Earlier this year, we came across a curious diary in our library here at Dorset History Centre. Written in 1872, Our Journal at Winterbourn St. Martins is a personal diary written by a Miss Berry Dallas during her visit to Dorset. Joined by her younger sister Helen, Berry stayed with Major Charles Clapcott and his… Read more “Our Journal at Winterbourn St. Martins”: An Introduction
When rummaging through a box from the Fox Strangways Estate archive, we came across a book so small it can fit in the palm of your hand. It has a worn leather cover and tiny metal clasps and looks as though it has been well-used. Naturally, we wanted to know what it was! Closer inspection… Read more How to Tell the Time Using Your Hand, and Other Useful Information
The Dorset History Centre is fortunate to hold the Pleydell-Railston of Whatcombe Archive. This family archive contains the journals, note-books and letters of Captain Robert Carter Oakley, who was born in Wimborne in 1795, and who served with the 20th Regiment of Foot. His journals paint a vibrant picture of a 19th century soldier’s life.… Read more The Journal of Captain Oakley
Today we’re revisiting for the final time the farm diary of John Foss, who continued to write about farming life at Kingston Russell for the first three months of 1852. A few winter months 1852 starts with fine, frosty weather. The cows are beginning to calf, and John is kept busy with the cheese. John… Read more The Diary of John Foss: 1852 (epilogue)
We are sharing a monthly look at the farm diary of John Foss, written from his dairy farm in Kingston Russell in 1851. December 1851 We’ve reached the last month of 1851, and the final in our series of blogs! This month, the weather is a truly English mixed bag – hard frost, mild rain,… Read more The Diary of John Foss: December 1851
We are sharing a monthly look at the farm diary of John Foss, written from his dairy farm in Kingston Russell in 1851. November 1851 The penultimate month of the year, November is frosty and clear, although there are some stormy nights throughout. The railroad continues to be a topic in the village, and it… Read more The Diary of John Foss: November 1851
We are sharing a monthly look at the farm diary of John Foss, written from his dairy farm in Kingston Russell in 1851. October 1851 A trip to London We last left John as he arrived in London to visit the Great Exhibition. He wakes up the next day “not very well very sick & Poorley” – a bad… Read more The Diary of John Foss: October 1851
We are sharing a monthly look at the farm diary of John Foss, written from his dairy farm in Kingston Russell in 1851. September 1851 “A very dry scorching day” best described September in 1851. Hardly any rain falls until the end of the month, causing the potato crops to wilt and the cow’s milk… Read more The Diary of John Foss: September 1851
We are sharing a monthly look at the farm diary of John Foss, written from his dairy farm in Kingston Russell in 1851. August 1851 August in 1851 is “fine dry & warm”, with “grand weather for the harvest”. The hot weather meant that the milk in the dairy was regularly souring, and John spends much time churning… Read more The Diary of John Foss: August 1851
We are sharing a monthly look at the farm diary of John Foss, written from his dairy farm in Kingston Russell in 1851. July 1851 Battling the weather The main task on the farm from mid-July is haymaking, which requires hot dry days. Unfortunately for John, the weather for the latter part of the month… Read more The Diary of John Foss: July 1851
Recent Comments