Threading through the diary entries are glimpses of Boroughbridge and the countryside around: John records taking visitors to see the Devil’s Arrows or the Aldborough Pavement; riding his cousin Richard Hirst’s mare to the top of Gibbet Hill; going to the river “to bathe through the pasture and jolly it was”; walking down the river past Ramsdens; walking through Langthorpe down Dog Kennel Lane; going to the Water Cress Spring near Low Dunsforth; walking to the Ouseburn Bar.
People appear, mentioned fleetingly. In April 1856 John had his hair cut at Bulmer’s and his watch mended at Glew’s. He got a dog from Capes, that Capes had bought from Mr Peacock, the relieving officer. He went fishing and ferreting with Slater, the Roecliffe gamekeeper, or at the Mill with Baldrey (possibly the young schoolmaster lodging at Whixley in 1851). He and his friend Smallwood walked up the river to drink porter at Bickerdikes. On summer evenings he would play or watch the cricket – on 3 July 1856 he watched the match between Langton Wold and Boroughbridge.
There were annual events: the fairs, November the Fifth – in 1856 John walked round the town to see the fireworks on November 5th (Dr Sedgwick had his display two days earlier). There were visiting attractions – travelling circuses (Cookes or Pablo Fanque’s) were always a great favourite but sometimes the entertainment was rather more unusual:
Monday January 14th 1856
Went to Office Sat with Aunt Hirst as all the rest were at Eagles Clairvoyant Entertainment Read Blackstone
Miss Eagle of Eagles Clairvoyant Entertainment was staying at the White Horse Inn – a couple of days later Bessie Carrass went to ask her for news of John’s uncles Richard and Giles Henlock, who had emigrated to New Zealand in about 1835. Miss Eagle (inaccurately) predicted Richard’s return in 1857. Both are mentioned in Uncle William Henlock’s Will made in 1865 and it seems Richard died in Australia in 1876.
Monday November 7th 1859
to office. At night read Equity at the office. Went at noon to call at Mrs Parkers Went at night to Miss Grace Egertons entertainmt at the White Horse
Mrs Morrell of the White Horse also kept vehicles for hire – in May 1857 the cab was hired to take John’s parents, sister Jane and Mr Capes to Joe’s wedding in York; in March 1858 John and his friend Mark Smallwood went in Morrells’ phaeton to Ripon to visit friends; in February 1859 John and a friend went in Morrells’ dogcart to a party in Humburton; and in November 1859 a large party of ten people took Morrells’ omnibus to Thornton Bridge to a party at Thomas Lund’s house.
