Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Feoffees meeting at the School at 2 p.m. The first under the new Feoffment.  Present Rev Canon Payne, Rev T. Smith, Dr Routh, Mr G. Hitchcox Junior, Mr  T. Hitchcox, Mr F. Manning, Mr Josiah Woolgrove and myself.

They resolved to place the School under Government Inspection. To distrain on Mr Hands at once for his rent to Michaelmas last, due 21st December, last. That the half crowns came out of the School funds. That a scale of school fees adapted to means of parents should be adopted at Lady day next.

… I hinted also that I thought it a not very nice question to discuss. Still, as a lesser evil than a refusal, we signed the petition.

Mrs. West called and asked me whether I could give her eldest son a young man of 20 who lives and works at Temple Mill, a pair of boots. She said he never had a pair from the Charity. I told her that giving a man like him a pair of boots was different from giving a pair to a boy just leaving school. She then said her husband had very little work since Michaelmas and that her little boy wanted a pair very badly and she would be glad if I would give him some. I knew the child, who attends Sunday School, was very badly off in this respect and therefore gave her an order for a pair for him.

Richard Austin of Sibford Ferris called for Land Tax for Allotments in that parish.

I had a long conversation with him about the “Sibford Ferris” Award, which is lost,  about the boundaries of Sibford Ferris which he says run down to Mr. Hitchcox’s farm – and about the encroachment at the north end of Hook Norton Road. These encroachments which narrow the road to 18 feet instead of 30 make that part of the road very dangerous and were made some 60 or 70 years ago because rough fellows used to congregate there on Sundays playing marbles etc. The pieces of land forming the Encroachment are in the possession of Richard Lamb, Isaac Padbury and James Lines. Austin tells me that Richard Lamb offered James Lines 6d. per yard for his. I told Austin I hoped the Sibford Ferris people would soon improve matters in that quarter.

Baptised Lewis Poulton’s baby privately. First time of using Fontlet.

Buried Thomas Keen, aged 22, idiot son of Thomas Keen, blind butcher of Sibford Ferris.

Gave out coal tickets this evening and tried the Magic Lantern which Mr. Hurst has lent me. Sent Bell to Hook Norton for beef for the sick.

Coal distribution commenced, under Charles Barnes’s supervision. 3 tons 7 cwts. were weighed out from School cellar where it was placed in November last. Six tons brought today. I ordered 7½ tons to be brought tomorrow.

There is a severe case of Scarlet Fever at the Friend’s School, Sibford Ferris and several of measles.