Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Miss Dix came to tea with Rosa. Miss Mann and her sister Emma were invited, but they wrote to say they could not come as their mother was unwell and they did not like to leave her.

Attended Guardians meeting at Banbury. Kitty Rogers and Frank went too, with Webb behind. Fine in morning, wet in afternoon.

Webb is clipping the mace today, for the first time this season.

Visited School. Summoned Library Committee for next Tuesday evening.

Called on Ezra Green.

Spoke to Charles Lines’s wife about her sister, Mrs Barton. She seemed certain that what was said about her and Charles Holtom was true.

Mr Woolgrove came this evening to talk about the Farm. He had not been able to arrange with the Farm Committee to go round, as Mr Page did not want to have anything to do with apportioning the rent between the two sitting tenants if they wanted to keep on. I told Mr Woolgrove that was of little or no importance. The chief object of the Farm Committee in going over the farm was to see its condition, as regards both cultivation and repair. He had somewhat misunderstood my previous request.

Mr Woolgrove and I decided to ask £80 for the lower side of the farm and £50 for the upper. He said he was going to Oxford with Robert Austin tomorrow and would speak to him about the matter.

Bell, Kitty and I walked round Tyne Hill this afternoon.

Visited Dr Routh who was not at home.

Wrote to Blythman to say that I did not know that Harry would be at home this Christmas and if he were not he would be unable to assist at his entertainment on the 30th.

Mrs Routh told me that Mrs Mann is ill with a severe attack of bronchitis.

Louisa Thame was elected into St Ann’s School, Brixton.

Rain. Taught School this morning and choir this evening.

Jesse Bishop called at my request this morning. He gave me a written offer to take the whole farm at £120 a year, but asked for time to consider whether he should make an offer for either half of it, which I gave him.

Robert Austin called this evening. I told him I had had an offer for the whole farm from Jesse Bishop, but did not state the amount. He also took time to consider what, if any, offer he would make.

Drove Bell and Kitty Rogers to Hook Norton and Wigginton, and called on the Mozleys at the Rectory.