The Diary of a Cotswold Parson (Biography, Letters & Diaries S.) - Softcover

Witts, Francis E.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 090438733X ISBN 13: 9780904387339

Publisher: Sutton Publishing Ltd, 1979

Synopsis

These journals, written in the early part of the 19th century, provide an insight into Gloucestershire life and the world of the Victorian parson. Witts describes his life, work and pastimes, just before rail transport made travel a lot faster. He notices how the fashionable world behaves as he passes through Cheltenham, and how the building of the town progresses. The reader discovers that John Forbes, the architect of the beautiful Pittville Pump Room, was sentenced to transportation for life for fraud, even though it was subsequently commuted to a few years in prison. The parson describes the countryside through which he travelled, and the country houses in which he stayed, particularly Prinknash, where he was a frequent visitor to the Howell family, and Lydney, where he stayed with the Bathursts.

About this title

Product Description

"The Diary Of A Cotswold Parson", from 1820 and 1852, reveals the world of the English parson to us and throws new light on a fascinating period of social history. It was just before the railways made travel much faster, yet it is astonishing how well the Reverend F.E. Witts manages 25 miles from his rectory in Upper Slaughter to Gloucester on his horse or in his carriage. Witts was a shrewd observer and notices how the fashionable world behaves as he passes through Cheltenham, and how the building of the town progresses. His work at Gloucester brought him into contact with some interesting historical figures, and the diary enables us to form a more rounded picture of various famous names, such as the inventor of the smallpox vaccine, Dr Edward Jenner, and Bishop Monk.

About the Author

David Verey is best known for his authorship of the two Pevsner volumes covering Gloucestershire. He was an architectural historian of note, and his pioneering efforts, bringing the diaries of Francis Witts to public notice brought him much acclaim.

Edition details

• Publisher: Sutton Publishing Ltd
• Publication date: 1979
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 090438733X
• ISBN 13: 9780904387339
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 192