| Description | Includes:
Aug 31 Mason work off plaster from blocked doorway over pillar in courtyard. William Foden took out cupboards from under windows in muniment room.
Found sundial, minus the gnomen on top of the oldest cupboard with Talbot arms on it.
The late Mr John Gale said that the upper part of the buildings which were pulled down by William Henry Fox Talbot, in the courtyard were of timber, only the new part being of stone. This makes it more probable that a timber built gallery supported on stone pillars may have existed and connected with the tapestry dressing room.
Sep 2 Looked out some old notes and a plan with the idea of covered gallery or passage, made when he was a boy probably about 1856.
"I then conjectured the so-called dormitory to be Sir W Sharington's work. I stated that there was another pilaster before the alterations as a fact. Old Samuel Pullen who was my informant must, I suppose, have stated it as fact. He it was who told me that he thought the two pieces of molded timber, which were in the water gable and now under the dining room, had come from the roof of the gallery over the earlier part of the cloister. It may be so and that they are of the same date as the cloisters below."
Sep 10 Mr Brakspear unblocked part of a fireplace in the cellar the day before. We found in the spandrels of a flat arch the initials E and M, showing the fireplace to have been put in by the Abbess Elena de Montefort. Foliage in the left hand spandrel may be willow and in the right is oak leaves and acorns.
Sep 17 Looked at some old cameras (his father's?). One old camera full of worm, might be treatable with oil of cloves. One beam from the building pulled down at Miss Knee's looks like one of the six Sharington beams reused.
Sep 18 Found some very early specimens of photography some dated 1835-1836.
Sep Heard that the Tropenell monument in Corsham church is being damaged by the feet of school children sitting in the Neston aisle, put too close to it.
The date as found by Dr Popham to the hall of Lacock Abbey is about 1756. The occurrence of the Methuen arms in the ceiling would show it to be probably later than 1746, is as Cannon Jackson says (Aubrey wrote) - "Paul Methuen, Esq bought Corsham from the Eyles family in1746".
1893 Mar 3 Wrote to Harold Brakspear enclosing cutting concerning intended rebuilding of old almshouses at Devizes. Met Science and Art inspector Colonel R E Pillian at school.
Mar 10 Made notes in church, concerning Sharington monument. March 11 Harold Brakspear called. They looked at and compared the work on the base of the Sharington monument and on the pedestal of columns.
Mar 12 Observed that two young self sown willows, near the bridge, have just been pollarded. Wrote a note to Fry on the subject.
Apr 6 Letter from Ela, enclosing photograph of shell cavern at Margate.
Apr 11 Results of poll for Guardians of Lacock:
James Fry 241 elected
William Minty 192 elected
Eli Latham 62
Joseph Selman 52
Apr 14 Banks's men began removing earth etc at the Rockworks.
Apr 20 Letter from Mrs Maskelyne with reference to date on Sir John Talbot's monument in the church, answered it.
Miss Ewart (Broadleas, Devizes) came over with some friends.
Apr 25 Telegram announcing Ela's death this morning of fever (rheumatic). Sent a telegram to Dumfries.
May 4 Wrote to Hammermeister for cigarettes and Kirby for Bismuth. Filled up Income Tax Schedule D return and sent it to Austin.
Heard that Mary Ann Holder died a short time ago.
May 5 The Dowager Lady Lansdowne called. Lord Mount Edgecombe came. Wrote to Helen Brakspear.
Jun 24 News in paper, the loss of iron clad Victoria in the Mediterranean by collision with the Camperdown, 430 lives lost including the C-in-C, Admiral Sir George Tryon - his fault.
Jun 30 Letter from H Brakspear. Masons putting up scaffold to the brewhouse chimney. Gave Mrs Parkins subscription for the Band of Hope. Found photographs of Hartfield Charlton, Cleeve Abbey in drawer in library.
Jul 6 Royal wedding: Duke of York married Princess Mary of Teck.
Aug 25 Water supply failed.
Aug 26 Saw Jenkins about water supply, there had been stream dredging in the canal about a week ago. He said the spring is very low.
Aug 27 Found some numbers of the Album Photographique by Blabguart Everard of Lille, in the inner room, wrapped in a newspaper of the year 1852.
Aug 28 Jenkins called. Wrote Delmé Awdry about water piper, broken under canal.
Oct 22 A note to Banks about the drains.
Oct 23 Banks came up about the drains.
Oct 24 Banks opened drains, did some work which however did not stop the sewer gas, so shall have to use another room.
Oct 25 Migrated into library and dining room.
Oct 27 Mr Malcolm Law came, he brought with him a short diary of the Grandmother's lent by Rosamond.
Oct 28 Called on Mr Paley, with Mr Law looked at the Parish registers. Mr Law gave me a book about "Worfield on the Worfe". |