Diary Dec 1898 - April 1899

14 Dec. Preparing a school museum in a specially made cupboard

1899

5 Jan. 25th. anniversary of the opening of the school

7 Jan. Mr. Wellington "professed to be in a tremor re. his proposed new building in field opposite the Doctor's"

18 Jan. Went to the Opera House (Cheltenham) for a performance of Tannhauser by Wagner, scenery very good

25 Feb. Travelled to Birmingham by train from Cheltenham (Lansdown). Excursion fare 2/6d.

26 Feb. Went to Smethwick Old Chapel or Church - a red brick structure, "Style of building Georgian and therefore execrable". Later met Mr. Tunnycliffe, manager or secretary at Mitchell's Brewery "and has £800 a year"

23 March Reading Canterbury Tales (the Miller's and Reve's) "both one may say almost indecent and not what I expected"

3 April At Annual Vestry Meeting it was decided that a committee be set up to endeavour to obtain an organ for the Parish Church of £250 in value or thereabouts, and to consider the building of a new church and to obtain a site for it

8 April Visit to Lamb Inn, Gloucester (between N. end of Dog Lane and King Street) - description. In evening visit to Opera House (Cheltenham) for performance of comic opera La Poupés (The Doll). Full account of plot etc.

11 April Bought black trousers and waistcoat at Hepworths - total cost 18/6

12 April Description of funeral at Charlton Kings, followed by reading of the deceased's will

30 April Three weeks have been spent [not by the author] in cleaning the church - parts of the wall cleared of plaster revealing original worked stone. Some Norman stone zig zag work disclosed in S. aisle window