1894, October 23, Tuesday
Fine in the morning, William and his wife walked with Bell and myself to Warsash on the Amble, near the Solent where we purchased a large live crab and a lobster which were cooked for tea. William has 70 acres of land, much of which is cultivated in strawberries and raspberries. He sends many tons each year to London. Manchester and other great markets and says he hopes to make the profits pay rent, rates, taxes, and keep his household whilst he saves his income from his London business for his wife and daughters.
In the afternoon he drove us to Lee on the Solent, Titchfield and Crowton near which is a large private school for boys intended for the navy, kept by a Mr Foster who has been very successful in various ways and is said to be the richest man in Hampshire. His place is called Stubbington.
At Titchfield was an ancient Abbey out of which a mansion house was built where Charles i hid himself after his escape from Hampton Court. And in this little town Henry vi is said to have been married to Margaret of Anjou.
In the evening Mr Shepherd, vicar designate of St. John’s Loxheath came to tea and supper. He is under 40 years of age, but is much afflicted with rheumatism and what William says is scrofula, but which I should say is eczema so that he moves like an aged and feeble man.
