Old Man, &c in the north west looking clear, purple, and rugged, against the roseate sunset sky. Birds whistling; meadows with a white mist hanging on them—“For a warm day.” Read some of Malmesbury’s Memoirs.

Monday 6 June 1887 Preston. At about 11 in forenoon WJ Garnett Esq¹⁰⁵ of Quernmore Park near Lancaster & Mr Lawrence Holden,¹⁰⁶ of Lancaster called on me. We went to the Old Legs of Man Inn, Fishergate & had a business-like, earnest, practical talk-over as to the projected monthly publication of a (sensible) Conservative organ. All passed off right. I do not mean to sacrifice either my sense or honesty in this job. I mean to promote the cause of common sense, honesty, rightness & political progress as well as the interests of my own purse and my family’s welfare by this enterprise.

Tuesday 7 June 1887 Working chiefly.

Wednesday 8 June 1887 Working at Preston—sub-editing, writing Chit Chat, &c all day. Returned home per 9.35pm train. Found lad David¹⁰⁷ at station. Mrs H (my wife) had been giving him a dressing down for negligence. Ordered him to come back till morning. He is a sulky dirty, idle impertinent or cheeky lad, & we cannot do with any longer [sic].

Thursday 9 June 1887 To Preston this morning. Working all day. Boy David was sent away this morning. Tom Blezard,¹⁰⁸ a boy belonging a neighbouring family, will, per our arrangement, milk for us & see to the house till we get a suitable male servant. We will not, certainly, have any more Reformatory boys. They may be suitable in some cases—it would please me to learn that they were in all—as servants or trade hands, out of the Reformatory; but my experience of them at home, has been unsatisfactory. This last lad we have had, was, for one thing, very much opposed to soap & water. One of the weeks he was with us, he did not, as I aft[erwar]ds learnt, wash his hands and face at all.

Friday 10 June 1887 Customary work from about 9 in morning till 2.30 on Sat morning.

Saturday 11 June 1887 To shop about 10.30 in morning. Nothing very particular. Home, with my wife, at per 9.35pm train.

Sunday 12 June 1887 In aft[ernoo]n I & my wife to brother -in-law’s (J Threlfall,¹⁰⁹ Blackleach, Woodplumpton. We walked more than half of the way. Their youngest child, Hugh, about 2 years old, very badly scalded, on, I think, previous Tuesday. The child looked very bad. Returned at night, per Threlfall’s trap, through the Eaves Quarter of Woodplumpton—a very quaint, highly-rural, pleasant district. Fields, hedgerows, trees, cottages all looked very nice & refreshing & pastorally snug. A model bucolic quarter. T[hrelfall] took us about four-fifths of the way, remainder of which we walked, getting home about 10.45.

Monday 13 June 1887 Having decided to give Charlie, our horse, a rest & a change, by turning him to grass, for a week or two I went with son L[lewellyn] to Preston this morning per 8.30 train. Sub-editing &c all day. Home, I per 9.35pm train, sons E[thelbert] & H[orace] gardening at home to-day.

Tuesday 14 June 1887 Ditto to Preston with sons E[thelbert] & L[lewellyn]. Son H[orace] & daughters M[abel], R[osaline] & L[etitia] with servant Ann¹¹⁰ to Catforth School treat¹¹¹ &c. Threlfall’s child died to-day. I am told that it was a very sharp, fine child.

Wednesday 15 June 1887 Working at Preston all day. Home at night per 9.35 train.

Thursday 16 June 1887 Working all day at Preston. At 7.35, or so, to Turkish Bath, Grimshaw St[ree]t—feeling dirty & rheumatic. Stayed for about 2 hours. Then to meet son L[lewellyn] whom I sent to Theatre Royal.¹¹² Met him, in street—Fishergate—leaving. To our shanty in Cannon-st[ree]t, where we slept all night together.

Friday 17 June 1887 On the plan of “Labor omnia vincit” hard at it all day. Great scarcity of subjects for “Stray Notes”’ but determined to test & to keep in working order my intellect “went at it” as usual; &—thank God for all His goodness—produced the usual quantity, also quality in my opinion, of matter. To bed at about 2.30.

Saturday 18 June 1887 Up at about 10. Working, moving about, reading, &c all day till night when I, & my wife, left P[resto]n for home, per 9.35 train.

Sunday 19 June 1887 Rose about 10.30. Did not go to church in aft[ernoo]n—so hot the weather. In evening read Malmesbury’s Memoirs. Contain some good stories, incidents, scandal, &c. A smart, clear-headed, able Tory.

Monday 20 June 1887 To Preston per 8.30 morning train. Sub-editing, &c. At 4.25pm home by train; then to Churchtown—whither my wife, daughters and son E[thelbert] had gone—to the Jubilee proceedings; sons H[orace] & L[lewellyn] to Garstang ditto. Proceedings at Churchtown very fair for a small place—juvenile games, races, a dinner in school, speeches, songs. Much drunken music, as a thorn to the rose, in one public house. Home about 9.30.

Tuesday 21 June 1887 At 10.20 this morning I & my wife to Lancaster, per train, to see the Jubilee proceedings there—this being the “real Jubilee day.” Train crammed & had to ride in a guard’s van. At Lancaster saw a good procession of trades; an open air entertainment in Giant Axe Field—niggerism,¹¹³ acrobatism, fine balloons &c. At night a torch light procession. Very good, on the whole. After seeing last named walked up to top of Williamson Park to see the beacon lights on the mountains. Saw 13—on Black Combe, Coniston Old Man, Langdale Pikes, Arnside Warton Crag, Farleton Knot &c. Lancaster well illuminated—especially the Town Hall, Gas Office & the Castle Gateway. Left per train for home about one o’c[loc]k on Wednesday morning. On way saw fires on Harris end, above Scorton and on Parlick Pike, above Chipping. Also a smouldering fire on Sullam, above Garstang. Reached home about 2.20 in morning.

Wednesday 22 June 1887 To Preston per 8.30 morning train. Working—sub-editing &c till night. Then home, per 9.35 train.

Thursday 23 June 1887 Customary work at Preston all day. All the week people have been grumbling loudly about miserable Jubilee proceedings at Preston—“not like other places,” “nothing,” &c, &c. Home at night per 9.35 train.

Friday 24 June 1887 Working all day at Preston. A balloon ascent & a big procession of Church of England and Sunday scholars to-day. Jubilee demonstration in P[resto]n. Finished work about 1.50 in morning.

Saturday 25 June 1887 To work about 10.20 in forenoon. Very magnificent and large procession of R Catholic Guilds in Preston this forenoon. In afternoon there sh[oul]d have been a procession of the local friendly societies; but only about 100 persons joined it. A fiasco, causing an increase in the general local growl about Preston’s poor Jubilee demonstration. Home, with my wife, per 9.35 train—late.

Sunday 26 June 1887 Rose at about 10.15. Looking about, putting things to rights, disinfecting drains &c. with solution of permanganate of potash. Reading Malmesbury’s Memoirs, sleeping &c from 4.50 to 6.10pm. In evening had a walk to the field, with my wife & daughters. Found all right. Afterwards had another read in M[almesbury]’s Memoirs.

Monday 27 June 1887 This forenoon, after doing some business at my shop, went with my wife & son E[thelbert] to Mr TA Peters’s,* the Hermitage, Grimsargh (called by T.A.P. “St John’s College”). Had lunch. Mayor of Preston (Alderman Bibby¹¹⁴) and two or three Preston Town Councillors &c also several wives present. Good “spread.” Saw some games in an adjoining field in af[ternoo]n. Back to Preston per 5.35 train. My wife home by 6.5 train; I and son E[thelbert] by 9.35 train.

Tuesday 28 June 1887 To Preston per trap. Nothing very particular. Read some of Rev Arnold’s “Three Cornered Essays.”¹¹⁵

Wednesday 29 June 1887 At Preston, working all day. Man Robert¹¹⁶ to Brookhouse. Big, awkward-looking, red-faced. Says himself, which is no recommendation, that he is “good-tempered.” Home at night & on getting there worked—writing CC¹¹⁷ —for about two hours.

Thursday 30 June 1887 Sub-editing, &c, at Preston all day. Weather very dry. This has been the driest year—winter & spring & summer so far—I ever remember. People are crying out for rain. It was stated at Preston Town Council meeting to-day, by Alderman Hibbert,* Ch[airma]n of the Water Com[mitt]ee that there are only 33 days’ supply of water in the Preston reservoirs.

July

Friday 1 July 1887 Sub-editing & editing all day till late. Finished work at about 2 o’c[loc]k on Sat morning.

Saturday 2 July 1887 To work at about 10.30 in morning. Easy day. This evening Alderman Robert Benson¹¹⁸ of Preston died very suddenly. He was out, apparently, in good health, in the aft[ernoo]n. I saw him. A quiet, conscientious, courteous man. Good-looking. A Quaker. In his 81st year. Did not look above 65 or 70. Only one other (Alderman E Birley*) now in our T[own] Council of the lot in it at the Guild of 1862. Most of them dead; remainder gone to live elsewhere.

Sunday 3 July 1887 Rose about 8.30, intending to go to Churchtown Church; but horse bits &c so dirty and head pieces so out of order in one part c[oul]d not do so. Went in aft[ernoo]n with my wife & son E[thelbert]. Hot. Poor sermon. My wife just asleep at its close, & much disappointed when roused. I nearly asleep. In evening read some of Earl Malmesbury’s Memoirs.

Monday 4 July 1887 Easy working day at Preston. Nothing very particular. Weather continues very dry.

Tuesday 5 July 1887 In aft[ernoo]n writing Literary Notes.¹¹⁹ The man Robert¹²⁰ sent away—in reality—this forenoon, from Brookhouse. A talkative, palavering, idle, sleepy fellow—not worth his meat.

Wednesday 6 July 1887 Working hard all day. Ald[erma]n Benson interred today. A large & demonstrative funeral. Excellent muster of members of the Corporation &c.

Thursday 7 July 1887 Busy at work all day. Weather still hot. The brook running past Brookhouse, in ordinary times, has been quite dry for about three weeks. The Brock very low.

Friday 8 July 1887 Working from about 9 in morning till 2 on Sat morning, at Preston—sub-editing, editing, &c.

Saturday 9 July 1887 At one pm to Brock with my wife; leaving my son Horace in charge of shop. At 2.18 in aft[ernoo]n to Morecambe, with my wife & daughters M[abel], R[osaline] & L[etitia]—fares for self and wife 2/3 each (to return on Monday) & half that for children. Got to Morecambe (train late) per Hest Bank about 3.50pm. An enormous number of houses containing in windows &c announcements of apartments to let. We got some at a man’s called Bannister,¹²¹ near the Promenade. Morecambe flat. Showery at night. Listened to some Salvation Army people.¹²²

Sunday 10 July 1887 This forenoon I, my wife, & our children to St Lawrence’s church, Bishop of Manchester (Dr Moorhouse¹²³) preacher—a good, clear voice; excellent sermon—duty of denying the “flesh” and leading a loving useful, spiritual life. Most impressive idea was that the feeling we have in favour of higher & better things proves that God is its source. Bishop grey & rather grim-looking, baldish, somewhat about middle height. Full of spirit, earnestness, &c, and eloquent. In afternoon walked about. Ditto, evening. Some rain.

Monday 11 July 1887 Sister in law Jane Threlfall,* & two of her children, along with our servant Ann, joined us this forenoon, coming down by excursion train. We walked about, much pestered by one of Jane’s children. In aft[ernoo]n to strawberry gardens, near Heysham. Flowers, swings, stuffed birds &c. Beautiful view of bay. Showers. Back by carriage. Regatta at Morecambe today. Seemed a dull affair. Home per train about nine. Landed about 9.40 and found all right. Supper, bed.

Tuesday 12 July 1887 At Preston, working, all day. Business flat; nothing particular.

Wednesday 13 July 1887 Working at Preston all day—writing chiefly. Some rain in aft[ernoo]n. On reaching Brookhouse about 8 in evening found water running in the bed of brook, which has been dry for about a month. Very long spell of dry weather. Only about a dozen showers—most light—this year. Don’t remember so dry a winter, spring & early summer. Hay harvest nearly over. Only about half the average crop, & quality inferior—rough, stalky, seedy at top of generality of grass.

Thursday 14 July 1887 At Preston, working all day. In evening had a game at quoits in garden with my sons. We are all moderately good for what I may call beginners, & we are also all pretty bad—sometimes very.

Friday 15 July 1887 Usual Friday work—editing, sub-editing &c. Began soon after 9 in morning & finished about 2 on Sat morning. Preston young man named Sawrey¹²⁴ [sic] sentenced to death at Lancaster for murder of his sweetheart.

Saturday 16 July 1887 Easy day. Got my hair & whiskers cut in aft[ernoo]n. Am getting white about the jaws and grizzly on the pate. Home with my wife per 9.35 pm train.

Sunday 17 July 1887 Rose about 10.20. In aft[ernoo]n had a read in Malmesbury’s Memoirs & a sleep as well. In evening had a walk, with my wife & nearly all our children to the field—looking at poultry & cattle. At night they took a hen & eight young ones from an adjoining wood. Hen had laid away & hatched in the wood. Got wildish.

Monday 18 July 1887 Today my sons E[thelbert] & H[orace] removed hen poultry shed from field to yard near house; owing to rats getting at chickens. Have had about 20 worried in the shed, by rats burrowing through at bottom. Made foundation excavations for shed in yard. Very hard work. In aft[ernoo]n wheeling cobble or brook stones to put in the foundations. In evening chaining[?] posts fixing posts for wire netting. Very tired. Weather still dry.

Tuesday 19 July 1887 Easy-ish day. Sub-editing. Sons E[thelbert] & H[orace] throng with hen place all day.

Wednesday 20 July 1887 Hard at work all day—sub-editing, writing &c.

Thursday 21 July 1887 To work at usual time & at it all day till evening, when I had a read—finished Arnold’s “Three Cornered Essays.” Like them well. Full of good observation, anecdote, reminiscences &c. On getting home, in evening, busy with fence to keep in the poultry. We have too many hens and chickens.

Friday 22 July 1887 To Preston and reached there about 9 in morning. Working hard, as usual, all day—sub-editing, editing &c. till about 2 on Sat morning.

Saturday 23 July 1887 Easy day. Home per 9.35 pm train.

Sunday 24 July 1887 Rose about 9.15. In afternoon finished Malmesbury’s Memoirs, and afterwards began reading Greville’s Memoirs.¹²⁵ In evening I & my wife walked as far as one Smith’s¹²⁶ in Catterall to order some hay. We are quite without hay, & the pasture is very bare. A nice walk; beautiful vermillion-streaked sky. Got home about 9.30. On the way heard Churchtown church clock strike 9. Wind west. Rain fell from about 10 to 1 o’clock today. But there is still no water in our brook which is quite dry, as it has been for long. The drought—in respect to water supply in towns—must be getting serious. But all will be well—I mean right—in time. God rules the weather.

Monday 25 July 1887 To Preston in morning. Easy day. Weather still very dry.

Tuesday 26 July 1887 To Preston, moderate easy day. Rain fell to-day, copiously. Very welcome. All getting very dry; pastures brown & hard; water becoming scarce.

Wednesday 27 July 1887 My three sons & my foreman & all the hands in printing works had a trip, by train, to Ingleton today. Favourable weather; but, as I afterwards learnt, they did not see as many places & points of interest as they might have done. Landed back, at Preston between 9 & 10 at night. Sons drove from P[reston] to home. Water flowing today in channel of our brook. I throng today—writing till about 9.45pm—after reaching home. New boy Walter came today from Burton in Lonsdale (“Black Burton”¹²⁷). He seems a fine lad. Nearly 14 years old. Think he will suit us.¹²⁸

Thursday 28 July 1887 To Preston, working pretty hard—chiefly sub-editing—all day. Home at night & there engaged for some time mending & making more secure the poultry shed garden fence, along with son H[orace].

Friday 29 July 1887 Working all day, from about 9 in morning till 2 on Saturday morning—sub-editing, writing, proof reading &c.

Saturday 30 July 1887 Began work in shop about 10.30. Continued working till tea time. Aft[erward]s—from about 7 to 9—at Turkish Bath. Home with my wife per 9.35 train. Sons H[orace] & L[lewellyn] to Isle of Man today.

Sunday 31 July 1887 In aft[ernoo]n I & and my wife drove to Billy Turner’s,¹²⁹ in Bartle—near Bartle Hall. Had tea; looked about his fields, orchards &c. Had a walk aft[erward]s, saw some of Mr Birley’s¹³⁰ long-horned cows (2). Fine looking beasts, but said not to be good milkers. Home at 7.35. Son E[thelbert]’s little dog Nellie accidentally poisoned today by biting a dead rat.

August

Monday 1 August 1887 Soon after 9 o’c[loc]k to Preston with my son E[thelbert] & daughters M[abel], R[osaline] & L[etitia]. I at work, all day. In evening they went to a gathering of news boys—annual treat. Had a talk with Dr Pilkington¹³¹ this evening. He told me he had made an examination of neck of a young Preston man named Sowrey¹³² hanged at Lancaster today for shooting his sweetheart & found that his neck had not been broken. In main street at night saw little red-haired tanner Dixon¹³³ drunk & woman hunting. A little libidinous beast. I & son E[thelbert] & daughters M[abel] & R[osaline] home by carriage; my wife & daughter Lettie home by train.

Tuesday 2 August 1887 At work all day—sub-editing, writing &c.

Wednesday 3 August 1887 Same. Ann Lancaster¹³⁴ left our service, or rather we sent her away this morning—stupid, dirty, lazy & a smasher.¹³⁵ Couldn’t put up with her any longer.

Thursday 4 August 1887 Ditto.

Friday 5 August 1887 Ditto

Saturday 6 August 1887 At 9.30 this morning to Manchester per train, with my wife & daughter Letty. On way there got tickets (26/- each—Letty’s half price) for a tour in Holland & Belgium.¹³⁶ At 12.30 per train to Grimsby. Reached there about 4pm. At 4.30 sailed out in the steamship “Bradford”—long but narrow boat. About 20 passengers, general cargo of merchandise. Calm voyage.

Sunday 7 August 1887 Reached Rotterdam about 12 at noon Sunday. Put up at the Leigraaf Hotel, not far from the Quay. Had a walk in town in aft[ernoo]n. Big shipping place; much intersected by canals. Clean. Numerous women with white caps—wire, horn-like ornaments at side of head. Apparently not much respect for the Sunday. Shops open in several parts—much working in offices. In the evening to a musical band performance in park. Much shrieking & beer supping.

Monday 8 August 1887 To St Lawrence’s Ch[urc]h. Very lofty, plain clean interior. Magnificent organ—anyhow a very massive one, standing on pillars of marble. In afternoon, sailed on canal to Delft—about 10 miles off. Saw many windmills in the Distance. Delft a quaint, quiet-looking, canal-intersected, place; streets containing shade trees. Visited old & new Kirks—monuments to Von Trump, Prince of Orange, &c. Night in Rotterdam.

Tuesday 9 August 1887 To Amsterdam about 30 miles from Rotterdam. On way passed Haag, Leyden & Haarlem. Amsterdam a large, busy place; many canals & bridges & shade trees. Water in canals in back parts smelled badly here & there. Looked through the Palace—many-windowed, many roomed, marble walls; dining room very fine; ball room lofty, splendid, captured flags, paintings. On returning called at the Haag, & stayed three or four hours. Elegant, opulent-looking, select sort of place. Monuments, squares, trees, canals. To Rotterdam per train.

Wednesday 10 August 1887 To Antwerp. Fine, old place—buildings all sizes & shapes, gable-fronted &c. Cathedral tower especially lofty & beautiful. “Put up” at Hotel Angleterre, Quay Van Dyck.

Thursday 11 August 1887 Looked through the Cathedral. Huge, spacious, noble. Rubens’ “Elevation of the Cross”, “Descent from the Cross” &c—all very fine. Inspected the Museum of paintings—older part. Wonderful collection. Frescoes at entrance charming. Then to the Museum of Antiquities, zoological gardens &c.

Friday 12 August 1887 To Brussels; got there about 10.10 in forenoon. Immediately aft[erward]s to Waterloo, about 10 miles off. Went to the Lion Mound; explanation of battlefield by guide. Mound an eyesore—ungainly. Earth forming it taken out of surrounding fields. A museum adjoining containing relics—bullets, balls, guns, pistols, swords, helmets, coats, &c &c found on the battle field. To Brussels in aft[ernoo]n. Brussels an elegant, smart Parisian kind of place, containing good streets & fine buildings.

Saturday 13 August 1887 My 51^st birthday. I thank God for all his kindness. After breakfast looked about a little—gardens, park, Palace of Justice, Museum of paintings &c. At noon back to Antwerp. In evening started back to home, in a steamer called the “Sheffield”; 30 or 40 passengers. Long sail down river—60 miles. To bed about 10.30.

Sunday 14 August 1887 Sailing all day till about 7.30 at night when we reached Grimsby. Water smooth, but under currents made sailing bad—many sick. Got a good place to stay at in Grimsby. Town flat looking; a business place; but nothing picturesque about it.

Monday 15 August 1887 Left Grimsby by train, at about 11 o clock, for Manchester. Went round by Gainsborough where my cousin Stephen Moore¹³⁷ lives & has lived for about 40 years. Arrived at Manchester about 3.15 in aft[ernoon]n. On way—a few miles east of Manchester noticed that the reservoirs supplying that city with water were nearly all empty. Looked about Manchester for a few hours; tired; left by 8.30 train, expecting to reach home (Brookhouse) same night; but the train was a very much delayed one—slow, in stopping at stations as well, & on landing at Preston found the north train had gone, so we had to stay all night in our shanty in Cannon-St[ree]t.

Tuesday 16 August 1887 Down to Brock per 8.10 morning train. Found all right & that the younger cow had calved the previous day—fine wye¹³⁸ calf. Back to Preston at 9.55. Working all day—easy; home, per carriage, at night.

Wednesday 17 August 1887 To Preston by carriage with my sons E[thelbert] & H[orace]. At work, hard, till about 7 at night; then home, & on reaching worked till about 10. My wife not well—travelling & hurry-scurrying about having knocked her up.

Thursday 18 August 1887 Working pretty hard—feeling tired—all day.

Friday 19 August 1887 Same. David Miller,¹³⁹ a tenant of mine paid his half year rent (overdue). He is a poor payer. Gave him notice to quit, at end of last month. At work till about 2 on Sat morning.

Saturday 20 August 1887 Easyish working all day. Charlie Hawkins,* youngest son of late John Hawkins,* Esq, cotton manufacturer, &c, Preston, died at Buxton this morning. He was a friend of mine. Up at about 10. Breakfast, shop, &c. Easy working all day. Home per 9.35pm train.

Sunday 21 August 1887 Up about 10.15. Bothering about. In aft[ernoo]n and evening had a read; also a short walk—field, lane. Noisy people passing in carriages, morning & evening—a thing which latterly, in summer time has become a nuisance & a disgrace.

Monday 22 August 1887 To Preston. Called on Thompson and Craven, solicitors, with bill in respect to servant Ann.¹⁴⁰ Home, as we came, in carriage in evening.

Tuesday 23 August 1887 To Preston. In aft[ernoo]n wrote weather & agricultural par for Manchester Guardian. It is 30 years this year since I first sent news to that paper. Weather keeps very dry. Longest drought that I have known. Our brook still dry, or rather the bed in which the brook water runs. The stream rises in Trotter Hill, north & east of Inglewhite. Home per trap in evening. Chas Hawkins*, son of late John Hawkins,* interred today in Preston Cemetery.

Wednesday 24 August 1887 Working at Preston all day, till about 6.40. Then home, & working again till about 9.40.

Thursday 25 August 1887 At work all day, at Preston sub-editing & editing.

Friday 26 August 1887 Ditto. Finished about 1.20 on Sat morning.

Saturday 27 August 1887 Rose about 10. Easy day. In evening had a talk with [blank space] who told me that he drove engine of first train on railway between Preston and Lancaster; that there was only one line of rails (in centre of the road) then; that afterwards he continued for many years a driver between Preston & Lancaster & Carlisle; that in the early time they had 2 hours allowed to get to Lancaster in; that sometimes he & others when they got to Brock (the station being then at bridge in Bilsborrow lane) used to leave the train standing there while they went to one of the neighbouring public houses for a drink of ale—then return, having plenty of time to get to Lancaster, within the two hours. He said he was the first engine driver that ever drove an engine 25 miles an hour, & that he had lived to run the distance between Preston & Carlisle (about 90 miles) in 2 hours & about 4 mins. I & my wife home per 9.35pm train.

Sunday 28 August 1887 In aft[ernoo]n I, my wife and daughters M[abel], R[osaline] & L[etitia] had a drive to the Old Holly Inn, in Cabus; then had a walk as far as Forton Lodge—nice place & nice country; then returned, got horse yoked up & off home. Were caught in a thunder storm at Bowgreave. Rain & thunder & lightning fearful. Passed safe through it, thank God. In evening had a read in Greville Memoirs.

Monday 29 August 1887 At work at Preston—easy—all day. Home at night. George Cooper,¹⁴¹ son of John Cooper,* Esq, the Oaks, Penwortham married this morning at 9 o clock in St George’s Church, Preston to Miss S.M. Raw,¹⁴² daughter of the late John Raw,¹⁴³ druggist, of Preston. She is an old “spark” of his: he (G.C) has been keeping a woman at Birkdale, & she has, it is said, three or four children to him. The woman, has, I suppose, been “squared.” Queer world, or rather, queer folk in it.

Tuesday 30 August 1887 Same, but working harder. At night to the safest of all harbours—home.

Wednesday 31 August 1887 Same as to Preston & work & home. Water began to flow down our brook channel at Brookhouse this morning. With the exception of about 12 hours, the brook has been dry for about two months.

September

Thursday 1 September 1887 Same as yesterday as to Preston & work. In evening brother-in-law Joe Wilson* rode home with me & son E. On landing they & sons H[orace] & L[lewellyn] went to net fish; but I did not stay till they returned. Rain. The drought—one of the severest on record, speaking for the country generally—seems to have been properly broken. People were beginning to be very apprehensive as to shortness of water.

Friday 2 September 1887 At work, at Preston, from about 9.15 in morning till 12.25 on Sat[urday] morning. Rain.

Saturday 3 September 1887 Rose at 10. Easy as to work; but knocking about considerably in morning about accounts owing. Ordered a writ to be issued against one person & threatened another with legal proceedings. Son E[thelbert] went off, at noon today, for a week’s holiday; gone south. John Cooper* Esq, The Oaks, Penwortham, 80 years old to-day. He has been a good friend to me. More rain. Home per 9.35pm train.

Sunday 4 September 1887 Up at about 10.15. Bothering about. In afternoon read a book on ready remedies.¹⁴⁴ In evening my wife & children went to the Primitive or Wesleyan Chapel, in Bilsborrow Lane. A woman from Silverdale preached.¹⁴⁵ A noisy, ignorant, earnest congregation, I am told. I had a walk to pasture, to see how it looked, & found it green & in heart. Cattle foraging quietly. Then I had a walk as far as railway bridge, Bilsborrow-lane from which, if air be clear, there is a good view of country obtainable, but I found horizon hazy, so home & had a read in Greville’s Memoirs. Afterwards I & my wife supped a bottle of champagne given to us by John Cooper* Esq in order to drink his health on the occasion of his 80^th birthday.

Monday 5 September 1887 To Preston in carriage, leaving about 8.30, & taking with me my daughters M[abel], R[osaline] & L[etitia] for their music lesson. Began to-day taking Dr Birley’s Phosphorous Preparation “Plain”, for debility.¹⁴⁶ Have a good appetite but feel at times very melancholy. Think I am naturally inclined to melancholy, or rather have a sanguine-nervo-melancholy temperament.¹⁴⁷ Curious combination. Easy working all day. Home at night with the children.

Tuesday 6 September 1887 To Preston, per train, & working moderately. Home at night per 7.15 train.

Wednesday 7 September 1887 To Preston again per train. In afternoon, while at Central Railway Station saw Sims Reeves,¹⁴⁸ the great tenor singer, & his wife.¹⁴⁹ They had been staying at the Park Hotel for two or three days and were going via St Annes to Blackpool. He is a tall, well built muscular, military-officer sort of man; sallow—swarthy; cheeks closely shaven; heavy, very black moustache—evidently dyed; & thickish hair on head, going grey. She—his wife—a little, rather florid, or russet-hued faced woman, looking conceited, vain, particular, & prim. Writing in aft[ernoo]n; home, per train, 7.15, evening; and on landing engaged with writing for about an hour.

Thursday 8 September 1887 Preston per train. About noon there passed my shop door Major Sinclair.¹⁵⁰ He lives, I believe, Over Sands¹⁵¹ —in or about Ulverston. He is 71 years old, & was in the Balaclava charge in the Crimea. Looks strong & well—straight in back, firm roseate featured, & is, I am told, a very hearty, genial man. As to myself, working all day, amid editorial & sub editorial work. Home, per 7.15pm train.

Friday 9 September 1887 To Preston, per conveyance, with my son Horace & busy all day. Report appeared this evening to the effect that Preston Corporation want more money—£510,000 more—to finish the Ribble Scheme. This, with what has already been voted for same purpose, brings up the total to £117105 £1,171,105. What the ultimate cost will be no one knows, if anything like real success be intended for this gigantic scheme—and dream. Finished work about 2 on Sat[urday] morning.

Saturday 10 September 1887 Rose about 10. My wife brought to Preston & sold 17/- worth of butter—produce of our two cows (less what we have used ourselves) this week. Not bad, that, but we keep the cows well. You can only get out of cows what you put into them. Home per 9.35pm train.

Sunday 11 September 1887 Rose about 10.15. In aft[ernoon] had a walk—looked at cows, poultry, &c. In evening had a walk up Bilsborrow lane with my wife & daughters M[abel], R[osaline] & L[etitia]. Afterwards read some of the Greville Memoirs.

Monday 12 September 1887 About 8.30 in morning started in carriage for Preston, with my son E[thelbert] & daughters R[osaline] & L[etitia]. Easyish working. In afternoon had a look at paintings in the Newsham Collection¹⁵² in the town hall, taking my daughters with me. Went chiefly to see D. Roberts’ picture of Antwerp Cathedral.¹⁵³ Rather disappointed—in fact a good deal. A fine painting no doubt but appears to lack power & clearness. Too dull. A beautiful western light on the spire; but, on the whole, I did not care for the painting. Home in the evening.

Tuesday 13 September 1887 To Preston, per trap, with all my sons—E[thelbert], H[orace] & L[lewellyn]. L resumed school (Grammar School, Preston) this morning. His account for last two terms £10-2-0 + [word]; my bill against Mr Beaven,¹⁵⁴ the head master £11-4-8. To-day, though most interfered with by travellers¹⁵⁵ & callers—friends—wrote first article on shop counter, on my late visit to Holland &c. Home at night & put a tail end to the article.

Wednesday 14 September 1887 Working hard all day—sub-editing, writing, &c.

Thursday 15 September 1887 Working at Preston all day—sub-editing, writing, &c. Home in the evening, & spent a quiet, pleasant time in my library room.

Friday 16 September 1887 At work, hard, all day—did considerable writing—Ribble Scheme¹⁵⁶ &c, & finished work about 2 on Sat morning.

Saturday 17 September 1887 Rose at 9.45. Aft[erward]s to shop & stuck pretty close to business—indeed very close—till 9.20 at night. Then down to station (C Clayton,¹⁵⁷ late Mr Joseph Clayton’s son, iron founder &c, with me). CC intelligent hopeful & bright, though out of a situation. I don’t know what will become of him. He gets a little by commission; but that, I fear, won’t do very much. Home per 9.35 train.

Sunday 18 September 1887 Drove over to Churchtown church this forenoon, taking son L[lewellyn] & daughters R[osaline] and L[etitia] with me. Beautiful morning, nice service, sermon (by Mr Pedder’s son) better than any I have before heard him preach. Usually the sermons I have heard have been very small beer and very unedifying. In aft[ernoon] I, my wife & daughters, M[abel], R[osaline] & L[etitia] drove over to J Threlfall’s* (my wife’s sister Jane’s husband) at Black Leach, Woodplumpton. Fine weather; saw much fruit—apples & damsons, chiefly—in the orchards we passed. Very attractive & beautiful—a series of pictures. On returning, at night, passed Woodplumpton church lighted up—harvest thanksgiving service. Doors open, grain decorations & people singing. Beautiful sight—a joyous, &c. nocturnal picture.

Monday 19 September 1887 Preston—to business—at about 8.15. Easy working all day. Weather fine. Home at night. Nothing very particular.

Tuesday 20 September 1887 Same. Machine man John¹⁵⁸ either ill through drink got yesterday aft[ernoon] when he had holiday with the other hands, or on spree—out of gratitude for the favour granted. Don’t like to have to put up with illness or gratitude of that sort. He is a “Scotch Irishman.”

Wednesday 21 September 1887 Same, & on reaching home at night throng with copy* for about 2 hours.

Thursday 22 September 1887 Working fairly hard all day. Home at night as usual.

Friday 23 September 1887 Hard at work from about 9.5 in morning till 1.40 on Sat[urday] morning. Then a smoke & to bed—after a glass of whisky.

Saturday 24 September 1887 Rose at 9.45, washed, breakfasted, & then to shop, which I stuck fairly well to all day. Home at night per 9.35 train.

Sunday 25 September 1887 This forenoon to Churchtown Church, with sons E[thelbert] & H[orace]. Drove over. Harvest festival service. Church neatly decorated with ivy leaves, grain, flowers, & fruit. Morning was rather dull, & church was lighted up. Beautiful, especially when the minister was reading the Commandments. He stood in centre before reredos—large, rich stained glass window in rear; prettily designed & carved Caen stone reredos at base; minister in centre, chorister boys in white on each side, & 10 candles burning on each side on tall stands ornamented with grain. In aft[ernoon] bothered about in house. After tea looked round at fed ducks, looked at two new pigs, the horse “Charlie,” cows &c. Then had a walk to the field we have across canal. Subsequently had a read in Greville’s Memoirs. To bed about 10.30 10 11 o clock. I ought to have said that the vicar’s son preached at Churchtown & that it was the best—most intelligible and practical—sermon I have heard from him. I wonder if it was his own composition. If it was, he has more in him than I have given him credit for.

Monday 26 September 1887 To Preston, per train with son L[lewellyn]. At noon went to Messrs Allsup’s Strand road, for some corrugated iron roofing. Got what I wanted—price 8/- per cut, while at the establishment John Allsup¹⁵⁹ showed me the two tugs for Ribble work, designed at Garlick & Sykes’s office, Preston. Two regular raw, tom-foolish, yokel-like things. One is being lengthened—she has an engine (designed by same people) apparently twice too strong. The other tug will have to be altered. Home at night.

Tuesday 27 September 1887 At work at Preston all day. Went by train & returned per same at about 7.30. Son E[thelbert] to Great Eccleston Agricultural Show.

Wednesday 28 September 1887 James Ribchester,¹⁶⁰ from Garstang, came this evening, in place of other boy (Walter¹⁶¹) from Burton-in-Lonsdale, who is wanted at home. Wages for Ribchester 3/- per week. I & sons at Preston to-day, working—all except L[lewellyn] who goes to school.

Thursday 29 September 1887 By carriage to Preston this morning. One of the longest meetings of Preston Town Council I have ever heard of to-day. It lasted upwards of 5 hours. Business chiefly relating to the Ribble Improvement Scheme—more money wanted for it. An effort was made to get application to Parliament for power to borrow more money on behalf of the Scheme postponed till the opinion of an independent experienced engineer had been obtained as to requirements & total cost of the Ribble; but a majority of the T[own] Council—blockheads as they are—decided to “go on” without such opinion. Home in the evening.

Friday 30 September 1887 Working hard all day—from about 9.10 in morning till 2 on Sa[urday]t morning. Got pay for the pitch into my conveyance last April¹⁶² to-day. The defendants (Dixon and Fazackerley) neglected to pay the instalments agreed upon—£5 down & £1 per month—so we put in the bum-bailiff & got all at once.

October

Saturday 1 October 1887 To-day had a longish talk with a young man named JJ Foster, who has been in Australia, New Zealand, Phillipine Islands, Java, Burmah, Ceylon, South Africa, South America, &c.¹⁶³ He is a calm, serious, shrewd, nice fellow. Home at night per 9.35 train. Bought a ferret today for the boys, & they lost it at night. Fine night & at about 10.30 heard lapwings (tewits)¹⁶⁴ in a field opposite Brook house.

Sunday 2 October 1887 Bothering about all day. Read a little at night in Greville’s Memoirs.

Monday 3 October 1887 At 8.30 this morning to London with my wife, to purchase Xmas cards &c. Arrived in London at about 2.15 in afternoon. On the way read Lord Beaconsfield’s Home Letters.¹⁶⁵ Very picturesque, light pleasant reading. Got lodgings at Holman’s restaurant in Fleet-st[reet], just above Daily Telegraph publishing office. In the evening went to see the American Exhibition at Earl’s Court.¹⁶⁶ A great collection of American productions. Great amount of “shop”¹⁶⁷ in the place. Some good pictures. Saw Buffalo Bill’s “Wild West” performance—about 100 horses, cowboys, Indians &c knocking[?] about. An exciting, rough sort of affair—monotonous towards end by sameness of running and helterskeltering about. Some good shooting by a girl¹⁶⁸ & Buffalo Bill, who is an excellent rider on horseback. Cold where we sat in chief part, just behind the Royal stalls. Aft[erward]s walked to the rear of the grounds, heard Coldstream Guards band play, under leadership of (I think) Dan Godfrey.¹⁶⁹ Good—very. Then had a ride in a “Switchback Railway”—an up & down, flying along affair, the car—a sort of low bogie—going by gravitation momentum.

Tuesday 4 October 1887 All day with my wife selecting Xmas cards at sta looking at stocks of Xmas cards, purchasing also—at Stacy & Cook’s, Paternoster-row.¹⁷⁰ At night went to the Lyceum Theatre, to see Miss Mary Anderson,¹⁷¹ an American, take part in the “Winter’s Tale” of Shakespear. Pit—difficult to get to it—narrow entry, much crushing. Price 2/-. Beautiful theatre; scenery excellent; acting very good.

Wednesday 5 October 1887 Purchasing more Xmas cards &c all day. At night went to the Alambraha¹⁷² [sic], in Leicester Square. Large theatre; mixed miscellaneous entertainment; smoking & drinking allowed in the place during the performances. Many of the demi-monde here—chiefly in the bar at rear. We sat in Grand Circle. An immense ballet corps. Some parts of the general entertainment clever. This is not a place I can recommend young people to go to. Much too insinuative, lax, & strumpetish.

Thursday 6 October 1887 Intended returning this forenoon; but through a bungle, at Stacy & Cook’s could not do so. Had a look through St Paul’s Cathedral—great, spacious, grand, gloomy. In afternoon Sailed from Blackfriars bridge to Westminster—1d. Dinner. The Abbey—Henry 7^th chapel, monuments, tombs, &c; Poets’ Corner; outside; to boat—sailed back to B[lack]friars bridge; then to Euston station. Left by train at 4; landed home, at Brock, about 10 at night, found all right.

Friday 7 October 1887 To Preston, by conveyance, in morning. Working hard all day—writing, sub-editing, &c. Finished working about 2 on Sat[urday] morning.

Saturday 8 October 1887 Rose at 9.45. At shop nearly all day. To home per 9.35 pm train.

Sunday 9 October 1887 In house nearly all day. In evening had a long read in Greville’s Memoirs. Weather damp & dull. Winter coming. But Spring will follow.

Monday 10 October 1887 To Preston, per conveyance. Working in shop & knocking about. Home at night.

Tuesday 11 October 1887 Same mainly

Wednesday 12 October 1887 Working at Preston all day. New servant girl Harriet¹⁷³ came to-day. A dark complexioned clean, quiet-looking girl. We (my wife) had to blow her up¹⁷⁴ very soon after arriving for being so quiet.

Thursday 13 October 1887 To Preston & working pretty hard all day. The weather is getting wintery nights & mornings.

Friday 14 October 1887 To Preston in morning, with my sons & working all day, hard, till about 2 on Sat. morning. Meeting to day of creditors of Rev AB Beaven head master of Preston Grammar School. An offer of 2/- in the pound.¹⁷⁵ People are wondering what he can have done with his money (salary estimated at from £600 to £1000 per year) & why he has got into so much debt (estimated at from £2000 to £3000).

Saturday 15 October 1887 Rose about 9.40. After breakfast to shop, & at shop, close[?], nearly all day, till about 9.25 at night then to station per 9.35 train to Brock. It started to the minute—a very great wonder.

Sunday 16 October 1887 Rose about 9.15. Bothering about. Daughter Rosie not well. In aft[ernoon] looked out amongst poultry. In evening had a read in Greville’s memoirs. To bed about 10.30.

Monday 17 October 1887 To Preston—sub-editing &c. Arranged to try little Monks¹⁷⁶ —a small book writer¹⁷⁷ —for a month to write a column of local gossipy stuff for the Chronicle.¹⁷⁸

Tuesday 18 October 1887 Went to Preston County C[our]t this forenoon having a claim of about £3 against one Goodman or Moss, dentist, for advertising.¹⁷⁹ Case adjourned—not gone into at all—till next Court to suit convenience of lawyers. Oh the lawyers. Feel sure I shall win.

Wednesday 19 October 1887 At work sub-editing & writing all day, at Preston. Home at night doing some more writing. Weather continues very dry. Our big water tank about dry. I do not remember such a dry year as this. Our little brook is nearly dry.

Thursday 20 October 1887 At work at Preston all day. Brother-in-law (J Wilson)¹⁸⁰ who lives at Aberdeen & passed through to Bacup to see a doctor called Miles,¹⁸¹ of Aberdeen, called on his way back & went down to Brookhouse. Had some whiskey & water—rather more than did me good—with him at night.

Friday 21 October 1887 Working all day at Preston. At night great meeting of ratepayers & property owners in Guild-hall as to the further borrowing of money for the Ribble Works, &c. It was decided to borrow. A poll was demanded. Finished work about 2 on Sat morning.

Saturday 22 October 1887 Up about 10. Working all day. Home per 9.35 train at night.

Sunday 23 October 1887 In aft[ernoon], I, my wife & her brother JW¹⁸² drove to Black Leach, Woodplumpton, to J Threlfall’s.* Had some elderberry wine, tea, a glass of whiskey, a long gossip, & then home, landing about 9.35.

Monday 24 October 1887 To Preston in morning. During forenoon had a look through the small, but very good collection of pictures—the Newsham gallery¹⁸³ —in the Town Hall. Brother-in-law J Wilson* with me. In evening he left Preston per train for Aberdeen—left at 5.9 & would arrive at about 3 in morning.

Tuesday 25 October 1887 To work at Preston, all day. Nothing particular stirring. Home at night.

Wednesday 26 October 1887 Working at Preston all day. Gave the servant lad J Ribchester¹⁸⁴ a fortnight notice to leave. He wants to go & we don’t care for him: he is idle, dirty and gluttonously disposed.

Thursday 27 October 1887 At work, hard, all day at Preston. Home at night.

Friday 28 October 1887 Working all day from about 9 in morning till 2 on Sat morning.

Saturday 29 October 1887 Easy working, through sticking to what I had in hand, till aft[ernoon]; then had a Turkish bath, in Grimshaw st[ree]t for 2 hours. To Brock per 9.35 train.

Sunday 30 October 1887 Rose about 10. Washed, dressed, had breakfast, trimmed some lamps, skinned a rabbit. Aft[erward]s, about 11, Mr Adam Leigh,¹⁸⁵ of Lea, turned up in a carriage, & asked me to go with him to his property in Upper Wyresdale. Accepted his invitation, started immediately. Weather showery. About half a mile past Scorton saw in front of us—only a short way off, apparently—one of the largest & most beautiful rainbows I ever beheld. Passed Cross-hill school. Noticed Wyre side (H Garnett’s¹⁸⁶ place), dull quiet-looking, isolated Dolphinholme, Lentworth Hall, picturesque & elevated. Could not see Lord Sefton’s new shooting box—Wyresdale a very pretty, winding vale. Had refreshments at Mr Leigh’s shooting box. Nearly opposite Lord Sefton’s¹⁸⁷ —so I was told. Af[terward]s to one of Mr L’s farmsteads; then had tea; home; some lightning on the way. Reached home about 7.15 at night. Enjoyed the out; a change; had never been up in Wyresdale before, Mr Leigh very agreeable, hospitable & communicative.

Monday 31 October 1887 To Preston by 8.30 morning train. My son L[lewellyn] with me. Mr Harry Gilbertson,¹⁸⁸ solicitor, of Preston, who has a cottage in Brock side in same compartment, & we had a talk about Jack Humber’s¹⁸⁹ marriage, which has to come off next Wed[nesday], at Southport, with the late W Heaps’s¹⁹⁰ daughter “Liz”.¹⁹¹ Today gave notice to quit to Mrs Wareing,¹⁹² landlady of the Mitre Inn, Fishergate.

November

Tuesday 1 November 1887 At Preston—easyish day. In aft[ernoon] writing literary notices—monthlies &c.¹⁹³ Home as usual at night. Windy on the road.

Wednesday 2 November 1887 A great wind storm last night & this morning till about noon. Four evergreen trees blown down in front of my house (Brookhouse); one, a very old one—perhaps 100 years old. At Preston working all day. Home at night & there working—writing—for an hour or two.

Thursday 3 November 1887 Parted with the servant lad Ribchester¹⁹⁴ this forenoon. A dirty, idle, belly-stuffing, lad. I to Preston with sons E[thelbert] & L[lewellyn]. Working. At night home. Read part of Camille Selden’s “Last Days of Heinrich Heine.”¹⁹⁵ An interesting book.

Friday 4 November 1887 To Preston, with sons E[thelbert], H[orace] & L[lewellyn]. Hard working—sub-editing, editing, &c all day. Finished work about 2 on Sat[urday] morning.

Saturday 5 November 1887 Up at 9.50. Breakfast, shop, &c. At night, about 8.20 we were astonished to find smoke coming out of cellar under shop. Some paper had been set on fire by some one, after lighting a pipe, throwing a burning match down the cellar hole in front. Considerable commotion; a crowd; some body sent for fire brigade, but their services were really not needed. Fire soon extinguished. No damage. Home per 9.35 train.

Sunday 6 November 1887 Rose about 10. Bothering about—seeing to lamps, winding up clocks. In aft[ernoo]n had a walk down to & into our field. Getting bare. Weather nice. Afterwards had a read in Greville’s memoirs. Ditto at night.

Monday 7 November 1887 To Preston by train, this morning, with son L. Easy day. Left sons E[thelbert] & L at home trimming up the ground. after working a little—trimming up in front ground. Then to Preston leaving sons E[thelbert] & H[orace] at home straightening up. Home at night per train with my wife.

Tuesday 8 November 1887 Nothing particular today, personally. The late E Ambler’s* son Ed[ward]¹⁹⁶ appointed a divisional registrar of births & deaths today, in place of his father, by the Preston B[oar]d of Guardians. Some cute active “electioneering” to secure the post which is worth perhaps £150 a year. Home with my wife, per train, at night, from Preston.

Wednesday 9 November 1887 To Preston per conveyance this morning, with sons H[orace] & L[lewellyn]. Son E[thelbert] at home waiting to put up some hay. Today Councillor James Burrows¹⁹⁷ [sic], gunsmith, Fishergate, elected Mayor of Preston. A mild, precise, very red faced man. A Dissenter & a Tory, elected chiefly for his Ribble Scheme proclivities. Today it was announced that the demand for a poll of the local property owners & ratepayers on the proposed application of the Corporation to Parliament to borrow more money (£510,000) on behalf of Ribble works withdrawn, after nearly everything had been got ready for taking the poll.¹⁹⁸

Thursday 10 November 1887 To Preston, working—sub-editing, editing &c—all day. Home at night.

Friday 11 November 1887 Same. Son Horace shot a fine pheasant in our grounds, near house, this morning. Good.

Saturday 12 November 1887 Easyish day—shop, &c. Today my son H[orace] went to Lancaster to hire a servant lad.¹⁹⁹

Sunday 13 November 1887 Rose at about 10.30. Learnt that son H[orace] had hired a lad from Carnforth; wages 4/- per week. In aft[ernoo]n I and my wife went by invitation to WJ Parkinson’s,* Myerscough House—taking with us & putting down, just beyond Catterall House my daughters M[abel], R[osaline] & L[etitia] with servant, who went to Churchtown church. Had tea, smoked, & supped some whisky & water with Mr Parkinson. Long, cheery, varied chat, about local scandals, trade, literature, land, Preston property &c. Home, per trap, at about 10 o’clock; my wife with me.

Monday 14 November 1887 To Preston by train at 8.30 morning. Servant lad from Carnforth came this afternoon. He seems small, & has got quite enough money, as wages. Meeting of GH Roberts’²⁰⁰ CE creditors today at Forshaw & Parkins office, Preston. 4/- in £ offered. GHR is a strutting, drink-loving, pretentious little shallow pate.

Tuesday 15 November 1887 At work at Preston all day—writing &c. Home at night, in conveyance. Saw a beautiful star or meteoric body shoot horizontally along the northern sky. This about 7.40 on way home. Later on saw one or two other meteors.²⁰¹ Night dark; sky clear—very; frosty. Met my wife at Brock station about 10 o’c[loc]k.

Wednesday 16 November 1887 Working hard at Preston all day. At night home. Nothing very particular.

Thursday 17 November 1887 To Preston & working as usual. At night, on returning home, made up my diary. I miss several details because I defer making up diary too long. Finished reading Camille Selden’s “Last Days of Heinrich Heine.” Disappointed. She began surprisingly & attractively; but though these are “Last Days” she was not with HH at all during the last few days prior to & leading up to his death, & does not detail how he died.

Friday 18 November 1887 To Preston and working hard from about 9 in morning till 2 on Sat[urday] morning.

Saturday 19 November 1887 Frost early this morning, roads to train described as very slippy—horses down, others to be led, farmers in some instances who ought to have got to town early did not land till late—one whom I heard of not till about 2 in the afternoon. Delay, in this case, I suppose, through having to wait to get horse sharpened.²⁰² Got my horse “Charlie” sharpened this aft[ernoon]. Cost 1/9. Sons E[thelbert] & L[lewellyn] home in carriage. Son H[orace] not so well; Turkish bath & home by train at 5.30pm. I & my wife home per 9.35 train which was only about 2 minutes late in starting—normally 10 or 15.

Sunday 20 November 1887 Up about 10.15. Lamps.²⁰³ In aft[ernoon] I, my wife, daughter R[osaline] & servant Harriet to Churchtown church. Very nice afternoon, goodish sermon by young Mr Pedder. Very cold in church. Told the schoolmaster the parson should, on such a day, put a good deal of hell fire in his sermon to keep folk warm.

Monday 21 November 1887 To Preston per train with my wife & son L[lewellyn] at 8.30. To dinner had part of pheasant which son Horace shot—very tender & very fat one. Afterward home with wife (son L[lewellyn] returned before) per 9.35pm train. Found my sons E[thelbert] & L[lewellyn] had shot or caught two or three rabbits, and that Mr WJ Parkinson,* Myerscough House, had sent me a brace of pheasants & a hare.

Tuesday 22 November 1887 Rose at about 9—not so well. At home all day. Wrote article no. 3 Visit to the Netherlands—about a column & a quarter long. My wife & sons & daughter M[abel] at Preston.

Wednesday 23 November 1887 To Preston per conveyance. Very cold—frosty. It is awful for the hands driving on a cold frosty morning. I know no severer punishment than would be that of sentencing a man to some very cold country, to perpetual horse driving, in open carriage. Working all day, & at night, on returning home working (writing) for about an hour and a half.

Thursday 24 November 1887 Sub-editing, editing, proof reading, &c at Preston all day.

Friday 25 November 1887 Same mainly. Had some talk with Alderman Bibby²⁰⁴ (ex Mayor of Preston), amongst other things about the projected incorporation of Fulwood with Preston, & the Preston water supply. I think Fulwood ought to be so incorporated & that the water business of Preston has been badly managed, & I said so to Ald[erman] B[ibby], who acquiesced. Bibby is a genial, good looking, shrewd-headed uncultivated man. Finished work about 2 on Sat[urday] morning.

Saturday 26 November 1887 Rose at about 10.15 this morning. Working on and off in shop mainly, all day. Home with my wife per 9.35pm train.

Sunday 27 November 1887 Rose about 10.30. Had a short walk in aft[ernoon]. At night reading Greville’s Memoirs. My wife & several of the children to Methodist Chapel, Bilsborrow-lane. Sermon—for a wonder—said to be a very good one.

Monday 28 November 1887 To Preston. Nothing special.

Tuesday 29 November 1887 Stayed at home today, engaged for some considerable time in writing chapter relating to my late trip to Holland, &c.

Wednesday 30 November 1887 Working at Preston all day. Home at night.

December

Thursday 1 December 1887 Same

Friday 2 December 1887 To Preston. Sub-editing, editing &c all day.

Saturday 3 December 1887 Easyish day. Home, with my wife, per 9.35 pm train.

Sunday 4 December 1887 In aft[ernoon] had a short walk. In evening reading Greville’s Memoirs. Good; but too prolix in parliamentary bill & party details. The scandal “very good”—so far as scandal can be deemed worthy of that phrase.

Monday 5 December 1887 Sent away the servant lad, from Carnforth²⁰⁵ —a lazy, impertinent dirty glutton. What luck we have in getting male assistants. In aft[ernoon] I went by train to Preston, paid wages, did some writing &c & returned at night home, per train with my wife.

Tuesday 6 December 1887 To Preston. At one pm to a dinner of the Cheese Fairs Com[mitt]ee at the Grecian Inn, Lord St[ree]t. W Thompson,²⁰⁶ corn dealer, in chair. The Mayor (J Burrow²⁰⁷) and the ex-Mayor (W Bibby²⁰⁸) amongst those present. Good, plain dinner. Afterwards much toast-proposing. I responded to the toast of “The Press”, Mr Mckay* editor of the Preston Herald followed me & two others—one a mongrel fellow called Mr Thomas²⁰⁹ who is not a real press man—succeeding him. At night to a meeting of the Preston Sanitary Association at the Central Working Men’s Club, Fishergate to discuss the extension of its basis so as to include local social subjects. I in chair, small attendance. Miscellaneous & somewhat rough, though by no means ill-natured talk. It was decided to appoint a Com[mitt]ee to draw up a scheme. Afterwards had a glass of whiskey at Shelley Arms with Councillor W Hale²¹⁰ and H P Edelston²¹¹ solicitor.

Wednesday 7 December 1887 To Preston, in carriage, with my sons E[thelbert], H[orace] & L[lewellyn]. Working pretty hard. Home at night per train with my wife.

Thursday 8 December 1887 To Preston, per train, this morning sub-editing & editing. Home per train carriage at night and did some writing (chit chat) in among these. Met my wife who came by train. This is the darkest night I remember for a year & a half at least.

Friday 9 December 1887 To Preston per carriage, with my sons E[thelbert]., H[orace], and L[lewellyn]. Working—shop sometimes, &c—all day till 2 on Saturday morning.

Saturday 10 December 1887 Rose at about 5 min[ute]s to 10 in morning. At shop greater part of day. Sent bum bailiff²¹² to one of my tenants (J Rydings²¹³) for rent. Cold. Considerable football excitement.²¹⁴

Sunday 11 December 1887 Having stayed all night in Preston—I & my wife—owing to business, we this morning went per train to Brookhouse—our home. I had breakfast, read the Spectator,²¹⁵ then cleaned lamps, wound up clock, had a good wash in cold water & then dinner. In aft[ernoo]n had a read, same in the evening, in Greville’s Memoirs.

Monday 12 December 1887 To Preston. Looking after money matters &c in forenoon—money is awfully bad to get hold of just now in Preston. In aft[ernoo]n at shop & doing some writing—Trip to the Netherlands. At night home.

Tuesday 13 December 1887 At home all day—fed poultry in morning, cleaned out shippon,²¹⁶ did some writing—a portion of a Netherlands article; & after dinner cleaned out boiler, cleaned a lot of potatoes & put them into the boiler—for pigs & hens; then went to Myerscough Mill—rain coming down furiously during part of the journey—ordered some proven²¹⁷ &c & brought back 40lbs of wheat for the poultry. Finished & revised article on N[etherlands]. afterwards.

Wednesday 14 December 1887 To Preston this morning in conveyance. Sent for H Baldwin,²¹⁸ landlord of Black Bull, Friargate & told him that I would accept his tender for the Mitre Inn—£160 per year for 7 years from 1^st of next May. I had higher offers—three of £170 and one £175, but I prefer Baldwin who seems to be a nice, business man, & of whom I have got a very good character. The higher bidders for the Mitre were brewers, who would sub-let the place & grind the tenants lives & pockets to death. This is my belief. Also impoverish the house.

Thursday 15 December 1887 To Preston—Working very hard as I did yesterday. Home at night.

Friday 16 December 1887 To Preston working as usual—sub-editing, editing &c till 2 on Sat[urday] morning.

Saturday 17 December 1887 Our Sheet Almanac-giving day.²¹⁹ Nothing very extra in the sale. My wife had a good day in selling Xmas cards. We stayed at the cottage in Cannon St[reet] all night.

Sunday 18 December 1887 Up at 8 & to Brock—both of us. Had breakfast, a read in the Spectator checked lamps, wound up the clocks; had an excellent wash in cold water; then dinner. In afternoon read Greville’s Memoirs & had a sleep. In evening finished third & last volume of first series of G[reville]’s Memoirs. Then read 150 pages of H Taylor’s autobiography.²²⁰ Very interesting. To bed soon after 10.

Monday 19 December 1887 To Preston by train—I & my wife, daughter M[abel] & son E[thelbert]. Ordered a lawyer (J Clarke²²¹) to fire into a Town Councillor (J Harding²²²) for a debt. He said he would first see J H. Writing part of article on Netherlands. Home at night; wife & d[aughte]r M[abel] staying in town—Xmas cards.

Tuesday 20 December 1887 At home today, chiefly engaged writing the 6^th & concluding article—a very long one—on the Netherlands trip. I expected my wife & daughter home tonight & went to meet the last train, which ought to have arrived at Brock station at 9.50 but did not, owing, I suppose, to Xmas traffic. Same till about 10.20. They did not come, so home & had a pipe & a glass of whiskey & to bed.

Wednesday 21 December 1887 To Preston this morning in conveyance, with my sons E[thelbert] & H[orace], leaving son L[lewellyn] to look after cows, pigs & poultry. At work all day—working &c till about 9.30 at night. Then to shop & helped my wife & daughter M[abel]. At about 10.30 shut up & went to the little house in Cannon Street where we stayed all night.

Thursday 22 December 1887 Sub-editing, editing, proof-reading &c all day. My wife & daughter M[abel] at shop amongst Xmas cards, staying till about 10.30, after which to little shanty in Cannon Street, where we remained all night.

Friday 23 December 1887 I at work all day on newspaper. Saturday being no reading day, not much of one, did not write very much.²²³ Finished work about 11.30; then to little shanty, where I & my wife & daughter M[abel] stayed at night. Sons E[thelbert] & H[orace] staying at night at their uncle Joe’s.²²⁴

Saturday 24 December 1887 Rose about 9. Made myself generally useful amongst shop work, newspaper selling &c. A dirty, damp, cold day. Finished (I, my wife and daughter M[abel]) at about 11.35 at night. Have had—thank God—a good selling time amongst Xmas cards, very much better I should say, than anybody else in Preston. Stayed all night in Cannon St[ree]t. Heard bells ringing, bands playing and waites²²⁵ singing. The voice of one woman amongst the last named was fine—clear, musical, clarion like on the night or early morning air.

Sunday 25 December 1887 (Xmas Day) I, my wife and daughter M[abel] to Brookhouse, at 10 this morning, in our conveyance. Ice on the road, but the horse (Charlie) had been sharpened.²²⁶ Had a good dinner, my wife, all my children, except one, & brother-in-law Joe* with his wife²²⁷ & children²²⁸ present. In afternoon we played cards; d[itt]o. evening. A pleasant evening.

Monday 26 December 1887 In forenoon looking about. In aft[ernoo]n I, my son Horace, and br[other] in law J W, had a walk as far as Myerscough Lodge, the old residence of the Tyldesleys & visited by James I and Charles II. We inspected place externally—noticed the stone in front of stable bearing the name “Old Dog Lad”, saw the ribbon[?] scroll over an outhouse door opposite, crossed the bridge on south side & returned through fields following very near what I believe was at one time the chief road to the Lodge. A new red brick Lodge has been erected this year by the Duchy of Lancaster. This place is Duchy property—confiscated, I suppose, after the rebellion of 1715. The new Lodge, not yet occupied, stands about 50 or 60 yards north-east of the old Lodge. A while ago a large, finely carved mantel & chimney piece—which I have more than once seen—was removed from one of the rooms of the Lodge to some private place in Kensington, London. It was, when I saw it, fixed in a basement room at the north-west corner. For particulars of it see Gillow and Hewitson’s Tyldesley Diary. On leaving the Lodge grounds this afternoon saw some duffers of men shooting rabbits. Spent the evening in carding with my wife, my sons E[thelbert] & H[orace] & br[other] in law J Wilson.

Tuesday 27 December 1887 At home all day, boiling stuff for pigs & hens &c. My son L[lewellyn] helped me. Cold. Considerable frost—freezing all day.

Wednesday 28 December 1887 To Preston. Sub-editing, writing chit chat &c. Returned at 9.35 per train with my wife & son E.

Thursday 29 December 1887 To Preston, per 8.31 train with my wife & son E[thelbert]. Sons H[orace] & L[lewellyn] to Garstang this forenoon, whence they brought in cart half a ton of oil cake²²⁹ I had ordered—cost about £3.6.7. Home per 9.35 pm train.

Friday 30 December 1887 Per conveyance to Preston with my sons E[thelbert] & H[orace]. Fine, mild morning. I working hard all day—sub-editing, writing &c till about 2 on Sat[urday] morning.

Saturday 31 December 1887 Rose about 10.15. Working at shop, selling the Chronicle and helping my wife to sell New Year cards till about 11.30 at night. Then down to our little place in Cannon S[tree]t where we had a score of oysters each & a good drink of whiskey & water. Heard the Town Hall clock strike 12.

Thank God for all His kindness, protection, and blessings this year.

Fig. 8. Family tree of Anthony Hewitson and Margaret Wilson (information provided by Margaret Dickinson, diagram by the editor). CC BY.

The diagram omits siblings of Anthony Hewitson who died in childhood: Nancy (1840–1847), Betsey (1845–1847), Dorothy (1850–1852) and Mary (1855–1856). Only those in-laws mentioned in the diaries are included.