Diary May 1892 - April 1893

17 May Dr. Smithe tells how as a boy he was present at the execution of Mrs. Burdock at Bristol for poisoning her lodger. She would not proceed to the scaffold until an umbrella was held over her as it was drizzling

24 May Rose's [his wife] birthday. She was born in 1842

4 June Visits Pendock church - description

10 June Visits Redmarley D'Abitot church - description

18 June Description of Deerhurst Church and history of its font

21 June Attended conference at Cathedral to elect 6 representatives for the Diocesan Conference in London

23 June Made his Will

25 June Visited Evesham, its 2 churches and abbey ruins - description

8 July Result of parliamentary election announced; Sir John Dorrington elected with 903 majority over Liberal opponent. Much rejoicing

9 July Visits Higham church - impressed by frescoes painted by the late G. Parry

18 July Full account of choir outing to Weston-super-Mare

30 July Reference to Coombe Hill land "now abandonded"

20 Aug. Visit to Forthampton church - description. Stocks for punishment outside churchyard gate, still in capital order

26 Aug References to Squire Gibbons of Boddington. The Barrow stated to be where the slain were buried after Alfred the Great's defeat of the Danes

6 Sept. Performance of the "Redemption" by Gunod [sic] in the Cathedral described

17 Sept. Visit to Upleadon. Description of church

8 Oct. Visit to the new theatre in Regent St., (Cheltenham) - description. Opera "Les Cloches de Cornville"

18 Oct. Announced in the Citizen that it had been agreed that a Police Constable be stationed in Churchdown on account of population increase

28 Oct. Reference to Churchdown Brewery Co.

31 Oct. Discussed Hanna Hopkins, a witch who lived in Old John Leaver's tenement and always left and returned to her home through the tiles

8 Nov. Lecture given in school by Rev. A. Louth illustrated with the magic lantern - views of churches etc.

28 Nov. Dr. Smithe reports a fierce argument between himself and Squire Jones

17 Dec. To Opera House - performance of Haddon Hall - music by Sir Arthur Sullivan

25 Dec. Diarist's letter to Gloucester Chronicle relating to church ritual and signed 'Chursdon' set out in full

1893

22 Jan. Dr. Smithe tells his recollections of Bristol riots in 1836

29 Jan. "We go to church now up the newly repaired and gravelled road Dun's Elm - which is very pleasant"

7 Feb. Introduced to proposed new curate, Rev. Morgan Jones [he was not appointed]

26 Feb. Churchyard to be further extended

8 Mar. Confirmation Service in Cathedral - description and list of confirmees from Churchdown

3 April At vestry Meeting Mr. J. H. Jones (appointed Peoples' Churchwarden) spoke of changes effected on Chosen Hill (roads etc.) and referred to his father Anthony Gilbert Jones of Down Hatherley Court, formerly a landowner in Churchdown

29 April Visited Bisley church - described

[Pasted inside back cover a cutting from the Citizen newspaper 4/7/92 regarding a Churchdown burglary and the trial of the accused, James Cole]