Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Frank commenced making a collection for a present to Mr and Mrs Elley on their resignation.

Dull but dry and mild.

Extracts from the Report of Royal Commission to enquire into the Income etc. of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. Appointed 1872. Report published 1874.

Blenheim Farm, Sibford. Tenant Thomas Hitchcox – 291 acres 1 rod. Rent £396. Rated Gross £350. Net £315. £15 added to rent of 2 cottages built in 1870. (These cost £350 to build as Mr. Lee told me).

Rectory Farm; Swalcliffe: Mr. T. Gulliver 426 acres 3 rod. Rent £705.

Fixed deductions from Swalcliffe:-

• Land Tax £18. 7. 6.
• To Vicar of Swalcliffe £350
• To Vicar of Sibford  £150

Granted out of Rectorial Estate. The sum of £350 granted has not been legally annexed. It was given in consideration of the small value of the Benefice, the fact of there being 3 churches, and the consequent necessity of keeping two curates.

On 1st January 1872 estates in Land were 17.057 acres. Income from above £14485. Houses £2116.

Mr Oddie sent word this afternoon by Frank that he would like to have the Schoolroom on Friday evening next to deliver a lecture on the Paris Exhibition. I walked down to tell him the room would be at his service. He was not at home, but I saw Mrs. Oddie and left word with her.

The troublesome gipsies were released from Oxford Gaol this morning. Frank met them as he was going in to the Drawing Class. They recognised him as young “gen’elman” from Sibford and begged a copper. He, being somewhat afraid of them bestowed his only “threepenny bit” upon them. They went to Gaydon’s “Wickham Arms” and reclaimed their grinding machine.

Poster pasted into diary

LECTURE ON PARIS

ROBERT B. ODDIE

will deliver
a lecture on his recent

VISIT TO PARIS and the PARIS EXHIBITION

in the Endowed School, Sibford Gower
on Friday, November 22nd, 1889 at 7 p.m.

150 DISSOLVING VIEWS

of Places and Objects of Interest will be shown by means of a powerful

MAGIC LANTERN

Front Seats 6d. Back Seats 3d.

Cheney & Sons, Printers, Banbury.

Went with Bell to Mr. Oddie’s Magic Lantern lecture on Paris and the late Exhibition. Frank took the money at the doors for him. It amounted to 27/- which, Mr O. said, would clear his expenses within 2/6. The room was by no means full.

Frank walked to Art School, Banbury. Sent Burdon with carriage to bring him out.

The Sibford Brass Band played round the Village. They went to the Elleys’. All, except two Epwell men, being “old boys”. Mr. Elley said it brought tears into his eyes. Mrs. Elley told them they were “big fellows now, but she dared say she had smacked all their heads”.

“You have mine, lots o’ times”, said one tall fellow, “but it didn’t hurt me.”

Mrs. Elley brought Registers and school keys for me to hand over to Mr. Robinson.