Diary Aug. 1902 - Dec. 1903

14 Aug. Talk in the inn on the Test Cricket Match.... and on the prowess of Mr. Jessop

1 Sept. School children taken to Badgeworth Court for tea - description

17 Oct. Price of land to enlarge school playground offered for £230

23 Oct. Insisted on paying Dr. Moore £2 for his services i.e. fractured forearm, in spite of the Dr. wishing to make no charge as Mr. Swift was 'in the Club'

6 Nov. New schoolroom formally opened

9 Nov. First mention of Dr. Foster ("went to Dr. Moore who showed my left arm to Dr. Foster, a colleague of his - with professional pride"

14 Nov. Learns that 17 children were sent home (from school) yesterday by Dr. Foster for ringworm and mumps etc.

15 Nov. Informed that Mr Lee still insists on £230 for the land to enlarge the playground and the purchasers to move his shed. Also that the Churchdown Land Co. has given more land than originally offered for the new church

18 Nov. The Cotteswold [sic] Hounds met at Badgeworth Court

19 Nov. Over 60 children absent from school owing to mumps

21 Nov. School Board meeting in new schoolroom - members decided the "new fangled fireplace was not adequate" for heating the room

29 Nov. Programmes of 2 concerts (afternoon and evening) at Chosen Hotel

1 Dec. Church Building Committee meeting - tenders from 11 builders opened - lowest from Mr. A. J. Dolman, very near architect's estimate

3 Dec. Presented with the 2 volumes of Rudge's History of Gloucestershire - rebound - by Rev. Hodgson. Accompanying letter set out in full

5 Dec. Visit to the Priest's Chamber at St. Bartholomew's church - discussion as to its original form. Thought there was once an entrance to the Rood Loft in the S. wall of the chancel. Also references to the golf course on the Hill

8 Dec. Wording of inscription on brass lately placed in the chancel to the memory of Dr. Smithe

19 Dec. Informed that if he thought it proper to resign Mr. Swift would be entitled to a pension of 39/60 of present salary

27 Dec. Reference to the Vicarage having been built in 1859-60

30 Dec. Description of Prestbury Church

1903

5 Jan. Dinner given at the Chosen Hotel to the sidesmen, choirmen and bellringers, by the Vicar and Churchwardens. Dinner served by landlord (Mr. Chrome). List of those present, menu, speeches etc.

6 Jan. Sunday School treat in new classroom

8 Jan. Concert in Gloucester Cathedral - full programme

10 Jan. Rev. Cooke revealed that his age was 37

14 Jan. Had evening meal at the Vicarage and afterwards looked through the early parish registers (from 1563)

20 Jan. Concert in the school - programme

23 Feb. Rev. Cooke has an "abcess behind a tooth - a Mr. Fox of Cheltenham is being fetched by Dr. Moore to extract the tooth"

5 March Verbatim report in "The Citizen" on a Cathedral Concert including a work by Mr. A. Herbert Brewer (Cathedral organist), a "Biblical Scene" entitled "Emmaus"

6 March Contract for the new church signed. The builder promised that the work would be completed by 31 March 1904. £1635 received and promised towards the cost

14 March Examined the panelled room with carvings dating from the reign of Henry VIII at the premises of Mr. Fisher, Confectioner, Westgate St., Gloucester. They had formerly been covered with whitewash and paint

23 March Began reading his journal for 1874, picking up items that may be useful if he should write a history of Churchdown

30 April The new Wesleyan Chapel was opened this afternoon

10 June The Will of the late Rev. Smithe is being disputed. The author is to give evidence on behalf of his sisters, and the solicitor came this day from Gloucester to go through his proposed evidence. The hearing is to be on or about the 23rd inst.

20 June Reference to recent visit and fight between the dock men of Sharpness and the imported men from London. Dispute repayment by the piece or by the day

11 July Visited the sandpit near the Wesleyan Chapel with the Cotteswold Society

14 July Set off for London to attend the trial (re. Dr. Smithe's will). Description of Court, persons present etc. Mr. Rufus Isaacs, Counsel for defence

15 July Reported in Court that an out-of-court settlement had been reached - details given. Visited the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey. Then return to Churchdown. Foundation Stone of the new church (St. Andrew's) laid this day. [Press report set out under 16/7/03

21 July Pope Leo XIII died yesterday

30 July Reports that the Fete in aid of the new church realised net proceeds of £135.11.2., added to which were the offertory at the ceremony and donations making a total of £189.4.2.

3 Aug. Paid for attendance at Court, producing extracts from his journal re. the late Dr. Smithe etc. (details set out)

Churchdown Flower Show - "over a 1000 people must have visited it"

6 Aug. To Cheltenham - travelled by train to the "Rising Sun", changing at Southam

16 Aug. Informed that there lived at Ham a George Jenner, son of Stephen Jenner the artist, who resided at Heathfield and was great nephew to the celebrated Dr. Jenner

19 Aug. Walked along Crifty-Croft Lane [Churchdown, now known as Crifty-Craft Lane (certainly since 1938)]

26 Aug. Legend told relating to Christ Church, Bournemouth

28 Sept. Today is Barton Fair - city very busy in consequence

30 Sept. Induction of Rev. Hodges to vicarage of Badgeworth

12 Oct. Has been persuaded by the Vicar to write a history of Churchdown. Begins a sketch of the work

19 Oct New landlord at the Old Elm (Mr. Duffy), Mrs. Brown having retired

27 Oct. Discussion re. the route taken by Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn in going from Tewkesbury to Gloucester

28 Oct. Meeting to consider the raising of funds to provide chairs in the new church

31 Oct. Description of journey by train to Nailsworth

9 Nov. Rafters of the new church are in place and boarding of roof commenced

21 Dec. Some opinions re. the history of some Churchdown houses

[Loose page(s) relating to 28 Dec. (part) to 31 Dec. (part) missing]

1904