Title
Edward Harris Strange to Samuel May Strange 26 Dec 1863
Weston- super-Mare 12/12/63
My dear Samuel,
Thy nice long letter of yesterdays date, with the accompanying photo of thyself was very acceptable, the latter especially as I wanted to have a copy to place in an Album which I had presented to me some time ago -
We have been here 8 days and intend leaving on Second day. I started from Cotmore yesterday week by the first train via Leominster, Hereford, Gloucester, & Bristol, reaching the latter place about 12.45, and had to wait till 12.50 before I could proceed to this place - during the time I was detained at Bristol I occupied myself in looking at the advertisements and walking up and down the platform.
Whilst enjoying these quiet and solitary perambulations, I was surprised & astonished to meet Annie taking similar exercise - I passed her once without recognising her not having the least expectation of seeing anyone I ought to know - we were not long before we started for Weston, and on arriving we soon caught sight of Mary Ellen - she had arrived there some time before us.
We soon got the luggage out of the van, some six or eight bags and boxes with which Mary Ellen's packages from the left-luggage department made up a full load for a fly with Annie and myself inside. M.E. had to call in town to procure something to satisfy the Keen demand of hunger - we had not been long at our lodgings before she joined us bringing with her a good supply of "heavy fixings" in the shape of a beef steak not to be despised at such a time - our Landlady soon had it ready for us, and we all enjoyed our dinner -
This is a very pretty place even at this season of the year, and we have had for Xmas very fine weather, & we have been able without any inconvenience to take long rambles by the sea-side - the wind has been tolerably quiet all the week, or we could not have gone out so much, as the town and the walks are much exposed to the South-West winds - there are not many friends living here, and some of these are out at the present time. We have seen Jonathan Smith several times, he enquired after and desired to be remembered to thee - On Second day, William Jenner, a minister, was here, and what is called a social meeting with friends, - the gathering took place at J.A.S.'s on second day evening when we had been - and spent a pleasant Evening - There were thirty five friends who attended.
Thou hast heard no doubt of Cheddar so noted for its firm Cheese as also some grand scenery - a cavern was discovered about 20 years ago close to the village of a very remarkable character, and has attracted great attention. On fifth day last was planned a journey to this remarkable place, hired a horse and carriage, and went over in the Morning - the cavern has some fine specimens of stalactites, and stalagmites, some straight & of equal size from one to 5 or 6 feet in length, as they were meant to serve as pillars to support the superincumbent rock, some of the shapes are very fantastic, and are called by the guide who showed us round by different names, such as Egyptian Mummy, Fat-Goon - some of the forms are in great folds like the drapery one sees on statues, and altogether it is a very wonderful place. It was discovered accidentally by a person who was about to build a coach house against the rock, and he has made a deal of money by it - his charge is one shilling.
In Summer this place is much frequented - there is an addition to this cave or cavern, a marvellous chasm, through a rock,, extending 4 miles - we walked along this opening which is a high road for all sorts of traffic - on one side the rocks are from 3 to 4 hundred feet high - almost perpendicular - I had no idea there was such a place anywhere in England -
We had a fine day for our trip for the time of year, but Summer, with a bright sun, would be the best time to pay these weather-beaten rocks a visit - we returned by Sidcot, made a call on Josiah Evans, one of the teachers, and reached W.S.M. at 7 o'clock highly delighted with our day's outing -
Mary Ellen is going to pay a visit at Thomas Pease's, Henbury Hill, Bristol - where a letter will find her during the whole of next week -
The town of Weston is prettily situated, many new houses are up on the side of a high hill which commands a fine view of the bay, tho' there is not much to be seen in it but mud - the water is very shallow and does not admit of any thing but small boats to approach its shore.
M.E. & Annie unite with me in dear love &c. I am thy affectionate Father E.H.S.
S.M.Strange Postmark: WESTON SUPER MARE
Mr Henry Brown 26.12.1863
Market Place
Norwich