Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Very wet.

Visited Boys’ School this afternoon and taught. Preached at Brailes this evening, Mr Smith being rather unwell.

Thomas Wilks called and complained of damage done to his allotment by Stephen Hands’ horses on Saturday. Said he would go to Mr Norris about it. I wrote to Stephen Hands about cutting the larch trees, calling on him for an explanation and apology and suggesting that he should compensate the men whose crops had been injured by his horses.

Choral Festival at Great Tew. The choir went from here in the covered carts belonging to the carriers John Harris and Gascoigne both of whom are in the choir. It being very wet at the time we intended to start

Mrs Stevens, Rosa myself did not get there till after 12 o’clock. The choir left Sibford at 7 and arrived in good time for rehearsal at 9.30. It was raining very heavily when we started home in evening, but cleared up after all our rugs had got wet. Mr Smith, Sophie, Minnie and Annie went to the festival.

Mrs Way ill with rheumatism.

I ordered materials for slating barn at Heath Farm of Davis and Son, Builders etc, Banbury.

Received letter from Mr Stephen Hands explaining that the late Mr Mawle had given him permission to cut the larch on his farm for mounding, but apologising if he had done anything wrong. I replied to the effect that I would lay his letter before the feoffees, and told him to ask me in future before culling the timber.

Very wet – did not go out.

Mr Montagu called. William Payne the roadman cleared out the pond which had become very filthy.

Visited Ann Payne. Gave her 10/- towards her doctor’s bill, as she has had a good deal of illness lately and her husband has been at home unwell for 4 or 5 weeks.

Visited Widow Cakebread and sent her some wine.

Met Thomas Wilks who told me he went to Mr Norris about Hands’ horses, but he was not at home. Then he went to the policeman at Tadmarton who recommended him to go to Stephen Hands and try to settle the matter with him without taking out a summons. He went to Hands but only got “blackguarded”. He says he will let it rest now. He told me he had a daughter at home from service ill with rheumatic gout. She had had 3 bottles of whiskey from Banbury as “the doctor said it was the best thing she could take”. He was a poor man, etc – would I give her some port wine? I told him I had spoken with the doctor about the case and he had told me that port wine was the worst thing she could take. I told Wilks that if the doctor said she needed it I would give her some.