Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Very hot. Attended school Attendance Committee at Banbury.

Spoke to Mr Cartwright, the Chairman, and Mr Hemming the Clerk to the Rural Sanitary Authority, of which I am as Guardian, a member, about the nuisance at Sibford Gower. They advised me to call on Mr Franey the Medical Officer and ask him to act in the matter, in the absence of an Inspector of Nuisances. I therefore called on Mr Franey and as he was not in left a note for him asking his attention to it.

Paid the year’s subscription to the Banbury Institute, which was opened yesterday  – a new and handsome building given to the town by Mr Bernard Samuelson, the Borough M.P. who is to receive a Baronetcy.

Rev T Smith, with his daughters Sophie and Maude came to tea.

Mrs Enock’s daughter called this evening and I told her what I had done respecting the nuisance of which her mother complains, and that probably Mr Franey would come over or send in the morning.

Stormy. The Misses Dix and self took the Choir children to Edgehill to tea. I took Cassie Heming, Frank and Webb.

Mr Franey called this morning; but Mrs Enock employed men last night to bury the remains of the cow in the premises adjoining hers. Mr Franey seemed somewhat annoyed that it was not left for him to smell – and said that if the Rural Sanitary Authority sent to him to do an Inspector’s work he would have to send them in an account. But he was pleasant enough over it. As a matter of principle he is quite right. The Rural Sanitary Authority ought to have appointed an Inspector of Nuisances months ago.

I called on Mrs Enock a few days afterwards. She told me there were several shovels full of maggots on the ground. She had a bonfire made to purify the air and chloride of lime strewn about. The man Lock had been to her and said he was very sorry and would pay all expenses she had been put to.

Preached for the Diocesan Church Building Society in response to the Bishops’ letter, and collected 28/-.

Visited Mr George Dix, Miss Summerton, William Payne, Mrs Milburn (who is staying at Mrs Shelswell’s, but who was out) and Mr Mann.

Bell and I called on Rev Mr Willy, curate of Epwell.

Dr and Mrs Milburn and Miss Shelswell called this afternoon.

Miss M Dix called this evening and asked whether I would baptize F. Inns’s baby on some other than the usual Baptism Sunday. I said I hoped they would not ask me to do so as it would not be convenient to depart from the rule.

Miss Dix and Bessie Thame called this afternoon.