Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

…

Charles Barnes’ wife called this afternoon and brought me a note from Mr Doyne, of the Ophthalmic Hospital, Oxford, to Dr Routh, saying he would gladly receive Charles on Saturday. But they had not been able to ascertain what the cost of maintenance as an in-patient would be. His wife said she would try to go with him tomorrow and hear what Mr Doyne said about him. I gave her £1 out of Town Estate Charity towards necessary expenses.

Intensely cold. Very few in church.

On leaving Mr. Woolgrove’s I met Mr. Richard Lamb who asked me whether he might come to me some evening to ask me some questions about the Town Estate. I said he might. He added that it would be in quite a friendly manner. He said something about the Trusteeship and George Hall, adding that the School here did not used to be called a Church of England School. I replied that the management of it was handed over to me as a Church School, and that its founder probably intended it as a Church School seeing that it was founded in either Edward VI or Queen Elizabeth’s reign and we were working under orders of the Court of Chancery of James I.

Last Sunday at Bickley the thermometer fell to 1°F.

About 7 p.m. a note came from Mr R. Lamb asking whether I would let him see the “Award of the Parish of Sibford Gower” at 8 o’clock, as he was desirous of consulting it. I replied that I should be at home and he could see it. He came at 8 o’clock and brought Mr. Oddie with him to read it for him. I let him have the “Award” and every old lease and document I had belonging to the Trustees as a mere matter of courtesy. His main object was to find out whether any Quakers had ever been Trustees. I do not think he found any except perhaps Michael Pettipher, who said he was a Quaker.

Mr. Oddie said he did not take a particle of interest in the matter.

They did not leave till 11 o’clock or later.

Speaking for myself alone, I told Mr Lamb that I should welcome him as a trustee at the proper time if the Church of England character of the School could be bona fide maintained. I did not fear that he would try to upset it, but others, if Nonconformists, were appointed might desire to do so if appointed.

I spent a long time examining Town Estate Deeds for information about 6 separate closes of land which are mentioned in the “Award of the Parish” and subsequent documents down to 1828, but which now appear to have been lost. I commenced the enquiry 10 years ago but dropped it as it appeared to be useless work.