Reference
OR2244/5a
Title
Travel Diary etc , including watercolour sketches but many missing
Date free text
Sept 1860- July 1861
Production date
From: 1860 To: 1861
Scope and Content
containing (a) Our fortnight in Wales
Larden, Llangollen, Valle Crucis, Dinas Bran, by coach to Dolgelly via Corwen and Bala
at Dolgelly stayed at Brynfynnon.
visits in area including Nannau Waterfalls (8 miles from Dolgelly), Barmouth (including an account of bathing) Llanegryn, Llyn gwril, Cader Idris, Cynmer Abbey and back to Llangollen.
by train from Llangollen Road to Shrewsbury and Marsh Bank.
Stayed night at Aunt Fanny at Acton Scott 8 September 1860.
(b) Diary on her return
includes stopping at Ashford Hall, Shropshire on way to musical Festival at Worcester (probably the “Three Choirs”)
(c) visit to Downton Castle from Larden N.B. building going on at Downton Castle
Visits Batchcott, Maryknoal
account of frightening maid by dressing up as a ghost.
visits Ludlow and Petchfield, Leintwardine September – October 1860.
visit to Ashford, Shropshire
including visit to Birchet, Whitton Court, Burford Church (Shropshire) October 1860.
(d) visit to Bridgnorth
pony trap crash; Bridgnorth exhibition – pictures, china etc.
Welcome to Ralph Benson and wife after their wedding October 1860.
(e) return to Larden – life there
visit to Downton Hall 9 November 1860.
at Larden: - visit to Acton Burnell, Shrewsbury
Theresa at Lamport and Melchbourne
immediately after Christmas Frederica goes to Melchbourne
entertaining children at Christmas in Shropshire – Christmas tree; Mr. More’s beef dinner for Brocton School children
Stuck in to book printed ‘Melchbourne Park Theatricals: a Match in the Dark’ 10 January 1861.
(Frederica played Ellen Marsden)
did not come off. 152 people there: Thumping Legacy substituted (play by John Maddison Morton, also stuck into the volume)
(f) visit to Melchbourne
31 December went by train to Higham Ferrers.
account (including water colour) of the Theatricals at Melchbourne; good on the different rooms in the house.
theatricals at Drayton, Northamptonshire.
larks of Beauchamp St. John (1844-1912)
skating, rowing etc. 23 January: Shoot (Richard and John Orlebar came)
all January 1861.
visit to Rushden Hall, Northamptonshire (home of Sartoris family)
good description. “never reminded of the upholsterer.”
February 1 reference to book of ballads Frederica was illustrating for Aunt Fanny (Stackhouse Acton)
Journey to London - chaperoning Maud Orlebar to school
time in London - goes to see ‘Colleen Bawn’
(g) Visit to Farringdon House, Berkshire (seat of the Bennetts)
good description of the house.
Charades described in detail (fine sketches)
a concert 5 March 1861.
(h) journey to Shropshire describes road from Shifnal past Willey Park to Wenlock.
(i) time at Larden - March 18 Visit to Acton Scott – 28 March visit to Downton Hall - Easter Monday School Treat at Acton Scott.
went up to Swiss summer house on Castle Hill
visit of Mrs. Eichbaum and Janis Inglis to Larden 16 April following.
(j) visit to Downton Hall and Castle; St. John and Rachel Orlebar staying at former.
general comments on engagement and marriage to Richard Orlebar (nine weeks after engagement) April – May 1861.
(k) Visit to Hinwick, good description of her first impressions.
27 May mentions producing photograph book
mentions Frederica and Illustrated Ballads and Poems for Aunt Fanny.
describes William Augustus Orlebar (1744-1873) and Hinwick Hall.
visit to see Castle Ashby ‘quite a show place’
actual decision to get engaged May 18 1861.
mentions pianoforte being moved from Larden to the drawing room at Hinwick Hall between 1861 and 1864.
details change of arrangement of furniture for first time for thirty years.
sketch of Mrs. Augustus Orlebar’s ‘Fly’ being used by ladies with crinolines’.
Sharnbrook Confirmation of Beauchamp St. John
decision to set up house jointly with Uncle Augustus at Hinwick Hall.
Welcome of Orlebar family to Frederica
(pencil notes contrasts position in 1879) 29 May 1861.
visit to Rushden Hall 31 May 1861.
visit to Melchbourne 4 June 1861.
description of Major Magenis 7 June 1861.
shopping for wedding 10 June 1861.
on another visit to Hinwick 22 June 1861.
shopping again! Comments on small house in Brampton.
Frederica against love in a cottage - so inconvenient with crinolines.
31 June 1861.
(l) back to Shropshire - Acton Scott, Larden
lists wedding presents - a number from Bedfordshire people, Magenis, Gibbard etc.
Cuthbert Orlebar’s illness July 1861.
(m) The wedding 30 July 1861.
(took place at Shipton Church, Shropshire, Mr. More officiated)
newspaper account of wedding pasted in on last page.
24 August 1860 – 30 July 1861.
(the last portion written up in May 1864)
Published copy available in search room as MIC301
Reference
Published as a microfilm by academic publishers Adam Matthew.
Level of description
item