Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

1884, July 18, Friday 

Wingate drove me to Battlefield, where is a beautiful church lately restored, built on the site of the Battle of Shrewsbury, 1422(?).

Visited pretty ruins of Haughman Abbey, past Sundorne Castle, a noble and palatial residence of a Bachelor Clergyman of retiring disposition who has a rent role, I hear, of some £80,000 a year. Then we drove into Uffington for luncheon and afterwards to Wroxeter, the ancient Uriconium, a Roman city. About half an acre of it is uncovered – but the walls were 4 miles round. The rest was covered with waving crops of golden corn. The custodian, an old man with but one leg, shewed us some tiles, Roman – of large size showing the impression of human toes, dogs’ feet, and made whilst the clay was soft.

A yellow flower, new to me, which the man called Santonine was very abundant here.

1884, July 19, Saturday 

Returned to Banbury. Bell, Frank and Webb met me at the station.

My hatcase and portmanteau were missing when I arrived at the station, though I had seen them labelled at Shrewsbury. I spoke to the station master about them and they turned up at Reading in the course of the afternoon and were sent out by carrier.

1884, July 22, Tuesday

Returned first two sheets of Aen i, in Latin English Series to Butler and Tanner and wrote Hughes on the subject.

Drove Bell and Cassie to Compton Wynyates.

1884, July 23, Wednesday

Drove to Banbury to Sub Committee of Rural Sanitary Authority to examine applications of Candidates for Inspectorship of Nuisances.

1884, July 24, Thursday 

Attended Guardians Meeting at Banbury.

Rural Sanitary Authority elected H. O. White late grocer and publican who has had no experience in sanitary matters – but a local man, as Sanitary Inspector at a salary of £130 per annum, over the heads of several men who hold the certificate of the Sanitary Institute of Great Britain and have had several years experience. But the Farmers for the most part voted for the Local man, who polled 24. Merrie a highly qualified Certificated Officer from Bedford got 22. All the magistrates and better class of guardians voted in the minority.

Dr Routh called this evening.

1884, July 25, Friday

Ann Gardner, our cook went home unwell. Webb drove her to Balscote.

Visited B. Aris; Hathaway; John Reason; and Hone senior.

Eleanor Hone sent me a note asking me to let her have her boy Joseph’s money out of the Penny Bank as she wants to go to Bedford to see her daughter. I sent word that I could not do that.

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Read about the Rev Edward Stevens here.