Entries from Anne Lister's Journals

Up an hour before on John's calling me but lay on the bed - Fahrenheit 59 now at 7 3/4 and went out at the pools Breakfast at 9 in about 3/4 hour - out Had Mr. Womersley who brought Wood of Orange Street mason to estimate for building the new house at Little marsh - at the pools and about Had Mercer the glazer about measuring for wash-house windows - then had Firth the glazer to lengthen and turn a little on one side the 2 one inch bore main pipes to the house A little while in the house with Ann then out again at the pools and at meer till between 5 and 6 when met Mr. Pollett coming to me in the walk - had brought an estimate of the Listerwick corn mill machinery = about £1000 - for 5 pair of stones including all joiners work including floors doors and windows of the mill Some time with Blythe in the China closet pulled down the plastering and laid bare the old stoothing Dinner at 7 - Ann and little Mary and Mr. Gray and I out about (after) 8 and walked to the Lodge - sat a little...

Very fine morning Fahrenheit 58 at 8 25/60 - out about till breakfast at 9 in about 3/4 hour then out again Booth told me he had been with Holt and the Manns and Wood and another ('a person with Holt') Illingworth, Robert Mann afterwards told me, who agreed with the Manns that 1/2 the engine pit would not do - not to tell me - thanked Booth Came in and wrote to Mr. Harper to come over as soon as he could and to Mr. Bates not to proceed with anything till his engineer had had his plans approved by Mr. Harper who would know what extra time to allow for this delay and would settle about the back shuttle not mentioned in Mr. Bates's last estimate Sent off by Ann about 10 1/2 my Letter to ' John Harper Esquire St. Leonard's Place York Postage Paid' and my note to 'Mr. George Bates Millwright Sowerby Bridge', and then out again Ann took little Mary in the carriage to Halifax to see the procession and hear the proclamation of Queen Victoria and got back about b...

Very fine morning Fahrenheit 59 1/2 at 8 Ann with me for 1/4 hour till near 8 - out about till breakfast at 8 40/60 and sat talking to Ann till 9 40/60 Then out - with Charles Howarth making the glen bridge gate, and with Mr. Gray and Booth ordering about the brewhouse and then with Mr. Samuel Washington measuring off the stuff carted from the front of the house to the foot of the great embankment under the road wall in front of the house, setting out another portion of stuff to be got - then with Mr. Gray at the meer - Mawson and his 6 men began this morning Mr. Gray's job about the byewash and undulating the top of the meer-embankment - with them till near 1 Mr. Gray came home to luncheon and I went by Lower brea and the new road to Mytholm quarry and then to Hipperholme ditto - nobody there - home by Mytham  Holt and Wood the Engineer came about the Engine pit pumps - Holt to have 1/2 the engine pit left clear.  Left Wood to drink his beer in the servants hall and had Holt ...

I ate 8 oranges just before getting into bed last night and read 1st chapter pages 28 of  Maurice's Indian Antiquities - read this morning forward to page 47 - fine morning but dull and F62 1/2 now at 8 3/4 a.m. then read forward to page 79 and breakfast at 9 10/60 to 10 sat talking to Mr. Gray - we then went out to the pools - then to the meer - and did not come in till 12 3/4  Ann walked to the school off about 8 1/2 a.m. From 1 to 2 1/4 wrote 3 pages and 1 end to Mariana Off to church took little Mary and Mr. Gray without stopping at the school on Cliff Hill, at 2 1/2 - Mr. Wilkinson did all the duty preached 18 minutes from 7 John v.17 - then about 3/4 hour at Cliff hill - Mrs. Ann Walker looking pretty well - much better than of late Home at 5 3/4 wrote Mariana that my wonder at her being so long in writing had subsided since my hearing she was gone abroad and therefore I supposed to Wisbaden - 'Imagine therefore my disappointment to find you deeper than ever in responsib...

Lay on the bed from 6 10/60 to 7 20/60 - awoke at 4 1/4 - I had got up had I recollected at the moment that Robert Mann and co. meant to come at 5 a.m. and stay till 1 to make up the day so as to have the afternoon for the fair - great Saturday - I must go to the bank Very fine morning very hot - Fahrenheit 69 now at 8 1/2 - sat reading till breakfast at 9 10/60 in about 1/2 hour Ann called off to Mr. Washington - saw him for a minute - has heard no more of the Holdsworth Godley cottage  Out at the pools till 11 - meant to have gone to Halifax to the bank but Ann expected her navigation dividends in time Sat reading from 11 to 2 except a minute or 2 with Mawson about 1 as to what should be done on Monday - all his job done at the meer except opposite the byewash and a bit of ornamental mounding near it - Mr. Gray and I to be at the meer very early on Monday and Mawson to keep on 6 of his men  Ann came to me a little before two to say the dividends not paid today so I must go t...

Very fine morning and Fahrenheit 67 1/2 at 7 20/60 a.m. at the pools and the meer and about till breakfast at 9 in about 3/4 hour - then out all the day at the meer and pools and about till came in at 7 Ann did not return till 7 1/4 very much tired and lay down and did not appear at dinner Dinner at 7 1/2 to about 8 - then out near an hour at the pools Coffee at 9 - read the paper partly aloud to Mr. Gray - came upstairs at 10 1/2 very fine day - Fahrenheit 65 at 9 3/4 p.m.. Had Mr. Jubb about 2 - Hannah (Mrs. Heap) going on very well - had Messrs. George Bates and Pollett and the engineer about (before) 4 went over with them to the wheel-race - Mr. George Bates said it would be six weeks before they could be ready - I said that would be terrible - the pumps must be put in immediately and we must have them at work in a fortnight - mentioned the pentrough being ashlar the pentrough must hang over 13 feet the longest plank maybe 16 feet and the shortest plank 8 feet long then sent Joseph...

Very fine morning and Fahrenheit 58 at 7 and out at 7 10/60 about - on the top of wash-house at the pools &c. - John Burton gave me warning! only came on Saturday cannot bear the confinement breakfast at 9 having had before Parkinson and another to do the garden wall footings, 3 feet high 2 feet 6 inches broad, I finding everything even water in the middle of the garden, - for 9/- per rood Stood in my study reading Mr. Arthur Freeling's little sextodecimo on Etiquette from 9 3/4 to 10 55/60 - then 10 minutes slumbering on my sofa - Ann had Mr. Horner Out again at 11 1/4 - for a little while - with Blythe in the hall - still disabled and had Booth - thinks 9/- per rood for the footings of the garden wall laying very fair - could not make wage at less A little while with Ann mentioned going over to Hamburg via Hull as likely to do us both good From about 12 1/2 to after 3 at colliery accounts, and inking over memoranda &c. - 3/4 hour dusting in my study till 4 1/4 - then out ...

Very fine morning out at 7 1/4 and Fahrenheit 60 - about - came in at 9 to breakfast having taken Robert Mann and Jack Green and the gardener and his 2 men of Roberts Joseph Booth and Abraham, to Mr. Gray's job at the pools Sometime with Ann before Mr. Gray came - had Mr. Washington for minute or 2 - had heard nothing more from Hardcastle about his wood and the road to it, or about the Holdsworth Godly cottages Out about till off with Mr. Gray about before, 11 to the meer - had Mawson there - then by the meer road to Hipperholme quarry at 12 - sometime there giving advice to Hartley about what stones to send - then returned to luncheon while I looked about with Joseph Mann - just finishing soiling up about the bridge - nice bit of ground for a garden - told him about putting the shed not under the bridge as planned by Charles Howarth but close to the gate to think what he could get it done for Then by Pump lane to Mark Town's - still sinking - no appearance of water as yet - th...

Fine morning Fahrenheit 62 now at 7 1/4 A few moments with Ann then out about and a little while with Blythe till 8 5/60 - then reading (Egypt) till breakfast at 9 in about 3/4 hour with Ann Mr. Gray not coming till 9 1/2 - then had Holroyd the saddler about leather for rolling clow and Mosey about Market cart till 11 Then out about 11 50/60 sent off John Booth to Halifax for lead piping at 12 - sauntering afterwards at the pools with Mr. Gray till he came in to luncheon at 12 3/4 From then to 5 40/60 getting wine out of the cupboard in Ann's store-room and arranging it (putting it in sawdust) in the hall cellar Out at 5 50/60. In the courtyard Firth began the rain-water cistern pipes this afternoon sauntering about with Mr. Gray - Shaw the plasterer came to me - his man to come to do the ceilings my uncle's room on Thursday - had Joseph Mann a few moments - wants some new iron wedges for sinking Listerwick pit very well Holt to order them - at the rock bridge coming in at 7 wh...

Fine but dull - Fahrenheit 56 at 9 and 61 at 11 a.m. Had Mawson about planks and the road to get the garden stuff away - began making it this morning and Robert Mann and co. began the rain-water cistern drains my own 2 carts carrying away the stuff dug out - John Booth took Hotspur to be shod and then to go for beer Breakfast at 10 3/4 in 1/4 hour having stood above an hour talking to Hilton about politics - he will now give a blue vote - came to ask me to let him have the Northgate ground for the fair - no! said I had had a great many applications but had refused all Mr. Jubb came at 11 1/4 - Ann and I off in the yellow carriage to make calls at 12 1st to Miss Briggs and sat with her, had called at Nicholson's shop and bought gloves for little Mary and myself mine wanting a little mending, from 12 25/60 - then to Miss Ralph - not at home - left Ann's card and mine - then to Mrs. Dyson Willow field at 1 10/60 - not at home - left cards Then to Pye Nest a Miss Dyson antiquitis o...

Dull morning rain in the night and this morning recently Ann came in ready for church at 8 1/2 or later. Hear there was a little rain before she could reach the school (she walked) Fahrenheit 55 1/2 at 9 10/60 a.m. breakfast at 10 10/60 – breakfast at 10 1/2 in about 1/2 hour – before and after till 2 read from page 42 to 173 volume 3 Edinburgh Cabinet Library, Egypt – very interesting George drove the gray in the market cart and the 3 women servants and Mrs. Heap leaving Oddy at home to church 1st time – off at the same time as myself who took little Mary at 1 20/60 – no! the market cart was just behind me but I had just turned the corner into the is-to-be laundry court when I heard all was not right – alighted – found the gray had jibbed – Kicked and broke the shafts of the market cart, and upset it and all the women all much frightened – nobody hurt but Mrs. Heap who had hurt her wrist – she looked pale and sick. I saw the wrist swelling, But the joint moved without giving her much ...

Dullish rather hazy morning much rain in the night Fahrenheit 69 now at 8 50/60 a.m. breakfast at 9 in 3/4 hour Had Mawson – gave him check for £50 on account He shewed me his bill of £32.1.11 to be examined by Mr. Harper for carting materials and digging away stuff &c. all on account of the new building at the Stump Cross Inn Note from Mr. Waterhouse requesting me to send back the Registration subscription list, it being the only one the committee had – send it back by the servant - with civil note very sorry to have given Mr. Waterhouse the trouble of sending for it Then out (very rainy) in the barn – Robert and his men there – long talk to Robert he said Mark and Mawson would have asked him 6d per yard for the garden stuff carting – was he bound to employ them for carting the platform stuff – no! if he could get it done cheaper than by them he was at liberty to do so; but if they would do it as cheap as anybody else, of course I wished them to have the 1st refusal Then went to t...

Very fine morning Fahrenheit 70 at 9 1/4 and breakfast in about 1/2 hour Mr. Samuel Washington being waiting the last 1/4 hour then out with him at the meer and Lodge road and in the front of the house measured off a plot of their old garden stuff to be moved at per yard cube 3 1/2d filling and 4 carting Mawson would take it if the Manns did not – Samuel Worthington thought 1/3 per yard face measure for the meer-bank stoning and same for the wearing not too much – thought the stuff shifting barrow-runs should be the usual price, 5d for the 1st and 1d each for the other 2 = 7d per yard cube – but Mawson said afterwards he really could not do it for this – the run-laying, great balks belonging to Booth, had cost 20/- and would cost as much more moving and taking away – agreed that the price of the stuff shifting should be settled when it was seen what quantity was taken – suppose 8d per yard cube – settled to have the End of the meer from a yard or 2 down the side of the bye-wash to wher...

Fahrenheit 63 and very fine morning and out at 7 55/60 At the meer with Robert and Sam and Jack and John Holmes – the latter sent home with Zebedee who took the planks to the Lodge to form the run again for the Lodge stuff moving – Robert and the other 3 men took up and planted hollies about the new clowhouse Came in to breakfast at 9 1/2 in and out and breakfast in about 1/2 hour till about 10 1/2 Just saw Ann about 8 to tell her John Booth was taking the fixtures (fire grates) to Hill top – Mr. Horner not come – a little after 10 before I had breakfasted Miss Briggs called on Ann and was admitted – did not ask for me Ann wrong as ever and I think more and seriously of being off came to my room about ten and a half and had a motion bowel open then sat musing and looking at road map of France to spend next winter cheaply and improvingly at Montpellier settle all and be off as soon as I can be perfectly civil and properly attentive to Ann and shew I'll do the rest to help on our qu...

Very fine morning Fahrenheit 64 at 8 35/60 and went out – about at the top of the tower Breakfast at 9 5/60 to 9 1/2 then all the morning till with John siding and sweeping at the beer cellars and moving the beer, and altering the gantry, and putting plate chest into business room (late upper buttery) and moving cowslip wine into hall ante-cellar Sent off by John Booth this afternoon, went with Zebedee and 2 horse cart for gas tar. Note to ‘Mr. Mackean Yorkshire District Bank Halifax’ for £50 for this and order payable to Messrs. Robert Harrison and Co. at Leeds £31.3.11 and enclosed check no. 130 dated today for £81.3.11 Out at 1 3/4 till came in at 7 10/60 – at the meer with Mawson and Robert Mann and Co. - ordering what stuff Mawson should tar for strengthening the embankment – is moving (he says) at the rate of 60 yards a day and will have done next week – so much the better Robert and Co. taking up oaks from where Mawson is to dig and replanting them and finishing up about the new...

Fine morning Ann came and sat with me when I dressed I said laughingly perhaps I may go to Leipsig fair whether you and I'll bundle off or not she gave no answer and I spoke no more Out – at the meer – did not stop to speak to anyone – by the walk and Charles Howarth’s to the wheel race and then to Listerwick pit – Joseph Mann not there – George Naylor’s cart carrying stuff from Listerwick pit to Embankment in Charles Howarth’s Norwood nearfield – returned along the Embankment and then to the rock bridge and the pools – musing there till came in to breakfast at 9 Sent for Ann she did not speak nor did I except to say civilly half a cup if you please having myself poured out the first and on coming away I said I am going little one still she did not speak Out again about 9 3/4 – Mallinson had been at the Lodge – I went with Booth supposing Mallinson to be there – no! – some time with Booth soldering in the steps, sockets for the gate-hanging styles to turn in, and Bligh and Robert t...

Fine morning rather hazy as if for more rain at 7 1/4 – Fahrenheit 57 at 8 and went down stairs some time talking to Bliythe [sic] breakfast at 9 in about 3/4 hour Then out – at the meer at 10 – could not see that Robert + 5, Sam Booth, Jack Green, John Holmes, William Friar, and Michael, had done much – sharpened them up – James Sharpe the mason there squaring the pillar stones at top and bottom for the bye-wash covered places 4 men at the run of stuff to make up about the meer-clowhouse in Charles Howarth’s field and occasionally called off to the bye wash Took James the mason to Robert’s cobbling up the walls on Saturday and kept him 1/2 hour over time till 12 1/2 for which gave him 6d 1/2 hour with Ann from 1 to 1 1/2 and ate 4 oranges – then out again at the meer till rain came in at 5 35/60 All took shelter for 20 minutes then the rain continuing went home – had Joseph Mann a few minutes who brought his coal-book and paid me for the last few loads got in bringing up the level for...

No kiss Fine morning and Fahrenheit 51 1/2 at 8 1/4 a.m. Out about the house and planning with Mr. Husband and Booth the preserve closet in the cellar – Wood and Matthew and Samuel and Jack at sinking for west-tower cellar but Jack poorly and went home between 10 and 11 very soon after 10 Joseph Mann sent us one of his men in the afternoon Breakfast at 9 1/4 in about 3/4 hour – afterwards about – heard Ann her French at 10 40/60 – at my desk at 11 From 11 10/60 to 2 40/60 wrote 2 half sheets full to Lady Gordon and 3 pages and ends (ends very small and close) to Lady Vere Cameron Thanks to Lady Gordon for saving me from the pother of Domenico Ferrari – I have know 2 or 3 hop-on-my-thumb hot-headed Italians – had forgotten my prejudices on this chapter, till reminded by Lady Gordon’s letter – out of love with Italians – mention Fischer much lauded – and the Swiss recommended to Lady Stuart de Rothesay – ‘sous tous les rapports’ – waiting to hear more from the Swiss – the speaking German...

No kiss Fair but dull and Fahrenheit 52 at 8 35/60 a.m. Breakfast at 9 1/4 to 10 – before and afterwards till 12 1/2 and again for 1/2 hour before dinner read last Quarterly Review few last pages of the interesting article on Drumann’s Genealogical History of Rome and skimmed over the rest of this volume At 12 1/2 Ann and I said prayers to my aunt and Oddy and Cookson & George in 25 minutes – I then slept 1/4 hour and then roused up and talked to my aunt 1/4 hour – she had had a bad night – has had a slight return of spasms these last few days At church at 3 – Mr Wilkinson did all the duty – preached 23 minutes from Matthew xxii. 35. and then 55 minutes at Cliff hill and home at 5 55/60 Dinner at 6 1/2 – coffee – sat talking 8 till 9 – then with my aunt and read the newspaper Charlotte Booth poorly – Mr. Jubb has seen her this evening  - a bowel complaint Fine day – Fahrenheit 50 now at 10 3/4 p.m.  WYAS: SH:7/ML/E/19/0084

No kiss Much rain in the night and raining till 8 or after but fine now and Fahrenheit 58 at 8 1/2 In the new cellar with Wood till breakfast at 9 1/4 had Turner just before and paid his 2 little bills Out again about 10 1/4 with Wood and Jack sighting up and then setting end stone into the hill and then finishing out the lowmost line of rock – Matthew and Sam Booth and Richard and Benjamin at manure spreading till near 11 – then at the west-tower cellar stuff taking out and barrowing to below the cowhouse against the lime tree – John brought the lead cistern at 12 Came in at 12 1/2 – with Ann till 1 3/4 Robert Schofield and Joseph Sharpe spreading manure yesterday and this morning? all of it well done today From 1 50/60 to after 5 wrote a 1/2 sheet full and 1 page and 1 end envelope to Lady Stuart de Rothesay – and 3 page and under the seal of 1/2 sheet to Lady Stuart – wrote with rapidity and ease (smallish and closeish) and never wrote better letter to the former? very much obliged ...

No kiss Much rain in the night Fahrenheit 61 now at 7 10/60 a.m. and small rain and very damp – very rainy morning – out from 7 10/60 for an hour – with the Wood at the Low fish pond – pulled the plugs up to let all the water off – he + 5 (Sam and Jack and Matthew and Richard and Benjamin) all to set to at the pond and repuddle and sod up whole cistern – end of it – had set 4 to spread the manure in the paddock – called them off – some time taking shelter at the Lodge – Robert Schofield and Joseph Sharp and John Booth to spread manure – Frank to cart puddle for the pond Till 9, copying out letters into business Letter Book then breakfast and heard Ann her French and with her looking about in the new cellar &c. till 11 Then out in spite of the rain at the Low fish pond, - and about – Ann rode to Cliff hill between 2 and 3 and in spite of the perpetual and heavy showers got there and back – gleams No fault in the embankment and puddling of the Low fish pond – in doubt whether to put ...

No kiss Fine morning – highish wind and Fahrenheit 60 at 7 35/60 a.m. at which hour went out The 2 York joiners were boarding up the top of the housekeeper’s bedroom – they had not cased the beam – so stopt them and had what they had done taken down and the beam cased – not their fault – Mr. Husband himself did not like the look of the job and I had to make an alteration which has improved the look so much – about 1 or 3/4 of a day’s work lost Had Charles and James Howarth putting up temporary gate at the Lodge – hanging the used Whiskum gate that they had repaired and taking measure for new gate into the Paddock (Godley top field) David Booth and 1 man at the cellar – 4 men taking out stuff for cellar under the west tower Matthew, Richard, Samuel and Benjamin and Wood and Jack Green finishing putting gravel on about the pool and jobbing there in the morning &c – in the afternoon setting these biggish stones, set one there in the morning, so as to finish up at the lowest part of th...

No kiss Small rain and dull morning Fahrenheit 62 now at 8 1/2 having stood reading last night’s paper in my study Out - Turner brought 10 of the 1/6 stone posts – with Matthew and Samuel Booth and Amos at the new cellar window Booth and Benjamin at the run – Jack Green finishing puddling over the bridge arch on this side against the road wall – Wood and Richard (the Manns’ brother in law) mowing my 2 1/4 Day Work of the Long field Breakfast at 9 1/4 in about 3/4 hour – out again. 2 masons and 2 boys at the road wall against the Cave – the 2 York joiners doing the top of the housekeepers bedroom that is to be – ci devant phaeton house – at Walker pit when George came about 11 to say Mr Horner was come – Ann had sent to know if I wished to see him – went home He will try to give Ann one lesson a week – I wished him to try to give 2 lessons a week – advised his son’s going to Rome instead of Paris Then out – about till came in at 12 1/2 – Mr Parker’s errand having come to me at the cave ...

No kiss Fine but dull and Fahrenheit 55 at 7 10/60 a.m. at which hour out till breakfast at 9 – waited for Ann and out with her at 10 1/2 Walked to the Lodge and sauntered about till 11 1/2 – then with Wood again (Wood + 4) at the cave and embankment as yesterday – had Wood and Jack at slopping down behind the great sycamore till breakfast – afterwards at the Cave East wall – Wood wanted to be off in the afternoon to stack 3 Day Work for somebody – said he might send Matthew so he did and staid at his work here got another man in Matthews place for this afternoon – 3 at the run shifting soil to the embankment and Wood and Jack Green at the cave – had them off part of this afternoon putting up and loadening Frank (the cart and 2 horses) 1 load of stones (Earth fasts calliards as Mawson called them) dug up out of the meer – they do admirably for the cave Frank carting lead and then slates from Halifax to the Lodge and a few stones this afternoon for backing up in the road wall against th...

No kiss but incurred a cross on my chair in my dressing room last night on getting ready for bed did the same about a fortnight ago and about that time incurred a cross in bed Ann being asleep Fair but dull morning and Fahrenheit 50 at 8 3/4 at which hour went out With Wood + 4, Benjamin and Matthew and Sam and Jack, at the Low fish pond soil moving and embanking – poor Robert Mann Frank, brought word last night was worse yesterday and had 8 leeches on Breakfast at 9 1/2 in 3/4 hour – out again. Frank finished carting puddle for the cave – brought some rough stone from the Lodge – then picked up 6 yards causeway stone for Robert Schofield and Joseph Sharp to finish out with in the road in front of the house – Booth having finished the Large chimney on Saturday has 2 men flagging the coal-place and cellar at the Lodge but is here himself with Amos at the new cellar and joiners shop window – a man and 2 boys cornering stone for the rebuilding the road-wall against the cave – with Wood, c...