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 1856Miss 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.
Went to Office Sat with Aunt Hirst as all the rest were at Eagles Clairvoyant Entertainment Read Blackstone
Monday November 7th 1859Mrs 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.
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
There were concerts :
Monday October 13th 1856It is not clear where this concert took place, with the celebrated Mrs Lockey and others:
Went to Office. At Noon Walked up Topcliffe Road Went to Capes’s At Night Uncle Hirst gave me a tickett to the Concert (Singers Miss Barwick & Miss Newbound Mr Wilson Lambert & Delavanti) It was very nice All passed off well. I went to Capes’ to sup Heaton Clark, Uncle & Aunt Pick were there. Got home about 11
Tuesday October 13th 1857Young Johnson was probably Tom Mason Johnson, who was training as a doctor with Dr Crosby of Great Ouseburn.
Went to office At Noon about home At Night went to Concert Heard Mrs & Mr Lockey & Miss Banks sing & Blagrove the violinist & brother the Concertina player also Mr Aylward on the Violin cello It was most glorious Supped with Smallwood Young Johnson was there
On September 8th 1858 John and Smallwood attended the Leeds Musical Festival at the Town Hall, opened the previous day by Queen Victoria in a wildly successful visit. After a morning at work they drove Mrs Morrell’s phaeton to Starbeck station and went on by train to Leeds, still lavishly decorated from the Royal visit. They heard some of the greatest singers of the 19th century – including Madame Clara Novello, Madame Alboni, Sims Reeves – in a programme that included the first performance of William Sterndale Bennett’s The May Queen. It “was glorious.” John finally got home at about a quarter to three in the morning.
There was also amateur music – on 23 February 1858 there was an Oratorio in the Schoolroom. John’s friend William Stott Steele sang “and several others” – and more informally, in the autumn of 1857, John went glee singing at Miss Stott’s and the Sedgwicks’.
At the beginning of May 1857 he was involved in days of preparation for the Bazaar to be held in the schoolroom – the great attraction was to be the “German Tree”, which must have been a May variant of the newly introduced Christmas tree:
Friday May 1st 1857The Crow brothers of Ornhams Hall were bachelor farmers, related to the Howes of Ouseburn.
Went to Office At Noon Capes Jane Joe & I dined with Aunt Bell. At Night Smallwood & I walked to Crows to see him about a ham for the tea party on the night of the Bazaar
Saturday May 2nd 1857A few weeks later he drove his cousins Mary and Sophy Hirst in their father’s dogcart to the Brafferton Bazaar, where they “had some good fun raffleing &c &c”
Went to Office. At Noon was about home. At Night I was at the School Room with Smallwood Owen & Leond Sedgwick making arrangements for the German Tree
Monday May 4th 1857
Went to Office. At Noon Read Equity. At Night was decorating the school room in preparation for the German Tree tomorrow
Tuesday May 5th 1857
Went to Office. At Noon Joe & I had a walk up the River. At Night went to the School Room to tea & to the German Tree. Put into several loteries got a cushion which I sold to [Revd] Owen for 12/- got an antimacassar a pr of slippers &c Had a very pleasant evening got home about ten
In September there was the annual Ouseburn Feast:
Monday September 21st 1857Mr Ellison was the steward for Lord Stourton of Allerton Park.
Went to Office Left about ten walked to Ouseburn Feast Dined at Uncle Picks Capes dined with us went to tea at Uncle Wms Called at Crosby’s Smallwood came on after tea & had supped with us at Uncle Wms Lascelles & wife Miss Haddon Howe & wife Old Pick & wife Richd Paver Ellison & wife were there Smallwood & I walked home arrived about 11.50 pm
Sometimes there were Missionary Meetings:
Thursday May 19th 1859The Boroughbridge church anniversary was celebrated:
Came home by train from Helperby. To office at noon read law. In the afternoon Capes Joe & I were ferretting with Poulter at the Mill At night I rode to Ouseburn but the good people there had gone to a missionary meeting so I did not see them
Friday July 24th 1857and alterations made to the organ
Went to Office at ½ past six stayed till after eight At ½ past eight Smallwood Steele Joe & I went to Langthorpe Miss Stott was getting in a stack we took our dogs & killed loads of mice & twelve rats. Got back about ½ past eleven. At Noon was about home. At Night went to Church Revd Arthur Maister preached it was the anniversary of the Church opening Supped at Joes. Father & Mother came home from Mrs Workmans. Two Miss Scholfieds came to Capes’
Sunday May 9th 1858Henry Redmayne had evidently come over from Settle.
Morning & Evening to Aldbro Church Afternoon to Kirby Hill No service at BB Church on acct of alterations in the Organ Hy Redmayne slept with me at Uncles
A couple of times John records a fire in the town:
Tuesday February 5th 1856and living at the Bridge Foot, the river was always important:
… Mrs Powells house was on fire, not much damage done
Friday November 27th 1857
Went to Office. At Noon Mr Harrisons Stables & Chamber over were on fire …
Sunday September 28th 1856A rulley was usually a flat four-wheeled wagon. Margaret and her Bridesmaids by Julia Stretton was published in 1856. John often records the books he was reading.
Went twice to BB [church] & once to Aldbro We had a very high River moved the things out of the Kitchen but it did not come in
Sunday December 7th 1856
Very high Water it got into our kitchen and it was in the Street had not been such a high water of 35 years. Went once to BB Church. Joe was in York. I was very busy all day.
Monday December 8th 1856
Did not go to Office Before Breakfast the water was across the road Went after in Robert Pettys Rulley. At Noon we had the Boat at the Crab Mills & rowed Jane Capes Dora & Mary about in the Tut I rode Joes Mare in the field. At Night I read Margaret & her bridesmaids Went to the Station to meet Joe
Monday December 5th 1859and on occasion fatal:
To office. Had tea with Joe & was about home all the night we had a very high water just did get in to our kitchen got to bed about ½ past 3
Saturday May 14th 1859Christopher Lofthouse kept the Grantham Arms at Langthorpe.
To office. At Noon Steele Capes Joe & I went to Chr Lofthouses stable to see a corpse which was found in the Canal. At night went to Aldbro Had a walk with Capes
 |
| Devil's Arrows, Boroughbridge (early C20 postcard) |
No comments:
Post a Comment