14 June 1902
Lambert leaves Staplehurst
16 June 1902
J Fuller commences his services here. Weather most depressing rain the whole of the day, making about 5 wet days in succession.
18 June 1902
To Cranbrook during evening to hear address on Education Bill. Everything and everybody preparing for Coronation
24 June 1902
Rumours of King's illness and postponement of coronation
25 June 1902
To Matfield after closing, beautiful but very warm weather
26 June 1902
Sent cheque £4.6.0 to mother.
Staplehurst shops closed. Pollie Harry and self go to Matfield, self on machine very warm but pleasant - most seasonable weather for haymaking
01 July 1902
Smart storm and tremendous rain in course of evening.
Mother goes to Matfield, hay crop very heavy and farmers all busy
02 July 1902
Pollie and Harry go with excursion to Hastings. Perfection of weather
03 July 1902
Mrs Barnes comes to stay a few days
06 July 1902
Reading at Chapel and go to Matfield Mr and Mrs Huggett's 60th anniversary of wedding day
10 July 1902
Mrs Barnes leaves after a week's stay
To Maidstone with Mr Reeves coming home we encounter terrific thunderstorm and very severe hail
11 July 1902
Branch bank opened at Staplehurst
13 July 1902
Bert comes down for a week
14 July 1902
Supposed to be the hottest day of the century
16 July 1902
Pollie and Bert go to Collier Street and self on machine
17 July 1902
Jane Farmer leaves suddenly
21 July 1902
Messrs Wilmshurst and Masters pay us a visit. Weather completely changed and really quite cold.
23 July 1902
Pollie and Harry go to Ledgers self to Sutton Valance and Chart
24 July 1902
Paid Wickings is cheque value £64.12.11 for account ending Midsummer. Including Salt House, water closet, partition in dining room and painting shop front et cetera.
30 July 1902
Pollie and Harry go to Ashford anniversary. Nice pleasant weather.
31 July 1902
To Tilden Chapel to discuss what course to adopt - inspecting successor to Mr Masser deceased. Clara runs down for a few hours
01 August 1902
May Dann comes down and stays until bank holiday morning
04 August 1902
Bank holiday, to Tunbridge Wells by first train and on to Mayfield. Showery weather all return with mother getting to Staplehurst soon after 8 o'clock
09 August 1902
Coronation day and general holiday sports and fireworks down the park. Favourable weather but shower late at night
13 August 1902
To West Pike Fish after closing to find empty house. Taylor gets his nose broken necessitating three days at home
16 August 1902
Very heavy rain late at night
17 August 1902
Mr Lee speaks and sleeps next door
18 August 1902
A thorough wet day making things very gloomy and depressed
20 August 1902
To Matfield after closing, Alfred rides over
26 August 1902
To London to buy lamps et cetera. Eliza comes down and stays until Thursday evening
28 August 1902
To Smarden inspecting chapel affairs
31 August 1902
Sunday Pollie goes to Matfield to hear Mr Kirby a thorough wet day
01 September 1902
Mr Kirby down to Staplehurst for a few hours from Matfield. Fuller leaves and Goble succeeds him
07 September 1902
Sunday, a most beautiful day Mr Boorman speaks, Mr May away at Croydon
09 September 1902
Black mare sent over from Marden on approval, price 35. Hoppicking pretty well commenced
10 September 1902
A most terrific storm at Maidstone, Farleigh, Wateringbury, et cetera doing £50000 damage, Staplehurst escapes.
12 September 1902
Pollie and Harry go to Matfield for half a day
13 September 1902
Mr John Jull dies aged 80 buried Wednesday 17th
15 September 1902
Johnny Piper comes and stays a few days.
Paid Mr Bray £35 for black mare aged 5 to 6 years
16 September 1902
Pollie, Harry and Johnny go to Margate for the day. Weather more settled and seasonable
18 September 1902
Go to Maidstone and purchase eyeglasses and execute codicil to will appointing George Prall executor in place of uncle John Eldridge.
24 September 1902
Mother returns to Hawkhurst, Pollie and Harry going with her
30 September 1902
In London to buy jackets et cetera
03 October 1902
Pollie and Harry go to London
05 October 1902
Mrs Barnes over for the day
06 October 1902
Mrs Prall, George and Rose drive down and fetch Harry for a few days. very foggy. Hoppicking pretty well finished
12 October 1902
Mrs Prall and Jennie bring Harry back. Clara and Sara down for afternoon. Mr Lee's last engagement.
15 October 1902
Mrs Tolhurst buried
16 October 1902
Mrs Barnes comes to stay a few days returning on 20th
23 October 1902
Pollie runs up to Matfield for a hour or two, nice pleasant weather.
26 October 1902
Pollie and Harry go to Matfield for the Sunday. Reading at Staplehurst
29 October 1902
Anniversary at Matfield, Mr Kirby.
Pollie goes to Matfield with a lot of Staplehurst people. Most beautiful weather.
02 November 1902
Self to Hawkhurst to hear Mr Kirby on machine
03 November 1902
Mr Kirby spends a few hours at Staplehurst, Clara and Sam down for the afternoon. Most extraordinary weather for November, fine day and mild with cold nights
13 November 1902
Pollie goes to Maidstone with Clara for half day's outing
16 November 1902
Mr Miles’ last service at Staplehurst. Weather very favourable and particularly pleasant for November
17 November 1902
Lecture at Parish room with Landserm on stamps
18 November 1902
To Springfield to meet trustees of Collier St. Only myself and Mr Crowhurst, bitterly cold east wind -like March weather
20 November 1902
Snowing and sleeting nearly all day and very cold. Pollie runs up home after dinner for a few hours.
25 November 1902
Tuesday. To Matfield for a few hours very dirty, damp and warm for November
26 November 1902
Mr Prall's 70th birthday. Pollie to Matfield in the afternoon
01 December 1902
A thorough November day, dirty Dell and gloomy with heavy rain at night. Rain generally much wanted by farmers et cetera. Heavy rain nearly all night
02 December 1902
Mr May seeized with a stroke and his life in danger for several days
04 December 1902
Very heavy fall of snow and intensely cold. Winter sets in with fierce severity
05 December 1902
Mr May fluctuates but signs of improvement towards evening
08 December 1902
Mr Kirby comes down to see Mr May returning by 5 train. Weather cold
09 December 1902
To London and Roman Road returning by mail train
14 December 1902
Arrange to go to Hawkhurst but Pollie very poorly, self very poorly on following day and quite prostrate. Much warmer and deal of rain
18 December 1902
Mr R May passes away aged 76 after 16 days anxious illness. Funeral on Tuesday 23, Mr Ashdown officiating and a very large attendance.
24 December 1902
Weather mild, dry and genial. Mrs Shepherd comes to stay a few days.
28 December 1902
Last Sunday in the year, fine but showery evening. Mr Fields’ last visit, we fear not a profitable one. The old year passes away with much to remind us of the decay of times and things and mortals, Mrs Munn passing away on the 30th aged 84.
01 January 1903
The year comes in dull, mild and heavy showers
Pollie and Harry go to Paddock Wood after dinner
03 January 1903
Mrs Shepherd passes the 1st night in her new home.
A deal of rain for several days.
04 January 1903
Mr Kirby commences his 50 Sunday engagements with we hope the manifestation of God’s approbation
11 January 1903
Much colder and winter again sets in very severe with much snow on 12th and 13th and severe frost.
14 January 1903
To Headcorn to see Stevens after closing. Cold very intense and frost most severe continuing until end of week.
20 January 1903
Frost breaks up and much milder. Several deaths in neighbourhood Mrs Munn, Master Usborne, old Butcher et cetera
01 February 1903
Marsh at the station found dead. Jenna Marden Road dies.
04 February 1903
Pay 2 guineas GSP relief. Run up to Tonbridge to see Ford calling at Mr Burgess to get Collier Street book signed.
Pollie very poorly with heavy cold and influenza are a week.
07 February 1903
Lizzie (Mrs George Sharp) mother of a daughter who only lived a hour or two, progressing very favourable. Much illness in the neighbourhood. Self very poorly.
10 February 1903
Extraordinary weather, dry, mild and was perfection, almost too good
20 February 1903
Kept dry and mild and dust blowing
22 February 1903
Change in weather dull and damp
23 February 1903
Ford commences his services at Staplehurst. Pollie goes home for half day.
24 February 1903
To London and coming back Red Hill line to find myself stranded at Caterham, arriving at Staplehurst midnight. Stormy day and very wet windy night
01 March 1903
Cold, wet and unpleasant afternoon and evening. Sam, Clara and Johnny down.
02 March 1903
A thorough wet day and trade very bad and depressing.
05 March 1903
Wet, wet, wet and trade very bad
08 March 1903
Lush all day fine Sunday all the year with beautiful moonlight night.
Mr Reilly and self walk to Frittenden Green and call upon Mrs Bearey et cetera.
11 March 1903
To Hawkhurst after closing. Roads and weather perfection. Pollie very poorly and call in Dr Bennett. A week of most delightful weather.
22 March 1903
Most beautiful weather. Largest congregation at Chapel for a very considerable time. Mrs Prall and Jennie down in the afternoon. Mr Stevens stays to tea.
31 March 1903
To London to buy 1st parcel of straws. Trade very particularly quiet and depressing. Weather very uncertain sunshine and shower.
06 April 1903
Mr Barnett comes to stay a few days returning on the 8th. Pollie runs up to Ledgers after dinner. Clara very poorly and a daughter arrives on the scene same evening. Weather bright.
10 April 1903
Good Friday. Perfection of weather. Cold night and morning but bright and warm during the day. To Frittenden after dinner. Mr West speaks in evening and Mr Butter in evening, Chapel very full.
13 April 1903
Easter Monday. Polliey and Harry go to Matfield for the day, self to Hawkhurst. Cold north west wind, with warm intervals of sunshine, bright and warm. Sharp snowstorm at noon. Uncle Fred rides over from Mayfield.
15 April 1903
Plunged back into winter, sharp frosts very cold and wet.
17 April 1903
Remarkably cold, bedroom standing at 40°
20 April 1903
Sam calls at tea time, taking Pollie back to Paddock Wood to return by 8 train.
22 April 1903
Still very cold and unkindly weather giving very gloomy apprehensions for the coming year.
25 April 1903
Saturday. Blinds up the first time this season, followed by a soaking wet day, much wanted by farmers.
27 April 1903
Monday. Mr Kirby goes to see Courtland and Norringtons.
02 May 1903
Pay Dr Bennett 19/- for our bill
03 May 1903
Wet all day but good day at Chapel. Mr and Mrs Reader to tea.
07 May 1903
To Matfield after tea staying all night, come home by train very wet day.
10 May 1903
Baptising at Chapel, remarkable heavy rain in neighbourhood, none at Staplehurst.
12 May 1903
To London to buy men's straws et cetera. Busy house cleaning, Mrs Shepherd assisting.
14 May 1903
To Smarden to meet trustees, home through High Marden, very windy and hard work riding, weather very favourable.
20 May 1903
To Pike Fish and Colliers Street weather very favourable and spring like.
23 May 1903
Very warm and full sunshine all day.
25 May 1903
Water rate 6/-. Very poorly and indisposed for a few days. High winds and clouds of dust.
27 May 1903
Meeting at Board School for memorial
Lizzie and George Sharp down for the evening and attend meeting at school.
28 May 1903
Pollie goes home for the afternoon
29 May 1903
Prize day at school, Harry secures two prizes, very warm and growing
30 May 1903
Weather sets in very hot indeed followed by severe storms at home and abroad but Staplehurst exempt to a great extent.
31 May 1903
Remarkably warm for May.
01 June 1903
Whit Monday. Very hot indeed perfection of weather. Ellen with Bessie and Louis drive down and after dinner all go for a ride to Smarden (Headcorn), most pleasant drive, to Bogden after my return.
02 June 1903
Weather much cooler 20° difference wind and dust blowing.
03 June 1903
Pollie and Harry walk to Bogden to tea, weather really cold.
11 June 1903
48 hours rain, and fine warm weather much wanted
13 June 1903
Wet Saturday afternoon and evening.
14 June 1903
Wet depressing all day
15 June 1903
Committee meeting re memorial
16 June 1903
Wet, again nearly all day.
17 June 1903
Fine day and Matfield after closing.
18 June 1903
Pollie goes to Cranbrook Centenary Service, fine but very cold evening.
19 June 1903
Cold, wet gloomy and very depressing most unseasonable June within memory of man. floods everywhere.
21 June 1903
Nice change in weather but cold for June. Mr Kirby and self walk to Saw Mills in the evening.
22 June 1903
Club day at Staplehurst. Pollie and Harry go to Matfield and Pollie on to Hawkhurst returning with mother
24 June 1903
Lizzie and George Sharp come down. Weather very warm.
28 June 1903
Sunday hottest day of the year. Mr Kirby sleeps at Brickyard.
29 June 1903
Sam, Clara and family down, committee meeting. Mr Wilmshurst to tea.
01 July 1903
To Bogden to tea and walk over Little Hickmotts. Most lovely weather.
04 July 1903
Much cooler for a few days almost cold and very dusty. Very heavy hay crop and splendid weather for getting it in.
07 July 1903
To Mayfield with mother, nice weather and warmer.
08 July 1903
Excursion to Margate. Pollie and Harry go.
09 July 1903
Weather sets in very hot and rain wanted.
16 July 1903
Pollie goes to Matfield for half day. Showery.
19 July 1903
Very heavy thunder storm during afternoon service.
20 July 1903
Mr Kirby and self walk to L Hickmotts. Pollie and Mr Kirby go to Matfield in afternoon.
22 July 1903
Pollie and self ride to see Mrs Witherden and home via Sutton Valance.
23 July 1903
Very wet afternoon and evening.
26 July 1903
Sunday very wet and heavy rain.
27 July 1903
Rain continues and make things very gloomy and much hay spoiling
28 July 1903
Wet all day without any cessation. Wettest July in the memory of man. London flooded in many places.
29 July 1903
Pollie and Harry go to The Limes in connection with B and F Bible Society. Very heavy showers in course of day.
03 August 1903
Bank holiday. Smart shower in early morning. Pollie, self and Harry catch 6.45 train for Tunbridge Wells, thence on to Brighton. Weather perfection, visit aquarium and arrive home 9 o'clock.
04 August 1903
Alfred Piper of Roman Road, calls unexpectedly and stays all night having ridden from London.
05 August 1903
To Matfield after closing, nice weather. Pollie comes to meet me.
10 August 1903
Tom Prall and Chris Sharpe call for a hour or two.
11 August 1903
Wretchedly wet, miserable and dull.
Mother returns to Hawkhurst from Mayfield.
12 August 1903
Pollie and self ride over to see Stevens after closing.
14 August 1903
Send cheque to mother for half year interest £24.18.10
16 August 1903
Mr Kirby go to Hawkhurst to speak in the evening.
18 August 1903
To London to buy a few things wet morning but clears off and turns out a fine day with wet evening.
19 August 1903
Pollie and self ride to Saw Mills.
20 August 1903
Wet, gloomy dark and very depressing weather, giving everything a most solemn and sad appearance, much grass still uncut and corn battered about by high winds.
21 August 1903
Three bright sunny days in succession. The van repainted and renovated.
23 August 1903
Mr and Mrs Thirkell come to tea.
Mrs Prall and Jennie down.
24 August 1903
Wet, wet, wet and very depressing
26 August 1903
To Hawkhurst after closing.
01 September 1903
Harry and Pollie go to Palace for the day. Weather sets in extremely hot.
02 September 1903
Still very hot, with smart thunder shower in evening.
03 September 1903
To Bounds Cross to see Mr Kemp
05 September 1903
Pollie takes Harry up to Matfield for a few days, cooler but still very warm and pleasant weather. Hoppicking pretty general.
06 September 1903
Sunday wet all day and cooler.
07 September 1903
Nice weather again and pleasant
09 September 1903
To Matfield by train in afternoon.
11 September 1903
Pollie goes to Hawkhurst mother's 79th birthday, weather much colder and quite sharp frosts.
13 September 1903
Mr and Mrs Reader come to tea. Very nice weather.
16 September 1903
Mr and Miss Kirby come down at noon and go with self to Hickmotts to arrange about carpets et cetera et cetera. Very nice weather and warmer.
17 September 1903
Pollie goes to Matfield for the day. All pretty well.
20 September 1903
Mr Kirby very poorly, weather much warmer.
21 September 1903
Rose Prall, Ada Sharp down for a hour or two.
22 September 1903
Pollie goes to Matfield. Very wet day.
23 September 1903
To Hawkhurst in afternoon.
24 September 1903
Pollie goes to Matfield and returns with Harry. Most beautiful weather and people finishing Hoppicking.
27 September 1903
Mr Kirby's last Sunday with us.
29 September 1903
To London to buy Winter goods. Remarkably heavy rain in the evening and back of shop flooded. Hoppicking pretty well finished.
30 September 1903
[Mr Kirby] comes down on Wednesday evening with his daughter and sleeps here three nights in succession his furniture arriving on Friday morning.
04 October 1903
Mrs Barnes comes and stays a day or two returning to Maidstone on 7th. Pollie goes to Ledger on 6th.
08 October 1903
May and Sammy Dann down and stay one night, weather very showery.
10 October 1903
Goble leaves Staplehurst and Edwin Lindridge comes in on 12th.
11 October 1903
A thorough wet Sunday followed by a trenching Monday. Mr Kirby goes to speak at Hawkhurst.
18 October 1903
Reading at Chapel and Pollie and Harry go to Matfield, three nice days.
19 October 1903
Wet weather recommences, a most excessive quantity of rain. Harriett Humphrey leaves and J Blunt succeeds her.
21 October 1903
Miss Shepherd sleeps here for a few nights.
27 October 1903
Mrs Shepherd's daughter married. Pollie goes with Mr and Mrs Kirby to Cranbrook. Very wet weather and remarkably high floods.
01 November 1903
Weather much finer and prospects of finer weather.
08 November 1903
First complete fine week since July
09 November 1903
Mr Prall very ill and Pollie goes up for the day and again following day.
15 November 1903
Self goes up Sunday evening riding as far as Paddock Wood with Mr Thirkell.
16 November 1903
Committee meeting re-Martyrs Memorial.
17 November 1903
Pollie goes to Matfield and on the 19th weather much colder although damp at times much finer.
25 November 1903
To Springfield to meet trustees of Colliers Street. Very pleasant weather and walk home from Marden with Mr Thomas.
26 November 1903
Pollie goes to Matfield for afternoon.
27 November 1903
Wet weather recommences and very heavy rain and gales for two days with very high floods.
29 November 1903
Sunday. Fine and much colder with east wind. Mr Kirby and self to Hawkhurst after service intending to meet Mrs Kirby and waggonette at Gille’s Green but Kirby takes wrong road necessitating Mr Kirby and self walking home as far as Knox Bridge. Reaching Staplehurst after midnight.
02 December 1903
Sharp, dry frost sets in and snow in various parts.
06 December 1903
Pollie, Harry and self to Bogden to tea. Cold but seasonable weather.
10 December 1903
Pollie goes home to Matfield for afternoon, weather still very wet.
15 December 1903
Three or four fine days in succession. Weather improving as year passes away.
25 December 1903
Fine dry weather and roads clean. (Friday) Harry, Pollie and self walking morning and afternoon.
26 December 1903
To Matfield after dinner calling at Clara’s. Mr Prall decidedly better but still in bed.
27 December 1903
Sunday. Fine open weather, Mr Kirby completes his 50 Sundays and Chapel very full.
29 December 1903
Much colder, sharp dry frost. Cold very intense until end of year and skating.
31 December 1903
Pollie goes to Paddock Wood to see Clara driving to Tonbridge. Very cold and bright. The year passed away wettest within memory of man.
01 January 1904
The year comes in with sharp frost and skating.
02 January 1904
Saturday. Run up to Matfield for hour or two leaving Harry at Clara's. Mr Prall still in bed, but considerably better. Fine frosty morning, change by night and thaw setting in.
07 January 1904
Pollie runs up home for hour or two. Weather very stormy and unsettled and things quiet.
12 January 1904
Mr Kirby's birthday.
13 January 1904
Remarkable heavy thunderstorm at night, thunder and lightning very severe stop high wind and much hail.
15 January 1904
Roads dried up from effects of wind.
17 January 1904
Sharp dry frost and seasonable weather.
18 January 1904
Wet, dull and gloomy. Weather as wretched as possible and trade quiet.
19 January 1904
Pollie goes home for afternoon and finds Mrs Prall very poorly and in bed. Wet dull morning with brighter afternoon and evening.
21 January 1904
Pollie goes to London with Mr Crowhurst.
23 January 1904
Most dense fog in London within memory of man.
24 January 1904
Sunday. Sam and May drive down for afternoon service.
25 January 1904
Pollie goes to Matfield and finds a very sick house.
26 January 1904
As wet miserable dull and depressing day as possible.
30 January 1904
Saturday about as wet as possible. Raining without intermission all day and heavy floods.
03 February 1904
Continuation of wet weather making things very quiet and depressed. Go to Hawkhurst per rail per 1.30 train calling at Clara's as I come back.
04 February 1904
Pollie goes to Matfield, improvement in patients. Weather decidedly better following one or two fine mild pleasant days.
06 February 1904
Mrs George Sharp of a son.
08 February 1904
Having road repaired in Plat.
09 February 1904
Relapse into wet stormy weather and trade completely stagnated. Simply nothing doing and takings almost nil.
11 February 1904
Pollie goes home for half day. Mr Kirby's children very ill with mumps.
12 February 1904
Most unpleasant weather downpour from noon until last.
14 February 1904
Fine Sunday, damp evening followed by nice fine day.
16 February 1904
W Fuller passive resistance tale. Snowy last night and thunder and remarkably quiet and depressing.
18 February 1904
Pollie goes home for half day.
23 February 1904
Self to Matfield by 3.30 train. Mr P very poorly, others slowly improving. Great improvement in weather and a whole fine week of nice open weather.
28 February 1904
Sunday. Ground covered with snow and heavy falls in course of the day, necessitating sweeping off roof. Snowing more or less for several days and very cold.
03 March 1904
Very dull, gloomy and cold and snow disappearing with rain.
07 March 1904
Much milder, with rain at night. Exciting meeting at school to elect parish council.
08 March 1904
Lively contest at school for county council, Messrs Hoare and Norris, former gets in by 90 majority.
09 March 1904
Clara, May and baby down for the day. Harry very poorly, comes home from school. Self goes to Little Hickmots to tea and spend the evening walking home.
15 March 1904
Meeting at schools Messrs Catt and Knight. Very full house and realising £4.3.3.
May comes down and stays all night.
16 March 1904
Messrs C and K stay here all night and go on to Hawkhurst by 1.30 train.
17 March 1904
Mrs Thomas Biney dies. Perfection of weather, dry and clean with morning frosts.
23 March 1904
Bought through London and County Bank consoles at 86 3/4. Stamp 1/-, 230 3/2, commission 5/9 £200.0.0. To London to buy a few straws etc. Wicking's men paint and paper bedroom. Mr Tom Biney buried at Biddenden.
01 April 1904
Good Friday. Wickings' men paint ceiling in shop finishing on following Monday. Stay at home in consequence. Bright and sunny weather.
02 April 1904
Harry goes to Tunbridge to sit for examinations for Judd's scholarship.
04 April 1904
Easter Monday shop finished painting. Pollie and Harry to Paddock Wood by 8.30 train, self by 1.30 train and on to Matfield. Pollie and Harry coming back by 6 train and self by last train. Cycle parade at Staplehurst. Weather generally fine but cold with a smart shower in course of afternoon.
12 April 1904
Parlour painted and re-papered & house generally upset.
13 April 1904
Paid fire insurance 1.11.6, abatement 3.6.6 with whole amount of 4.18.0. The previous years being abatement of 8.4.6 in every seven years.
15 April 1904
Painters all cleared out and house cleaning going ahead apace.
19 April 1904
Dining room upset and straight by Friday.
20 April 1904
I go to Hawkhurst after closing. Mother better and gone to chapel. Weather very favourable but roads very dusty and a shower wanted.
24 April 1904
Mr Baldwin of Biddenden stays to tea. Weather very seasonable.
29 April 1904
Letter to say Harry has won scholarship. Goes on following day to Tunbridge and commences school on Monday the 2nd.
02 May 1904
A thoroughly wet day.
04 May 1904
Mother comes from Hawkhurst, Alfred and Emily drive over. Mr and Mrs Peacock to dinner with Mr Kirby.
06 May 1904
Pollie has a day out with Clara.
08 May 1904
Wet miserable and cold for several days.
09 May 1904
Old Mr Pope dies aged 73.
10 May 1904
Harry at home poorly all day.
11 May 1904
Go to Smarden for Tilden Rents. Home through Headcorn. Weather perfection for May.
18 May 1904
To Matfield after closing, very poorly with cold et cetera, Harry doctoring.
19 May 1904
Mother returns to Hawkhurst.
20 May 1904
Prize day at council schools. Harry very successful.
Doctoring for self with obstinate cold.
22 May 1904
Whit Sunday. Baptising at Chapel, three candidates.
23 May 1904
Bank holiday. Drive to Ulcombe. Start at noon, exceedingly heavy rain during the journey, fine weather on return journey. Mr Thomas much better.
26 May 1904
Particularly warm and oppressive and vegetation growing remarkably fast with storms in neighbourhood.
29 May 1904
I walk up to Little Hickmott in the evening.
31 May 1904
Committee meetings re-memorial. Pollie goes with Mr to Cranbrook.
01 June 1904
Very heavy rain indeed and Mr & Mrs Kirby prevented from coming to tea. Much colder. Weather lets in cold North East wind and dusty.
03 June 1904
Dr Bennett calls and sees Pollie and repeats his visit on following morning early.
07 June 1904
Clara and Lizzie come down on Tuesday for a few hours and Clara repeats visit on following day with satisfactory results. New season weather cold nights.
12 June 1904
Mr Kirby speaks at Tunbridge Wells and reading at Staplehurst. Ride to Marden for afternoon service and in evening Pollie, self and Harry walk up to Lttle Hickmotts.
15 June 1904
Pollie goes to Grafty Green with Mr and Mrs Kirby. warm dry weather and shower wanted.
19 June 1904
Ellen and Louis down for afternoon service.
20 June 1904
Ford gone for holiday and take Frittenden round myself.
22 June 1904
To Maidstone County Court - hot dry and dusty.
26 June 1904
Sunday. Smart thunderstorm in course of afternoon. Mr Kirby drives to Cranbrook during evening and self to Headcorn. Johnny and May come down, Mrs Barnes to dinner and tea.
29 June 1904
To Little Hickmots to tea, Pollie and Harry.
03 July 1904
Very heavy thunderstorm and torrents of rain at noon (Sunday) with unsettled weather rest of day.
06 July 1904
Band of Hope excursion to Ramsgate. Pollie and Harry go and self to Hawkhurst. Bert rides over from Hawkhurst.
07 July 1904
May Dann rides down bike, accompany her back as far as White Hart. Weather warm dry and dirty.
09 July 1904
Bert and Louis come over a few hours, weather very warm.
11 July 1904
May Dann comes down and stays for a week. Hot and dry and wanting rain.
17 July 1904
Sunday. Hottest day of the season most intensely hot.
18 July 1904
Lindridge away for a day or two, Mrs Prall, George and Jennie down for the afternoon.
20 July 1904
To Matfield after closing. Very warm, but seasonable weather.
21 July 1904
Pollie goes home for the day.
26 July 1904
Pollie goes to Commercial School with Harry to see prizes distributed et cetera.
27 July 1904
Alfred Piper of London and Louis ride over from Hawkhurst. A most severe storm during afternoon, torrents of rain and sharp thunder and lightning.
31 July 1904
Clara and Sam down for the day.
01 August 1904
Pollie and Harry go to Matfield by train, self follows on machine via Colliers Street, Pike Fish and Paddock Wood. Very warm and seasonable, mother at Peeks Farm. Weather is very hot and more rain wanted.
04 August 1904
To Tonbridge with Harry to see sports et cetera. Severe storms in neighbourhood and excessive heat.
10 August 1904
Children's tea party at Hickmotts. Nice weather.
11 August 1904
Harry and self to Mayfield with mother. Showery weather for several hours but fine to come home.
14 August 1904
Very windy, hot and oppressive. Heavy rain in neighbourhood, but not much at Staplehurst.
15 August 1904
High wind all day upsetting apples and hops. More rain much wanted.
16 August 1904
Wicking’s men commence repainting outfit room and finish by following, room tidy clean and straight by end of week.
17 August 1904
Mr and Mrs Kirby come to tea. Go for drive after tea.
18 August 1904
Mr Linden Gilbert dies.
21 August 1904
Sunday. Mrs Pollie Dann and Miss Sarah Dann come down for afternoon and evening. Hot weather continues and rain much wanted.
29 August 1904
Eliza comes down and stays until Sunday evening September 4.
31 August 1904
Hoppicking commenced, a very wet day. Rain very acceptable.
01 September 1904
Wet nearly all day and bad for hoppers.
02 September 1904
Fine weather, dull and much cooler.
06 September 1904
Paid mother cheque to settle account for half year.
07 September 1904
Wednesday. Mother goes to Hawkhurst via Paddock Wood, Harry to Matfield, self to Yalding, Pike Fish and Mr Kirby. Very nice weather followed by wet day.
11 September 1904
Sunday, mother's 80th birthday, Pollie and self walk up to little Hickmotts after tea. Very pleasant weather.
13 September 1904
Pollie goes to Matfield by 6.30 train returning on Thursday evening 15th with Harry going to Hastings on 14 with George and Rose Prall.
20 September 1904
To London to buy autumn goods. A long spell of very nice weather dry and open. Hoppicking being finished rapidly and short earnings.
25 September 1904
Clara and Jennie with L Thirkell down for the day. Very large congregation at Chapel.
28 September 1904
Pollie goes to Tunbridge returning with Jennie Dann who stays until Sunday, October 2.
02 October 1904
Mrs Baines over the ordinance. Very wet evening.
03 October 1904
Pollie goes to London with Clara and Sara. Nice weather lovely autumn weather, dry and amount of sunshine trade not satisfactory, poor hoppicking.
09 October 1904
Sara and Clara down for the afternoon.
11 October 1904
To Marden to meet Miss Smart, Crowhurst et cetera re Protestant Alliance. Most exceptionally favourable autumn weather, dry and bright and slight frosts early morning.
16 October 1904
Sunday. An ideal morning as regards weather. To Hawkhurst to tea meet Lot Piper in the evening.
17 October 1904
Maidstone. Fair wet damp and very depressing trade far from what it should be, very dense fog for several days. Warm and depressing.
20 October 1904
Pollie and Lot go to Maidstone.
21 October 1904
Friday. Lot returns to Roman Road.
25 October 1904
Pollie goes to Flimwell with Mr and Mrs Kirby, returning late in the evening.
26 October 1904
Self to Matfield anniversary, home on machine 10 o'clock. Weather perfection, roads dry hard and clean, warm and frosty nights.
28 October 1904
Pollie goes home for half day. Mrs Prall wedding day. Weather very changeable, surroundings dull and oppressive.
30 October 1904
Much colder and fire in parlour first time this season.
31 October 1904
Damp, dull, dirty and dark day.
02 November 1904
Ford intimates his wish to leave causing a deal of worry and anxiety and correspondence.
16 November 1904
Wednesday to Hawkhurst at noon returning 5 o'clock through Cranbrook stop perfection of weather foggy nights. A F Beuly arrives.
16 November 1904
Wednesday. To Hawkhurst at noon returning 5 o'clock through Cranbrook. Perfection of weather with foggy nights. A F Beuly arrives.
20 November 1904
Spend Sunday evening with Mr Kirby at Little Hickmotts, a very pleasant evening. Much colder.
21 November 1904
Ford leaves to go to Edenbridge. Weather continues very cold and sharp. Many parts of the county under snow. Staplehurst favoured.
22 November 1904
Snowstorms in many parts of England and trains blocked. Sharp frost at Staplehurst and sprinkling of snow.
23 November 1904
Run down and see Stevens. Sharp cold and frosty.
25 November 1904
Pollie goes to Matfield for half day.
27 November 1904
Sunday church meeting at Chapel. Not satisfactory.
30 November 1904
Mr Thomas spends the evening with us.
01 December 1904
Much warmer and frost disappears.
06 December 1904
To Maidstone to buy a few things. Very heavy rain and boisterous weather all day. Water much needed in many parts.
08 December 1904
Pollie goes to Tunbridge Wells to meet Clara. Finer and colder.
10 December 1904
Received of H Croucher 12/6.
Mr Killick (Sloane, Wills and Taylor) dies.
12 December 1904
Lovely spring-like day with very wet night.
14 December 1904
Soaking wet day followed by very mild warm weather.
16 December 1904
Mrs Thomas Smith dies.
18 December 1904
Nice change in weather followed by sharp frost - dense fogs in London causing great inconvenience and loss of life et cetera.
21 December 1904
Pollie and Harry go to Tonbridge to breaking up of school, concert et cetera.
24 December 1904
Change in weather, thawing and bright sunshine.
25 December 1904
Sunday. Mild pleasant weather, fine, dull and dirty. Mr Kirby presented with 41 at Chapel.
26 December 1904
Damp morning but eventually clears off. Stay at home for the holidays closing on 27th, weather very Spring like.
29 December 1904
Pollie goes with Harry to Matfield.
30 December 1904
Very high wind drying the roads very nicely and the old year goes out clean dry and bracing.
01 January 1905
Sunday. Wake to find ground covered with snow and bitterly cold. Everything frozen, walk up to Mr Kirby's after tea and spend evening with him.
02 January 1905
Still intensely cold but snow disappearing followed by warmer weather, dull and damp and rain more or less for several days.
05 January 1905
Mr Kirby and self drive up to see Green (?) and old Mr Cork, mild weather for winter and very dirty.
10 January 1905
Pollie goes to Paddock Wood for afternoon.
11 January 1905
Self and Harry go to Tunbridge Wells to meet Gosbee with a view of engaging him, damp cold and dull.
12 January 1905
Pollie to Matfield for afternoon. Harry to Mr Julls (?) party. Nice pleasant weather, touch of Frost.
15 January 1905
Very sharp frost indeed Sunday coughs and colds.
16 January 1905
Frost continues, cold, dull and gloomy, every appearance of winter and snow falling during evening. Followed by rain and wet night, and by following morning all frost gone and much milder.
19 January 1905
Martin Piper arrives from Brighton to stay 10 days or fortnight. Pleasant bright frosty weather.
22 January 1905
Mr Kirby takes us all to Cranbrook for service in the evening.
24 January 1905
Harry awarded a studentship.
25 January 1905
Pollie goes to Matfield, Martin and self walking to Tolhurst after closing.
Owen Farmer away very poorly returning to business January 30.
31 January 1905
Pollie and Martin go to Paddock Wood.
01 February 1905
Pollie and Martin go to Hawkhurst. A fine week and roads perfect.
Mrs Funnell dies aged 57 buried 6th.
02 February 1905
Lindridge goes home ill for a few days.
03 February 1905
Martin returns to Brighton.
04 February 1905
Send Edith home with heavy cold her sister coming to assist, but proves of no use.
06 February 1905
Send cheque 6.6.0 to Mr Stonelake for P R Society. Springlike weather.
12 February 1905
Edith Hunt returns much better. Weather very mild. Great scarcity of water in many parts of England outlook very serious.
13 February 1905
Alfred Gosbee arrives to take up his residence at Staplehurst. Pollie suffering from very bad cold.
16 February 1905
Pay Gosbee weeks wages and start him off. Much colder and high winds.
18 February 1905
Grand Duke of Russia blown all to pieces and serve him right.
23 February 1905
Walk over to see Butler. Very cold strong wind for several days.
25 February 1905
Mrs Harrison of Maplehurst dies in the hospital.
26 February 1905
Sunday, heavy rain, strong wind all day. Smallest number at chapel for a very long time.
28 February 1905
Harry at home from school poorly. Self to Matfield by afternoon train. Very seasonable dry weather.
07 March 1905
Advanced £15 to George Rooles of Marden for one month.
09 March 1905
To Maidstone with Mr Thomas Reeves to meet auditor. Wet miserable day. Mrs Jill Senea buried.
10 March 1905
Mrs Fred Bixley buried.
12 March 1905
Very wet stormy day and few at Chapel.
13 March 1905
Fine day but very wet night and walk over to see Harry Croucher respecting his affairs. Heavy floods in neighbourhood.
15 March 1905
Meet Mr Foreman at the Mill Frittenden and try and settle Croucher's affairs. A most stormy night. Mr Kirby goes to Cranbrook calling for his daughter very late at night.
16 March 1905
Pollie goes home for afternoon. Fine warm day but wet night. Weather sets in very warm for time of year.
20 March 1905
Jabes Butter commences service and Bailey leaving on Sunday 25th. Nice spring like weather.
21 March 1905
To London to buy straws et cetera.
22 March 1905
Harry returns from school very poorly and developed into attack of measles and confined to his bed for two or three days attended by Dr Bennett.
23 March 1905
To Hawkhurst after dinner returning 7 o'clock.
29 March 1905
Mr Kirby goes to London to see doctor with uncertain success.
03 April 1905
Committee meeting for memorial unveiling.
04 April 1905
Mr and Mrs Kirby and Pollie go to Cranbrook evening service. Shop windows and front being painted.
10 April 1905
A thorough wet day incessant downpour all day.
11 April 1905
Much milder and spring like day mild and glowing. May Dann rides down.
12 April 1905
Pollie goes to London with Clara D
13 April 1905
Perfection of weather warm and pleasant
16 April 1905
Smart thunderstorm in distance and weather much cooler afterward for several days, rain, snow and hail and quite cold.
18 April 1905
Old Jarmer dies suddenly aged 82. Several sudden deaths in neighbourhood.
21 April 1905
Good Friday. Cold strong cutting north east wind. Pollie self and Harry go to Egerton to hear Mr Kirby. Chapel quite full.
22 April 1905
Mother comes from Hawkhurst to stay a fortnight.
24 April 1905
Easter Monday Tilles cleaned out. Dry cold weather. Stay at home preparing for unveiling et cetera.
26 April 1905
Unveiling of Martyrs Memorial by Sir W Stirling, over 2000 people present and results very successful but completely knocked up and pick up a very awkward cold.
From http://www.staplehurstsociety.org/
30 April 1905
A particularly wet boisterous Sunday but nice lot at Chapel. Mr Kirby at Cranbrook in evening, Pollie accompanies him.
01 May 1905
Dry cold, dusty, unpleasant. Many colds about. Painters finish shop.
05 May 1905
Mother returns to Hawkhurst. Pollie going with her as far as Paddock Wood.
08 May 1905
Harry recommences school.
11 May 1905
To Smarden to meet trustees. Mr Kirby goes with me and spend a pleasant afternoon calling at old chapel et cetera et cetera. Perfection of weather, warm and calm.
14 May 1905
Pollie goes to Matfield, reading at Chapel and Mr Kirby at Cranbrook. Cold, dry and windy. Goldsmith’s marriage.
15 May 1905
To London by early train to buy straws et cetera. A deal of wind and dust, cold nights and mornings. A very cold week, dry dusty and most unkindly.
21 May 1905
Baptising at Chapel Miss Taylor. Very large concourse of people and a day not to be forgotten.
22 May 1905
Smart hailstorm followed by frosty cold night. Great havoc wrought by fruits and many acres of fruit plantations ruined.
24 May 1905
To Matfield after closing nice weather but cold night.
26 May 1905
Sets in warm and seasonable.
30 May 1905
Old Mr Dury aged 83 buried at Bounds Cross by Mr Kirby and Mr Butter. Pollie attends.
31 May 1905
Very nice shower at early morning and smart thunderstorm.
04 June 1905
To Cranbrook with Mr Kirby.
05 June 1905
A thorough wet day drenching rain all day and much colder.
07 June 1905
Weather continues showery and dull. Raining every day more or less for a week, Saturday only excepted with not a gleam of sunshine.
12 June 1905
Whitmonday. Wet damp morning waiting to go to Matfield. Catch 1.30 train. Smart thunder storm and continuous rain all afternoon, clearing off about 7 o'clock.
13 June 1905
Weather greatly improved, fine pleasant day followed by warm weather. Pollie goes to Tunbridge Wells with Clara.
14 June 1905
Pollie goes up to Hickmotts and hurts her foot. Self to Headcorn to see Stevens. Mr Kirby at Peterborough.
18 June 1905
Lindridge to leaves on a Sunday and D Horne comes in on Monday 19th. Warm glowing weather.
19 June 1905
Monday to Hickmotts after closing, staying late.
20 June 1905
Tuesday. Attend Mr Crowhurst's funeral at Marden.
26 June 1905
Very poorly and deaf necessitating calling upon Dr Bennett.
29 June 1905
Lizzie and George Sharp drive down for a few hours.
30 June 1905
Showery weather and smart rain. Weather sets in very warm.
05 July 1905
To Hawkhurst with Mr Kirby. Pollie and Harry to Margate excursion. Still very poorly and arrange for a change to Minster.
07 July 1905
Sets in very hot indeed.
11 July 1905
Tuesday start for Minster, finding May Dann in the train Stay until Friday 21st visiting many places in the meantime and returning much better in health and find all things satisfactory. Very warm indeed during our stay.
23 July 1905
Miss Taylor stays to tea.
29 July 1905
Alfred and Bert Piper of Roman Road right over from Hawkhurst returning to London 30th.
01 August 1905
Pollie and Harry go to Tunbridge breaking up, Harry receives a nice prize! Sports day arranged for August 3 and a thorough wet day - Harry stays at home.
04 August 1905
Alfred Piper of Bow Road, Pollie and Harry go to Mascalls for the afternoon.
07 August 1905
Bank holiday, wet morning and damp, more or less to noon with fine evening. Pollie and self very poorly and stay at home all day. Short walk in evening.
08 August 1905
Copy of indenture of Daniel Horne commencing June 19, 1903 for three years. Wages 1st year 10/- per month, 2nd year 13/4 and 3rd year 16/8.
09 August 1905
Ada Piper of Brighton calls and goes with us to Hickmotts.
11 August 1905
Harry goes to Matfield and stays several days.
13 August 1905
Mr Kirby at Horsham and reading at Chapel.
14 August 1905
Pollie goes up for half a day unpleasant east wind for several days.
16 August 1905
Church meeting respecting Collier Street and finances.
21 August 1905
Pollie and Harry leave by afternoon train for Folkestone for a week.
23 August 1905
Very windy and rough, to Camden to see Capt Moore for a signature. Hop picking commenced.
24 August 1905
Cracked teeth causing great inconvenience and on following day ride to Tenterden to see Mr Lait and get them repaired and arrange for new set complete.
27 August 1905
Sunday, Pollie and Harry still away Mr, Mrs and Miss Kirby to tea and they all go to Cranbrook and home. Smart showers during the day.
28 August 1905
Pollie and Harry return from Folkestone, wet showery weather.
29 August 1905
Very heavy thunder storms and hop picking very general.
31 August 1905
To Mayfield with Harry to fetch mother stop very pleasant day. Alfred and Louis ride over in the evening.
05 September 1905
To Matfield after dinner and home by 6.45. Nellie Dann staying with us for a few days.
06 September 1905
Ly of Roman Road comes and stays until 10th.
10 September 1905
George and Ernest come on Sunday. Self to Hickmotts after tea.
11 September 1905
Wet day after day - most unpleasant for hoppickers
12 September 1905
First fine day for a long time, very warm and pleasant.
16 September 1905
Nellie Dan returns home and Harry goes back to school on 18th.
17 September 1905
Mr and Mrs Haynes to tea and supper. Continuation of very nice weather.
18 September 1905
To Cranbrook police court - case is stealing trousers 14 days hard labour.
20 September 1905
To London to buy autumn goods. Favourable weather.
21 September 1905
Pollie rides to Matfield, bicycled, back by train.
22 September 1905
Mr Kirby drives with mother and Pollie to see Mr Huntingdon's birthplace.
24 September 1905
Pollie obliged to stay at home all day on account of her foot - which is very painful for several days.
27 September 1905
Mother returns to Hawkhurst and self unintentionally conveyed to Hawkhurst returning home via Tonbridge by mail train.
08 October 1905
Pollie and self with Harry to Matfield for the day. Damp morning but eventually a fine day, dry and cold, a continuation of very nice open weather and many changes and sales all round the neighbourhood, pretty busy for a fortnight, hops fetch a very low price.
10 October 1905
Last load of pickers return home.
15 October 1905
Mr Haines stays here for the night returning first train Monday morning. Continuation of nice fine open weather with sharp white frost.
18 October 1905
To Maidstone County Court re Fred Wilks. Cold but roads splendid. Continuation of nice open weather, cold and dry.
22 October 1905
Fire first time in front room.
24 October 1905
Pollie accompanies Mr Kirby to Flimwell for two services.
28 October 1905
Mr and Mrs Prall's 50th anniversary of wedding. Pollie and Harry go up for afternoon and evening.
29 October 1905
Mrs Palmer stays to tea and spend's the evening. Weather sets in very wet and heavy rain for several days.
01 November 1905
Matfield thanksgiving, Mr Dickens go up by 1 o'clock train and back by last.
06 November 1905
Pollie goes to London to buy a few things.
09 November 1905
Anniversary at Cranbrook.
Self accompanies Mr and Mrs Kirby to Cranbrook.
11 November 1905
Closets finished at Chapel very satisfactory. Weather very dull wet and gloomy for several days.
16 November 1905
Pollie goes to Matfield for half day. Much colder and sharp frosts.
22 November 1905
Mr Kirby, self and others go to Malt House to hear Mr Baldwin.
26 November 1905
Wet Sunday and very stormy, collection Mr Kirby speaks at Cranbrook in evening. Fuller laid up with sciatica.
27 November 1905
Pollie goes home for half day.
29 November 1905
Meeting at Board Schools in connection with Bible work. Mr Thomas comes and spends a few hours with us re Collier Street affairs.
01 December 1905
Pollie goes to Paddock Wood and returns with Bessie Thirkell.
04 December 1905
To London to buy a few things for Christmas.
07 December 1905
Pollie and Clara to Maidstone to see Mr and Mrs Hall. Dull warm weather and very dirty.
11 December 1905
Most intense fog particularly in London, trains several hours late and much inconvenience in consequence. Brandy N G/C Whisky E G/C. Glass remarkably high and weather sets in dry and roads very clean.
21 December 1905
Harry breaks up at school, Pollie accompanies him.
23 December 1905
Busy with Christmas trade. Weather very favourable, roads perfect.
25 December 1905
Monday Christmas Day. Quite a spring day, many hours of sunshine at Staplehurst all day.
26 December 1905
Pollie, Harry and Bessie to Mascalls by 9.45 train. Self on byke to Hawkhurst and thence by rail to Paddock Wood, walk to the nurseries and arrive home 9 o'clock leaving Harry behind at Mascalls.
28 December 1905
Quite a change in weather dry dull and rain.
29 December 1905
Dirty roads, dull and gloomy. Harry at Mascalls.
31 December 1905
Last Sunday of year, collection at Chapel and cheque £28 given to Mr Kirby.
01 January 1906
January one Monday, warm damp and dirty things generally very quiet outbreak of election fever throughout the country.
05 January 1906
Harry returns from Mascalls with his cousin Sam. Particularly rough stormy night and wind very high.
10 January 1906
To Cranbrook with Mr Kirby for evening service, most lovely moonlight night and slightly frosty.
11 January 1906
Sammy returns home
15 January 1906
Harry returns to school. Nice open weather with stormy wind and rough weather at night.
17 January 1906
Meeting at Parish Room on question of church and education. Parish convulsed by electioneering.
18 January 1906
Polling day. Staplehurst and district results Hardy 5994 Harris 5614. Majority 380. wet, windy and rough.
23 January 1906
Sent Mr Stonelake as under 2.2.0 from self, £2 from Vidler, 21/- Mr Wilmshurst.
24 January 1906
To Hickmotts after tea. Clean and frosty
25 January 1906
Wet boisterous morning, very dull and gloomy. Pollie goes to Matfield in afternoon, Mrs Prall's birthday.
28 January 1906
Louis Thirkell down for the afternoon. Nice pleasant weather.
30 January 1906
Pollie and Bessie to Tonbridge and Paddock Wood.
31 January 1906
Pollie, self and Bessie go to Hickmotts after closing to tea and spend's the evening. Nice weather, showery at times, but appearance of very early spring.
03 February 1906
Much colder and sharp showers of snow and sleet.
04 February 1906
Cold, sharp wind, Miss Taylor stays to tea.
08 February 1906
Mr W Baines buried. Most terrific thunderstorm, hail, thunder, snow and lightning and high wind. Very cold for several days. Edie goes home for a few days, cough and cold.
10 February 1906
Her sister takes her place. Wet and miserable, damp and depressing.
11 February 1906
Pollie suffering from severe cold and cough.
12 February 1906
Attend first meeting of managers at school. Cold, bright weather.
13 February 1906
Pollie still very poorly distressing cough. Things gloomy and depressing.
14 February 1906
Walk up to Litttle Hickmotts Hickman's and find Mr Kirby in bed with heavy cold, beautiful frosty night but raining before bedtime and wet weather for several days, rain continuously from Friday until Sunday night.
16 February 1906
Clara down for a few hours.
18 February 1906
Pollie better but still very poorly. And self very poorly all day, church meeting.
24 February 1906
Pollie still very poorly, Dr Bennett called in with good results.
25 February 1906
Mrs Usborne dies. Weather very unsettled still.
27 February 1906
Mr H Woolqar dies suddenly at Tunbridge Wells station.
01 March 1906
To Maidstone with Mr Thomas Reeves. Cold and damp.
03 March 1906
Weather greatly improving, dry and sunny.
04 March 1906
Continuation of nice weather and large congregation at chapel.
05 March 1906
Clara down for afternoon, Bessie poorly.
06 March 1906
Weather sets in quite warm and spring like. Pollie much better.
08 March 1906
Pollie takes Bessie home, gloomy morning sets in very wet afternoon and evening, followed by colder weather and showers at times. Return of winter in great severity. Snow, frost and rain for several days and perhaps as cold as any part of the winter.
Weather wet gloomy and very depressing for several days and roads very dirty.
14 March 1906
Mr Huggets dies, Messrs Baines, Hull and E Wilmshurst all passed away within a few days of each other.
18 March 1906
Pollie, self Mr and Mrs Kirby at Cranbrook. Wet cold day. Church meeting at Staplehurst.
19 March 1906
Mr Huggett buried at Matfield. Pollie attends funeral. Very cold stormy weather, extraordinary sharp clap of thunder in afternoon followed by severe hail storm.
20 March 1906
Most dull depressing weather, wet and gloomy and very dirty roads.
21 March 1906
Butter goes and gets married, cold snowy morning but eventually bright.
22 March 1906
Wake up and find ground covered with snow and very cold.
23 March 1906
A most depressing week, rain, snow and hail and bitterly cold day after day. Chilblains, dirty roads, no trade and everything at a standstill.
24 March 1906
No improvement in weather, more rain, deal of illness about.
25 March 1906
Baptising at Chapel, very cold and a few snowstorms!
26 March 1906
Lizzie and Jeannie down for afternoon, rather brighter but very cold.
28 March 1906
Butter returns to business from his honeymoon. Weather improving.
01 April 1906
Month comes in dry and cold, sunny days and frosty nights.
02 April 1906
Old Mrs Wood buried
06 April 1906
Dry dusty weather, suitable for farmers but shower badly needed.
09 April 1906
Clouds of dust, cold wind.
10 April 1906
Pollie goes home to Matfield. Warm sun, cold wind not so much dust. First visit to schools.
13 April 1906
Good Friday. Perfection of weather. No wind, no clouds, bright sunshine. To Maidstone with Harry and Pollie, their services at Priory Street a very pleasant day.
14 April 1906
Much colder, keen East wind.
15 April 1906
Mr Kirby at Cranbrook and reading at Chapel and very scanty attendance.
16 April 1906
Easter Monday. Calm bright sunshine all day, with frost early and late. Pollie and Harry to Matfield by train, self by machine. Calling at Paddock Wood.
17 April 1906
Much colder again, and very dusty. Very backward spring, cold winds and unkindly. Great earthquake in San Francisco, overthrowing the city. Little Hickmotts in great domestic trouble, servants leaving and family poorly.
24 April 1906
Pollie and Harry go to London for the day, cold unkindly and snowy.
26 April 1906
Go to London to buy straws et cetera et cetera. After finishing go by boat to Greenwich. Stay nearly an hour and return by water. Weather dry but cold.
29 April 1906
Cold dry and sunny, Mr Kirby goes to Cranbrook with Pollie and self. Miss G A Kirby comes to stay with us a few days.
04 May 1906
Pollie and Harry go to Tunbridge and arrange for Harry's dinner.
07 May 1906
Harry returns to school.
Miss Kirby returns to Hickmotts and Tol (?) comes to stay a few days.
09 May 1906
To Smarden to meet trustees, a most beautiful morning but several thunderstorms at noon and very heavy rain.
10 May 1906
Aunt Manser buried at Mayfield. Mother, Alfred, Emily and self present. Weather very cool and unsettled.
13 May 1906
May Dann down for Sunday. Weather perfection.
15 May 1906
Pollie goes to Flimwell with Mr and Mrs Kirby.
18 May 1906
Mr Obed Hall dies at Maidstone buried on Monday 21st.
20 May 1906
Sunday, a most cold gloomy unkindly day and heavy rain in evening. Mr Kirby comes to dinner with Mr Peacock of London. Owen Farmer has a week's holiday.
22 May 1906
Wicking's men painting & whitewashing & general house cleaning. To Hickmotts after closing.
23 May 1906
To Matfield after 5 o'clock & come home by rail acc. of sudden shower. Weather more settled but not very warm.
26 May 1906
Wet & unpleasant, with heavy rain.
27 May 1906
Miss Taylor to tea.
30 May 1906
Pollie & self cycling after closing, Hawkenbury, etc.
01 June 1906
Prize day at school, & feed for youngsters. Very heavy rain while in at tea & considered quite a success.
03 June 1906
Sunday, Whitsunday. Mr Kirby, self & Pollie to Cranbrook for evening service, a most lovely day.
04 June 1906
Whitmonday. Dry & cool, with sunshine. Service at chapel during afternoon & prayer meeting in evening, about 80 to 100 present.
06 June 1906
Mr Kirby leaves home for several days returning late Friday night.
10 June 1906
Very pleasant warm day. Sunday ride to Matfield after service returning by train.
11 June 1906
Pollie rides to Matfield after dinner arriving 4.30 & comes back by train pretty well tired out. Weather kept very unkindly, very cold & farmers very busy hop & fruit washing.
13 June 1906
Ride to Lamberhurst after dinner & hear Mr Popham & Mr Frank Kirby. Roads dusty and warm going, cool and strong wind in places coming back. Mother comes from Hawkhurst to stay a few weeks
14 June 1906
Pollie goes with Mr Kirby to Grafty Green.
15 June 1906
Weather cold & unkindly.
17 June 1906
Great improvement in weather, much warmer & some nice showers.
19 June 1906
Mrs Prall, Lizzie & youngsters down for the day. Mother goes to Marden anniversary.
20 June 1906
Pollie & self bike to Tilden to hear Mr Midmer, very pleasant weather & very warm. Chapel very full.
22 June 1906
To Maidstone County Court. Very warm indeed.
23 June 1906
Another very hot day with heavy thunder storm early on Sunday morning & very welcome rain.
25 June 1906
Club day at Staplehurst. Cooler but still warm.
28 June 1906
Pollie goes to Matfield for afternoon. Alfred & Lewes ride over after closing & get wet through on return journey. Very heavy rain durng the night followed by cold wet day.
01 July 1906
Jesse Chantler dies after a short illness.
03 July 1906
Pollie goes with Clara to Sittingbourne.
04 July 1906
To Cranbrook to see dentist respecting set of teeth. Very warm.
05 July 1906
To Rainham with Mr Kirby driving through Maidstone & Botley, a long drive through beautiful scenery. Stay at Mr Wakelys all night and back the following day. Encounter very heavy storm on road home. Very warm indeed.
08 July 1906
Mr Kirby speaks all day at Cranbrook.
10 July 1906
Geo Piper & his lot come down for half a day.
11 July 1906
Excursion to Folkestone, Pollie & Harry. Very heavy rain in afternoon. Much colder.
12 July 1906
To Tenterden to see dentist.
18 July 1906
Hotest day of the year. First official visit to schools, after tea ride to Colliers St. & Pike Fish. Pollie coming to Marden to meet me. To Pike Fish & Colliers St.
19 July 1906
Very wet morning, with fine, pleasant afternoon & evening. Bert Piper & his friend ride over from Hawkhurst.
22 July 1906
Mr Kirby, self & Pollie to Cranbrook.
23 July 1906
Uncle Fred comes & stays for two nights.
25 July 1906
To Cranbrook, final visit to dentist.
28 July 1906
Bert & Alf Piper call on their journey from Hawkhurst to London.
31 July 1906
Govenor's Day at Tonbridge, Pollie goes with Harry.
01 August 1906
Mr Kirby & self spend the evening with Mrs Saunders.
02 August 1906
Pollie goes home for afternoon. Very smart thunder storm at night, most severe lightning & heavy rain for a time. Mother doctoring for several days. Harry comes home from school very poorly.
04 August 1906
Mother still very poorly & Dr B a daily visitor, weather very dry and hot.
06 August 1906
Bank Holiday, remarkably warn & self very poorly. Alfred rides over & drives for fly to come & take mother back to Hawkhurst. Dr Bennett makes daily calls but do not progress much.
15 August 1906
Harry & self start for Ramsgate to Liverpool Lawn, stay there 2 days then go to Minster on following Saturday in comfortable apartments - very pleasant - stay out almost all day. Weather very warm.
28 August 1906
Return to Staplehurst, riding from Minster to Ashford 26 miles.
29 August 1906
Very poorly following day, but gradually getting better & stronger. Remarkably warm & everything parched up.
30 August 1906
Pollie goes home for half a day. Hoppicking commenced.
01 September 1906
Paid Mr Lait 6/6/0 for teeth. Still exceedingly hot and parched.
02 September 1906
Hottest September for 33 years.
05 September 1906
Much cooler after a nice rain during the night. Paid Mother cheque 24.18.10 less acc 7.13.7 balance 17.5.3. Harry & self byke to Paddock Wood, Pollie going there by rail, all return home by train. Sammy junior poorly in bed. Very warm for several days.
07 September 1906
Paid Browne £5 for bicycle for shop use. Sold old Swift for 10/-.
10 September 1906
Harry & self byke to Maidstone. Warm & dusty.
11 September 1906
Pollie goes to Hawkhurst. Mother's 82 birthday. Harry to Paddock Wood.
12 September 1906
To Hickmotts to tea after a very pleasant drive with Mr K. Weather much cooler & various showers.
17 September 1906
Harry goes to Paddock Wood for a few days.
19 September 1906
Showery day. Pollie & self to Marden after closing to see Mr Baines.
20 September 1906
Mr Kirby & self drive to Hawkhurst & spend 2 hours with mother.
21 September 1906
Harry returns home.
23 September 1906
May down for afternoon.
24 September 1906
Harry back to school.
25 September 1906
To London to buy.
26 September 1906
Pollie cycles homes.
30 September 1906
Mr Kirby speaks at Cranbrook. Nice attendance at Staplehurst, flood collection. Most change in weather, warm, bright & showers at times. One of the most brilliant summers on record.
01 October 1906
Mr Brooker calls & stays to tea. Mr Baines drives over from Marden.
05 October 1906
Pollie goes home for a few hours finding some very poorly. Mr George Prall of a son & following day Mr George Sharp of a daughter.
07 October 1906
George Prall drives down bringing his daughter leaving her.
10 October 1906
Pollie cycles home, returning by train.
11 October 1906
Mr Kirby speaks at Baptist Chapel, Cranbrook, Pollie going with him. Most extraordinary weather, bright & mild & very calm.
14 October 1906
Mr Kirby speaks at Croydon. Weather cooler for a day or two then warmer.
18 October 1906
Pollie goes home for the afternoon.
21 October 1906
Mr Haines down for a week and returning home 22 by first train.
24 October 1906
Pollie & self to Ashford thanksgiving for evening service.
25 October 1906
Ride to Matfield during afternoon, then train & bike home from Paddock Wood. Wicking repairing pump & raising skylight in scullery.
28 October 1906
George Prall comes down & returns with Lizzie in evening by rail. Very wet night indeed. Fire in sitting room - first time this year. Fine weather broken up & wet nearly every day.
29 October 1906
Pollie goes home for the day.
30 October 1906
A thorough wet day, heavy rain all day, water much needed.
04 November 1906
A thorough wet Sunday, windy & rough.
06 November 1906
Pollie & Harry go to Maidstone to select glasses for Harry, very wet afternoon. Wet, wet, wet gloomy & depressing.
07 November 1906
Matfield Thanksgiving, wet morning & fine afternoon. Pollie goes home.
10 November 1906
First fine day for a fortnight. Weather improves for a few days.
13 November 1906
Harry at home from school very poorly for several days & call in Dr Bennett. Influenza effecting liver.
15 November 1906
Wet weather recommences & continues each day until 18th.
18 November 1906
Very heavy down pour all day. Mrs Thomas Taylor, daughter & Tompsett stay stay to tea returning home by train.
20 November 1906
Pollie & Harry got to Matfield, Mrs Prall very poorly, Lizzie & Ellen etc with very sick house.
21 November 1906
Self a bottle of medicine from Dr Bennett.
22 November 1906
Harry goes back to school. Pollie home for afternoon. Quite warm & Springlike.
26 November 1906
Pollie goes home for an hour or two. Mr Prall's 74th birthday. Weather much finer & warmer, but business very dull.
28 November 1906
Mr Kirby speaks at Horsham Wednesday. Daisy indesposed at Marden. Thom Stevens at tea. Nice open weather followed by rain towards the end of week.
03 December 1906
Clara runs down for afternoon.
09 December 1906
Sunday. May down for the day.
10 December 1906
To Maidstone to buy hats etc. Cold & frosty.
13 December 1906
Dr Horne, laid up & away from business.
16 December 1906
Sunday. Roads a sheet of ice & impossible for horses to travel. Mr Kirby walks to chapel, neither Fuller or Stevens there. Collection in fixed boxes for poor fund, very satisfactory.
17 December 1906
Milder & very dirty & foggy & Horne still away.
20 December 1906
Pollie & Harry go to breaking up of school. Cold & fine.
22 December 1906
Sharp frost, dry open weather.
25 December 1906
Nice sharp frosty day & very cold. Spend Christmas alone.
26 December 1906
Wake up and find a very heavy fall of snow. Spend nearly two hours clearing snow from top of shop. Heaviest quantity ever known there, very cold. Spend day indoors, Harry has two young friends to spend evening & take tea with him.
27 December 1906
Very cold & snow very deep everywhere.
28 December 1906
Another heavy fall of snow during night. Butler unable to do Cross at Hand round without a horse.
29 December 1906
Sign of a thaw & warmer but at night much colder, followed by sharpest frost of the season.
30 December 1906
Sunday. Roads very bad indeed & untravellable & not many at Chapel in consequence. Miss Taylor & Stevens stay to tea returning home by train.
31 December 1906
Thaw sets in & snow rapidly disappearing & heavy rain at night & much warmer. Pollie very poorly with cold & bronchitis. Call in Dr Bennett who suggests fire in bedroom, much illness about.
01 January 1907
Tuesday. Very dull, gloomy & wet - snow rapidly disappearing. Path outside shop being renovated, causing dirt and annoyance.
02 January 1907
Much milder, severe storms all through the country.
03 January 1907
Snow all gone, with bright weather. Pollie still doctoring. Drain in warehouse taken up on account of flood in shop. Harry at Mascalls for a few days.
08 January 1907
George Chantler buried, service at chapel. Weather dry & cool, roads improving. Dr B continues to call daily, Pollie improving.
09 January 1907
Meeting of Gibbon's trustees at rectory.
13 January 1907
Pollie at chapel for half day, improving but still weakly .
14 January 1907
Harry returns to school. Weather particularly favourable - mild calm and roads drying up nicely.
16 January 1907
To Matfield by byke, home by train. Very dark night but fine dry weather & roads pretty good condition.
17 January 1907
Path up past shop nicely finished.
21 January 1907
Official visit to school. Cold & dull.
22 January 1907
Much colder and searching wind.
23 January 1907
Most severe frost for over 20 years & cutting east wind. Cold very unusual.
24 January 1907
Frost continues very severe
27 January 1907
Slightly milder & thawing by night. Mrs Palmer stays to tea. Dr Bennett comes again to see Pollie, cough returns.
28 January 1907
Sent cheque 4.4.0 to Mr Haddow. One guinea from Mrs Wilmshurst, one for Mr Kemp & two from self. Much milder, dirty roads and frost all gone.
01 February 1907
Much colder & frost recommences.
03 February 1907
Pollie at chapel in afternoon.
04 February 1907
Monday. To Hawkhurst by rail, mother very poorly indeed. Very cold & snowy. To Pagehurst on return.
05 February 1907
Snow continually falling.
06 February 1907
Manager's meeting at school.
08 February 1907
Mr Munn dies aged 90.
10 February 1907
Very cold thaw.
11 February 1907
Harry with heavy cold stays from school one day. Letter from Hawkhurst telling of Aunt Carrie's sudden death. Mother better.
12 February 1907
Harry back at school, cold snowy morning. Mr Stevens seized with stroke & passes away same day.
13 February 1907
Off by first train to attend funeral at Chiddingly, aunt aged 80. Very cold ride across the Dickers.
16 February 1907
(Stevens) buried at Headcorn, self, & Mr Kirby & Mr Reader, Mr Croucher, etc.
17 February 1907
Stevens & Fuller away from chapel. Much milder & invalids generally geting better.
19 February 1907
Pollie goes to Paddock Wood & stays all night on account of weather very rough, stormy night.
20 February 1907
Cold, windy drying day.
24 February 1907
Stevens still away very poorly.
27 February 1907
To Hawkhurst by byke, roads perfect. Mother pretty much restored.
28 February 1907
Pollie rides to Matfield coming home by rail. Roads and weather all that can be desired.
02 March 1907
Received 17/6 interest from G.G Rootes.
04 March 1907
Parish meeting at council schools to select parish council. Rather noisy affair and poll demanded.
05 March 1907
Election of county council. Mr Brownscombe successful 13 majority. To Tonbridge by train to see Mr Bryant & Mr Burgess. Walk around Bidboro & Southboro in afternoon & reach home pretty well tired out. Very wet night.
06 March 1907
Pollie & self go to Bogden to tea. Cold wind. Mrs Lewes still very poorly. Trade very quiet indeed.
08 March 1907
Owen Farmer mucks about his face and makes himself very ugly & goes home for several days until he gets pretty again. Weather cold and variable.
19 March 1907
Uncle Fred passes away. Weather very seasonable, bright & cold.
25 March 1907
Polling at Staplehurst for Parish Council, results very comfortable satisfactory.
26 March 1907
To London by early train. Dense fog in town, change at Waterloo for Weybridge, reaching there shortly before noon. Funeral at cemetery. Very bright & warm. Return to London & down to Forest Hill, stay with Mr Thomas for two or three hours & home by mail train. Very cold frosty night.
28 March 1907
Blinds up for first time this year.
29 March 1907
Pollie & Harry to Matfield by train. Self to Hawkhurst. A most beautiful day.
31 March 1907
Easter Sunday. Perfection of weather, cloudless, not a breeze moving, quiet & calm. Great number at chapel.
01 April 1907
Harry still at Paddock Wood. Pollie joins him by 9.45 train then goes with Clara to Tun Wells, self on machine to Colliers St., Pike Fish, Mascall's Court & Matfield, returning home 8.15 at Staplehurst, Pollie by rail. Water very scarce. Pump dry.
06 April 1907
Paid Dr Bennett 3.19.0., Nov to Ladytide, fire insurance 4.18.0.
07 April 1907
Remarkable change in weather, snow falling in early morning & much colder, bringing back coughs & colds.
12 April 1907
Meet Uncle John at Tun Wells & go to Lawyer Buss respecting aunt's will day & expenses 15/-.
18 April 1907
Mrs Standen dies after a protracted illness of several weeks. Weather cold & bright with frost morning & night.
19 April 1907
Pollie & Harry go to Maidstone respecting glasses etc. Pollie & Harry suffering from severe colds. Gertrude Kirby at home with cold and under doctor’s hands.
23 April 1907
Mrs Standen buried by Mr Kirby. Measels at Hickmotts.
24 April 1907
Warmest day of the season. Harry goes to London with the school to see sights of London. Anniversary at Matfield, Pollie goes all day, self after closing.
26 April 1907
Heavy rain all day & very cold. Mrs Lewes dies aged 84 after a long painful illness.
27 April 1907
Harry goes to Matfield to stay several days. Much colder.
30 April 1907
Mrs Lewes buried by Mr Kirby, a goodly lot present, but very cold & wet - heavy rain during the day. Service & tea at chapel after funeral.
01 May 1907
Cold, wet & snow at places. Pollie goes to Bounds Cross anniversary for three services. Mr Kirby at Stoviers Green. Very cold, wet & windy for several days.
08 May 1907
To Smarden to meet trustees Tilden's Charity. Dining room given over to painters & paperhangers for a week.
12 May 1907
Very hot indeed, Sunday.
13 May 1907
To Maidstone to buy a few straws, etc. Very warm but dull.
15 May 1907
Pollie & self go for long ride Sutten Valence etc, pleasant weather.
17 May 1907
Prize day at school. Fine but cold.
18 May 1907
Bitterly cold, strong northerly wind.
20 May 1907
Whit Monday. Pollie & Harry by rail to Paddock W & Matfield. Self to Hawkhurst, find Alfred, mother & co starting for (???) & all go for two hours drive, Flimwell & Ticehurst. Leave Hawkhurst at three o'clock for Lamberhurst & Matfield & home by train. Coldest Whitsuntide on record. Sharp biting cold, not particularly windy.
22 May 1907
Pollie & self go to Pike Fish. Much warmer pleasant riding followed by wet weather for a day or two then colder with keen east wind for a day or two.
29 May 1907
Pollie & self Cycle to see Mr Pound. Very cold.
30 May 1907
Warmer & damp evening. Cycle to Cranbrook, Mr Kirby at Baptist Chapel. Puncture & leave machine, walking part of way home.
31 May 1907
Very dull & gloomy, wet & depressing. Trade remarkably quiet.
01 June 1907
First week in June cold, dull sunless & deal of wet. Most depressing.
04 June 1907
Anniversary at Marden. Pollie attends.
09 June 1907
Baptising at chapel, Mr Erlden. Very large congregation, pleasant weather with sharp storm & heavy rain in evening.
12 June 1907
Pollie & self cycle to Sutton Valence, calling upon Mr Morris. Cold but fine followed by unseasonable weather.
16 June 1907
A thorough wet afternoon, dull, dark & very depressing. Butler away for his holiday (Saturday).
19 June 1907
Tonbridge anniversary. Pollie goes in afternoon & self after tea. Mr Oldfield. Bright but cold.
20 June 1907
Pollie goes home for afternoon.
21 June 1907
Weather continues cold & dull, very depressing & unJunelike.
24 June 1907
Staplehurst Club Day. Cold wet & unpleasant. Weather most unseasonable. Strong cold wind, reminding one of Autumn or very early Spring.
26 June 1907
Pollie & self to Pike Fish after closing.
27 June 1907
Pollie rides to Hawkhurst & to servce at Cranbrook on return journey.
28 June 1907
Harry two day's holiday at school and spends day at Matfield.
30 June 1907
Sunday. Mr & Mrs Palmer stay to tea. Weather cool & inclined to be wet.
01 July 1907
Cold & dull, overcoats almost desirable. Smart showers & storms in neighbourhood.
03 July 1907
Band of Hope excursion. Pollie & Harry among the number. Fine morning, wet cold afternoon & evening. Weather continues cold, dull, wet & depressing. Summer almost a thing only in name.
07 July 1907
To Maidstone after tea to hear Mr Kirby (Sunday). Very pleasant ride.
08 July 1907
Pollie starts for Hastings with Rose Prall, dull & chilly. Wet evening.
10 July 1907
Paid cheque to mother 22.16.10 acc 2.2.0 total £24.18.10.
11 July 1907
May Dann comes down & stays until 13. A most welcome change in weather, bright & sun shining & more like summer.
12 July 1907
Send cheque to Messrs Murdoch & Co £13.10.0 for piano.
14 July 1907
Harry & self walk up to Hickmotts.
15 July 1907
Send chque to cover Compensation 1.19.10.
17 July 1907
Pollie returns from Hastings & Rose goes on to Matfield. Weather sets in very warm & seasonable. Visit schools. To Pike Fish to fix blinds for Ellen.
19 July 1907
Miss Kirby leaves school.
21 July 1907
To Cranbrook with Mr Kirby service in evening. Very warm all day.
24 July 1907
To Hawkhurst after closing. Clara, Lizzie & Mrs Prall down for half a day.
28 July 1907
Sunday. To Marden to see Mr Baines.
30 July 1907
Prize Day & Govenor's Day at Tonbridge. Go up with Harry by 11 train. Harry very successful. Very wet afternoon & cold evening.
01 August 1907
Sports Day at Tonbridge. Pollie goes up with Harry.
02 August 1907
Harry goes to Paddock Wood returns with Sammy who stays until bank holiday.
05 August 1907
Very warm pleasant weather, smart shower early in evening. Harry & self byke to Matfield calling at Pyke Fish & Mascalls. Pollie goes by rail. Birthday party.
07 August 1907
Pollie & Harry byke to Pykefish.
08 August 1907
Dull, cool & very windy for several days.
11 August 1907
Sunday. Reading at chapel, Pollie, Harry & self walk to Marden after tea. Mr Jarncombe speaks.
12 August 1907
Mrs Sanders passes away, buried on Friday 16th by Mr Kirby.
14 August 1907
Mother comes over from Hawkhurst. Pleasant weather, but damp & cool evening.
21 August 1907
Very pleasant drive to Hunton, Yalding, etc, after closing. Weather sets in very warm. Several days with hoppicking fogs. Russell away for a week's holiday, returning August 31st.
28 August 1907
Mother & self spend evening at Hickmotts, Pollie & Harry go to Matfield.
29 August 1907
Harry goes to Paddock on Thursday, returning on Saturday.
31 August 1907
Mr R Wakely passes away aged 70.
05 September 1907
Mrs & Miss Wilmshurst come to tea, Very warm, dull & damp.
06 September 1907
Hoppicking commences generally.
08 September 1907
Mr Kirby speaks at Cranbrook in afternoon, consequently very few at chapel.
10 September 1907
Mother leaves Staplehurst for Hawkhurst staying at Cranbrook one night.
11 September 1907
Self & Harry byke to Rolvenden after dinner, go into hopgarden returning about 8.30 home. Very warm with foggy night. Pollie rides home, returning by rail.
12 September 1907
Pollie & Harry go to Tonbridge & Maidstone. Intimation from K.E.C that Harry is to teach one term at Council Schools. Very hot weather with dense fog at night.
16 September 1907
Harry goes back to school.
17 September 1907
Continuation of very beautiful weather, bright & sunny with fogs at night.
18 September 1907
Pollie goes to Matfield, self to Marden & Hickmotts.
23 September 1907
Pollie goes up to Paddock Wood for 1/2 day.
25 September 1907
Mr Kirby & self go to Ashford to Baptising service, very warm indeed. Supposed to be the hottest day of the year.
26 September 1907
Pollie goes to London. Jackets, etc. Hoppicking drawing to a close.
29 September 1907
Miss Plamer to tea. Sunday.
03 October 1907
Pollie fetches Clara Thirkell to stay a time.
10 October 1907
Harry commences his term of teaching at council school. Very wet weather, raining every night making thinkgs very depressed & gloomy.
16 October 1907
Frittenden Thanksgiving, very wet. Pollie drives over Wolsleys trap.
20 October 1907
Ellen's fifth daughter comes to town. Oil stove from Youngs 2031 - 209B SG/G.
21 October 1907
Weather much improved, a fine dry week, sharp frost. Pollie picks up a sharp cold.
30 October 1907
Lizzie, Rose & Johnnie come down for a few hours. Weather much finer & pleasanter.
01 November 1907
The month sets in much finer.
02 November 1907
Saturday. Meeting of overseers to consider rating of parish, four to five hours.
04 November 1907
Thanksgiving at Cranbrook, Pollie goes with Mr Kirby for two services. Harry & self follow on in the afternoon. Fine but cold.
07 November 1907
Matfield Thanksgiving. Mr Brook rides over after dinner. Perfection of weather, with very foggy evenings.
09 November 1907
A most charming day, bright & sunshiny all day & really warm.
10 November 1907
Heavy fog all day also on following day but fine weather.
13 November 1907
High wind & fog dispersed. To Hawkhurst after closing, mother very poorly indeed. Weather fine & cold.
14 November 1907
Much mild & pleasant. Pollie goes to Matfield, round to Tun Wells with Clara.
15 November 1907
Telegram from Matfield saying Ellen was much worse & Pollie goes up by last train, staying all night.
16 November 1907
Pollie returns Saturday morning & goes up on Sunday 17th for the day. A most beautiful Autumn day, bright & cheerful.
20 November 1907
Thanksgiving at Bounds Cross. Pollie goes & Stevens comes for tea.
21 November 1907
Pollie goes to Matfield & finds Ellen better. Nice pleasanst weather but foggy.
26 November 1907
A very wet, gloomy day. Continious rain all day after a very wet night & rain comes through into Harry's bedroom. Shop front renovated previous week.
29 November 1907
To Marden after tea to see Mr Baines. Pollie goes to Matfield. Ellen better.
01 December 1907
Severe attack of cramps for two consecutive days. Nice open weather, with rain at night. Weather very unsettled for several days, chiefly at night, heavy rain and strong winds.
08 December 1907
Suffering from very acute sore throat for several days and very poorly.
09 December 1907
Pollie goes to Marden, Protestant Ladies.
11 December 1907
Butler moves into his new house.
13 December 1907
Fine morning but very wet afternoon & evening, very heavy rain & very rough story night - particularly high winds which continues all the following day. Dull, gloomy & very depressing, making trade very quiet indeed. Severe floods all over the country. Weather very fine & seasonable with very high winds & showers at times.
24 December 1907
Fine Christmas week. Go down to Headcorn for a hour. Trade quiet with usual Christmas pressure.
25 December 1907
Fine day, but cold, with wind. Stay at home all day.
26 December 1907
To Hawkhurst by rail by early train. Pollie & Harry to Matfield. Weather dry & sunny & roads dried up. Back to Paddock Wood, call on Palmers & Mascalls.
28 December 1907
Cold, sunless & gloomy. Appearance of snow.
01 January 1908
The year comes in cold & dry with black frost- many part of the country covered in snow, none at Staplehurst. Cheque £35 from mother.
04 January 1908
Saturday. A perfect day, cloudless, no wind or fog. Clear, bright frost. Roads slightly dusty & skaters busy. Frost continues, not so bright,
05 January 1908
Weather changed, wind south west & thaw sets in.
08 January 1908
Messrs Thomas, Kirby & Burgess meet here.
09 January 1908
Send cheque to mother for half year’s interest at 4 per cent - due Christmas. Sent cheque 6.6.0 to Mr Haddow, self 42/-, Mr Wilmshurst 21/-, Mr Kemp 21/-, Mr Vidler 42/-. Very cold, dry frost, snow general but none at Staplehurst. Skating very general.
11 January 1908
Daisy the mare very indisposed, dead by Sunday morning. Mrs Smith (Lewes) passes away. Weather still cold & frosty.
12 January 1908
Mr J Kirby's birthday. NT/C cheque.
13 January 1908
Harry goes to school again.
14 January 1908
To Cranbrook with Mr Kirby, inspecting horse on the road, cold, dull & dirty. Frosty pretty well gone.
18 January 1908
Dense fog for a week or ten days with gleams of sunshine between.
19 January 1908
Stevens late to chapel on account of fog.
22 January 1908
To Paddock Wood to see Cob & arrange for fruit to be brought down.
23 January 1908
Pollie goes home for half day. Very cold & intense fog. Trains very late. Glass standing remarkably high.
28 January 1908
Bought £200 consol at 58 1/8, broker 5/10, stamp 1/0.
30 January 1908
Weather sets in dry & cold & roads clean. Mrs Arthur Roberts buried aged 29.
02 February 1908
Harry very poorly & call in Dr Bennett. Symptoms of diptheria, but taken in time. Weather fine, roads dry, fog & often very dry. Harry in bed week or ten days. Eddie poorly.
15 February 1908
Self very poorly & ordered to bed on 16th & stay there until 20th. Very weak & shaky for several days. Pollie poorly with cough & Butler indisposed. Several rough & stormy days.
28 February 1908
Received 17/6 interest from Rootes.
29 February 1908
Pollie to Paddock W. Call on Palmer.
01 March 1908
Dr Fielding again in attendance. In bed until March 5th.
14 March 1908
Saturday to Folkestone with Rose P.
15 March 1908
Pollie down for the day & following Sunday returning with Harry. Weather very changable during our stay.
26 March 1908
Returning Thursday night certainly much better.
07 April 1908
Blinds up for the first time this year. Weather sets in cold, east wind, dry & dusty.
08 April 1908
Weather dry, cold & clean. Self very poorly with cough & cold, busy housecleaning - parlour ceiling papered.
17 April 1908
Good Friday. Byke to Hawkhurst, cold east wind, home by rail. Pollie & Harry to Maidstone.
19 April 1908
Intensly cold with snow & biting wind.
20 April 1908
Wake to find snow lying on houses. Weather very cold indeed, keen biting wind. Self, Pollie & Harry to Matfield. Snow & storms during the day.
23 April 1908
Harry & Pollie go to Maidstone.
24 April 1908
Wake up and find everything covered in snow - bitterly cold all day.
27 April 1908
Harry goes for walking tour with his schoolmates to Crowboro & neighbourhood.
28 April 1908
To London to buy straws, etc. Heavy rain nearly all day & very depressing.
29 April 1908
Matfield anniversary, Pollie & Harry go, warm, pleasant day. April 1908 most unkindly on record, cold deep snow, gloom & very depressing, checking trade of all sorts.
01 May 1908
Weather sets in very warm, quite an ideal day, 20 or 30 degrees warmer than previous week.
04 May 1908
Pay Dr Bennett £8.8.0 for attendance since January. Harry & self ride to Matfield after tea, pretty well fagged out. Pleasant but smart shower on returning.
06 May 1908
Pollie & self to Tonbridge anniversary, Mr Grubb speaks. Colder evening. Harry goes to Paddock Wood for day or two.
10 May 1908
John Dann down for the day.
11 May 1908
Harry returns to school.
12 May 1908
Pollie goes to London for the afternoon.
13 May 1908
Wednesday. Meet trustees of Tilden Charity at Smarden. Very heavy rain during journey. Return home through Biddenden & Sissinghurst taking tea at Mr Palmers & Pollie & Harry arrive after tea, pleasant ride home.
16 May 1908
Hop Saturday. Many thousands go to London for a demonstration. Considered quite a success. Weather very favourable, warm & pleasant. Sunshine for several days in succession.
18 May 1908
Clara & Sam call & take tea. Owen Farmer away for his holiday.
20 May 1908
Pollie & self to Maidstone to see Dr Oliver respecting swelling in mouth. Very pleasant drive but cool wind. Most favourable show of fruit.
26 May 1908
Pollie cycles home in afternoon, returning by rail. Bright sun shine & comfortably warm.
27 May 1908
Pollie & self to Maidstone & meet Doctors Oliver & Maitland who remove cist from my mouth, painful but apparently a success. Fee three guineas. Very weak and prostrate for a time but regain strength rapidly after a day or two. Prefection of weather, followed by two days of very high wind & clouds of dust with very heavy rain on evening of 29th. Butler away for his holidays & things generally very quiet.
31 May 1908
Sunday, Very warm indeed.
01 June 1908
Hottest day of the year. Pollie & Harry go to London to sit for matriculation. May comes down. Most terrific storm at night, torrents of rain & lightening very severe. May comes down.
03 June 1908
May & self ride to Cranbrook, view the church etc & ride on to Sissinghurst & Palmer. Very pleasant riding.
04 June 1908
Pollie & Harry return from London. Very stormy weather. Severe thunder & lightening.
05 June 1908
Prize Day at school, our of doors and suitable weather, self, Pollie & Harry attend. May returns by late train.
08 June 1908
Whitmonday. Pollie rides to Matfield, self & Harry to Hawkhurst via Folly Hill. Alfred takes us for a ride through the woods at Bedgebury, perfection of weather.
14 June 1908
Sunday. To Marden chapel in evening.
16 June 1908
A very nice shower all night, everything benefited.
17 June 1908
Mrs P Honess & baby come to tea; afterwards Pollie, Harry & self ride to Hawkenbury, Headcorn & Sandhurst Cross. Russell away for his holiday.
24 June 1908
Edie away for holiday. Warm, dry, sunny weather, perfection of haying weather. Mr Smith & family leave The Limes after six years residence. Call on Stevens & round to Yalding, long ride but very pleasant.
25 June 1908
Lizzie & young John come down after dinner. Lizzie & self go to Maidstone by bus, call on Dr Oliver. Very warm but cool wind.
28 June 1908
Misses Reader come to tea & walk in park after tea. Very warm. Hot weather continues with no prospect of abatement. People very busy strawberry picking.
30 June 1908
Pollie cycles to Matfield & back, very warm ride.
01 July 1908
Harry & self ride to Cranbrook & Pollie to Pyke fish & back.
02 July 1908
Charles Brooker bound apprentice for three years £10 premium. Half being paid on this date and remainder due Jany. 1st 1910. Wages to be 2/- per week first year, 3/- second year & 4/- third year.
08 July 1908
Sent cheque to mother £20.15.0 for one year's interest on 150 at 2 1/2 per cent & 2 year's interest on 847.15.7 @ 4 per cent less 21/- subscription for Aged Pilgrims excursion to Ramsgate. Wet afternoon.
11 July 1908
Repairs, painting and ventilator etc, finished at chapel at cost of £88.
12 July 1908
Distant thunderstorm & heavy rain in evening. Sam Dann junior stays from Saturday until Monday.
13 July 1908
Monday. Heavy rain all day, very acceptable to farmers etc. Haymaking pretty well finished.
15 July 1908
Pollie & self ride up to see Excell & Cork, back through Marden & Style Bridge. Perfect roads & pleasant weather followed by wet weather for several days.
19 July 1908
Sunday, Pollie, self & Harry go to Marden to hear Mr Kemp.
20 July 1908
Pollie rides to Hawkhurst & back.
21 July 1908
Very poorly all day, bilious attack.
22 July 1908
Horse indisposed with seedy feet & turn out in Worsley's field. Pollie & self ride round Boughton, Sutton Valance etc, after closing.
28 July 1908
Prize Day at Tonbridge. Self goes. Harry fairly successful. Very warm but most seasonable weather.
29 July 1908
Self & Harry ride to Frittenden, Tilden, Biddenden & Palmers re horse. Lovely weather. Pollie cycles to see Ellen & finds her better
30 July 1908
Sports Day at Tonbridge. Pollie & Harry.
02 August 1908
John Dann comes down & stays until Monday evening, going with Harry to flower shows. Self & Pollie cycle to Matfield, very warm. Call at Collier's St. & Pyke Fish.
04 August 1908
Pollie & Harry with George Prall & Anne go to Margate for the day. Smart showers early & late.
09 August 1908
Pollie & self go to Marden to hear Mr Sinden in the evening. Mr Kirby at Horsham. Very pleasant weather.
12 August 1908
Mother comes from Hawkhurst. Harry & self ride to Yalding after tea calling at Pyke fish. Official visit to schools.
14 August 1908
Owen Farmer cuts his foot while bathing in the lake.
16 August 1908
Stevens & his housekeeper come to tea. Weather very dry & dusty.
17 August 1908
Wickings men commence to paint & repair stable, finish by 20th.
19 August 1908
Pollie, Harry & self ride to see Mr Elden at Glastonbury.
20 August 1908
Pollie & mother go to Maidstone by bus. Very wet evening. Welcome rain.
23 August 1908
Sunday, a thorough wet day, 24 hours steady rain. Very few at chapel. Weather stormy & unsettled for several days.
26 August 1908
Self & Harry ride to Halden Place.
27 August 1908
Pollie & Harry byke to Matfield & back. Wet stormy nights & heavy rain.
28 August 1908
A thorough wet day, very heavy showers sending the pickers home from the gardens, high winds shattering fruit.
01 September 1908
Month opens with wet day after day. Many of the hoppers going back to town. High winds & fruit & hops much damaged & prospects very gloomy.
03 September 1908
Harry & Pollie go to Tun Wells to see dentist but have a lost journey.
06 September 1908
Weather much improving, warm days with cold, foggy nights.
09 September 1908
Harry & self go to Franco British Exhibition by early train returning by mail train. Windy, & smart showers. Do some buying, Cooks, Youngs etc & call on solicitor respecting Collier St.
10 September 1908
Mother returns to Hawkhurst by rail. Pollie & Harry accompany her to Hawkhurst.
13 September 1908
Pollie & Harry to Marden to hear Mr Laws. Self follows & in collision with hoppers. Fall from byke & slightly damaged.
14 September 1908
Harry resumes school at Tonbridge. Perfection of weather during the week with fog at times & damp afternoons.
15 September 1908
Mr Crowhurst passes away aged 54. Mrs Haids also. Pollie & Harry got to Tun Wells to see dentist.
16 September 1908
Mr & Mrs Kemp with friend from Linton spend the afternoon with us.
20 September 1908
Mr Kirby, Pollie, Harry & self to Cranbrook.
22 September 1908
Sad news from Hawkhurst - Alfred found unconscious at Salehurst. Self & mother go to see him. Lies in about same condition several days.
Sussex Agricultural Express - Saturday 26 September 1908
23 September 1908
Pollie & self goo to Colliers St. & Benou (?)
27 September 1908
Sunday. Cycle to Hawkhurst, there ride with mother to Salehurst. Alfred conscious only at intervals. Damp evening. Month goes out remarkably warm. Nights warmer than days & as warm for a short time.
30 September 1908
Alfred a shade better. Pollie go to Matfield in afternoon. Most remarkable, heat very oppressive, foggy nights & cloudless days.
04 October 1908
Sunday. Heat more trying at chapel than any other Sunday during the year.
07 October 1908
To Hawkhurst after dinner, & meet Jas. Horning & his wife. Alfred progressing very slowly. Most remarkable weather, quite a second summer.
13 October 1908
Better news from Hawkhurst, Pollie goes over to arrange for mother coming to Staplehurst.
14 October 1908
Self to London to buy straws, etc.
15 October 1908
Mother comes to Staplehurst. Alfred making very slow progress.
18 October 1908
Stevens poorly & not at chapel. Alfred removed to Hawkhurst.
20 October 1908
Much cooler & fire in dining room.
22 October 1908
Pollie cycles home & back by rail. Mr Prall very sadly. Weather cold & wet.
28 October 1908
To Hawkhurst by rail. Alfred better but still very hazy. Pollie develops very nasty cold & cough, Harry follows suit.
29 October 1908
Pollie goes home for half day.
01 November 1908
Weather turns much colder for several days, very changeable.
08 November 1908
Drying wind & frosty. Roads perfect - & getting dusty.
11 November 1908
Mother & self go to Combwell via Hawkhurst. Mild & foggy. Alfred much better but very weak & feeble. Rosa Piper visits for the afternoon & evening.
12 November 1908
Pollie goes home for a few hours but Prall better.
18 November 1908
To Maidstone to attend audit with Mr Reeves. Pollie goes to Matfield. Fine open weather.
19 November 1908
Edith Blunt leaves after 5 years service & Daisy Henty takes up her abode.
25 November 1908
Pollie & self go to Matfield by rail for an hour or so. Back up from Paddock. Nice pleasant weather. Mr Prall much better.
26 November 1908
Run down to see Stevens & find him very poorly. Weather open & fine but changeable with some dense fogs.
03 December 1908
Pollie rides up to see Fuller, finds him better but still unable to walk. Mr Kirby sells his property & seeking for fresh house.
09 December 1908
Pollie goes to Hawkhurst Worsley's trap.
10 December 1908
Pollie sends D Henty home on account of bad face & without a maid for a time.
14 December 1908
A thorough downpour all day. Pollie goes to Tonbridge to meet girl & mother from Hadlow with a view to engaging her. Heavy rain at times & floods, but very mild & roads very dirty.
17 December 1908
D Henty returns to resume her duties as domestic. Harry at Maidstone.
18 December 1908
Pollie goes to breaking up at Tonbridge, Harry fairly successful. return at midnight. weather dull but fine, inclined to be frosty. Roads dry up for Christmas, getting very busy in shop.
25 December 1908
Friday.Fine dry weather. Mr Kirby calls in morning. Pollie & self walking after dinner & visiting all evening.
26 December 1908
To Hawkhurst by rail, walking with Alfred for short time & back by two train. Rose & Jennie Prall come down by same train, returning by last.
27 December 1908
Cold & dry, with very slight fall of snow. Very few at chapel.
29 December 1908
Snow falling all day & very cold followed by sharp frost & everywhere covered in snow.
30 December 1908
Very deep snow & men clearing off roofs.
31 December 1908
Much milder & rapid thaw towards evening & by end of week snow nearly all disappeared with very dirty roads but no rain.
01 January 1909
Dull, mild & dirty.
05 January 1909
Pollie & Harry go to Paddock Wood & Pollie as far as Matfield.
11 January 1909
Harry returns to school. Jonathan Smith buried aged 71. Weather fine & open, slight frost.
12 January 1909
Harry goes to party at Mrs Palmer’s reaching home at midnight. Weather open & fairly fine.
21 January 1909
To Tonbridge to see Mr Evans & call on Herbert Piper, cold & gloomy but fairly fine.
24 January 1909
Mrs Oliver of this school dies aged...
25 January 1909
Pollie goes home Mrs Prall's birthday.
27 January 1909
Dense cold fog for several days. Alfred goes to London to see eye doctors.
28 January 1909
Clara & Ellen down for afternoon. Intensely cold & foggy early & late.
04 February 1909
Quite a change in weather, really warm & pleasant in afternoon but cold & frosty at night. To Maidstone to see Mr Hoar, etc. Weather fine, dry, cold for several days & roads perfect.
09 February 1909
Letter from Hawkhurst saying mother is poorly at Coombwell.
10 February 1909
Cold & snowy & dirty roads. To Goudhurst station by rail then by trap to Coombwell & find mother much better & arrange for her to come on following Wednesday.
17 February 1909
Pollie fetches mother from Combwell, calling at Hawkhurst on way back. bright & cold. Pollie renews her cold. Alice Staines up to assist.
18 February 1909
Pyke to Loose, thence train to Maidstone. Warm in sun, cold wind. Pollie suffering from cold & cough.
20 February 1909
Call in Dr Fielding.
21 February 1909
Harry goes to Matfield, Sunday. Weather dry, sunny & frosty nights - as much as 70 degrees difference in day & night. Cold & coughs very prevalent.
25 February 1909
Cold, snowy, dull & depressing. Coughs & colds much in evidence. Mother's furniture, etc, arrives from Hawkhurst.
27 February 1909
Saturday. Snowing all day & very cold.
28 February 1909
Wintry weather with smart snow storm. Very few at chapel. Stevens absent.
01 March 1909
Dr Fielden calls to see self. Bronchitis & general debility with obstinate cough.
03 March 1909
Wake up and find very deep snow. Snow ploughs up the street & snowing nearly all day. Much more snow at night - I think the heaviest I ever remember, Unable to send horse but send men & hand cart & big baskets.
04 March 1909
Thawing during the day & freezing towards night, everything except snowsweeping at a stand still, business consequently very quiet.
05 March 1909
One of the most severe frosts on record, bitterly cold & everything frozen, followed by sunshine & frosty night.
06 March 1909
Quite a change & thaw commences.
07 March 1909
& continues. Snow going away nicely.
09 March 1909
Pollie goes home for afternoon to find a sick house.
10 March 1909
Self to Hawkhurst by rail. Cold, dull, unpleasant weather.
11 March 1909
Pollie goes home for afternoon. L Thirkell very poorly & causing great anxiety.
13 March 1909
Mrs Baines passes away at Tun. Wells aged 74.
14 March 1909
Cold, snowy Sunday.
15 March 1909
Cold blizzard all day, snow falling more or less from early morning, deep drifts in some places. To Maidstone by rail to buy a few things & see Mr R Hoar. Trade very depressed generally, especially in Kent.
17 March 1909
(Mrs Baines) Buried at Staplehurst by curate. Cold but bright. Trade very quiet.
19 March 1909
Much warmer & snow pretty much all gone in Staplehurst. Much distress & many out of work making prospects very gloomy & depressing.
23 March 1909
Mild & dull, dirty roads & things very quiet.
24 March 1909
Pollie goes to Matfield. A most boisterous rough night - very high wind followed by depressing, gloomy weather.
26 March 1909
Owen Farmer goes home ill.
28 March 1909
Self, Pollie, Harry & mother very poorly indeed, Harry, mother in bed. Maid goes home poorly. Butler & Charlie away from business. Doctor calls every day for a week or ten days. Harry down & out by April 2. Most trying, worrying week. Smith comes & assists, Alice Staines stays each day & night.
29 March 1909
Pollie in bed for nearly a week. Sits upstairs from April 2.
08 April 1909
Butler comes back. Pollie improving.
09 April 1909
Good Friday. Most beautiful weather possible, cloudless, no wind & very warm. Pollie & self walk out in fields. Alfred & Emily drive over in afternoon & stay to or three hours. Alfred very low & depressed.
10 April 1909
Charlie Brooker returns.
12 April 1909
Easter Monday. Harry & self ride to Matfield via Pike Fish & Mascalls, wind against us. Showery afternoon & cooler coming back.
15 April 1909
Pollie goes to Maidstone re glasses, etc. Growing weather with April showers.
21 April 1909
To London to buy a few straws, flowers, etc.
23 April 1909
Smart thunder storm early morning.
25 April 1909
Harry & self to Marden to hear Mr Tobitt. Nice seasonable weather. Mother at Chapel for half a day.
28 April 1909
Matfield anniversary. Pollie goes up by 9.45 train. Harry bykes up after tea.
29 April 1909
Colder & showery, depressing weather.
01 May 1909
Cold & slight fall of snow. Weather sets in bright with frosts each night.
03 May 1909
Alfred returns from Bournmouth certainly better.
05 May 1909
Pollie, Harry & self to Tonbridge anniversary, Mr Gruber. Sunny & cold. Most sunny May on record. Cloudless sky day after day.
07 May 1909
Turn mare into Worlsey's field.
11 May 1909
Hicks’ horse for a few weeks.
12 May 1909
To Smarden to meet trustees. Beautiful day & very warm. Return through Headcorn & call on Stevens. Put down linoleum in dining room & general spring cleaning.
16 May 1909
Pollie & Harry ride to Matfield in evening (Sunday). Rain on return journey & nice shower during night.
17 May 1909
Sell Mare Kitty at market for 14 1/2 guineas.
19 May 1909
To London with Harry to see principal at King's College to arrange for Harry to go in October. Very warm. Scullery painted & thoroughly cleaned.
24 May 1909
Empire Day Prize giving at school with sports in park. Everybody appears to enjoy themselves & perfection of weather. Warm, no wind & bright sunshine.
25 May 1909
Thunderstorm & very heavy rain during morning, doing an immense deal of good. Wedding of Miss Du Pre.
26 May 1909
Showery weather & much colder. Sports day at Commercial School. Pollie attends with Harry.
31 May 1909
Whit Monday. Perfection of weather, warm, sunny all day, not sultry. No dust or wind. Harry & self byke to Mr Kemp's to see about horse. Stay all day & arrive home 10 o'clock. Pollie & mother trapp to Matfield & greatly enjoy ride. This month the most sunny ever known, uninterrupted sunshine day after day.
01 June 1909
Showery & much colder followed by several days of dull, cold & damp days.
02 June 1909
Wednesday. Pollie & self walk to Frittenden. Very hot evening & cold, heavy rain during the night. Fruit trees, etc, very much blighted.
07 June 1909
Wickings begins to repair roof of house & repair chimney, etc. Weather improved, warmer, dry but not sunny.
09 June 1909
Mother goes to Hawkhurst for a few weeks. Pollie in Worlsey's trap.
10 June 1909
Cold, dull & cheerless. Sharp frost at night, north east wind.
11 June 1909
Pollie bykes to Matfield.
14 June 1909
Harry & Pollie go by first train to New Cross, Harry to Kensington, Pollie to Gravesend. May arrives about noon. Weather cool & dull for June. Depressing.
16 June 1909
Telegram saying will return by mail. Self & Harry ride to Boughton, Chart Sutton, etc, very pleasant weather. The street dressed with tar to keep the dust down.
17 June 1909
May & Pollie go to Cranbrook anniversary. May returning home by last train. Harry returns from London by mail train. Weather much warmer.
20 June 1909
Ellen comes down unexpectedly for the Sunday. Pleasant weather.
21 June 1909
Russell fetched horse from Rolvenden.
22 June 1909
Daisy Henty leaves & Ellen Butcher succeeds.
23 June 1909
To Hawkhurst after closing calling on Mrs Hickmott. Warm & pleasant. Pollie & Harry to Palmer’s. Men finished roof & all gone.
24 June 1909
Showery morning. A H Butler commences his services as successor to O Farmer.
25 June 1909
Cold & wet & very depressing for two or three days.
27 June 1909
Cold showers & unJunelike.
30 June 1909
Harry goes to London ready to sit scholarship examination. Pollie & self to Matfield, really acute cold coming home.
01 July 1909
Bright but north wind & cold evening.
04 July 1909
Harry returns from London by 8 train. Heavy rain during the day with appearance of more.
05 July 1909
Pollie & Harry ride to Pykefish after tea. Owen Farmer enters on his duties at Edenbridge.
06 July 1909
Tremendous rain during the day upsetting haymaking & strawberries & causing general depression.
07 July 1909
Excursion to Ramsgate & Margate, Pollie & Harry go. Heavy showers followed by cold depressing weather.
11 July 1909
Sunday. Really cold evening & overcoats very acceptable, Harry goes to Matfield.
12 July 1909
Dull, cold & depressing. Clara drives down & brings Freda & Clara Thirkell, leaving them a few days.
14 July 1909
Wednesday. Much warmer & more seasonable. Pollie bykes to Matfield & self to Cranbrook, Harry to Combwell. Pay Hicks 9.8.0 for horse hire, etc.
15 July 1909
Pay Mr W Wickings cheque 28.7.11 less dis. & contra acc 2.17.11 for painting scullery, repairing chimney & complete roof.
16 July 1909
Thorough wet day, followed by several sunny, warm days.
19 July 1909
Monday. Very warm indeed. Clara & Mrs Butter drive down from Matfield & fetch Freda.
20 July 1909
Pollie bykes to Matfield & back after tea.
21 July 1909
Pollie & self byke to Yalding & Collier St. after tea & Harry to Hawkhurst Flower Shows.
22 July 1909
Harry takes Clara Thirkell home in trailer, Pollie going with them. Stiff breeze & bright sunshine.
23 July 1909
Sent cheque value £15 to Mr D Kemp of Rolvenden for horse Tommy. Very windy for several days & really cold with outbursts of sunshine.
25 July 1909
Sunday. Showery morning. Pollie, Harry, with Messrs Haines & Tyvel go to Marden in the evening, Mr Rose. Really cold night.
26 July 1909
Fine morning, but terrific rain in afternoon & whirlwind in south part of Staplehurst, doing a lot of damage & very depressing for all classes of people.
27 July 1909
Pollie & Harry go to Tonbridge to break up & prize giving. Harry comes home very poorly & doctoring.
28 July 1909
Very wet afternoon, indeed. Heavy rain all the evening making things very dull & gloomy. Pollie & self ride to Marden & Style Bridge respecting servant. Weather improving but cold for August.
02 August 1909
Ride to Hawkhurst & stay with Alfred & co. Twice to Chapel to hear Mr J Kirby. Fine rain at intervals & coldest August bank holiday for 21 years. Pollie & Harry go to P. Wood. Harry successfully passes matriculation.
04 August 1909
Pollie & self ride up to see Fuller. Warmer & pleasant weather.
08 August 1909
Sunday. Mr Kirby at Horsham. Weather very warm. Sets in very hot indeed for several days.
10 August 1909
Harry finished his connection with K.E. C. & Staplehurst School.
11 August 1909
Pollie & Harry go to Maidstone to see dentist, lost journey. Edith Butler leaves, succeeded by Kate Mannering.
14 August 1909
Two hottest days for three years.
15 August 1909
Two hottest days for three years.
17 August 1909
Very heavy rain & much cooler. Pollie & Harry go to dentist at Maidstone. Weather very unsettled & heavy rains at intervals. Very depressing & gloomy.
25 August 1909
Pollie & self go to Bounds Cross to witness baptising of several candidates from Cranbook.
26 August 1909
Pollie & Harry go to dentist, successfully taken out five teeth.
02 September 1909
Thursday. Harry & his friend Wheeler go to Minster, rail to Ashford & thence by byke. Favoured with fairly good weather.
05 September 1909
Mr & Mrs Hickmott, baby & Mrs Hartfield to tea Sunday.
07 September 1909
Pollie rides to Matfield, home by rail. Weather showery at times for several days. Hoppicking pretty general. Plague of wasps unusually great this year.
10 September 1909
Paid mother £7 balance of acc. for half year ending Midsummer.
11 September 1909
Weather greatly improved, two very nice days. Harry & his friend return from Minster, riding all the way through Lenham, etc. etc,
12 September 1909
Mr Kirby away & reading at Chapel.
13 September 1909
Thorough wet morning, raining all day, people not picking.
15 September 1909
Weather much improved. Pollie & self byke to Matfield, come home by train, self by train. Self very poorly.
16 September 1909
Spent afternoon in doors, severe bilious attack, better towards night & fairly well by following day.
17 September 1909
Meet at school to discuss second master.
19 September 1909
Sunday. Pollie & self go to Cranbrook Providence Chapel. Harry staying at Tonbridge.
21 September 1909
Harry & Pollie cycle to Rolvenden, Harry stays all night.
22 September 1909
Pollie & self call upon Mrs Morris. Very warm, most terrific thunder storms after we get back & torrents of rain. Very anxious about Harry.
23 September 1909
Harry returns from Rovenden. A return of storm & thunder.
25 September 1909
Saturday. Most terrible storm very close, deluge of rain, putting hoppers in sad plight.
28 September 1909
Tuesday. Steady downpour all day & night.
29 September 1909
To London with Harry. Call at Kings College, go to Cooks, etc & on to Crofton Park & see Mr & Mrs Barley, returning by mail train. Heavy rain all day in London, fine at Staplehurst.
02 October 1909
Saturday. Very warm & balmy night, particularly warm.
03 October 1909
Stevens ill in bed. Wet & depressing.
04 October 1909
Harry & Pollie go to Crofton Park. Wet, gloomy & depressing.
05 October 1909
Heavy showers at times, very warm & oppressive, but cold & fine towards evening & touch of frost. Pollie still in London & May down for a day or two.
08 October 1909
Paid Dr Fielden £6.18.0 for attendance Feby. to August 1909. Mother's bill £2.19.6. Trade very quiet.
18 October 1909
Shelves fixed in warehouse by Wickings.
19 October 1909
Rain, rain more or less everyday, saturating everything.
22 October 1909
Friday. Harry comes home by seven train, well but tired, bykes to Tenterden on following day.
24 October 1909
Sunday. Showery morning early but clears off nicely, but showery evening. Sam & Clara down for afternoon service & stay to tea with Miss Briggs.
25 October 1909
Harry returns by 8 train on Monday morning. Lovely day, frosty night. Manager's meeting
26 October 1909
Wake up to find wet morning followed by rain all day & exceedingly heavy rain at night continues until morning. Record floods, water knee deep in houses at Knox Bridge & many places isolated.
27 October 1909
Rain re-commences at noon & heavy down pour during afternoon & evening. Matfield anniversary. Pollie goes & hear Mr Booth. Deep flood between Mascalls & Paddock Wood station.
02 November 1909
Tuesday. Mr Thomas married at Staplehurst. Perfection of weather.
03 November 1909
Wednesday evening service, close upon 100 attended.
04 November 1909
Pollie goes home to Matfield for half day.
05 November 1909
Weather greatly improved.
08 November 1909
Monday. Very severe attack of bleeding & call Dr Fielden at midnight.
10 November 1909
Pollie & self call on Mrs Thos. Taylor. Weather greatly improved, slight frost, dry with fog at times.
12 November 1909
Harry comes down & returns on Monday.
13 November 1909
Mrs Pope of Chapel Lane passes away suddenly aged 77, buried at Frittenden on 18th, Mrs Morris passes away same day, aged 63.
14 November 1909
Sunday. Wet & cold.
15 November 1909
Stevens away.
17 November 1909
Pollie goes home to Matfield for afternoon.
20 November 1909
Weather greatly improved, cold, dry & frosty.
21 November 1909
Very large congregation at Chapel. Very nice weather, dry & cold, roads perfect.
24 November 1909
Mother & self to Hawkhurst, a most beautiful day, followed by rather more dull weather, misty & fog, but fairly dry. Month goes out fairly fine.
01 December 1909
Mr Prall very ill & Pollie goes home three days in succession. Windows dressed for Christmas. Weather very stormy, heavy rains & high floods.
04 December 1909
Harry unexpectedly comes home, arriving at midnight, following day he bykes to Matfield returning to London by 11 train. Down pour all day.
06 December 1909
More rain & cold. Pollie goes home twice a week. weather uncertain & much rain.
17 December 1909
Mrs Harry Holder passes away.
19 December 1909
Pollie goes home Sunday afternoon & again on Monday, staying all night. Sharp frost after floods. William away from 13th to 19th with boils on neck.
22 December 1909
Complete change in weather, warm & wet. Wednesday evening service at Chapel. Weather boisterous but a good attendance. Remarkably changed in the weather - sharp frosts, then warm, damp & dirty.
25 December 1909
Saturday. Woke up to find a bright morning. Rain commencing by 9.30 & heavy down pour for a time. Catch the down train for Headcorn & take parcel & money to Stevens. Clears off & bright sunshine. Walk home from Headcorn calling at Mrs A Cruchers. Spend afternoon in doors & walking in evening. Very pleasant evening & frosty.
26 December 1909
Wake up to a rough, wet morning. Clears off towards noon. Warm & close & very dirty. Pollie & self rail to P. Wood, dine at Mascalls & walk up to nurseries after dinner. Find Lizzie in bed in critical condition. Mr & Mrs Prall about the same. Harry bykes to Mascalls, staying there all night. Self back by six train to attend meeting at school. Wet, warm & dirty.
29 December 1909
Young people from Mascalls & Ruth Palmer come to tea & spend the evening.
30 December 1909
Pollie goes to Matfield for half day, invalids about the same.
31 December 1909
The year goes out with fine, mild weather & the public much excited over the coming election. Harry fetches Freda Dann to stay for a few days.
01 January 1910
The New year opens very mild, dirty roads & gloomy. Matfield people very sadly.
04 January 1910
Harry takes Freda back & stays until Thursday, 6th. Clara comes down with Harry & Pollie & Clara with Harry go to services at Cranbrook.
06 January 1910
William again goes home on account of boils. Weather very mild, dirty & gloomy & generally very depressing.
08 January 1910
Lovely day, followed by a wet, cold Sunday, & road very dirty.
11 January 1910
Harry goes to Worsley's party. Very heavy rain & road again very heavy. Russell's boy very dangerously ill.
12 January 1910
Wednesday. Harry returns to college. Colder & fine all day & roads dried pretty much. Pollie goes home by 3.40 train.
20 January 1910
Polling at Staplehurst. Hardy wins 3540 majority. Charlie away ill, self very poorly with cold. Cold, dry & seasonable.
21 January 1910
Much colder & very severe frost. Much illness about - self, Butter, Charlie, etc, etc, indisposed.
22 January 1910
Stay in doors nearly all day, also all day Sunday. Kate Mannering goes home.
23 January 1910
Ground covered with snow followed by rain later on & very stormy night but much warmer.
24 January 1910
Milder again followed by very sharp frost & skating in neighbourhood.
26 January 1910
Wednesday. Evening service & good attendance. Bright frosty moonlight night. Paris flooded most seriously.
27 January 1910
Pollie goes home after dinner, much milder & snow in evening, turning to rain. Pollie pretty well again.
29 January 1910
Saturday. News from Hawkhurst saying John had passed away under distressing circumstances, falling from bedroom window. Inquest on following Monday. Funeral on July 2 at Moor church. Copy of letter found on table in his room. 'Dearest Mother, Father & all. I can stand no longer. I die happy, confident of a better home above where I hope to meet you all surrounded by that heavenly host praising God who reigns above, in whom I hope happiness into life eternal. Yours, in Christ Jesus. Jack'.
02 February 1910
Mother & self at funeral. Very wet & gloomy. Alfred very sadly. Pollie goes to Matfield every day.
04 February 1910
Friday. Mrs Prall sinking & (passes away on Saturday 5/2/1910, aged 75)
05 February 1910
(Mrs Prall) passes away on Saturday 5/2/1910, aged 75. Pollie fetched by motor, Harry down.
10 February 1910
Funeral at Brenchley C. Yard. Fine weather. Self & Harry go up by fly, Pollie & self come home by fly.
13 February 1910
Sunday. Pollie & self to Matfield by train, Mr Boorman at Chapel at Matfield. Damp, cold & cheerless. Mr Kirby still indisposed & away from his pulpit. Roads remarkably dirty.
16 February 1910
Wednesday. To Matfield by rail for afternoon, look over Mrs Prall's papers, etc. Fine, dry weather & roads dried up followed by wet day.
20 February 1910
Sunday. A lovely morning & Mr Kirby comes out- after a fortnight absence - considerably better. Very violent storm comes on in afternoon, most terrific wind & rain all night. Mother very poorly & in bed, the doctor coming in on 19th. Self suffering from boil on arm - very painful.
22 February 1910
Wet, day after day with bright nights. Most serious depressing weather. Dr Fielden attends to my arm & pronounces it small carbuncle, very painful at times.
25 February 1910
Still wet, wet, wet, steady downpour more or less every day. Most serious & really solemn. Mother still poorly & my arm very painful at times & Pollie far from well.
01 March 1910
Comes in bright & sunny for several days.
02 March 1910
Wednesday. Sudden attack of influenza while dressing necessitating keeping in bed until Sunday afternoon leaving me very weak & prostrate for several days.
09 March 1910
A thorough wet day from noon & heavy rain. Alfred goes with Harry Holder to Bournmouth for a few days returning on Friday 18th. Weather improving, bright, sunny days, self improving & getting stronger.
10 March 1910
Get out in Worsley's garden a bit but weather sets in damp & depressing.
14 March 1910
Pollie goes home for a few hours.
23 March 1910
Self & George Prall go to Tun Wells respecting probate Mrs Prall.
25 March 1910
Good Friday & perfection of weather. Self & Pollie cycle to Matfield & Harry to Pad. Wood. Self to Chapel to hear E Mercer. Mother very poorly with cough & cold.
28 March 1910
Easter Monday. Perfection of weather. Pollie, mother & self to Hawkhurst in fly. Find Alfred much better & walking with him in afternoon. Harry to P. Wood. Mother very poorly & makes us very anxious. Mr Paley & Mrs Harris come & sit all night.
03 April 1910
Harry under doctors hands, slight influenza & indoors all week. Weather very seasonable with a few April showers.
06 April 1910
Pollie goes home for afternoon.
11 April 1910
Harry & Self start for Sandgate by rail with bykes, reaching Bedford House 3.30. Staying until Monday 18th. Visiting Dover, Hythe & various places in neighbourhood. Improved health on return. Weather favourable with very sharp thunder storm on 13th evening.
20 April 1910
Harry returns to college. Pollie goes home by byke after dinner. Mother improving advertising for nurse & many applications.
26 April 1910
Pollie goes to Tun. Wells & following day to Matfield anniversary.
29 April 1910
Butter sprains his foot & stays at home. Nurse Mannering comes to take up her abode with us. Weather changeable, cold evenings. Roads being tarred, take the order rounds for a week. Weather very unsettled, rain, sleet, & frosts for several days with some spells of sunshine.
04 May 1910
Pollie goes to Tunbridge Anniversary, Mr Gruber.
07 May 1910
News reaches Staplehurst of death of King Edward after a few days illness, aged 69.
08 May 1910
Mr Kirby in London & Pollie goes to Flimwell after dinner expecting to hear Luther speak but find he is not there through illness. Very cold & unseasonable.
09 May 1910
To London to buy a few straws, etc. Spend some time with Harry & go down to Crofton Park returning home by mail train via Orpington.
11 May 1910
Pollie goes up to Mascalls for a few hours.
12 May 1910
Thursday. To Smarden to meet trustees of Tilden Charity. Very strong wind but pleasant returning. Weather unsettled for several days & much thunder.
13 May 1910
Harry comes home for Whitsuntide.
15 May 1910
Mother in Chapel in afternoon. Many thunder storms during the week especially at night & some very heavy rains & exceedingly warm.
16 May 1910
Whit-Monday. Harry Holder & Grace Richardson & Floss Comeby motor from Mayfield. Perfection of weather, warm & calm. After tea, Pollie, Harry & self ride around Style Bridge & Marden.
18 May 1910
Pollie & Harry go to Palmer's to supper.
20 May 1910
Close all day on account of funeral of King Edward buried at Windsor. Pollie & Harry & self attend church in afternoon. After tea, Pollie & self ride to Pyke Fish & find Ellen & Lewis gone to Matfield. Very warm all day.
23 May 1910
Harry returns to college. Self goes to Maidstone. Very warm.
25 May 1910
Much colder, difference of 20 degrees. Wickings commences to paint shop & house.
29 May 1910
Sunday. Pollie & self to Cranbrook to hear Mr Landy. Windy ride.
01 June 1910
Wednesday. Pollie & self byke to Matfield after closing. Very pleasant weather.
02 June 1910
Harry comes home to sleep, sitting at Tonbridge for scholarship two days.
06 June 1910
Much thunder & really unsettled weather. Trade remarkably quiet & prospects far from encouraging. Harry returns to London. Storms all round & weather generally much upset & very warm.
08 June 1910
Pollie & self have byke ride Frittenden, Biddenden & Headcorn. Warm & pleasant.
10 June 1910
Uncle John calls in on his road to Tun. Wells. Tremendous heavy rain followed by dull & sunless weather for a few days.
14 June 1910
Anniversary at Marden, Pollie goes.
15 June 1910
To Hawkhurst after closing. Pollie goes to Matfield. Cold evening.
17 June 1910
Pollie & all the family go to Tun. Wells to receive Mrs Prall's estate. Pollie goes on to London for a few days. May comes down. Pollie hurts her foot in Tun. Wells. Returns from London on Tuesday. Weather very warm.
22 June 1910
Byke round Boughton, Sutton, etc.
26 June 1910
Pollie & self go to Marden to hear Mr Light. Cooler but dry. Most severe storm on London on previous day.
27 June 1910
Club day. Very cold, especially in evening. Usual noise & hubbub but trade very bad.
28 June 1910
Really quite cold, making winter clothes desirable. Mother goes out to tea.
29 June 1910
Pollie & self byke to Home Farm to See Mr Thomas. Wind very high but favourable in going, but much calmer on return journey, very pleasant ride. Harry comes home for his long vacation, returning to sit for exam on Monday, July 4th.
30 June 1910
Weather very wet for several days. Farmers anxious respecting hay.
05 July 1910
Mother goes to Hawkhurst for holiday. Beautiful day but rain follows in evening.
07 July 1910
Paid Dr Fielden 7.1.6, for mother 7.11.0.
11 July 1910
Butter away on his holiday, returning Friday 15th. Self takes the rounds. Much warmer & very seasonable weather.
13 July 1910
Pollie bykes to Matfield & back after tea.
14 July 1910
Kate Mannering leaves & Grace Henty succeeds her.
17 July 1910
Mrs Palmer stays to tea. Showery weather after a fine week. Harry rides to Paddock Wood in evening.
20 July 1910
Pollie & self ride to Smarden, Headcorn, etc. Showery.
22 July 1910
Harry fetches Bessie from Pyke Fish, taking her back on 25th.
24 July 1910
Very cold & gloomy & most depressing for July.
26 July 1910
Nurse returns. Clara calls on way home from Deal & stays one night.
28 July 1910
Mrs Munn & Mrs Baily down.
31 July 1910
Pollie & Harry cycle to Maidstone after tea to hear Mr Kirby. Pleasant warm weather.
01 August 1910
Monday. Perfection of weather. Warm but not sultry. Pollie, Harry & self start after breakfast for Sutton Valence, Langley, Leeds, Hollingbourne, Thurnham, Otham, Bearstead, Boughton & Linton, dining at Hollingbourne. A very pleasant ride. Puncture coming back at Bogden.
03 August 1910
Pollie rides to Matfield returning by rail.
04 August 1910
Mother returns from Hawkhurst accompanied by Alfred, Emily & Edith, etc. Pleasant day with wet evening.
07 August 1910
Pollie, Harry & self ride to Marden to hear Mr Light.
10 August 1910
Pollie & self to Maidstone to see Mrs Evenden. Weather sets in much warmer & Harvest begins.
12 August 1910
Pollie goes to Tun Wells in afternoon. Harry terminates a fortnights teaching at Council School.
14 August 1910
Sunday. Mr Kirby at Horsham & Harry & Pollie go to Matfield. Very warm & oppressive.
17 August 1910
Pollie, Harry & self go to Maidstone. Weather inclined to be damp.
20 August 1910
Saturday. Butter away all day, funeral of his child.
21 August 1910
Pollie, Harry & self to Cranbrook to hear Mr Landry. Nice weather.
25 August 1910
Messrs Thomas & Burgess meet here to sign accounts for Collier St. Stay to tea. Pollie & self ride to Frittenden & Headcorn.
27 August 1910
Harry & William & choir go to White City for the day. Weather fine.
28 August 1910
Sunday. Showery & cold evening, very heavy rain & wind at intervals during the week.
29 August 1910
Rose, Miss Hartfield & Johnny Dann down for the afternoon. Rose staying for a change.
31 August 1910
Harry goes to Hawkhurst, Rolvenden, etc.
01 September 1910
Pollie & Rose to Maidstone by bus. Fine & warm.
07 September 1910
Pollie & Harry go to Mascalls. Shower at Staplehurst, fine generally.
09 September 1910
Weather perfection for hoppicking, not too much sun, dry & calm. Picking in full swing.
11 September 1910
Mr Kirby in London for the Sunday. Weather very favourable for hoppicking, dry & not over warm. Yield of hops better than anticipated.
18 September 1910
Sunday. Mr Kirby poorly & speaks only in the afternoon. Harry goes to Paddock Wood, returns on 21st.
20 September 1910
Self to Maidstone. R Croucher falls from his byke with fatal results. Weather remarkably fine. Only one wet day during September.
02 October 1910
As warm as any day during the year, followed by heavy showers at night succeeded by warm pleasant weather.
03 October 1910
Green takes possession of Villa at Matfield.
04 October 1910
Tuesday. Harry returns to college. Pollie bykes to Paddock Wood. Remarkable fine, ideal weather. Calm bright & warm.
10 October 1910
Fine pleasant weather continues with rather foggy nights. Revolution in Portugal & everything upside down.
11 October 1910
Change in weather.
12 October 1910
Pollie goes to Tonbridge anniversary. Heavy rain & colder followed by dull cooler weather & cold wind. Strike of railway employees in Paris.
17 October 1910
Monday. London to buy straws etc. Visit Westminster & Crofton Park.
18 October 1910
Butter away poorly. Coughs & colds very general. Weather damp & dull.
20 October 1910
Mother & self to Hawkhurst on Hicks trap. Showery. Alfred still very sadly. Pollie goes on to Tun. Wells.
21 October 1910
Spend over two hours with Mr Kirby at Lynton.
27 October 1910
Wednesday. Matfield anniversary. Pollie & self to evening service, Mr Booth.
28 October 1910
Weather showery. Harry down returns on Monday.
31 October 1910
Most beautiful day, sunshine but east wind followed by wet, stormy night.
01 November 1910
Month comes in with heavy showers with sharp white frosts after a few days. thunder & lightening during several nights.
09 November 1910
William goes to London & spends day with Harry. Pollie goes to Matfield. Weather bright & cold.
10 November 1910
To Matfield after tea. Wet evening followed by changeable weather.
14 November 1910
Pollie goes to London & stays until Wednesday. Fine weather generally.
15 November 1910
Inquest on George King.
16 November 1910
Very cold & bright. Nice beautiful night with eclipse of the moon.
19 November 1910
Snowing all the morning & very cold. Continues very cold for several days with severe frost.
22 November 1910
To London to buy linoleum, etc. Cold & very foggy.
23 November 1910
Thawing with snow in evening necessitating sweeping off snow from roof. Big dog steals leg of mutton. etc.
25 November 1910
Harry comes home for week end, returning on Monday morning. Weather very cold, foggy & gloomy & most depressing.
03 December 1910
General election through country.
04 December 1910
Mother very poorly & call in Dr Fielden.
05 December 1910
Much milder after a very wet night. Tremendous floods throughout the country. Rain continues day after day, particularly heavy at night, mornings fairly fine, but days gloomy & depressing.
16 December 1910
Friday. One of the most stormy nights for many years, exceedingly high wind.
18 December 1910
Weather much better, fine Sunday & good congregation. Mother better but still upstairs.
25 December 1910
Sunday. Fine weather & mild. Usual service & good congregation.
26 December 1910
Mild, fine morning. Pollie, self & Harry go to Matfield by 1 o/c train, returning by last. Harry staying at Mascalls. Very wet evening & windy.
27 December 1910
Tuesday. Bitter, cold morning, north wind. Pollie & self to Hawkhurst by 1 train train returning by last. Frosty night.
28 December 1910
Wednesday. Lecture & Lantern at Chapel by Mr J Kirby. Rose, Johnny & Sam come down for the evening, very cold sharp frost but much milder my morning.
01 January 1911
Sunday. Wet morning but clears off. Dark & gloomy with cooled evening. Mrs Thos. Taylor passes away on previous day.
02 January 1911
Harry goes to Brandon returns very late, following day to Clara's staying until Friday. Weather dull & very dirty. Outrage in London, burglars shot, etc. Weather very changeable, dull, gloomy & wet.
The Daily Mirror January 4, 1911
12 January 1911
Harry returns to London.
13 January 1911
Weather sets in very frosty & more seasonable.
16 January 1911
Frost disappears, dry but hazy. Glass very high.
21 January 1911
Heavy fog hangs over us for a week, no wind, roads very dirty indeed. Nothing drying. Wall between Crown property & garden erected & wall of stable concreted.
27 January 1911
Improvement in weather, fog less dense & roads drying.
28 January 1911
Almost a Spring day, roads clean.
29 January 1911
Dense fog & cold but bright afternoon & roads dry & clean.
01 February 1911
Cold, dry & frosty for a few days.
03 February 1911
Followed by warmer weather & dense fogs. Dull & gloomy. Harry comes down for week end, stays until Tuesday 7th having a cold about him. Fine weather with sharp frosts. Trade very quiet indeed.
13 February 1911
To Cranbrook re Mrs Croucher's will.
14 February 1911
Harry Palmer & King start for America.
18 February 1911
Butter goes home ill.
22 February 1911
Take Jolly Hill round, very boisterous for a long time, much wind & at times much rain.
28 February 1911
A thorough wet day followed by a beautiful, bright day & roads drying up nicely. Butter still away.
01 March 1911
Weather uncertain, fine, wet, wind, clean & dirty roads alternately.
07 March 1911
Nurse goes home for a week on account of her brother's funeral, returning on Monday 13th.
08 March 1911
Ford runs down to see me regarding situation. Trade very quiet & things appear very gloomy.
10 March 1911
Butter returns to work after three weeks absence.
13 March 1911
Very cold & snowy with keen wind. Pollie goes home for half day.
14 March 1911
Schools closed for two days to be disinfected acc of Scarlet Fever.
19 March 1911
Pollie & self walk to Marden to hear Mr Greenwood, not likely to repeat this walk.
20 March 1911
School opens again. Most lovely Spring like day, warm & pleasant - followed by wet morning.
21 March 1911
Two most lovely Spring like days & warm.
22 March 1911
Two most lovely Spring like days & warm. To Hawkhurst, very pleasant ride. Lightning at night & sharp thunder storm with heavy rain.
25 March 1911
Much colder & snow storms, wet & cold.
26 March 1911
Perhaps the most wintry day of the year, snowing more or less all night & very cold wind. Clearing snow from roof before Chapel. Very few out in consequence of weather. Very rough, boisterous night. High winds.
27 March 1911
Commence house cleaning & general upset for a week. Weather much warmer towards close of week. Trade very quiet.
31 March 1911
Harry comes home for his Easter holidays.
01 April 1911
Dull, sunless with heavy rain at night.
04 April 1911
Cold, drying wind & sunshine.
05 April 1911
The most wintry day of all the year. Wake up to find a deep snow & more falling on and off all day, with cold, cutting wind followed by a sharp frost at night.
06 April 1911
Bitterly cold all day, sharp searching wind.
08 April 1911
Pay Fire Insurance 4.18.0 less 3.13.6 as remainder of rebate.
10 April 1911
Wet, cold & very depressing weather. Maid still away nursing her mother.
12 April 1911
Mrs Henty dies & Lotty says she must stay & keep house for her father.
13 April 1911
Ford commences his services. Weather very pleasant.
14 April 1911
Good Friday. Very poorly & not inclined to go out until after dinner. Perfection of weather, warm & no wind. Pollie & self start after dinner for Marden, go to Chainhurst & engage a girl to come in on 18th. Harry at Matfield.
15 April 1911
J Butter finished his connection & commences duty at Maidstone on 18th.
17 April 1911
A most lovely day. Start for Matfield after breakfast with Pollie, Harry follows. Dinner at Mascalls, ride home in the evening, very pleasant riding, get back 8.15.
18 April 1911
Dusty, dry weather & tarring operations commence. Olive Watts commences her services at Staplehurst.
26 April 1911
To London to buy few flowers, straws, etc. Pleasant weather.
04 May 1911
Harry goes back to London. Beautiful weather, sunny & warm.
08 May 1911
To Matfield by byke & motor. Very warm.
10 May 1911
To Matfield re Green, etc.
14 May 1911
Sunday. A most beneficial rain & showery all day.
17 May 1911
To Smarden to meet trustees.
20 May 1911
Saturday. Harry comes down & returns on Monday 22. Really very cold & dull & sunless.
21 May 1911
Baptising at Chapel, Miss Casey & Miss Potter.
22 May 1911
Warm & sunny.
24 May 1911
Prize giving & Empire Day at school. Lovely weather. Ride to Paley afterwards.
25 May 1911
Mrs Rolfe comes to take up position as nurse to mother. Mother very poorly for a short time & call in doctor, soon better & out twice on following Sunday. Weather very warm & trying. Rain much wanted.
31 May 1911
Pollie & self rail to Southboro after closing. Heavy thunder storm & very warm indeed. Leave service early but miss train at Southboro, waiting at Tonbridge two hours & home by mail. No rain at Staplehurst.
01 June 1911
Pollie goes to Tun. Wells intending to meet Rose - who fails to turn up.
03 June 1911
Very warm indeed.
05 June 1911
Whitmonday. Hottest on record. Take mother to Hawkhurst leaving Mrs Rolfe at Frittenden. Harry cycles. Most pleasant ride. Dog Chimer goes with us.
06 June 1911
Quite a change & very cold evening, overcoat quite comfortable & high wind.
07 June 1911
Harry returns to London.
09 June 1911
Friday to Matfield in afternoon. Very warm in morning but colder evening.
10 June 1911
Turned horse Tom out in Offen's field.
11 June 1911
William goes for his holiday returning on morning of 16.
14 June 1911
To Matfield by rail with Pollie. Self returns on byke. Showery at Staplehurst. No rain at Matfield. Meet Mr Laurence & arrange for repairs, etc.
18 June 1911
To Marden to hear Mr Kemp junior.
22 June 1911
Coronation Day. Dull, misty weather. Self & Pollie cycle to Matfield against very strong wind. Pleasant riding home. Self to Chapel at Matfield. In the park afterwards to see fireworks. Old Mill burnt down.
23 June 1911
Raining all the evening & all night.
25 June 1911
Sunday. Heavy showers & cold.
26 June 1911
Russell away for his holiday, back in business following Friday morning.
28 June 1911
Pollie & self ride round to Chart, Sutton Vallance, etc. Very pleasant weather.
01 July 1911
Saturday. Byke up to Matfield to see no. 4 Villa & find everything satisfactory.
02 July 1911
Clara, Sam & Ellen drive down to Chapel in afternoon. Very pleasant weather.
05 July 1911
Band of Hope & Canterbury festival, William B goes with choir. Harry comes home for his holidays.
06 July 1911
Pollie & Freda go to Sandgate, Harry follows on his byke. May Dann down to keep house. Weather remarkably warm, perfection for haymaking.
07 July 1911
Two hottest days on record, most trying & oppressive.
08 July 1911
Two hottest days on record, most trying & oppressive.
09 July 1911
Sunday. Cooler & very pleasant. May & self byke to Maidstone to hear Mr Lee. Comfortable riding.
10 July 1911
Much cooler with rather stiff breeze.
12 July 1911
May & self byke to Frittenden, Three Chimneys, Biddenden & Smarden. Home through Headcorn. Very warm but pleasant weather. Continuation of Summer weather. Haymaking pretty well over, small crop but good hay.
15 July 1911
Saturday. Olive goes home, returns on Sunday evening.
16 July 1911
May goes to Cranbrook Chapel in the evening.
17 July 1911
Monday. Pollie returns from Sandgate, Harry bykes back, May returns home. Clara & Sam fetch Freda, Weather still very warm & dry.
19 July 1911
Pollie, self & Harry byke to Collier St., Pyke Fish, etc. Warm day & dusty.
21 July 1911
Everything parched up, Hottest day on record for many years followed by similar weather all following week. One shower only during the night with heavy storms in London.
26 July 1911
Self bykes to Hawkhurst, not quite so scorching, followed by several parching days, rain sadly wanted. Harvest operations very general.
30 July 1911
Heavy thunder storm & much needed rain doing a world of good.
31 July 1911
Service at Chapel. Mr Kirby's silver wedding. Luther Piper calls & stays one night.
01 August 1911
A smart & welcome shower.
02 August 1911
Continuation of warm weather & all sign of rain obliterated.
03 August 1911
Olive Watts leaves & Hester Brown comes in on 4th.
07 August 1911
Bank Holiday. Self & Pollie to Tun.Wells by 8.20 train, anniversary at Hanover, Mr Dopham & Mr Wilkinson. Very warm but pleasant day. Meet & dine with Mr Holder. To Matfield by motor bus & home by rail.
09 August 1911
Very warm indeed & drought very serious, everything parched up. Strike in London at the Docks & general aspect of things very alarming. Hottest day on record. Unable to send goods from London on account of strike of dockers.
15 August 1911
Harry goes to Paddock Wood & stays several days.
16 August 1911
Parish council meeting in open air & test fire engine, everything parched up.
17 August 1911
Strike on all railways & things very serious & trade completely disorganised.
20 August 1911
Miss Pounds of Brighton stays to tea & waits for train, smart thunder storm followed by heavy rain all night most beneficial.
21 August 1911
Hoppicking commences.
22 August 1911
Mother returns to Staplehurst. A most welcome shower at noon.
23 August 1911
Pollie & self byke to Frittenden, Headcorn, etc. Pollie falls from byke. Roads & weather perfect. Hoppicking very general & market very firm, fetching £8 to £10.
30 August 1911
To Mayfield by rail reaching there at noon. Pleasant walk in hopgarden & home by mail train. Storms in neighbourhood by no rain in Mayfield or Staplehurst.
01 September 1911
Heat wave returns, no rain, everything parched up.
04 September 1911
Monday. Harry goes to meet his friend Percy Eldridge from Surbiton.
05 September 1911
Self to Maidstone by bus. Exceedingly warm & parched. By rail from Maidstone to Gravesend, arriving there by 4 o'clock, returning following evening. Heat apparently more intense than ever. Pollie, Harry & Percy Eldridge to Paddock Wood.
08 September 1911
One of the hottest & most oppressive days of the year.
09 September 1911
Mrs Fuller of Sutton Valance passes away suddenly & John Sanders on following day, Sunday morning. Both buried on Tuesday 12.
13 September 1911
Pollie goes to London to see Mrs Bailey, etc. Heavy rain for two or three hours in the evening. Hoppicking pretty well finished. Warm, pleasant weather until end of month with cooler evenings.
30 September 1911
Saturday. Cold & very windy, bringing down loads of apples.
01 October 1911
Cold day & very windy. Harry spends the Sunday at Matfield.
02 October 1911
Self to London & Barnet, returning by mail train.
03 October 1911
Harry returns to College.
05 October 1911
Pollie goes to Matfield, Mr Prall very ill indeed.
07 October 1911
A thorough wet day, making things very quiet, although rain was required.
08 October 1911
Pollie cycles home, returning by train. Very pleasant weather & roads perfection.
11 October 1911
Self cycles to Matfield & Pollie by train, both returning by train, Mr Prall considerably revived. Very warm & pleasant. Hops fetching high price £9 to £10 & in some cases more.
14 October 1911
Dull but very warm. Some heavy showers during the week, very welcome.
19 October 1911
Pollie receives £125 from Matfield.
24 October 1911
Very poorly with bilious turn for two or three days. Some very heavy rain at times.
27 October 1911
Harry comes down for week end, returning on Monday.
28 October 1911
Very rough & stormy night.
29 October 1911
Sunday. Very beautiful weather, a bit cold. Mr Kirby at Maidstone in the evening. Pollie & self follow in Hick's trap & Harry on his byke. Turns out a very wet night & Mr K & Gerty come home on our trap. Mother poorly with cold.
30 October 1911
Very wet afternoon & cold. Fire for first time in dining room.
01 November 1911
Wednesday. Most lovely day & Pollie & self byke to Style Bridge after closing.
03 November 1911
Ploughing match & Sam & Clara down. Invested £150 in Consols, respecting 189 4/3 at 2 1/2 per cent.
08 November 1911
Wednesday. A thorough wet day & things very quiet.
11 November 1911
Saturday. Byke to Collier St. to see about cow shed. Showery weather.
12 November 1911
Mr Kirby in London & reading at Chapel. Pollie & self & Alice Staines go to Maidstone to hear Mr Lee in the evening. Very wet & showery day but fine evening. Sunday. Pollie & self trap to Loose, thence by train to Maidstone to hear Mr Lee, evening service.
15 November 1911
Wednesday. Mother & self to Hawkhurst in Hick's trap. Fine but rather gloomy.
17 November 1911
Much rain during later part of week.
18 November 1911
Saturday. Steady down pour all day & very heavy floods.
22 November 1911
Pollie & self walk to spend evening at Paley, frosty pleasant weather.
24 November 1911
Pollie goes to Paddock Wood, then to Tonbridge meeting & returning with Harry who stays until 26th.
26 November 1911
Just slight fall of snow, Jack Dann & Miss Dolly Taylor come to tea with us.
01 December 1911
Weather very changeable, sun shine, heavy rain & white frosts alternately during the week.
06 December 1911
Pollie goes to Matfield. Weather very dull, gloomy & much rain.
10 December 1911
One of most gloomy Sundays all the year.
16 December 1911
Very mild, dull & much rain, Unpleasant weather for several days. Warm, dull & much rain.
20 December 1911
Very dark morning & heavy rain. The weather very wet & high floods again making everything & everybody very depressed & businesses drag very heavy.
22 December 1911
Friday afternoon & evening, rain continues & goods not sent out until Saturday morning. Very busy.
25 December 1911
Monday. Fine, bright morning take dog Chimer out for a run & after dinner Pollie & self go for a walk.
26 December 1911
Fine, pleasant morning & after dinner Pollie & self go to Matfield. Harry to Paddock W. Rain commences & continues all afternoon & early evening. Take & leave Chimer the dog at Matfield.
27 December 1911
Children come down from Matfield & Pyke Fish & spend a pleasant evening, games, etc. Weather keeps fine but rain during the night.
31 December 1911
Sunday. The old year passes away very mild, clam & quiet. No rain for two or three days & roads drying. Sam Dann junior down for the day, Misses Weeks to tea. Good congregation at Chapel.
01 January 1912
The year opens very mild, fires scarcely necessary. Prospects in Kent fairly good but London & North Britain convulsed with rumours of strike, etc. Cotton strike causes many thousands out of work.
03 January 1912
Pollie & Harry go to Paley to tea & self walks out in the evening. Wet walk back.
05 January 1912
Pollie goes to Matfield. A most beautiful night, colder & moon unusually bright, followed by a pouring wet, gloomy day.
08 January 1912
Monday. Cold frosty morning followed by very wet evening. Go to Matfield by 9.14 train, returning soon after noon to arrange about repairs to house at Five Wents.
09 January 1912
Parish council meeting.
10 January 1912
Meet superintendent Neave at Paddock Wood to receive rent for cottage. Fine, dull weather with much fog at P. Wood. Mr Frank Kirby lectures at the chapel. Sam, Jennie & Nellie Dann come down & place very full.
15 January 1912
Harry returns to London. Dull, gloomy weather.
17 January 1912
Remarkably dull, wet weather. Not heavy rain but most depressing. Sunless, foggy & very dirty for several days.
23 January 1912
Mr Kirby buries Excell at Marden.
24 January 1912
Showery & spells of sunshine.
25 January 1912
Thursday. Pollie goes to Matfield. Showery & hail in places. Heavy floods in various parts of country.
27 January 1912
Much cold & frosty.
28 January 1912
Sunday. Clean, dry frost & bright sunshine. Sam Dann & Sam junior drive down to chapel bringing news of Miss Hartfield's sudden death.
29 January 1912
Pollie goes to Matfield.
30 January 1912
Inquest on Miss Hartfield at Matfield. Self present.
31 January 1912
Funeral at Mayfield. Pollie, Clara, George Sharpe & Geo. Prall. Snowy morning but all gone by night. Bright & Frosty evening.
02 February 1912
Cold & dry frost. Very sharp blizzard in afternoon & bitter cold wind followed by extremely cold weather, Harry comes home.
04 February 1912
More snow during night & road very bad. Very few at Chapel. Stevens & Fuller absent. Ordinance postponed. From 12 to 20 degrees of frost.
05 February 1912
Bitterly cold morning but bright, Harry returns by 8.40 train.
06 February 1912
Rapid thaw sets in & much warmer & snow fast disappearing. Roads very dirty & rain more or less for several days.
14 February 1912
Walk down to Bogden & see Mr Reader.
17 February 1912
Weather much improved & roads dry & clean.
19 February 1912
Rain again & weather unsettled. Wickings' men whitewashing.
21 February 1912
Esther Brown goes off in the evening, leaving the house upset. Mrs Rolf, senior, buried at Frittenden, aged 87.
24 February 1912
Saturday. Weather greatly improved but shadow of a coal strike hanging over the country & great gloom in consequence. Spring-like weather for several days but trade very quiet.
27 February 1912
Tuesday. Sam & Clara down for a few hours.
28 February 1912
Pollie & self call on Mrs Thos. Taylor.
29 February 1912
Report of coal strike & one million men out - everything very sad, gloomy & depressed & commerce very dull & everything very dear.
01 March 1912
Chapel Lane path being put in order & road stoned. Evidence of March Lion about. General Strike of miners & stagnation throughout the country.
02 March 1912
Capt. Corke of Hickmotts dies suddenly.
04 March 1912
Most tempestuous day, especially afternoon - heavy rain, high winds, thunder & lightning. Weather very changeable, some heavy showers.
05 March 1912
Orpin fixed woodwork for roses in garden & cuts trees, etc. Chapel Lane finished & general satisfaction. House cleaning still in strong evidence.
10 March 1912
Sunday. Nice pleasant weather but dull in afternoon.
14 March 1912
Edith Howick comes & takes up her residence with us.
17 March 1912
Sunday. Wet all day & late into the night, gloomy & depressing in the extreme & not a large congregation.
18 March 1912
To London to buy a few straws, etc. & down to Forest Hill to hear Mr Butter with Harry & home by mail train. Snow calling late at night & roads slushy & wet. Heavy rain afterwards & continued more or less all next day, making things very gloomy & depressed & coal strike menacing & no signs of settlement.
19 March 1912
Rail to Paddock Wood, dine with Clara. Motor calls for Jack & self, Lizzie & young John & others on to Mayfield, arriving 1.45. Attend funeral at Chapel. Arrange with Harry Holder respecting John Dann & Lizzie & Miss Hartfield affairs & return by motor. Very heavy rain all the way To Tun Wells, reach Matfield about 7.30. Very pleasant ride.
21 March 1912
Thursday. Pollie & self call on Mrs Croucher & Mrs Eveneden. Very rough stormy night & particularly dark.
27 March 1912
Pollie goes to London returning by mail train with Harry. Weather sets in fine, bright & seasonable but trade remarkably dull. Nothing doing.
01 April 1912
Weather seasonable & more settled & signs of approaching Spring.
05 April 1912
Good Friday. Warm, pleasant day. Ceiling of shop painted. Alfred & Emily & child drive over from Hawkhurst to dinner, returning in evening. Spend evening in putting shop straight. Pollie & Harry to church. Very warm & dry.
06 April 1912
Saturday. Warm& Springlike & leaves coming out rapidly.
07 April 1912
Sunday. Bright & pleasant.
08 April 1912
Monday. Colder & strong wind & clouds of dust. Pollie & self to Paddock Wood 10.40 train, dine at Mascalls & walk up to Matfield returning by 9 train, very late. Harry on byke & staying all night at Mascalls.
13 April 1912
Ford goes on his holiday Saturday night - back to business Thursday morning. Self takes Folly Hill rounds. Eclipse of the sun, bright & warm & wanting rain. A spell of bright, warm weather but cold nights & morning & rain much wanted.
23 April 1912
Clara comes down for the afternoon.
26 April 1912
Lizzie comes down for the evening.
28 April 1912
Sunday. Memorable morning. Nurse Esther & Clara come down by train. Drs Travers & Valvendre arrive 11.30 & remove cist from upper jaw, leaving me very weak & prostrate.
02 May 1912
Come down stairs for a short time & make good progress & back in business by May 6. Friends all extremely kind & sympathy shown very surprising. Weather warm & pleasant, some showers.
06 May 1912
Monday. Back in business again but not very work sharp, taking things gently. Nurse Esther pays her last visit to assist Dr to dress wound.
08 May 1912
May comes down & stays until Friday.
11 May 1912
Warmest day for early May on record. Harry cycles down from London, arriving 8.30, returning on Monday morning early! Showers during the night but more rain needed.
12 May 1912
Sunday. Distant thunder storm & much cooler in evening.
17 May 1912
Pollie goes home on two successive days. Mr Prall very sadly. Showers in neighbourhood but more wanted in Staplehurst.
23 May 1912
Very heavy shower for an hour or so doing a deal of good but much more wanted.
27 May 1912
Whitmonday. Ideal weather. Pollie & self byke to Horsmonden, dine there & then on to Brenchley & Matfield arriving at Staplehurst 11.30 tired out.
29 May 1912
Messrs Collins call & discuss business. Turn horse out in Offen's field.
30 May 1912
Rain at last - followed by several days with showers doing a world of good.
01 June 1912
Harry rides from London & gets very wet, returns Monday morning. Self very poorly, obstinate cold.
04 June 1912
William B very poorly & goes to bed & doctor called in. Better by Sunday & goes out a bit. Very heavy rain during the week doing a world of good.
08 June 1912
Harry goes home for weekend, returning on Monday morning.
10 June 1912
William goes home for a few days to recover his health.
12 June 1912
Pollie & self cycle round Smarden, Headcorn, etc.
15 June 1912
Harry cycles down from London, returning by rail on Monday morning. Smart showers Saturday night.
19 June 1912
Mr Collins & niece visit Staplehurst. Pollie & self go to Matfield by rail after closing, Mr Prall very sadly. Junelike weather, warm & growing.
24 June 1912
Club day with usual noise & commotion. Fine pleasant weather.
26 June 1912
Pollie & self go to Paley & spend the evening.
27 June 1912
Pollie cycles to Pyke fish in the evening. Visit the schools.
29 June 1912
Pollie receives wire from Matfield & goes home by last train Staying all night. Harry comes home Saturday noon, returning Monday morning.
30 June 1912
Self cycles to Matfield after tea, Mr Prall evidently dying.
01 July 1912
Monday. Pollie goes to Matfield by 5 train, stays all night. Mr Prall passes away 11.30pm.
02 July 1912
Self to Maidstone.
03 July 1912
Pollie to Tun Wells. Mr Ashby of Frant calls.
05 July 1912
Funeral at Brenchley. Pollie & self go in Hick's trap, returning in same.
07 July 1912
Sunday. Pollie goes to Matfield by train, Harry down from Friday returning Monday morning by rail.
10 July 1912
Harry's 21st birthday. Warm pleasant weather.
11 July 1912
Mother goes to Cranbrook for a change, Mrs Rofe goes to the monument Villa. Weather sets in very hot.
14 July 1912
Sunday. One of the hottest Sundays in recollection. Rain much wanted.
16 July 1912
Harry comes home from London.
17 July 1912
To Matfield by byke to arrange about probate. Pollie to Pykefish.
18 July 1912
Pollie to Pykefish after tea. Ellen very poorly. Smart shower. Mother returns from Cranbrook.
19 July 1912
Much cooler, almost cold.
21 July 1912
Pollie & self go to Maidstone, Mr Kirby.
24 July 1912
Pollie & self go to Matfield re probate, etc. Still very dry & warm.
28 July 1912
Jack Dann & Dollie Taylor down.
29 July 1912
Mother goes to Hawkhurst.
31 July 1912
Self to Matfield all day to check off nursery stock, etc. Very wet.
05 August 1912
Self & Pollie to Tun Wells to Hanover & back to Matfield by motor. Fine weather followed by showers on Tuesday. Harry at Mascalls from Sunday night to Monday night.
07 August 1912
Wednesday. Very heavy rain & smart thunder storm in evening. Showery weather continues.
11 August 1912
Sunday. Mr Kirby at Horsham & reading at Chapel. Smart thunder storm in evening & very heavy rain.
14 August 1912
Pollie goes to Matfield. Sunday School treat. Thunder storm & heavy rain. Wickings men clean out filter. Miss Bland & Annie Hern call to take tea with us.
15 August 1912
Jennie Dann comes down & stays a few days. Weather dull & very depressing, business prospects very disquieting.
16 August 1912
Floss Piper & Grace Piper come over from Hawkhurst for a few hours.
18 August 1912
Fine day but cooler. Weather very unsettled on several days with a deal of heavy rain.
20 August 1912
Sidney Hooker goes to Hawkhurst & J Farmer succeeds him.
21 August 1912
Pollie, self & Jennie byke to Pykefish.
22 August 1912
Pollie goes to Matfield.
23 August 1912
Self to Tun Wells respecting nursery affairs. Dull, windy & cold. Jennie Dann goes home.
24 August 1912
Wet all day. Pollie goes to Brighton with Rose.
25 August 1912
Fine all day, rain commences at night & heavy rain all night.
26 August 1912
Monday. Fine morning, heavy rain all afternoon, very gloomy & depressing. May Dann down from previous Saturday.
28 August 1912
First fine day this month. Ride to Frittenden.
29 August 1912
Rain recommences. Pollie returns by 9 train.
30 August 1912
Wet morning, fine afternoon. Most disastrous floods in Norwich, great disaster & privation in consequence.
31 August 1912
Weather greatly improved.
03 September 1912
Harry fetches Clara Thirkell from Pyke fish.
04 September 1912
Wednesday. Pollie & self cycle round Marden & Winchett Hill. Dry & windy. Hoppicking genrally commenced & satisfactory.
05 September 1912
Ride to Matfield & back in the afternoon. Russell away with bruised leg.
06 September 1912
To Tun Wells to see Mr Buss. Cold & dry with much wind.
08 September 1912
Nellie Dann spends the day with us from Cranbrook.
11 September 1912
Mr Harman comes & looks round. Lizzie & Jennie come from Matfield. Cold & depressing.
12 September 1912
Harry & Rolls go to Folkestone. Weather improves.
14 September 1912
To Tonbridge to meet Mr Ashby.
18 September 1912
Self, Pollie & Jennie go to Cranbrook re Jennie's will, etc. Cool & dry. Self very poorly for several days, obstinate depressing cold.
21 September 1912
Jennie returns to Matfield & Harry & Rolls from Folkestone.
24 September 1912
Rolls returns to London. Russell still away.
25 September 1912
Pollie & self cycle to Marden & Style Bridge. Beautiful weather.
27 September 1912
Russell goes to Maidstone hospital to be operated upon for leg. Placed under chloroform & passes away.
28 September 1912
Self & Dr Valvendre attend inquest at Maidstone, verdict heart failure. Seymour Kedwell commences his services in Russell's place.
The death referred to is reported in the Kent messenger:
Kent Messenger - Saturday 05 October 1912
29 September 1912
Sunday. Heavy shower late in afternoon.
30 September 1912
Miss C Pope passes away after a long illness, consumption. A thorough wet night & day & heavy floods.
01 October 1912
Wickings makes a alteration on stairs to give more light. Rain commences at night & continues all night, heavy floods.
02 October 1912
Russell buried aged 45. Weather fine & dry for several days. Sharp frost at night.
07 October 1912
Self to London to buy winter goods. Fine dry open weather continues.
09 October 1912
Mother returns from Mayfield. Motor Mr H Holder & Mrs G Richardson.
16 October 1912
Pollie & self ride round Hawkenbury, Headcorn, etc. Fine open weather heavy fogs night & morning, fine warm days.
21 October 1912
Ashenden commences new rooms.
26 October 1912
Sam Dann senior & stays to tea & the evening, Harry riding back with him to Paddock Wood. Harry returns on Sunday morning.
28 October 1912
Monday, wet, windy morning.
30 October 1912
Harry goes to London to sit for his final.
01 November 1912
Telegram to say Maisy Sharpe had passed away previous day. Funeral on following Monday at Matfield. Pollie attends.
05 November 1912
Very wet day.
06 November 1912
Wednesday. To Tun Wells to see Mr Buss. Mother very poorly & doctor calls several times.
08 November 1912
Friday. Clara runs down for the evening. Weather fine & open.
10 November 1912
Mr Kirby in London & Stevens fails to turn up & Fuller & self take the service.
13 November 1912
Wednesday. Pollie & self to Hawkhurst in Hick's trap. Weather fine but dull & cold.
14 November 1912
Harry returns from London.
17 November 1912
May Dann & William Baker down for the day. Showery morning, but fine afterwards.
18 November 1912
Grace Piper & Blanch Evenden over followed by Sam & Clara.
19 November 1912
To Maidstone by rail, glasses, etc.
20 November 1912
Pollie & self to Matfield by rail showery at times.
24 November 1912
Harry goes to Paddock Wood with others, re Sam's 21st birthday, Sunday. Weather open, but showery.
27 November 1912
To London to buy a few things for Christmas. Fine but cold.
29 November 1912
Friday. Very wet, cold, dull & dark, almost Black Friday.
01 December 1912
Sunday. E Palmer to tea. Very wet evening, followed by several days. Very changeable weather, heavy showers. Frost, cold & mild & very dirty.
05 December 1912
Sam & Clara call on way home from Palmers.
06 December 1912
Pollie goes to Tun Wells in afternoon. Very heavy showers for several days with bright intervals & roads exceedingly dirty.
12 December 1912
Wickings's men clean out water tank. Weather unremarkably mild & open, sometimes very dull & gloomy.
18 December 1912
Letter from Luther saying Mary Jane passes away very suddenly while at tea table.
22 December 1912
Bright weather & very mild rain during the night but extraordinarily mild & pleasant during day.
24 December 1912
Dull weather & wet evening, clearing later after 8.30. Fairly busy.
25 December 1912
Wednesday. Wet & very windy. Rose & Jennie down for the day. Fine evening.
26 December 1912
Repetition of yesterday, wet & very boisterous. Lizzie, Geo. Sharpe & children down for the day.
27 December 1912
Still boisterous & very wet afternoon. Trade very quiet.
01 January 1913
Wednesday. The new year comes in mild & fine for several days with heavy rain on night of 5th.
06 January 1913
To Matfield & Tonbridge. Call on Burgess & Dr. Mercer & up to Matfield & spend two hours with G Prall. Weather fine & mild.
08 January 1913
Wednesday. Spend the afternoon with Fuller. Weather mild & open.
10 January 1913
Friday. To Frant by early train, calling on Mr Buss on my return. Damp & cold.
11 January 1913
About as unkindly weather as possible, cold, wet, & gloomy & gas burning all day. Lizzie & Clara come down unexpectedly after tea re Matfield estate, etc.
12 January 1913
Mr Kirby at Tun Wells. Stevens & Fuller. Perfection of weather.
13 January 1913
Sharp, frosty, dry morning. The greater part of the country covered with snow, Kent highly favoured. Very much rain for several days & excessively dirty.
14 January 1913
Pollie goes to Matfield re-rent.
15 January 1913
Mr Rumens calls in the afternoon & looks around, etc.
16 January 1913
Pollie goes to Tun Wells, Clara & Ellen.
19 January 1913
Fine Sunday & wet evening, followed by as dismal & gloomy day as possible, very dark & depressing & trade very dull in consequence.
21 January 1913
Repetition of wet weather.
22 January 1913
Fine day, wet night. Harry at P. Wood.
23 January 1913
Harry goes to London re-situation at Lee. Weather improving.
26 January 1913
Sam Dann, Junior, down to Chapel.
27 January 1913
Bright, frosty morning.
01 February 1913
Comes in wet & gloomy for several days.
06 February 1913
Lizzie & John Sharp come down for the afternoon. Great improvement in weather, appearance of very early Spring.
08 February 1913
Beautiful sunny day, but cooler towards evening.
09 February 1913
Showery morning followed by fine afternoon. Dense fog for several days, things very gloomy & depressed.
13 February 1913
To Matfield to meet clerk from Mr Buss & go over accounts.
14 February 1913
Foggy, dull & very cold.
15 February 1913
Foggy, dull & very cold.
17 February 1913
It sets in very cold with sharp frost.
19 February 1913
Dust blowing for several days in clouds. Sun shine, frost & wind. Thorough March weather.
23 February 1913
Cold East wind. Mother gets a chill on going to Chapel, keeps her bed & doctor visits each day, gets very low & weak & in extremely critical condition.
02 March 1913
Self in bed all day, bad bilious attack & shaky for two or three days.
05 March 1913
Alfred drives over from Hawkhurst. Spring like weather. Mother continues very sadly. Nurse Harris stays to assist. Weather perfect, dry & pleasant.
13 March 1913
Pollie goes to Mascalls & drives with Clara to Tun Wells. Two men from Matfield working the garden at Matfield House.
17 March 1913
Mother appears decidedly better & leaves her bed for a short time.
18 March 1913
Weather very stormy & very high winds with heavy rain at times.
19 March 1913
Pollie, self, Tom & all the girls meet at Mr Buss's office to receive the first portion of Mr Prall's estate.
20 March 1913
Very windy & boisterous & glass very low. Men very busy at Matfield House planting shrubs, etc.
21 March 1913
Good Friday. Fine, dry morning but very windy. rain comes on late in afternoon & very wet evening. Harry Holder, G Richardson, Mr & Mrs Hodges come in motor from Mayfield & four your people from Hawkhurst - quite a house full.
22 March 1913
Saturday. Men finish planting shrubs, etc. Wind still very high. Fine, windy day, but heavy rain at night & wind quite a hurricane.
23 March 1913
Sunday. Heavy rain in morning, fine afternoon & evening. Very thin at Chapel.
24 March 1913
East Monday. Fine, pleasant weather. Stay at home on account of mother's illness. Self bykes to Pyke Fish in afternoon. Smart showers on returning. Weather very windy for several days. High winds, rough seas & much dust
01 April 1913
Inquest on child at Cross-at-Hand.
04 April 1913
Sale for Freiden's furniture.
07 April 1913
Mr Rose & Miss Wilmshurst to tea.
08 April 1913
Self to Maidstone with Mrs Russell & Skinner, rail in & byke back. Parish council elected. Keenly contested. Harmer 182, H Pope 181, Wickings 166, Piper 163, John Scott 160, J Pope 154, Jas Scott 151, Steel 147, Field 134.
09 April 1913
Adjourned inquest at Congregational School against Hatcher, verdict wilful murder. Weather fine & cold.
Kentish Express
Kentish Express - Saturday 12 April 1913
14 April 1913
Dr calls to see Harry & advises a few day's change. Harry, Pollie & Freda got to Folkestone Wednesday morning. May coming down to keep house.
18 April 1913
Thunder & heavy rain & very cold.
20 April 1913
John Dann drives down after dinner for the afternoon & evening. A most beautiful day followed by wet morning making things very dull & quiet.
23 April 1913
Harry leaves for Hornsey. A beautiful day, warm & pleasant. Continuation of Spring like weather. Pollie & self byke to Matfield, home by rail, pleasant riding.
24 April 1913
Orpin plants potatoes in garden.
27 April 1913
Sunday. Lovely weather followed by terrific storm at night, vivid lightning & loud thunder, heavy rain.
30 April 1913
To London to buy hats, etc. Meet Harry at Cannon St. Pollie goes to Matfield anniversary.
08 May 1913
To Smarden to meet trustees. Very wet - starting as far as Frittenden Station, then fine, but cool & a bit windy.
09 May 1913
Harry comes home for holiday.
11 May 1913
Whitsunday. Perfection of weather.
12 May 1913
Monday. Pollie & self byke to Mascalls via Pyke fish. Fine morning, but damp afternoon. Some places wanting rain. Harry & Minnie to Folkestone. Several days very cold wind & clouds of dust.
17 May 1913
Much warmer & less wind.
19 May 1913
To Tilden to meet trustees respecting new house. Warm & pleasant but shower during journey. Harry returns to London by early train.
21 May 1913
To Hawkhurst to meet Mr Ashby. Thrown from machine near Hawkhurst Station. Pollie meets me at Cranbrook. Shower at Cranbrook, none at Staplehurst.
24 May 1913
Weather sets in very hot for several days, hottest on record for May for 70 years. Turn horse out in Offen's field.
27 May 1913
Thunder storm & showers of rain, more wanted.
28 May 1913
Ford goes to see his child & self takes order round at Folly's Hill. Very warm & rain much wanted.
01 June 1913
Sunday. Warm & dull & slight shower at night. Fuller poorly & away from Chapel.
03 June 1913
Pollie goes to Tun Wells in afternoon. Suffering much pain from abscess on gland of neck.
04 June 1913
(Pollie) Goes & sees Dr Valvandra who prescribes. Turn out at Loddenden, may pole dance, etc, to cover cost of new vestry at church. Very warm & pleasant.
05 June 1913
Quite a change in weather, some rain & much cooler, quite cold towards end of week. Pollie has to call in Dr Valvendre, abscess very painful. Shows for rain, a few showers but more wanted.
06 June 1913
Harry down for weekend, returning Monday morning.
08 June 1913
Showery morning. Pollie still very badly, better towards evening.
11 June 1913
To London to buy a few things & cal on Messrs Beecroft & Co, etc. Pleasant weather, rain very much wanted, great promises but none comes, gardens, etc, sadly parched.
13 June 1913
Lizzie runs down for a few hours.
14 June 1913
Sets in very hot indeed for several days. Gardens parched up, seed grass being cut.
15 June 1913
The most perfect summer day for two years.
16 June 1913
To Smarden to meet trustees respecting school being built at Tilden, very warm ride indeed. Jennie Dann comes to stay a few days, returning on 21st. Showers in neighbourhood, none at Staplehurst.
20 June 1913
Harry comes down for week end, returning Monday morning.
22 June 1913
Sunday. Pollie stays at home all day, face still sadly but signs of improvement.
25 June 1913
Screes, aged 82, buried at Staplehurst. Spend the evening watering. Everything parched, slight shower at noon, but soon passes away.
30 June 1913
Pollie goes to Tun Wells in afternoon.
02 July 1913
Wednesday. Excursion to Ramsgate. Pollie goes to Tun Wells anniversary. Rain commences at 7 o'clock & continues all the evening, extremely acceptable, with exception of haymakers. Hay crop normal, scarcely so large as once appeared, owing to dry weather.
04 July 1913
Pollie goes to Paddock Wood.
06 July 1913
Sunday. Harry home week end, returning Monday morning. Steady shower in course of evening. Heavy rain in some places.
07 July 1913
Mother goes to Hawkhurst.
09 July 1913
Wednesday. Go with Skinner to Sellenge to look at Mullon's business. Pollie to Pyke fish.
10 July 1913
Heavy rain at last - doing a world of good.
14 July 1913
Monday afternoon, very heavy soaking rain & heavy showers on following day. Mr Button runs up from Hastings.
15 July 1913
Painters pretty well finished.
16 July 1913
Mr Bishop calls re. business.
17 July 1913
Jabez Butter sails for Canada. Self to Matfield by byke, home by rail.
18 July 1913
Wet morning & showery for several days.
19 July 1913
Rev Chamberlain leaves Staplehurst.
23 July 1913
Misses Wimbourne & Button call to inspect.
25 July 1913
To Paddock Wood to meet Mr Ashby. Tea at Clara's. Weather very dull & cold wind.
26 July 1913
Harry comes home six week's holiday.
28 July 1913
J D K Bacon £100. Wind continues north east for considerable time. Record July for being dull & gloomy.
31 July 1913
Pollie & Harry go to Paddock Wood. Harry staying all night.
01 August 1913
Stay at home & receive Mr & Mrs Bond & Mr Button. Skinner calls. Weather dull & depressing.
07 August 1913
Harry goes to Eastbourne for a week, returning on 15th.
09 August 1913
Ford goes for his holiday, returning to business 16th. Self taking Folly Hill & part Cross-at-Hand rounds. Very dry & parched, a deal of east wind.
16 August 1913
Rail to Bromley & see Skinner. Very pleased with his business.
17 August 1913
Very warm sunny day. Mildred Piper at Chapel & stays to dinner & tea.
18 August 1913
Mr Dunk & Miss Bennett to tea. Weather cold & dry & very dull.
20 August 1913
Mother returns from Hawkhurst, Alfred & Emily come with her.
24 August 1913
Mildred Piper stays the day. Sudden smart shower in the morning. Weather very warm during the week. Many deaths in the neighbourhood, Horace Screes, Mr Offen, Mrs Hutchinson, etc.
27 August 1913
Self to Maidstone to see Marchant & Jubb re. Skinner, etc.
30 August 1913
Very warm & oppressive & storms in the neighbourhood, heavy rain at night & continuous showers during following day doing a deal of good. Very dull & no sunshine for several days.
01 September 1913
Harry goes to Maidstone dentist.
02 September 1913
Hoppicking commences in few places.
03 September 1913
Pollie & Emily go to London.
05 September 1913
Heavy rain all afternoon & evening & far into the night doing a deal of good.
07 September 1913
Ruth Palmer stays to tea.
09 September 1913
Edith Newick leaves hurriedly putting us to inconvenience. Very heavy rain in evening. Pollie goes servant hunting in Headcorn falling in with Jennie & Rose.
10 September 1913
Harry returns to school.
11 September 1913
Pollie goes to Paddock Wood & engages Elizabeth Miller who commences services on Tuesday 16.
16 September 1913
Sharp thunder storm & very heavy rain in afternoon & evening. Several smart showers during week.
21 September 1913
Walk up to Paley after tea. Hoppicking being finished & disappointing to pickers.
22 September 1913
Horse Tom taken from Offen's field.
24 September 1913
To London to buy a few Autumn goods. Meet Harry at Cannon St. Very warm & sunny for several days.
25 September 1913
Put in two tons coal at Matfield House. Most remarkable weather until end of month, very warm indeed. Pick up a cold, proving very unpleasant. Trade not over smart.
01 October 1913
Wednesday. Byke ride round Frittenden after closing. Very pleasant weather, Motor bus commences running from Cranbrook to Maidstone. Go to church at induction of Rev Bourne. Smart thunder storm.
04 October 1913
Cheap Jack up the st. doing a big business.
05 October 1913
Harry comes down for week end returning on Monday morning.
09 October 1913
Very heavy rain. Nellie over from Cranbrook by bus. Mr Thos Butter passes away aged 66.
12 October 1913
Pollie & self walk to Frittenden to hear Mr Kemp.
14 October 1913
Mr Butter buried at Bounds Cross, very large attendance. Weather perfection.
15 October 1913
Pollie & self go to Tonbridge thanksgiving to hear Mr Wiles. Lovely weather. Trade very quiet.
20 October 1913
Rain commences at noon & continues for 36 hours. Clara & Sam come down to tea.
22 October 1913
Pollie & Minnie go to London. Foggy but fine.
26 October 1913
Sunday. One of the dullest on record, very heavy rain. Harry comes home Friday night for half term, returning on Tuesday morning 28th. Very heavy rain at times, making things very depressed.
02 November 1913
Sunday. One of the darkest & most gloomy Sundays for many years so early in the year.
05 November 1913
Pollie goes to Bounds Cross thanksgiving. Weather very wet & heavy rain more or less for several days with interval of fine weather.
08 November 1913
Harry comes home via Maidstone after visiting the dentist, returning Sunday evening.
09 November 1913
Mr Kirby in London & reading at Chapel.
12 November 1913
Pollie & self propose going to Maidstone by motor, but find it is delayed until late. Walk as far as Sweatlands & caught in a very heavy rain, with thunder & most terrific down pour, having to shelter a long time.
14 November 1913
To Tun Wells, creditors meeting, Miss Poynter.
17 November 1913
To Cranbrook unsuccessful appeal re. income tax.
19 November 1913
Pollie & self to Matfield in afternoon.
24 November 1913
To Tenterden County Court & on to Robertsbridge while waiting. Home by motor to Headcorn, walking from there. Rose Prall down until Friday when Harry comes home via Maidstone for week end. Very beautiful weather for several days.
29 November 1913
Harry down for week end returning Monday Dec 1st.
03 December 1913
To Bromley to arrange with Skinner re. business. Weather dull & gloomy.
05 December 1913
Pollie goes to dentist to have teeth altered.
09 December 1913
Seymour lets old Tom fall & breaks his knees, necessitating having Worsley's horse. Perfection of weather for nearly a fortnight & roads perfect & dust in evidence.
10 December 1913
Put up blinds down Matfield House. Weather particularly fine, open & dry all the week.
17 December 1913
Pollie & self go to Matfield re smashed stove, etc. Harry comes home for holiday & terminates his engagement with Mr Bates.
22 December 1913
Self to Tun Wells re Miss Poynter business.
23 December 1913
Rain sets in & rains nearly all night followed by frost before morning. Weather very fine & open through the holidays. Trade fairly good with usual amount of hurry scurry.
25 December 1913
A typical Christmas morning. Slight frost, sun shine & clean roads. Geo & Lizzie Sharpe with children, Jennie & Rosa down for the day.
26 December 1913
Pollie & self go to Matfield for the day. Pleasant weather but dull.
01 January 1914
Cold, dry frost & dust blowing. Weather particularly favourable, heavy snow in many parts, just a sprinkle at Staplehurst, but soon gone. Weather sets in very cold.
10 January 1914
Mother very poorly late Saturday night. Pollie & Mrs Rofe staying up nearly all night. Bitter cold east wind for several days. Sprinkle of snow.
14 January 1914
Harry goes to Maidstone confirming his appointment under Mr McCabe. Hard, dry, frost & Sergeant Wright buried. Frost continues; unusually severe in Spain & France & many parts of England. Snow keeps off & a most extraordinary winter in every way.
20 January 1914
Harry commences his labours at Maidstone & apparently everything satisfactory.
21 January 1914
Pollie & self to Matfield by rail. Sunday School treat. Call for rent at Sergeant A Piper's.
25 January 1914
Sunday. Harry home for week end. Pollie in bed all day - severe cold. Change of weather, cold thaw.
26 January 1914
Harry returns to Maidstone. Wet morning & frost passing away. A long spell of very beautiful weather for fortnight, but trade & things generally very quiet & very heavy colds & coughs about.
01 February 1914
To Tun Wells with Pollie & meet her sisters for final winding up of estate.
06 February 1914
Pollie still very sadly & call in Dr Vilvandre.
11 February 1914
Mr Coats from Yalding calls & looks round. Most gloomy day & things very quiet & depressing.
13 February 1914
May runs down for a hour or two.
14 February 1914
Clara on the following evening. Very wet night.
15 February 1914
Sunday. Very wet morning & fine afternoon. Pollie & mother both out in afternoon. Harry home week end.
18 February 1914
Very heavy rain all night & all the morning making things very depressed.
21 February 1914
Saturday. Wet all day & things remarkably quiet, receipts for week lowest for years.
25 February 1914
Fine week, roads perfect - first byke ride, Hawkenbury & Headcorn.
28 February 1914
Month finishes with very fine weather. Perfect, dry & frosty nights & morning but trade very quiet. Harry comes home & stays Monday half term.
01 March 1914
Very large congregation at Chapel.
08 March 1914
Another wet Sunday & very depressing.
09 March 1914
One of the wettest days on record & tremendous floods. George Prall calls. A week of thorough March weather - rain, wind & some bright spells with wet Saturday night.
16 March 1914
Very stormy, high wind & sharp showers. Harry bykes back to Maidstone. Letter from Emily saying Alfred is very sadly. Everything most depressing, sad & gloomy. Commerce & trade most disheartening.
17 March 1914
Self & mother go to Hawkhurst, no change in Alfred, kept very low. Very fine pleasant weather.
18 March 1914
Wet morning but clears off eventually, self very poorly & indoors nearly all day. Men down the garden planting trees etc.
19 March 1914
Drenching rain, snow & hail nearly all day. Floods everywhere.
20 March 1914
Letter from Hawkhurst saying Alfred has undergone operation apparently successful. Wet, cold morning, fine later.
25 March 1914
Mr Hoadley of Langton calls & looks round. Fine morning, wet evening, weather very uncertain, but last day of month warm & pleasant. The month makes a record of wettest March within memory. Pollie very sadly with heart trouble.
01 April 1914
Beautiful warm day. Self bykes to Hawkhurst. Home with Harry Holder in motor, find Alfred getting on very favourably. Harry home for half day, back following morning.
02 April 1914
Wet again & very depressing. Heavy showers. Hail & wind more or less all the week.
03 April 1914
Edith Miller goes home, sprained foot.
10 April 1914
Good Friday. Most beautiful day for several weeks, after a wet night. Breezy & drying. Self, Pollie & Alice Staines go to Edgerton, in Hick's trap for two services. Place very full.
11 April 1914
Wet morning.
13 April 1914
Easter Monday. Spend morning in garden at Matfield House & man planting potatoes. After dinner Pollie & self byke to Pyke fish. Weather perfect, warm dry & bright.
14 April 1914
Harry starts on walking tour in Sussex with Wheeler. Weather very pleasant all week, bright cold east wind & dry with still breeze at times.
15 April 1914
Wednesday. Cold East wind & bright sun. To Paddock Wood after dinner, Pollie by rail, self by byke, both return per rail.
17 April 1914
Floss Piper bykes over from Hawkhurst.
18 April 1914
Saturday. Harry returns from his walking tour certainly better for his outing. Perfection of weather, cloudless & warm but slight wind.
19 April 1914
May & Nellie Dann over in the afternoon. Large congregation at Chapel.
20 April 1914
Sam Dann, Jennie & Freda down for half day followed by Lizzie & Jack Sharpe & Rose.
21 April 1914
Very warm indeed.
22 April 1914
To London by early train to buy a few straws & blouses, etc, home by noon.
25 April 1914
Byke to Paddock Wood & back. Very beautiful weather end of month but cold east wind.
29 April 1914
Very warm indeed. Anniversary at Matfield. Pollie goes at noon. Self follows on by rail.
30 April 1914
Great change, really cold weather & sunless. Roads being tarred.
04 May 1914
Sower during the night followed by sunshine & showers for several days. Growing weather.
06 May 1914
John Dann & Nellie meet at Staplehurst.
09 May 1914
Really quite cold, very cheerless & depressing.
10 May 1914
Sunday. Showery & warmer.
12 May 1914
To Matfield & Paddock Wood by rail.
13 May 1914
George Piper & his wife down for the day. Hot sun & cold wind.
14 May 1914
To Smarden to meet trustees, three fresh ones appointed. Very pleasant ride.
20 May 1914
Hot weather continues, everything wanting rain. Old Tom turned out in Pope's field. Pollie & self to Maidstone via motor, home by rail.
22 May 1914
Prize day & tea at school. Very warm indeed, weather perfection followed by thunder & heavy storm around with showers at Staplehurst for a day or two.
24 May 1914
Sunday. Much colder, appearance of rain, followed by spell of extremely cold weather for several days & wind back to East & North.
27 May 1914
To Tun Wells by rail, on to Mayfield by motor, spend the afternoon with Thos. & back by rail calling at Mascalls to discuss 'Jack', etc. Fine but very cold.
31 May 1914
Rain for three hours during the evening doing a world of good.
01 June 1914
Whitmonday. A very beautiful day, warm, quiet, no dust, no dirt. Pollie & self byke to Ellen's new home, have dinner then on to Mascalls & self to Matfield, returning by rail.
03 June 1914
Ford away for holiday & self take the Folly Hill round, very warm.
04 June 1914
Appearance of more rain & colder.
07 June 1914
Sunday. Very heavy rain at noon & showers during the day, after a wet night. Mrs Hunn to tea.
08 June 1914
Heavy rain at noon & much colder. Clara down for the evening.
10 June 1914
Spend afternoon in putting transparency on Chapel windows.
11 June 1914
Pollie to Hastings by motor. Dull weather, appearance of rain.
13 June 1914
Saturday. Pollie falls up stairs & breaks her arm, very painful.
14 June 1914
Stay at home Sunday afternoon & go with Pollie for benefit of X Rays. Appearance of rain & very heavy storm in London, country parched up.
15 June 1914
X Rays again in the evening.
17 June 1914
May Dann down in afternoon & Clara & Nellie Kemp down on following day. Very warm indeed, thing very quiet.
24 June 1914
Wednesday. Mother & self to Mayfield by motor, returning with Jack Dann to Staplehurst, Jack going to Paddock Wood by train. Dry & parched & very warm. Pollie's arm going on fairly well, nurse coming every day.
25 June 1914
Mrs Rolf leaves after three years service.
28 June 1914
Sunday. Very warm indeed. Rose & Jennie Prall drive down after tea.
29 June 1914
Remarkably warm & oppressive, no signs of rain, everything parched.
30 June 1914
Very hot indeed, everything sweltering in the heat. Clara down in the evening. Brook's men renovating Matfield House.
05 July 1914
Sunday. Rose & Jennie drive down & & go to Chapel.
08 July 1914
Wednesday. Nice shower in morning but soon passed away. Put floor cloth in Matfield House. Pollie's arm getting on fairly well. Weather continues remarkably hot.
12 July 1914
Sunday. Very warm morning. No signs of rain beyond falling glass by noon very sharp storm & very heavy rain, but remarkably warm.
15 July 1914
To Smarden by motor, Pollie & self taking Mr Maxted with us. Meet trustees, very heavy rain in evening & afternoon, much cooler. Excursion & village deserted.
16 July 1914
To Matfield, collect rent, etc.
18 July 1914
C Brooker leaves & goes to Brenchley.
19 July 1914
Jennie & Rose down for the day, Sunday.
22 July 1914
Very heavy rain in afternoon & evening.
24 July 1914
Cooler and showery. Mildred Piper staying at Staplehurst for a few days. Very warm again for several days.
31 July 1914
Harry comes home on holidays. Rumours of war. Germany, France, Belgium dragged into it.
02 August 1914
England declares war on Germany. Business and commerce thoroughly dislocated. Prices for all goods running wild. Grand sulphur five lump 5 ½.
03 August 1914
Monday. Bank holiday. Great appearance of rain but eventually clears off & pleasant weather. Wait at home all day Jack who turned up after tea.
05 August 1914
To Maidstone by auto car, returning at noon to find markets most awkward and prices advancing. Mother returns from Mayfield with Mrs Richardson who takes me in her motor as far as Paddock W, returning by rail. Mrs Birchall comes & takes up her residence with us.
07 August 1914
Tom the horse taken from Meadow Popes and sent to Offen's.
12 August 1914
Prayer meeting at Chapel, on account of war, goodly attendance. Gloom and depression everywhere. Weather very hot and parched.
17 August 1914
Mr Judd commences to help with stock. Very dry and parched.
19 August 1914
Prayer meeting at Chapel.
20 August 1914
To Smarden to meet trustees at Tilden. Warm and pleasant.
21 August 1914
Friday. Take mother to Hawkhurst by motor car, returning by same. Heavy rain at Staplehurst & neighbourhood but very partial.
22 August 1914
Edith Miller leaves & E Hooker succeeds her.
23 August 1914
Very hot indeed & oppressive, large congregation at chapel.
27 August 1914
Mrs Birchall leaves after a fortnight’s stay.
06 September 1914
First Sunday at Matfield house. Spent a deal of time at the shop.
07 September 1914
At last seated in Matfield house, writing after three weeks anxiety and hard labour. Valuations etc, etc. Mr Ashby finishing on Thursday, September 3. Figures arrived at - greatly in excess of anticipation. Weather very warm and dry and hoppicking very general.
15 September 1914
Pollie, Harry and self to London to buy carpets et cetera. Visit Madame Tussaud’s.
16 September 1914
Harry returns to school, cold, dry and windy.
17 September 1914
Showery and very warm.
19 September 1914
Ford leaves to go to Wadhurst.
20 September 1914
Sunday. Tom Prall and wife drive down to dinner, Sam, Clara and Frida come down in afternoon.
21 September 1914
News that G L Baker has passed away.
23 September 1914
Mother returns from Hawkhurst, Miss Smith commences service. Weather dry, sunny & cold nights. Sadly wanting rain, everything parched up. Hoppicking pretty well finished. Price of hops very disappointing.
01 October 1914
Spent a deal of time at shop, very tedious work getting straight. Pick up a cold and a bit poorly. Emily getting over an operation for removal of stone. Her now more satisfactory, but still very sad.
03 October 1914
Fetch chair from mill at Frittenden. Very bright today and dry.
07 October 1914
Weather continues very dry and sunny. Everywhere parched up.
13 October 1914
Nice shower at last doing a deal of good but more wanted.
15 October 1914
Planted 100 cabbages.
16 October 1914
Bike to Hunton without success.
18 October 1914
Prayer meeting after service.
19 October 1914
Meeting at parish room re-Belgium refugees.
20 October 1914
Tuesday. Prayer meeting at Chapel. War continues but more hopeful.
21 October 1914
Pankhurst senior buried. Showery weather for several days.
28 October 1914
Pollie and self to Matfield thanksgiving Mr Midmer. Lovely weather, followed by several showery days.
31 October 1914
Lizzie and Geo. Sharp and children come down from week end sleeping at Mrs Smith’s.
01 November 1914
Sunday. Very large congregation. Nice weather after showery night.
06 November 1914
Pollie and self to Maidstone for the afternoon. Pleasant, warm weather.
11 November 1914
Pollie and self to Hawkhurst by motor, home by rail.
13 November 1914
Friday. Wet, rough and boisterous.
15 November 1914
First wet Sunday morning at Matfield house, but clears off very nicely. Some very heavy showers during this week with sharp white frost. With some sharp white frosts.
19 November 1914
Thursday. Snow and rain all the afternoon, followed by fine cold weather.
27 November 1914
Mr Brooks fixes wardrobe in bed room.
30 November 1914
A thoroughly hot day followed by unsettled weather and thunder on Dec 3 with heavy showers.
02 December 1914
Wednesday. Harry home for half a day returning Thursday morning. Brooks’s men cement roof to keep rain from bedroom: apparently a success.
03 December 1914
To Maidstone to buy a few things for Jack.
05 December 1914
Weather very unsettled, heavy rain, much wind, thunder and lightning.
06 December 1914
Trouble with water closets, particularly rough, stormy night - very high wind.
07 December 1914
Wet gloomy dirty day and very dull.
09 December 1914
Continuation of wet weather. Window dressing at shop. Freda Dann undergoes operation successfully. Pollie runs up on 10th.
10 December 1914
Still showery, clears off and frosty at night.
11 December 1914
Rain recommences at noon and driving wet afternoon. Call in Dr Kirkman to mother.
13 December 1914
Sunday. Fuller and Stevens away from chapel. Collection for poor. Very wet. Mother improving. Weather very unsettled.
16 December 1914
German raid on Yorkshire coast, over 80 people killed.
17 December 1914
Fine day but dull and tendency to rain.
21 December 1914
Monday. To Loose & Maidstone. Call to see Mr Thomas but find him from home. Miss Motor and return by Marden bus walking from Marden. Very fine pleasant day but wet and cold evening. Weather very dull for several days.
22 December 1914
Spend the day dividing the cheese, flour & potatoes from Canada for Belgium refugees.
23 December 1914
Weather very un-Christmas like, dirty cold & wet. Harry comes home on 22. Mother improving but still in bed.
25 December 1914
Friday. Fine, cold, frosty morning, thorough Christmas weather. Jennie and Lizzie Prall down for two days.
26 December 1914
Thorough wet day. Call upon Fuller.
27 December 1914
Sunday. Very wet morning. Stevens and Fuller still away. Bright afternoon followed by wet evening.
28 December 1914
Showery and very high wind. Clara down the afternoon. A deal of rain and very high floods. The war drags on and everybody sad & depressed on account of it. Highest wind for very long time, & deal of damage done & the year passes away sadly, gloomily & much distress and very high prices.
01 January 1915
Friday. A thorough wet day especially in afternoon and evening. Mother trifle better but sadly weak.
03 January 1915
Showery but improvement on previous days. Fuller out again and prayer meeting at Chapel.
04 January 1915
Alfred, Emily & Floss come over by motor bus and spend a few hours.
06 January 1915
Wednesday. Fine day but very wet evening followed by rain & much wind.
08 January 1915
Friday. Pollie & self go to Matfield by rail to collect rent etc.
10 January 1915
Fine day with wet night.
15 January 1915
Pollie & self spend afternoon with Mr and Mrs Thomas at Loose. Weather very boisterous & a great deal of wind particularly on 18th. Nellie Dann goes to nursing home in London for serious operation.
16 January 1915
Saturday evening. A telegram to say satisfactory. May goes backwards and forwards & anxious times. Serious earthquakes in Italy, many thousands loose their lives.
18 January 1915
Cold day & frosty followed by damp, dull weather.
22 January 1915
Friday. Fall of snow, very thick in London, all gone by Sunday.
25 January 1915
Very poorly and stay in all day, cold or influenza, but better by Tuesday. Nellie comes home to Paddock Wood. Very much illness about among all sorts and conditions of people.
01 February 1915
Plant wallflowers etc. weather improving.
04 February 1915
Weather showery & very unsettled making work scarce. The war drags on its weary, sad length.
07 February 1915
Sunday Stevens stays to tea, very wet night.
09 February 1915
Showery, smart hail storm.
10 February 1915
Mother goes out in chair the short time.
11 February 1915
Dense cold fog all the morning.
12 February 1915
Sewage pump placed in garden.
14 February 1915
Sunday. Heavy rain Saturday & Sunday & very cold, dark & gloomy at Chapel, gas required to close service with. Very thin congregation.
21 February 1915
Fine Sunday, sunny & pleasant.
23 February 1915
Fall of snow late at night & lasting several days in the shade. Very cold & sharp white frost. Prospect of finer weather end of the week.
25 February 1915
Visit schools & check register etc.
28 February 1915
Sunday. Mr Kirby poorly & not out. Fuller & self. Fine weather. Showers during the week.
04 March 1915
To Cranbrook union re-closing Kings head. Pleasant weather mild.
07 March 1915
Sunday. Mr Kirby still poorly & similar service as previous Sunday. Weather sets in dry & seasonable. Old Hope digs garden.
10 March 1915
Pollie & self call upon Stevens.
14 March 1915
Sunday. Ideal day, warm dry & sunny. Mr Kirby out & takes service as usual.
15 March 1915
Harry Holder & Grace Richardson motor from Mayfield & spend two or three hours with us.
16 March 1915
To Maidstone to buy a few things for Jack & glasses for self 10/6.
17 March 1915
Dig up front garden.
18 March 1915
Pollie goes to Paddock Wood. Weather turns bitterly cold & sleet & snow falling.
21 March 1915
Sunday. Pleasant Spring like day with beautiful moonlight night.
22 March 1915
Uncle John Eldridge comes along very unexpectedly by rail. Pretty well but showing signs of age. Tom Prall calls & stays to tea bringing 18 fruit trees with him which I plant on following day. Weather very pleasant & growing.
24 March 1915
Warm, growing shower during night. Clara & Sam, Mr and Mrs Butler from Matfield.
25 March 1915
Much colder and very dull. Apply for return of mother's income tax.
28 March 1915
A spell of cold, dry weather, sharp cutting north wind.
29 March 1915
Rose & Jennie run down during the afternoon. Pollie at Tun. Wells. Parish meeting and parish council meeting afterwards. Not very special.
31 March 1915
Very warm & pleasant with cold evening.
02 April 1915
Good Friday. A very beautiful morning, bit breezy but sunny & warm but wet evening after 5 o’clock. Pollie & self to Matfield, E Mercer speaks afternoon & evening with baptising, but unable to stay and witness.
03 April 1915
Wet more or all day & cooler rain appreciated generally. Mildred comes from Brighton & stays until Monday evening sleeping at Mrs Casey’s.
05 April 1915
Easter Monday. A few showers, walking with Mildred and Pollie in the afternoon.
08 April 1915
Very windy & cold for several days. Warmer & some pleasant spring weather, things growing. Rain v scarce for several days. Growing weather, short showers at times.
14 April 1915
Call on Stevens for short time.
22 April 1915
Byke to Matfield, pleasant riding. Everybody house cleaning etc, etc.
25 April 1915
Wet, unpleasant Sunday, followed by cold east wind and very dusty. Cost of pump in garden & fixing same as per Mr Brooks' bill 3.14.2.
28 April 1915
Pollie and self to Matfield anniversary. Bright, sunny weather but cold night Mr Carr of Bath and Mr Dickens. Harry bykes into Essex returning on Friday via Gravesend.
01 May 1915
Rain wanted, everything backward.
02 May 1915
Slight shower followed by colder weather & east wind.
05 May 1915
Wednesday. Pollie & self to Tunbridge anniversary, Mr Alexander, two services. Warm pleasant weather.
06 May 1915
Very warm, storm & heavy rain in London. Rain wanted at Staplehurst, war clouds very heavy & depressing.
07 May 1915
Loss of Lusitania with 1400 passengers.
09 May 1915
Sunday. Harry has collision at Paley with motor byke, bought home by Dr Kirkman & bandaged up for several days.
12 May 1915
Harry down stairs to dinner and getting on satisfactory.
13 May 1915
Rain commences at dawn & continues all day until late at night. Meet trustees at Tilden. Byke to Frittenden then trap from public house. Unpleasant journey but rain doing a vast amount of good.
15 May 1915
Colder with rain at night followed by finer weather.
17 May 1915
Monday. To Hawkhurst by motor bus. Very wet morning but fine, warm afternoon followed by very heavy rain at night & wet nearly all following day.
18 May 1915
Slight floods in various places. Geo Piper and his wife come from Hawkhurst & spend the afternoon, returning to London.
19 May 1915
A very warm, pleasant day & things growing rapidly. Mr Kirby, Fuller and Stevens meet at Matfield House.
20 May 1915
Service at Frittenden, Mr Oldfield. Pollie, self & May Dann.
21 May 1915
Empire day. Treat at school, everything passes off very successfully.
23 May 1915
Sunday. Bright & warm and cold night.
24 May 1915
Whit Monday. Warm pleasant day. Pollie, mother, Miss Smith & self go for a drive around Frittenden, Biddenden & Headcorn.
26 May 1915
Weather much colder, dry & bright.
28 May 1915
Very cold but warmer later on. Harry to returns to school. Pollie to Tun Wells.
02 June 1915
Wednesday. Pollie, self & May byke up to Mall House anniversary, Mr Thomas afternoon & evening. Very warm.
03 June 1915
Pollie & self to Hastings by Motor bus. Dull, sunless day, rather cold west wind & cold evening. Rain wanted. War clouds hanging everywhere & people very anxious.
05 June 1915
Sets in very warm for a few days.
08 June 1915
Church meeting re. C Waghorne.
09 June 1915
Stormy appearance & showers at Staplehurst but more rain at places.
10 June 1915
Pollie & self byke to Peacocks in afternoon, stay to tea. Appearance of more rain but passes off.
13 June 1915
Pollie & self to Marden to hear Mr Tophet. Quite cold on return journey & very cold for several days.
15 June 1915
Ride round Sutton Valance re-money hunting.
16 June 1915
To Tilden anniversary Mr Midmer & Mr Weeks. Warm in day but cold night. Pollie goes to Marden Mr Hallett.
17 June 1915
To Mayfield by train. H Holder treats us to motor ride round Burwash, Heathfield, Cross-in-Hand etc. Home by mail train. Very cold at night.
19 June 1915
Cold North East wind & frost in places.
23 June 1915
Mr and Mrs Thomas spend the afternoon & evening with us.
24 June 1915
Ride over & see Stevens with his quarter's money. Weather dull & chilly. Signs of rain but wind still cold and North East. Haymaking very general. Smart shower late at night.
28 June 1915
Pollie & self to Maidstone, heavy rain.
29 June 1915
Mrs Honess & Mabel Gilbert to tea.
30 June 1915
Concert. Rectory grounds for recruiting. Heavy showers during day & smart thunder storm.
01 July 1915
Alfred & Emily over from Hawkhurst. Things growing apace from effects of rain.
03 July 1915
Sets in very warm. Mr and Mrs Wilmshurst to tea.
04 July 1915
Sunday. Smart shower and thunder in the evening after a very warm day.
08 July 1915
Pollie & self to Matfield by rail, very heavy showers during the day doing a deal of good. Very high winds during the week.
09 July 1915
Mr J Wilmshurst passes away, after very short illness.
11 July 1915
Rose & Jennie Prall down for the day. Much cooler.
13 July 1915
Mr Wilmshurst buried at Cranbrook. Harry Holder & Grace Richardson call on return from funeral. Pollie & self go with him to Matfield, returning by train, pleasant ride.
14 July 1915
Showery evening with heavy rain during night.
16 July 1915
Cold, wet & dull. Very heavy rain & strong wind.
19 July 1915
To Matfield & back by byke re-cementing house.
22 July 1915
Heavy rain more or less nearly all day & far into the night with very high wind. Weather unsettled, windy & heavy showers with intervals of sunshine & some spells of cooler weather.
28 July 1915
Smart thunder storm in evening and heavy rain. Emily & her sister pay a surprise visit for two or three hours from Hawkhurst. Flower show.
29 July 1915
Harry home for holidays. Pollie & self to Marden, Albert Reading funeral. Stormy with very heavy rain in evening.
01 August 1915
Sunday. Remarkably perfect rain bow & heavy rain during evening.
02 August 1915
Bank holiday. Pollie & self by rail to Tun Wells, Hanover anniversary. Mr Popham and Mr Wilcox. Strong wind at times & very wet evening.
03 August 1915
Mr Michvey seized with fit & passed away on 9th & buried on 12th by Mr Kirby, aged 69.
04 August 1915
Anniversary of declaration of war & evening service at Chapel. Weather unsettled & thunder storms very frequent & heavy showers. Mother staying with Mrs Herne few days.
08 August 1915
Sunday. Mr Kirby at Hailsham.
10 August 1915
Commence delivering registration forms, occupied more or less all the week.
16 August 1915
Collecting forms & finish by 18th. Weather very stormy for many days. Peals of thunder continuously all day. No rain at Staplehurst to any extent, some places deluged.
19 August 1915
Edwin Waters & wife down for afternoon. Mildred Piper staying at Cranbrook & often over.
21 August 1915
Saturday. Byke to Brenchley, Matfield, Paddock Wood and Peacocks.
25 August 1915
Pollie & self to Cranbrook. Mr Kemp & Mr Bicknell. Collection for new vestry, baptistery etc.
26 August 1915
Pollie & self to Paley to tea and spend evening. Pleasant ride home in moon light. Weather perfection for harvest and produce satisfactory.
30 August 1915
Much cooler & appearance of rain.
01 September 1915
To Uckfield by rail. Tremendous rain during journey. Walk to Piltdown and Downstreet Farm to uncle John Eldridge. Fine pleasant walk, but heavy rain & smart thunder shower after arrival. Return shortly after 3 o’clock. Fine weather. Motor car to Matfield & home by nine train meeting Pollie at Paddock Wood.
02 September 1915
Much colder.
06 September 1915
Byke to Hawkhurst via Folly Hill, etc. Very warm, pleasant weather. Hop picking commenced in many places. Hops better than anticipated but weigh very lightly. Weather perfection but very warm with heavy dew at night. Air raids over London during the week, everybody anxious.
09 September 1915
Thursday. Pollie and self to Gravesend via Maidstone & Chatham motor bus. Pleasant ride very warm.
15 September 1915
Pollie & self byke to Headcorn.
16 September 1915
Pollie goes to Mascalls to spend a time among the hops. Perfection of weather, an ideal Indian summer. Warm quiet & cloudless but this terrible war, day after day.
20 September 1915
Byke to Matfield, Paddock Wood etc.
22 September 1915
Continuation of really beautiful weather, no rain, all hoppicking. Very warm & close.
23 September 1915
Pollie goes to Mascalls, Clara very poorly.
24 September 1915
Slight shower during night.
28 September 1915
Ride over to see Stevens, getting wet on return journey. Heavy rain all night & strong wind. Much water falling. Very much colder.
30 September 1915
Pollie & self to Frittenden thanksgiving. Very small congregation, between 20 & 30, Messrs Kemp & Rose ministers.
01 October 1915
Dry but cold and hoppicking drawing to a close, pickers returning.
10 October 1915
Sunday. Beautiful weather, large company at Chapel.
13 October 1915
Pollie & self byke to Headcorn & see Stevens. Ideal weather, heavy dews but warm sunny days. Calm and quiet.
18 October 1915
Lovely weather, warm & pleasant.
19 October 1915
Colder, North wind & little rain. Pollie & self to Marden thanksgiving. Mr Dickens and very few people.
20 October 1915
Pollie & self to Cranbrook Chapel. Mr Landy in afternoon & Mr Kirby in afternoon. Pleasant weather.
23 October 1915
Byke over to see Stevens & find him very sadly indeed. Life evidently ebbing away.
26 October 1915
Mr Oliver buried at Staplehurst.
27 October 1915
Pollie & self to Matfield thanksgiving. Mr Midmer afternoon & evening. Small congregation, but very nice weather.
28 October 1915
Very wet, continuous rain all morning. Harry sits for his finals in London.
30 October 1915
Pollie and Minnie go to London returning with Harry. Beautiful weather.
31 October 1915
Sunday. Very wet & cold & very few at Chapel. Stevens passes away at noon aged 84.
01 November 1915
Monday. Very wet & cold most unpleasant weather.
02 November 1915
Drying, breezy and month's washing dried.
03 November 1915
Harry returns to London to finish his examination, being home again on the Saturday following.
04 November 1915
Mr Stevens buried at Headcorn by Mr Kirby, self & Pollie with many members of church & congregation. Favourable weather.
05 November 1915
Mrs Thos Prall of a son.
07 November 1915
Sunday. Large congregation at Chapel. Ellen & Lewis, with Sam, Clara family down.
09 November 1915
Very wet, driving rain.
10 November 1915
Very strong & sharp winds. Storm at night followed by thunder storms & very high winds.
15 November 1915
Frosty morning & plant broad beans in afternoon.
16 November 1915
Wake up and find ground covered with snow & very cold & frosty remainder of week.
17 November 1915
Harry goes to Cranbrook & gets exemption from military service.
18 November 1915
Pollie & self to Mayfield, bitter cold day & very foggy & find Mayfield very cold & a deal of snow.
20 November 1915
Bright & dry, slight frosts more or less for several days.
21 November 1915
Sunday. Cold, dry weather. Woollet very poorly.
22 November 1915
Call & see him (Woolett), meeting Fuller there. Pollie goes to Paddock Wood.
23 November 1915
Pollie & self to Hawkhurst, walking from Hartley, as per motor bus beyond, returning by Hastings motor bus. Thorough Autumn day, pleasant but dull & very calm. Roads perfect. Told of Woolletts death on return.
25 November 1915
Mr & Mrs J Weeks to tea & spend the evening. Cold & bright & sharp white frosts.
27 November 1915
Saturday. Wedding at Chapel. M Smith’s daughter of Headcorn. Perfection of weather.
29 November 1915
Monday. W Woollett buried at Staplehurst, aged 75. Wet, damp afternoon.
30 November 1915
Very heavy rain, with wind. Thorough November day.
01 December 1915
Wednesday. Boisterous weather. Heavy floods, fine evening but very sharp lightening. Pollie & self call upon Miss Biney after tea, walking there and back. Weather very stormy & unsettled for several days & heavy floods.
06 December 1915
Walk to Frittenden & take tea with Mrs Palmer.
13 December 1915
Cal on Mrs Evenden in the wood. Dry, frosty & roads perfect, followed by rain, more or less every day through the week & roads a mass of dirt.
15 December 1915
Pollie & self call on Mrs A Croucher. Very wet & dirty. Continuation of excessive wet weather day after day, rain & wind & very dirty roads.
21 December 1915
To Maidstone in afternoon, dull & very wet. Harry comes home for Christmas holidays.
24 December 1915
Very heavy showers & high wind.
25 December 1915
Christmas Day. Wet morning & very depressing, heavy showers & high wind with very deep flood. Fine evening & motor lorry in ditch outside of garden for over two hours.
26 December 1915
Sunday. A very beautiful day, fine & drying but wet evening.
27 December 1915
Boxing Day. To Hawkhurst by rail. Showers & very high wind & tremendous floods & deal of damage done throughout the country.
28 December 1915
Mild Springlike morning, putting people in a better frame of mind. The year passes away with wind & showers, weather very boisterous in various parts of country & much damage with general depression on account of the war still raging with varying success. A never to be forgotten year.
01 January 1916
Saturday. Very strong wind, heavy showers & generally very depressing.
02 January 1916
Sunday. Fine & mild but windy. Special services in many places on account of the war. Mr K very warlike.
03 January 1916
Emily & Floss from Hawkhurst by bus. Fine, pleasant weather.
05 January 1916
Clara down for afternoon confirming the news that Sam has lost portion of his right arm & on his way home.
06 January 1916
Pollie & self to Matfield to take rent.
07 January 1916
Harry Holder, G Richardson & Miss Hunt from Tasmania spend two hours with us. Weather very unsettled & particularly wind each night & showers.
10 January 1916
Emmy Piper, Stanley & Gracie over from Hawkhurst. Emmy home from Cambridge on five days furlough. Place manure round fruit trees.
14 January 1916
Harry returns to school. Weather very dull & roads very dirty with alternating drying winds, warm & mild. Fruit buds bursting rapidly.
17 January 1916
C Rowells home from France & spends a short time at Staplehurst.
26 January 1916
Pollie & self to Matfield. Children's Sunday. School. treat. Mr Dawson speaks in evening. Weather continues remarkably mild to the end of the month.
28 January 1916
Self to Maidstone to buy furniture for customer & call on R Hore.
06 February 1916
Sunday. Wet, cold day after a particularly starlight evening.
07 February 1916
Very heavy hail storm after breakfast. Charles Baines commences service at shop, succeeding Cross.
08 February 1916
Clear, bright frosty weather.
09 February 1916
Sharp, white frost with warm, pleasant springlike day.
11 February 1916
Wet, cold day. Crown Inn sold with adjacent property for £460 to Mr Offen. Particularly dull afternoon.
13 February 1916
Mildred P walks over from Cranbrook to attend Chapel & in evening we all walk to Frittenden.
14 February 1916
Clara down for a few hours.
15 February 1916
Very strong wind & driving showers.
16 February 1916
Wind remarkably strong all day & cold & drying between the showers. Lizzie & John Sharpe down for the afternoon. Brooks men putting in new drain, finished by noon on Saturday.
23 February 1916
Wake up to find ground covered in snow & driving cold blizzard more or less all day. Brooks repairs pump.
25 February 1916
Sharpest frost for a long time, perhaps two years. Pay Brooks 4.2.11 for drain.
26 February 1916
Winter reigns, everywhere blocked by snow & slush, heaviest fall for several years.
27 February 1916
Sunday. Snow & slush with heavy showers of snow - fair congregation.
28 February 1916
Monday. Harry home half term. Wintry weather, snow, slush but thawing.
01 March 1916
Snow pretty well all gone & frosty with roads drying, but cold & thorough March weather.
05 March 1916
Sunday. Bright & cold & clean roads.
06 March 1916
Digging in garden, ground fairly dry.
07 March 1916
Snowing all day & roads covered with slush & depressing weather.
08 March 1916
Wednesday. Snow disappearing & very calm. William A Butter leaves to join the forces after 7 years service.
12 March 1916
Sunday. Very pleasant day followed by dull, gloomy weather & on Monday evening sharp thunder storm & heavy rain with extraordinary sheet lightening causing apprehension of bombs & firing of air guns, search lights, etc, but groundless fears.
14 March 1916
Tuesday. Spring like day, mild & sunny & very calm. Steven's legacy of 10/2 each for all the members divided.
16 March 1916
Pollie goes to Paddock Wood for a few hours. Pleasant drying weather followed by more rain.
19 March 1916
Sunday. Pleasant & spring like.
20 March 1916
Warm, calm weather & anticipating working in garden. Call & see Mrs Evenden.
21 March 1916
Cold & wet & very gloomy. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday, four very wet, dull, gloomy days.
25 March 1916
Saturday. Agreeable change in weather. Fred Pope & self inspect houses for assessment & walk over obstructed footpath at Clapper Lane.
26 March 1916
Sunday. Cold, drying weather with heavy rain at night.
27 March 1916
Spring like day but very heavy rain & snow in evening with very high wind. Parish meeting held in Parish Room, very small attendance on account of weather.
28 March 1916
Cold & showery, roads very dirty & gloomy. Mrs Screes buried aged 82. Very cold blizzard at night, most sever for 25 years & much damage throughout the country.
31 March 1916
Last day of March. Very warm & pleasant & ground drying fast.
01 April 1916
Saturday. Very warm & springlike, splendid for gardening operations.
03 April 1916
Perfection of weather. Warm & cheering, but air raids & explosion of powder mill at Faversham.
10 April 1916
Monday. Byke to Hawkhurst, very warm & springlike followed by showery weather & high wind for several days.
11 April 1916
Harry breaks up for his holidays.
13 April 1916
Mrs Wilmshurst of Cranbrook to tea. Plant current trees for Mrs Mulvey & potatoes, etc, in own garden.
14 April 1916
Friday. Special service & prayer meeting in afternoon, pretty good attendance. Showery & cold weather.
18 April 1916
Tuesday. Heavy showers after several days, high winds. Farmers sadly wanting fine dry weather.
21 April 1916
Good Friday. Fine pleasant morning. Pollie & self to Maidstone by rail, Messrs Booth & Rose. Not very large attendance. Home by rail 8.30. Showers during the day.
23 April 1916
Easter Sunday. Warm pleasant weather.
24 April 1916
Easter Monday. Pollie & self to Lizzie Peacocks by rail, after dinner to the Hall & back from Paddock Wood Station. Fine & pleasant.
25 April 1916
Tuesday. Spring sets in with most lovely weather & very warm.
26 April 1916
Wednesday. Pollie & self to Matfield anniversary, Messrs Carr & Dickens. Very warm indeed, ideal weather, not large attendance.
27 April 1916
Continuation of perfect weather & thinkgs growing apace.
01 May 1916
Call on Mrs Evenden. Very warm & growing weather, prospects delightful with exception of gloomy war clouds & military bill bringing trouble & dismay all around.
03 May 1916
Jack & Louis go to London to buy & consult Mr Giles & visit drapers exhibition. Pollie to Tonbridge anniversary, Mr Snow. Self gardening nearly all day. Everything growing apace.
05 May 1916
Harry returns to school. Stanley Piper over for a few hours. Very warm & pleasant. Irish rebellion nearly finished.
07 May 1916
Sunday. Heavy showers & cooler but very pleasant.
08 May 1916
Cold wind followed by thorough wet day & fine weather very desirable.
10 May 1916
Anna Piper from Brighton calls & stays to tea, very pleasant weather, calm & drying.
11 May 1916
Plant summer beans. Weather perfect, calm shady & not hot. Pollie's first byke ride of the season to see Steven's stone.
14 May 1916
Sunday. Mr Kirby in London & reading. Weather continues very warm & pleasant.
17 May 1916
Meet trustees at Tilden, 2 o'clock. Weather simply delightful, warm calm & sunny.
20 May 1916
Continuation of ideal May weather & things growing apace. Put clocks on one hour for summer time.
22 May 1916
Byke to Matfield & back calling upon Clara, Tom & Lizzie.
24 May 1916
Wednesday. Pollie & self byke round Frittenden, Knox Bridge, etc.
25 May 1916
Mr Champkins speaks at Frittenden in evening, Pollie & self present.
26 May 1916
Prize giving at school & usual treat. Weather really favourable & pleasant. Showers really wanted.
28 May 1916
Sunday. Tom, Ruth & baby down for afternoon service. The month of May a record month for fine, warm weather & particular absence of east wind. Rain much wanted towards of month.
31 May 1916
Wednesday. Pollie, Nellie & self byke to Smarden, take tea & home through Headcorn. Very pleasant riding.
04 June 1916
Sunday. Showers & really very cold for June for several days, thunder & hail.
07 June 1916
Wednesday. Pollie & self to Bethensden. Pollie in trap & self on byke. Very pleasant weather but smart showers at Staplehurst. Messrs Dawson, Weeks & Mitchell.
09 June 1916
Letter from Down Street Farm to say uncle is dangerously ill. Stormy weather.
10 June 1916
Byke up & call on Walter Boulden. Heavy rain in afternoon & evening & thunder.
11 June 1916
Sunday. Warm in early morning but very cold later in the day & very wet evening. Rose & Jennie down for the day.
12 June 1916
News that uncle has passed away. A cold, wet, cheerless day with smart showers. Pollie goes to Tun Wells. Whit Monday but no bank holiday.
14 June 1916
Wednesday. To Down Street farm by early train walking from Uckfield. Funeral at Five Ash Down, Mr Martin officiating, everything orderly & satisfactory. Return with Mr Corke to Tun Wells & then home by rail. Remarkably cold for June with smart breeze but dry.
16 June 1916
Pollie & self call upon Mr Thomas, find him in bed & very sadly. Sunny but cold north east wind & vegetation on a stand still.
19 June 1916
Monday. Byke to Hawkhurst, pleasant riding, cooler in afternoon. Dull & gloomy with shower.
21 June 1916
Wednesday. Much warmer. Self & Nellie byke to Tilden, home via Biddenden, etc. very pleasant riding. Pollie to Cranbrook.
22 June 1916
Warm growing weather with showers. Jack D goes to Maidstone respecting his appeal being overlooked.
23 June 1916
Pollie & self prepare to byke to Matfield, showery weather prevents us. Harry has two days holiday, 19th & 20th, taking Minnie to Hastings on 19th.
28 June 1916
Pollie & self byke to Peacocks in afternoon, pleasant riding & appearance of rain.
29 June 1916
Jack to tribunal at Maidstone & very successful obtaining conditional exemption. Cool, drying wind favourable for hay making.
01 July 1916
Byke to Matfield in afternoon, very pleasant riding.
02 July 1916
Sunday. Very agreeable weather & large congregation. News of successful offensive by the allies.
03 July 1916
Airplane down at Pagehurst, Mother Pollie & self go to have a look.
05 July 1916
Wednesday. Pollie & self byke round Babylon & foot of Chart Hill. Caught in a very heavy thunder storm & tummultous rain compelling us to shelter for a time.
08 July 1916
Mr Thomas passes away after several weeks protracted illness.
09 July 1916
Sunday. Very pleasant weather but not warm as we would like for July. Pollie & self byke to Frittenden to hear Mr Kirby.
11 July 1916
Pollie & self start for Matfield on bykes after dinner but on account of wind alter our minds and ride round Style Bridge, very pleasant.
12 July 1916
Cool, unkindly, damp weather with deal of wind.
13 July 1916
Mr Thomas buried at Lenham. Pollie & self go to Maidstone by motor at noon. Mr Popham speaks at Maidstone. Very heavy rain on return journey but not much at Staplehurst. Dull & cheerless.
14 July 1916
Pollie & self byke to Matfield & back, very pleasant riding but dull & signs of rain.
16 July 1916
Frank Gibson & May Dann to tea. Very wet all the evening & stay in doors.
17 July 1916
Monday. One of the most remarkable days in July within my memory. A heavy, damp, cloud all day, not a breath moving. Humid & oppressive & very depressing. Pollie & self rise round Chart & Sutton Valence & a thick Scottish mist comes on & continues more or less all night, followed by heavy rain.
19 July 1916
Wednesday. Pollie & self to Peacocks. Very pleasant weather. Continuation of fine seasonable weather & quantity of hay got in.
24 July 1916
Dull, sunless, calm weather Mr G S Resum & his son call & stay to tea.
26 July 1916
Pollie & self ride to Collier St, very pleasant.
27 July 1916
Continuation of ideal weather & hay making rapidly brought to a close.
28 July 1916
Sets in very hot for several days & a shower much wanted.
02 August 1916
Pollie & self byke to Mr W Boulden's & stay to tea. Very warm & pleasant.
03 August 1916
Stanley & Floss over from Hawkhurst. Ride over to see Mrs Wheadon.
06 August 1916
Sunday. Mildred Piper at Staplehurst, staying all night.
07 August 1916
Monday. Bank Holiday not observed. Pollie & self to Payley to tea. Very warm.
08 August 1916
Pollie & self call on C Smith, Manor Farm, Headcorn. Rain much wanted.
09 August 1916
Harry & Minnie at Folkestone.
10 August 1916
Alfred & Emily over to dinner & tea. Still very warm & rain greatly needed.
12 August 1916
Saturday. Mr Kirby has byke accident on road to station to catch train for Horsham, necessitating his staying at home.
13 August 1916
Reading at Chapel, pleasant weather, not quite so warm.
14 August 1916
Signs of rain with driving shower & wind.
16 August 1916
Clara & Sam (junior) call in the evening.
17 August 1916
Mildred Piper over in afternoon leaving for Brighton on 19th.
18 August 1916
Heavy rain in the evening & during the night doing a deal of good to hops, gardens, etc.
21 August 1916
Sale of Mrs Forbes' furniture, etc, things fetch very high prices.
23 August 1916
Miss Smith leaves through ill health & peculiarities of temper & disposition. Very nice warm shower during night & some smart showers during the rest of week & air raids round coast & near London.
27 August 1916
Sunday. Showery in course of day.
28 August 1916
Mother goes to Miss Hearns.
29 August 1916
Tuesday. Washing day & wet, unpleasant weather. Hoppicking commenced. 24 hours almost continuous rain with brisk wind.
30 August 1916
Continuation of wet weather, with fine drying evening.
31 August 1916
Ideal weather, ride round Chart & Sutton Valence money hunting.
03 September 1916
Sunday. Very heavy rain during the day, followed by several days of pleasant weather. Edith (the maid) home for holiday.
04 September 1916
Pollie & self ride round Headcorn, etc.
08 September 1916
Self calls upon Mr A Boulden of Boughton.
11 September 1916
Mother returns from Misses Hearn after a fortnight stay (21/-). Mrs Coulter commences service apparently a great improvement on Smith. Weather very pleasant - dull but fine.
13 September 1916
Pollie & self ride round Boughton & Sutton Valence, taking tea at the latter place. Very pleasant weather.
14 September 1916
News of Owen Farmer being killed in France (worked at the shop from c1905 - June 1909). Sharp white frosts.
15 September 1916
Harry goes to Canterbury to be re-examined & passed for garrison duty & provisional units, returns to school on following day, Saturday. Weather much colder & deal of rain. Hoppicking drawing to a close.
21 September 1916
Thursday. Emily, Lol & her boy call & spend the afternoon at Matfield House. Very beautiful day with frosty evening.
25 September 1916
Pollie & self byke to Matfield & back. Very warm indeed & lovely ride.
26 September 1916
Continuation of ideal weather, really hot with cool evenings.
27 September 1916
Wednesday. Much cooler & smart showers with appearance of thunder....
29 September 1916
... followed by heavy rain & unsettled weather for a day or two.
30 September 1916
An ideal autumn day with fresh breeze.
01 October 1916
Air raid near London & falling, burning Zep seen by Harry & others from church tower.
04 October 1916
Heavy showers & unsettled weather.
08 October 1916
Fuller very sadly & away from Chapel.
10 October 1916
To Hawkhurst by motor. Warm & damp.
11 October 1916
Letter from Harry to say he has a months exemption. Home on following day.
15 October 1916
Fuller still away. Very large congregation at Chapel. Very nice weather, cooler.
16 October 1916
Harry has awkward fall in starting his motor byke & hurts his knee. Ideal weather with cold nights.
18 October 1916
Mr Reeves & self to Maidstone audit.
19 October 1916
Thursday. Pollie & self walk to Frittenden thanksgiving service. Dull but pleasant weather, Messrs Rose & Kemp.
20 October 1916
Very sharp white frost, playing havoc with garden flowers, etc.
21 October 1916
Harry spends the week end with Minnie at Edward Weeks’ Headcorn. Mr Harry Pope passes away aged 62 after long illness from cancer.
22 October 1916
Memorial service at church for those fallen in battle. Pollie & self attend. Very large congregation.
23 October 1916
Jennie Barns enters upon her fresh situation with Jack.
25 October 1916
Wednesday. Thanksgiving services at Cranbrook & Matfield. Pollie goes for afternoon service at Matfield. Excessive, heavy rain at noon. Harry comes home re appeal matter.
26 October 1916
Funeral of Mr H Pope, large attendance. Weather all we can desire.
27 October 1916
Friday. Remarkable heavy thunder storm at noon & heavy hail & rain at intervals during the night & following morning. Weather very unsettled for a considerable time & much rain & wind.
01 November 1916
Wednesday. Pollie & self go to Bounds Cross thanksgiving, Messrs Kemp & Haddons. Harry comes home via Matfield.
02 November 1916
Tom Prall calls re Harry.
03 November 1916
Fine morning followed by wet afternoon. Stack up bean sticks for winter.
05 November 1916
Most stormy Sunday for a very long time, tremendous high wind & excessive down pour. Very few at Chapel & smaller number in afternoon.
06 November 1916
Harry at home for half term & Minnie to dinner. Maxted leaves Staplehurst to join the Colours on following Saturday. Mrs Foreman's daughter takes up her duties at the shop.
08 November 1916
Great improvements in weather, calm, drying & fogs night & morning.
12 November 1916
Mr Kirby in London & reading at Chapel. Weather very favourable.
14 November 1916
Ideal November weather, really warm during the day with foggy nights.
16 November 1916
Dry, March like weather, roads clean & dusty in many places.
17 November 1916
Strong, cold east wind & very drying.
18 November 1916
Change of weather, sleet falling nearly all day, very cold & unkindly. Barometer as low as ever I knew it, the hand completely perpendicular with a tendency to go up adverse side nearly on the V in very stormy & falling beyond V during the evening.
19 November 1916
Showery & cold Sunday followed by heavy rain during the night. Thorough November weather, very much mixed up.
24 November 1916
Louis Piper's appeal dismissed at Maidstone.
26 November 1916
Spend the evening with Misses Pound.
29 November 1916
To Maidstone, meet Harry & fit him out with boots, coat, etc. Whist drive at Staplehurst to raise funds for volunteer uniform.
30 November 1916
Really a beautiful day, calm & sunny.
02 December 1916
Harry leaves Maidstone after three years engagement. Weather cold, dry & frosty.
03 December 1916
Very dull, dry & cold.
04 December 1916
Harry commences his stay at Matfield for indefinite time. Very cold & dust blowing in the street. Comes home week end.
07 December 1916
Pollie goes to Matfield.
14 December 1916
Weather very seasonable, dull, a bit cold with some showers but workable. Louis Piper joins up at Ashford & sent on to London.
15 December 1916
Friday. Very dull & cold with heavy fall of snow in evening but not laying. Exceedingly dark & cold.
16 December 1916
Remarkable dense fog all day making things very gloomy.
18 December 1916
Another very foggy & cold day & roads correspondingly dirty.
20 December 1916
Seasonable weather, frosty with heavy rain at night.
23 December 1916
Particularly strong boisterous wind all day & heavy rain in early morning.
24 December 1916
A most beautiful day, bright & sunny with sprinkle of frost, without wind. Small congregation at Chapel.
25 December 1916
Monday. Wake up to find wet morning & boisterous cold wind but clears off later on, but dull & gloomy. Harry at home.
26 December 1916
Cold frosty morning & foggy. Rose, Jennie & Ada down for the day. Ada very poorly. Girls return by 7 train. Minnie to dinner & tea.
27 December 1916
Harry returns to Matfield. White frost & seasonable.
28 December 1916
Very cold morning & intensely white frost & very slippery, but warm toward night & heavy rain before morning & wind. Harry to Paley to Christmas feast, returning to Matfield following morning.
29 December 1916
Very mild, windy & inclined to rain. The year goes out mild & showery .
31 December 1916
Sunday. Sunny & pleasant with rain in evening. Good congregation. More hopeful feeling with reference to speedy termination of war & change in government. People developing colds & much influenza in high society.
01 January 1917
Monday. Mild, Spring like with door open at breakfast time & sunny washing day. Harry returns to Nurseries. Floss & Gracie over from Hawkhurst.
02 January 1917
Continuation of mild weather with soft winds & roads drying nicely.
05 January 1917
Pollie goes to Matfield for rent - without success. Pleasant weather but wet evening.
06 January 1917
Cold, drying wind & roads perfect.
07 January 1917
Bad attack while dressing & late to chapel & find Fuller absent. Nice pleasant weather but wet evening.
08 January 1917
Monday. Another unpleasant attack during the night. Mr Rose calls & spends an hour with us. Wet, cold weather. Weather very changeable during the week. Snow, rain, frost, wind &, at times, very dirty roads.
11 January 1917
Pollie goes to Matfield. Rose & Jennie still very sadly, Jennie seriously so. Fuller very sadly & in a very critical state from heart trouble. Much illness about & many deaths though out the country.
14 January 1917
Fuller still very poorly & absent from chapel. Pleasant seasonable weather with cold rain later in the evening.
15 January 1917
Wake up to find the ground covered with snow, but rather rapid thaw during the day with sharp frost early in the evening but milder later on.
16 January 1917
More snow by morning & falling more or less all day but thawing for the most part/ Walk over to see Miss Burey. Jennie Prall still very sadly & critical condition.
21 January 1917
Sunday. Mr Fuller still absent. Very cold, evenings remarkably dark.
23 January 1917
Walk over to Miss Burey's. Very sharp frosty weather & roads frozen hard.
25 January 1917
Continuation of sharp frosty weather. Very seasonable but a bit too keen sharp north east wind.
26 January 1917
To Ashford re income tax. Bright, sunny but bitterly cold & dust in clouds. Call on Smith on return journey.
28 January 1917
Everything frozen up, most severe weather for 35 years, cutting east wind & everything frozen. Fuller still sadly.
04 February 1917
Perhaps the most severe frost for thirty years of more. Everything frozen in bedroom every morning for over a week. Mr Fuller still absent. Fair congregation.
05 February 1917
Very heavy fall of snow during the night. bank holiday instead of previous Whit-monday. Harry at home all day as work is quite blocked at Matfield. Clean roof of shop from snow, largest quantity ever swept off roof. Frost continues all the week but snow wasting & roads alternately clean & dirty.
10 February 1917
Remarkable cold in early morning & ice in bedroom night after night.
11 February 1917
Milder & signs of change.
12 February 1917
Harry returns to Matfield & thawing with frosty nights. Mildred Piper at Cranbrook, spending the Sunday at Staplehurst.
14 February 1917
Wednesday. Springlike sunny morning after frosty night, snow nearly all gone. Mr Kirby drives with myself to see Willie Potter, very cold wind but frost disappearing.
16 February 1917
Friday. To Cranbrook respecting Miss Watts, etc. Dull & mild & very dirty. Very poorly for couple of days, biliousness.
19 February 1917
Very heavy fog for several days. No wind & roads extremely dirty with glimpse of Spring.
21 February 1917
Chimneys swept & pay Link 9/- for previous year & up to date.
24 February 1917
James Farmer leaves the shop to join up. S Russell away ill.
26 February 1917
Bank holiday at Staplehurst. Go to Maidstone to purchase seed potatoes. Weather very dull & hazy for considerable time after the frost.
27 February 1917
Engage J Heathfield to fill vacancy .
01 March 1917
Go to Matfield after dinner returning by last train. Very pleasant weather, rain during the night with cooler weather, but sun shine very shy.
04 March 1917
Thorough March weather, roads dry & dusty.
05 March 1917
Monday. Wake up to find ground covered with snow, but pretty well all gone by night. Harry at home all day.
06 March 1917
Bitter cold east wind for several days. Winter returns with great severity & very sharp frosts & bedroom frozen & epidemic of burst water pipes throughout the parish.
10 March 1917
Much milder, followed by dull, damp, foggy weather & roads exceedingly dirty.
12 March 1917
J A D goes to Goudhurst to see military officer respecting reviewing of his exemption as Heathfield commences his services.
14 March 1917
Commence gardening & plant peas.
15 March 1917
Pollie & self to Maidstone to meet Harry & come home by train.
16 March 1917
Self to Matfield & Paddock Wood by 2 train. Continuation of seasonable weather & spend all spare time in garden.
20 March 1917
Very seasonable March weather, dry & cool wind with damp night.
21 March 1917
Cold & snow falling at intervals. Finish digging garden.
22 March 1917
Very heavy fall of snow in afternoon, shrubs & trees covered & appearance of Christmas. Jack goes to Maidstone tribunal, case adjourned.
23 March 1917
Snow all gone by evening & cold drying weather.
25 March 1917
Clara & Sam Dan down for afternoon.
26 March 1917
Very cold wind & driving snow showers.
28 March 1917
Weather improved & plant early potatoes & sow various seeds & ground drying nicely.
31 March 1917
Small shower in early morning.
01 April 1917
Sunday. Bright morning but cold with snow & rain showers during the day.
02 April 1917
Coldest April day for 60 years, heavy snow showers. Harry home all day.
03 April 1917
Cold & showery & depressing.
05 April 1917
Nice, drying Springlike day.
06 April 1917
Good Friday. Wake up & find a wet, cold morning, rain & snow showers. Pollie & self walk to Frittenden in afternoon. Roads particularly dirty & heavy walking. Damp & cold but clears towards evening & bright moonlight walk home. Mr West speaks afternoon & evening. Fair congregation.
07 April 1917
Great improvement in weather. Bright & cold but general depression.
08 April 1917
Summer time adopted. Fine, but cold & drying.
09 April 1917
Wake up to find heavy rain during night followed by very cold day & driving snow showers. Pollie goes to Tun Wells anniversary, Mr Haddon. Self in shop in morning mending blind. At home afternoon & evening. Jack at Horley, telephone for him re-cancelling of conditional exemption.
10 April 1917
Very cold biting wind, heavy show showers at tea time, ground & trees white as Christmas. Jack goes to Maidstone to procure form for appeal. Harry at home since Saturday.
12 April 1917
Harry returns to Matfield. Very heavy snow storm after breakfast. Alfred & Floss arrive from Hawkhurst by afternoon motor. Cold &, at times, showers.
13 April 1917
Pleasant change in weather after frosty night.
15 April 1917
Sunday. Mr Kirby at Horsham & reading.
16 April 1917
Jack goes to London re solicitor
18 April 1917
Pollie goes to Crowborough to see Mr Ashby. Wet all day & most depressing.
Parish meeting & Parish Council afterward.
19 April 1917
Very dull gloomy weather, roads dirty & most dismal inside & out but fine pleasant evening & warmer.
20 April 1917
Really a Spring day & very warm. Jack goes to Maidstone Appeal Court - one month final.
26 April 1917
Wednesday. Anniversary at Matfield Messrs Manmer & Dickens. Pollie & self by 8.30 train, three services. Pleasant weather.
Heathfield away from business, measles.
27 April 1917
Spring weather & things growing apace. Cut lawn first time this season.
29 April 1917
Beautiful weather warm & pleasant. Sam Dann senior down for the day, staying all Saturday night.
01 May 1917
Ideal weather. Gracie & Stanley Piper ride over from Hawkhurst.
02 May 1917
Pollie very poorly & call in Dr Love. Very warm.
03 May 1917
Continuous fine weather, cool east wind. Byke to Cranbrook re- circular, etc.
04 May 1917
Repeat journey to Cranbrook, re Heathfield, etc. Clara down for the evening. Pollie still poorly. Nice growing weather but cold nights.
07 May 1917
Jack & Nell to London to buy, etc.
09 May 1917
Jack & Sid Tipples go up to find positions in military service without success.
10 May 1917
To Smarden to meet trustees. Very warm & ideal weather, rain wanted.
13 May 1917
Continuation of warm growing weather.
14 May 1917
Monday. To Cranbrook to see solicitor respecting appointing fresh trustees.
15 May 1917
Very beneficial shower during the evening with thunder & in some places very heavy rain followed by cooler weather.
Mr R Brooker to tea.
16 May 1917
Wind again back to north east & quite cold.
18 May 1917
Jack joins up at Ashford, sent to Chatham & then on to Bletchingly, Bucks
20 May 1917
Sunday. Pleasant weather. Thunder storm comes in during evening & lasts three or four hours, intermittent flashes of lightning & peels of thunder, with heavy rain. Most severe storm in many years. Harry at Paley returning at 3ish in the morning.
21 May 1917
Warm, showery & Harry goes back in afternoon.
23 May 1917
To Paddock Wood re Jacks affairs. Short interview with Clara.
24 May 1917
Clara down in evening.
25 May 1917
Prize giving at school. Mrs Pope & Miss Reeves absent through ill health, also Mr Field. Prizes not all come & no tea through war conditions. Air raid on Folkestone, over 70 killed & much disruption to property. Bomb dropped at Style Bridge.
28 May 1917
Whitmonday. Perfection of weather. The girls go home, self stays at home pottering about - everything growing rapidly making up arrears.
01 June 1917
Friday. Pleasant growing weather. Spend a deal of time at the shop trying to get things in order a bit.
05 June 1917
To Maidstone by motor bus, home by rail. Spending 4 hours at Paddock W re Smith's assessment appeal & buying a few things. Very warm & dry.
06 June 1917
Stick Scarlet Runners. Harry home for the night.
07 June 1917
Thursday. A most beneficial shower during the night - perfection of weather & everything growing rapidly.
10 June 1917
Sunday. Rose & Jennie home for the day. Very warm & pleasant signs of rain.
11 June 1917
Letter from Alfred saying Ernie is 'missing'.
12 June 1917
To Hawkhurst, by byke to Back Lane, to Hawkhurst thence by motor. Very warm indeed. News arrives of Erny's death.
17 June 1917
News that Harry Holder is very ill & telegram on following day to say he has passed away.
19 June 1917
To Mayfield to see Mrs Richardson, etc.
20 June 1917
Funeral at Mayfield, self Pollie & Clara & a very large number of people. Cooler & smart shower but everything passes off satisfactory. Would all of us only feel more solemn on these occasions. Home by mail train. Harry at home all day, very poorly.
24 June 1917
Sunday. Much cooler & pleasant, showers in neighbourhood but not a deal of rain.
25 June 1917
Haymaking very general.
27 June 1917
Wednesday. To Mayfield, returning by mail train. Very tired.
28 June 1917
A very beneficial Summer rain, followed by tremendous rain during the night flooding the shop.
29 June 1917
Much cooler & damp & dull.
05 July 1917
Mr & Mrs Snow spend the afternoon & evening at Staplehurst. Very pleasant weather.
06 July 1917
Harry in London to buy oil for his uncles.
07 July 1917
Saturday. An air raid in London & many killed.
08 July 1917
A thorough wet day, with tremendous rain in the morning much cooler.
09 July 1917
Wet morning.
11 July 1917
To Mayfield, home by mail. Meet Mr Waghorn. Beautiful weather.
14 July 1917
Jack home for weekend returning Sunday night. Fairly well & fit.
17 July 1917
Pollie & self accompany Mr Popham to Cranbrook. Very nice weather & warm.
18 July 1917
Wednesday. Very rough & boisterous all day. Wind very strong.
20 July 1917
Very warm & calm & growing weather after the nice showers. Jack home unexpectedly under orders for German East Africa in the near future.
22 July 1917
Sunday. Miss Briggs & Rose Prall down for the day. Very warm & pleasant. Vegetation & corn looking very well.
26 July 1917
To Mayfield & Pollie to Tun Wells, home by 9 train. A shower wanted but very nice weather.
27 July 1917
Alfred & Floss from Hawkhurst to spend the afternoon.
29 July 1917
Sam Dann senior spends the day day & two nights at Staplehurst in May's absence. Thunder in morning & smart shower. Very small congregation in morning but full in afternoon. Very wet night followed by heavy rain for several days.
30 July 1917
July 30 to August 4 continuous heavy rain for a week & very high floods, things looking very serious for the harvest, but results not as bad as feared. Very heavy crops of fruit especially plums & vegetables most productive.
31 July 1917
To Ashford. Heavy rain all day. Mildred calls unexpectedly.
01 August 1917
Very wet morning. Cold & depressing. Harry returns to Matfield by rail.
05 August 1917
Special service at church, Mr Thatcher assisting. Large congregation at chapel. Very nice weather. Mildred over.
06 August 1917
Bank holiday. Very warm & pleasant. Spend the day at home, walking in evening.
09 August 1917
To Mayfield, home by mail train.
12 August 1917
Sunday. Mr Kirby at Horsham.
15 August 1917
To Maidstone audit. Showery weather.
Weighed & weight 9st 4¾. Pollie has stuff to paint her arm with.
17 August 1917
Friday. To Tun Wells to meet Guest & Mrs Richardson.
20 August 1917
Very heavy showers & precarious harvest weather.
22 August 1917
May Dann becomes May Gibson, Matfield Chapel. Pollie, Harry & Minnie go. Mr Kirby officiating. Very warm & ideal day, at evening a remarkable display of lightening followed by wet unsettled weather for several days.
26 August 1917
Fine pleasant day with heavy shower at night & very wet & showery following day. Hoppicking commenced. Very showery weather, very high winds & excessive rain, hops, fruit & corn suffering very much. Most serious solemn weather.
29 August 1917
To Mayfield, sale of furniture, etc, quite a success. Some very heavy showers. Home at midnight. Weather sets in very pleasant, warm & dry for several days.
04 September 1917
Tuesday. To Maidstone to buy several things. Very warm & dry.
05 September 1917
Wednesday. Fine, warm & pleasant. Vivid display of lightening & very smart thunder storm in evening. House struck very close to us & heavy rain during the night followed by warm, dull day with showers at night, retarding harvest operations, etc. Edith away for week's holiday.
11 September 1917
Tuesday. To Maidstone by bus & get on wrong bus on returning & find myself at Sevenoaks & make opportunity of calling upon Mr Crandall, home by rail. Very warm, pleasant day, followed by smart thunder storm at night.
13 September 1917
To Mayfield, calling on Kemp at Tun Wells re furniture for May & Frank. Dine at Royal Oak, tea at shop. Damping on return journey. Weather greatly improved with occasional show for rain.
24 September 1917
Monday. Mother very poorly & send for Doctor Love in the evening. German air planes passing over & very distinctly heard at Staplehurst & neighbourhood. Raid on London & various parts of country & a repetition on following night.
26 September 1917
Alfred comes over in afternoon. Mother much worse & very low & apparently sinking. Hoppicking pretty well finished.
27 September 1917
Mother slightly revived, doctor calls daily & by end of week a decided improvement. Most extraordinary weather. Very warm all day & frosty nights.
01 October 1917
Air raids every night during the week, advantage taken of harvest moon.
02 October 1917
Very warm indeed, perhaps as hot as any day of the year. Mother better.
03 October 1917
To Mayfield, home by 9 train, staying for part service at Hanover Chapel, Mr Jack.
04 October 1917
Quite a change in weather, wet & cold.
06 October 1917
Very sharp white frost cutting up beans, nasturtiums, etc.
Mrs W Pope dies in London hospital. Mother still very sadly. Doctor continues to call.
07 October 1917
Sunday. Very wet, rough & cold & very few at chapel.
08 October 1917
Continuation of wet weather. Harry goes to his new lodgings.
09 October 1917
Tuesday. Our dear mother quietly passes away, 12.30pm painlessly glides into life. Self to Maidstone in afternoon. Weather variable with heavy rain at times.
13 October 1917
Saturday. Mrs Pope buried aged 53. Dull & heavy showers.
15 October 1917
To Tun Wells by early train, meeting Pollie, Harry & Minnie by late train. Hearse by road by motor & funeral at 3 o'clock. Weather perfection, warm but cold night & morning.
16 October 1917
Wet & gloomy all day.
17 October 1917
Wet & gloomy all day.
19 October 1917
To Mayfield by train, & back by 9 train. Weather perfect.
22 October 1917
Brookes commences to redecorate room & potters about all the week.
27 October 1917
Send 6/- to Commercial Union to cover Matfield House from air raids 17/- to County Fire Office for shop & 40/- for Jack to cover stock, etc, 1600.
Pollie & self quite alone, Edith gone to a wedding.
30 October 1917
Brookes finishes room. Very sharp white frosts towards the end of the month & a few unpleasant wet days.
31 October 1917
An air raid very close to midnight. Pollie & self to Matfield thanksgiving afternoon & evening service, Mr Snow. Very nice pleasant day & road perfect.
01 November 1917
Wet night followed by rainy day, depressing & mild & very dirty roads.
02 November 1917
To Mayfield, calling on Messrs Buss at Tun Wells re father's affairs, bring back cheque for sale of Consol's less solicitors charges.
04 November 1917
To Maidstone in afternoon, very nice weather & roads perfect.
06 November 1917
Wake up & find wet, unpleasant morning but eventually a fine drying day.
08 November 1917
Thursday, Mr Kirby to dinner on road from Tun Wells.
10 November 1917
Mrs Fred Eldridge passes away, aged 75, buried at Mayfield 14th.
11 November 1917
Sunday. Mr Kirby in London & reading. Fairly good attendance.
12 November 1917
Smith & self to Colliers St. Very nice weather.
13 November 1917
Very dense fog all day & following day.
14 November 1917
Beautiful weather & transplanting shrubs to back of garden.
15 November 1917
To Mayfield by 9.45 train, home by 9 train. Nice open weather.
17 November 1917
Ideal November weather, calm, dry with fog & spells of sunshine & rising barometer. Sharpe working on front garden putting things a bit straight.
19 November 1917
To Maidstone to hunt up a few things. Dry & very pleasant.
20 November 1917
To Matfield in afternoon, Pollie going as far as Mascalls.
22 November 1917
Sharpe finished the front garden.
Plant beans in garden.
23 November 1917
Very warm & pleasant, clam & bright, reminding one of April. Dust in places. Pump day at shop. Flags flying on account of Victory on Western Front.
25 November 1917
Much colder, fall of rain, snow & sleet.
26 November 1917
Fine seasonable weather followed by very wet evening & heavy rain during night.
27 November 1917
Tuesday. To Mayfield, very pleasant weather, mild & drying. Nellie in London on the 26th Monday.
28 November 1917
Continuation of ideal weather & roads perfect. The most beneficial November on record & farmers sowing an extra quantity of wheat.
02 December 1917
Sunday. Cold, dry & frosty followed by sharp weather. Sam & Clara down to chapel.
04 December 1917
Tuesday. Sam & Clara again down with horse but it is too aged. Weather sharp & keen.
09 December 1917
Sunday. Cold & wet, unpleasant incident after close of service re Wednesday service. Very heavy rain at night & tremendous floods followed by nice open, drying weather & white frosts.
12 December 1917
To Mayfield & Pollie to Paddock Wood & Matfield.
13 December 1917
Clara down to arrange girls to sleep in.
16 December 1917
Sunday. Cold, wet day & snow falling at night & wake up following morning to find ground covered with snow necessitating sweeping off roof of shop.
18 December 1917
Very severe frost for several days. Hand over money for Messrs Wilson, total amount £15.10.0.
19 December 1917
Sharp frost & very keen & calm. Raids in London & Kent two days in succession. Harry home all that week with bad cold.
20 December 1917
Sharpest frost for a very long time, bedroom frozen up.
21 December 1917
Gas stove costing 12/6 fixed in bedroom. Thaw sets in & snow disappearing. Harry still at home.
24 December 1917
Frost continues & snow at intervals.
25 December 1917
Tuesday. A most beautiful morning, bright, calm & cold & roads frozen. Walk over to Mrs Evendon with cloak. Harry goes to Ted Weeks in afternoon. Pollie & self alone.
26 December 1917
Rose & Jennie down. Self meet Mr Kirby & Fuller at Sweatlands. Very cold. Minnie to dinner. Mr Gibson passes away. Weather very changeable, frost & thaw & very cold, roads dirty then drying again.
31 December 1917
The old year passes away, with war dragging its weary, harrowing length, sad & gloomy. Many a familiar face to be seen no more.
01 January 1918
Fall of snow during the night, but nearly all gone in course of the day. Cold, searching east wind & roads very dirty. Sugar rations come into operation & causing much extra work. No butter or margarine or lard to be obtained.
03 January 1918
Thursday. To Mayfield. Very cold, dry frost, but calm & sunny during the day. Find much more snow & ice at Mayfield. Very cold returning but dry.
05 January 1918
Continuation of cold, dry, calm weather but sunless. Leslie Jull falls from airplane & killed instantaneously.
08 January 1918
Buried with full military honours. The coldest night within my recollection, gas stove on all night in bed room & water frozen on drawers close to bed.
Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser - Friday 11 January 1918
09 January 1918
Fall of snow & sweeping of shop roof.
10 January 1918
Weather milder & rapid thaw & very dirty. George Worsley buried.
13 January 1918
Sunday. Snow all gone, clear, calm but much colder in afternoon. Fuller poorly & not at chapel. Good congregation.
14 January 1918
Wake up & find heavy fall of snow & a deal on shop. Much warmer toward evening & thawing fast. Engage John Kite as van man, etc, Kennett leaving on previous Saturday.
15 January 1918
Snow all gone & a very wet day & heavy rain, especially in evening. Clara & Sam drive down with fresh horse, not a success. Harry at home two days.
16 January 1918
To Maidstone by rail to buy provisions but without success, no cheese to be found anywhere, no bacon, no lard, no margarine. Highest floods for 21 years.
17 January 1918
Wake up & find heavy fall of snow. Clearing off roof. Rapid thaw during the day & roads very dirty. Harry home all the week & goes to Maidstone on Thursday & applies for situation in food office.
19 January 1918
Very warm & mild & inclined to rain. Call on Fuller & find him very poorly.
21 January 1918
Surprised to hear of rather sudden death of Mr Fuller, while sitting in his chair. A sad blow for all of us.
23 January 1918
To Mayfield by 9.45 train. Fine but heavy fog & damp at Mayfield in the evening, but brighter later on.
24 January 1918
Pollie & Clara go to Tun Wells.
25 January 1918
Spring like weather, pleasant & sunny.
28 January 1918
Funeral of James Fuller at Sutton Valence, Mr Kirby officiated. Turks’ Waggonette from Staplehurst. Very nice weather indeed.
29 January 1918
Raid on London in early morning
30 January 1918
To Ashford to see about taxes & on to Tenterden to call on Miss Smith. Fine but foggy & trains very much delayed.
31 January 1918
To Mayfield, sell St Dunstans, increase the assistants wages, etc. Foggy early & late but seasonable & fine weather.
06 February 1918
Lewis over to say goodbye before going to France. War drags on & people very war weary.
09 February 1918
Mildred over in afternoon & also on the following Monday.
12 February 1918
Mr James Weeks passes away, buried at Bounds Cross on Saturday 16.
13 February 1918
To Mayfield. Fine, seasonable weather.
16 February 1918
Sharp frost, clear & calm with all day sunshine.
22 February 1918
Friday. Very warm & Spring like & thinking about straw hats, etc. Harry home very poorly & goes to dentist and has teeth extracted, not returning to Matfield before 26th.
25 February 1918
Rationing comes in force with a deal of work & worry.
26 February 1918
Cold searching wind, dry & seasonable.
28 February 1918
To Mayfield. Dull & fine with rain during early morning. Harry & Minnie go to London.
02 March 1918
Saturday. Wake up & find ground covered with snow, necessitating sweeping from top of shop. Bitterly cold all day. March comes, with searching wind & dirty roads - quite a contrast with previous week.
04 March 1918
To Cranbrook by noon motor to see Mrs Munson Neale re father's affairs. Fine but very cold & exceedingly dark at night. Perfection of weather for week or ten days, white frosts & beautiful sunny days. Calm & quiet, making one long for the garden & buds bursting.
11 March 1918
Stanley Piper bykes over for his book.
12 March 1918
First ride on byke this season. Very warm indeed & Spring cleaning.
14 March 1918
To Mayfield to meet Mr Waghorne, etc. Wet & cold & very unpleasant.
16 March 1918
Weather perfect. Most ideal March on record, dry sunny & calm.
17 March 1918
Sunday. Beautiful Spring like day. Call on Mr Alfred Crucher in course of evening.
18 March 1918
To Maidstone. Harry to dentist.
20 March 1918
Harry comes home very sadly suffering from cold & effect of cocaine. Germans commence their big offensive & tremendous slaughter. News serious but a measure of hope.
21 March 1918
Geo Holder reaches Hawkhurst & comes to Staplehurst on Sunday afternoon. Weather simply perfection, dry, bright & very calm.
26 March 1918
Harry returns to Matfield.
To Mayfield. Dull & cold. Terrific battle raging on West Front & issue for a time apparently doubtful.
28 March 1918
Weather changes & some small showers but cold.
29 March 1918
Good Friday. Dull & cheerless but fine. Self & Pollie to Frittenden to hear Mr West - fair congregation. Harry home for the day.
30 March 1918
Some heavy showers during the day & Linley Crowhurst prevented from coming as arranged.
31 March 1918
Weather still unsettled, but nicely clears off later.
01 April 1918
Monday. Very pleasant weather but rain in some places. Work in garden all day. Geo. Holder leaves for France. Harry at home.
02 April 1918
Continuation of nice weather.
05 April 1918
Miss King of Brighton spends afternoon with us.
06 April 1918
Saturday. Very damp, cold & cheerless.
08 April 1918
To Maidstone Food office to see Mr Busbridge.
09 April 1918
To Mayfield, dull & gloomy & smart showers at Mayfield.
10 April 1918
Mr Kirby spends afternoon & evening with us & discuss Collier St, appointing C Smith as trustee.
11 April 1918
Dull, damp weather & gardening quite suspended. War clouds very depressing.
12 April 1918
Weather very pleasant & warm. Clara down.
13 April 1918
Much colder & cheerless.
14 April 1918
Sunday. Prayer meeting after service. Pollie stays to dinner at chapel. Cold searching wind, self suffering from cold & very hoarse.
15 April 1918
Cold, dull & gloomy & wet, at home nearly all day.
16 April 1918
Sunless & very depressing, sadly with cold. Mr Busbridge & Dr Dew come & inspect drainage, etc.
17 April 1918
Continuation of sunless, wet, cold weather. Still very sadly from cold & hoarseness. Harry home for the night.
18 April 1918
Still cold but certainly a little more sunshine at times.
19 April 1918
Bitterly cold & a little snow, but drying. Thorough March weather.
24 April 1918
To Mayfield. Cold, dry weather. Walk from London & B Station to Tonbridge. Harry home very poorly all the week.
26 April 1918
Stanley rides over from Hawkhurst.
Charles Smith of Headcorn & Mr Kirby call during the evening.
28 April 1918
Sunday. Very wet morning, cold & dull.
29 April 1918
Monday. Mr Guest Guest calls & meets Mr Waghorn. To Maidstone in afternoon with Mr Reeves. School in evening.
01 May 1918
Wednesday. Pollie goes to Biddenden anniversary. Pleasant weather.
03 May 1918
Weather unsettled & smart thunder storm during the night.
05 May 1918
Sunday. Dull & damp after a showery night.
06 May 1918
Meeting at Parish room to discuss jam making.
07 May 1918
Tuesday. Very wet all day & fine weather much wanted.
09 May 1918
To Mayfield with Mr Waghorne & motor to Crowborough & receive cheque £4000 from Mr Brooker. Very pleasant & warm.
10 May 1918
Friday. To Tilden to meet trustees. Cooler but pleasant riding. To Headcorn with Mr Kirby to see Mrs Smith.
14 May 1918
Pool at chapel emptied & refilled & chapel cleaned. Mr R Brooker comes & stays all night, going to Tenterden on following morning, Pollie going with him.
15 May 1918
To Matfield. Very warm & pleasant.
16 May 1918
Weather sets in very warm indeed.
17 May 1918
Prize day at school. Very warm & distant thunder.
19 May 1918
Baptising at chapel, three candidates. Very warm & pleasant. Terrific air raid at midnight over London & Kent & war of guns, etc, apparently very close to us.
20 May 1918
Mrs Frank Gibson of a daughter in early morning & Clara down in afternoon, all doing well. Whit-Monday. Working in garden all day. Very warm indeed & beneficial weather.
22 May 1918
Wednesday. Hot weather continues & very trying & anxiously looking for a shower to cool the earth.
23 May 1918
Thunder storm in the evening & very severe lightening, not much rain.
24 May 1918
Very much colder & rain nearly all day with smart breeze.
26 May 1918
Pleasant weather. Mr & Mrs Baines spend the evening with us.
27 May 1918
Mr Reeves of Lamberhurst to tea.
28 May 1918
Wind cool, but warm sunshine with great prevalence of blight in fruit trees. To Maidstone to buy, food office, etc.
30 May 1918
To Mayfield, sale of property, etc. Fair day. German offensive alarming & slaughter very terrible. Edy away for a week's holiday. W Joy of Colliers St passes away and buried on 31st. Rain wanted very badly.
04 June 1918
Minnie at Eastbourne.
09 June 1918
Sunday. Harry at Eastbourne for the day. Slight shower, but more badly wanted.
11 June 1918
Jennie down for a week.
12 June 1918
Marden anniversary, Mr Hallett, Pollie, Jennie & self, with Mrs Haines. Ground very parched.
16 June 1918
Sunday. Local showers but more wanted. Harry at Eastbourne for a few days.
17 June 1918
Smart shower during the night most acceptable, heavy rain some places.
20 June 1918
To Mayfield. Dull & some rain. Jennie returns to Matfield.
21 June 1918
Old Sharpe cuts grass & turns up front.
22 June 1918
Strong wind for two or three days. Cold, unkindly weather. Rain at places.
25 June 1918
Mrs Bailey & her child down for the day. Cool but no rain.
28 June 1918
A smart shower, but not sufficient. Still parched & haymaking very general.
Baines leaves for 2 months drill with volunteers. Weather very dry & cool.
30 June 1918
Memorial service for Harris & Thatcher killed in France.
03 July 1918
Pollie goes to Tun Wells anniversary.
04 July 1918
Wind excellent for haymaking but serious for gardens & general crops. Luther Piper passes away, buried on 9th inst at Brighton.
08 July 1918
Pollie & Minnie to Maidstone. Weather still very dry & gardens parched.
10 July 1918
Smart showers in early morning, followed by others during the day.
11 July 1918
Very windy for two or three days with some very heavy & acceptable showers. Hay making pretty well finished, a good average crop & in good condition.
13 July 1918
Clara Thirkell comes & stays week end.
15 July 1918
Self to Maidstone. Pleasant weather.
17 July 1918
Very sharp thunder storm at night & particularly heavy rain doing a deal of good.
20 July 1918
Very heavy thunder storm from 11 o'clock up to tea time & very heavy rain.
23 July 1918
Exceeding heavy rain all morning & far into afternoon, upsetting belated haymakers. Very showery weather for rest of the week.
28 July 1918
First all fine day for some time.
29 July 1918
Very warm & pleasant & people begin harvesting. Much better news from France.
30 July 1918
Tuesday. To Matfield by 2 train, arrange for repairs, etc, at Five Wents.
Kate Lucksford passes away aged 53 about - buried at Tonbridge.
01 August 1918
Very poorly all day & keep in doors until evening. Very warm & showers at times. Tremendous swarm of wasps generally.
05 August 1918
Bank Holiday. Pollie & self to Tun Wells, anniversary at Hanover, Mr Jack in afternoon, Mr Popham morning & evening. Long showers in afternoon & bad for harvest.
08 August 1918
Mildred spends the afternoon with us. Weather more settled & dry.
09 August 1918
Pollie goes to Paddock Wood to meet an old school fellow, now married, a widow & a grandmother.
Harry's cutting trees at Sissinghurst for his uncles, coming home each night.
11 August 1918
Sunday. Mr Kirby at Horsham & reading at chapel. Self only in desk.
12 August 1918
To Maidstone. Perfection of harvest weather & a most bountiful crop of wheat, best on record.
16 August 1918
Byke to Matfield re painting. Very pleasant ride.
18 August 1918
Mildred spends the day & stays all night - returns to Brighton on 19th.
19 August 1918
To Matfield & Paddock Wood by rail.
Mr Rose calls & stays to dinner.
22 August 1918
Hottest day of the year, splendid for harvest.
24 August 1918
Ted Brooker buried. Much cooler & showery.
28 August 1918
To Mayfield sale of Fingal Place for £900. Pollie goes for long ride with Clara.
30 August 1918
Very pleasant weather, comfortably warm, Baines back from two month's drill. Paid Turner cheque 6.1.9 for painting & repairs at Five Wents.
04 September 1918
Pollie & self have pleasant ride round Marden Lane & Hickmotts.
05 September 1918
Very heavy thunder storm & tremendous rain in afternoon & very similar on following afternoon. Hoppicking commences.
06 September 1918
Pollie goes to Paddock Wood & engages new girl.
07 September 1918
Very heavy rain & east wind in morning, war & dry in afternoon.
08 September 1918
Sunday. Showery weather.
09 September 1918
To Maidstone, food office, etc.
10 September 1918
Weather broken up & a deal of rain. Frank Thirkell still away. Mrs Wheadon buried at Frittenden. A G George puts new pipe with door in copper.
11 September 1918
Still very heavy rain, but fine afternoon & evening & soon dries.
18 September 1918
Nellie away for a week. Brooks renovates the front door.
19 September 1918
Very heavy thunder storm at night & heavy rain.
22 September 1918
Sunday. Mr Kirby very unwell & away from chapel, showery weather & poor attendance. Reading.
23 September 1918
Miss Foreman poorly & leaves in consequence unexpectedly.
Nellie returns. Pollie to Paddock Wood re. servant.
24 September 1918
Mr Brooker stays to tea. Byke down to Woodford, Mr K better but in bed.
25 September 1918
Fine dry weather & gardening in afternoon, digging up potatoes, etc. Pollie at Tun Wells anniversary.
26 September 1918
Very severe bilious attack in evening & poorly all following day but at shop & call on Mr Kirby finding him better & down stairs.
29 September 1918
Mr Kirby out and fairly large congregation. Very wet rough night & heavy showers & wind during the night. Normal time again adopted.
01 October 1918
Taken with attack of diarrhoea & sadly in consequence having medical advice. Tonic & port wine. weight 10st.
02 October 1918
Mr Kirby at Rainham. Thorough Autumn weather.
03 October 1918
Frittenden anniversary, Pollie walks over.
Arrange with Mr Thirkell for his son's indentures to be cancelled.
05 October 1918
Decidedly better weather - dull, fine & windy.
08 October 1918
Pollie goes to Maidstone anniversary.
09 October 1918
Pollie self to Marden, Mr Dickens, thin attendance & very wet.
11 October 1918
Very warm & oppressive followed by much rain.
14 October 1918
Albert Cross commences work at shop.
16 October 1918
Wednesday. Pollie goes to East Peckham with Clara, Mr Jack speaking. Finish getting up potatoes, disappointing. Great improvement in weather.
20 October 1918
Sunday. Very wet & boisterous all day, dark & gloomy & few people at chapel. Mr Kirby very poorly but goes to Frittenden in evening.
22 October 1918
Tuesday. Very warm & pleasant, calm & Spring like. To Maidstone in morning. Elizabeth Booker leaves after 4 years & two months service succeeded by Lilly Vane.
23 October 1918
Harry comes home with bad cold & remains at home rest of week. Meeting of grocers at hotel with secretary, president, etc from Tun Wells. Weather very favourable with continuation of fine weather to end of week. Affairs on Western Front moving very fast & hopes run high for a speedy peace.
27 October 1918
Sunday. Rain in early morning but eventually a pleasant day. Much illness about.
28 October 1918
Sam Scrull passes away after a very few days illness. Harry still at home.
30 October 1918
Wednesday. Matfield thanksgiving, Mr Raven, Pollie, self & Minnie go up by two train returning with Harry by last train. Pleasant weather. Epidemic of influenza very bad indeed all through this country, in fact all over Europe & many deaths chiefly among young & middle age. Self & Pollie very poorly with colds.
02 November 1918
Harry comes home very poorly. Nellie, Frank & May Gibson all in bed.
03 November 1918
Sunday. Very wet & boisterous, about thirty people at chapel in morning & 50 in afternoon, on account of illness & weather.
05 November 1918
Harry still at home but better.
06 November 1918
Much illness about. Nellie out of business for a week, Walter Morris very dangerously ill for several days. Harry still at home.
10 November 1918
Mr Kirby in London & reading at chapel, fair attendance, nice weather.
11 November 1918
Monday. Cessation of hostilities & village beflagged with service in evening at church & many there. Very nice weather & sharp white frosts.
15 November 1918
Harry returns to Matfield.
17 November 1918
Sunday. General thanksgiving at most places of worship, fair lot at chapel.
18 November 1918
Taylor removing shrubs & putting front garden in order.
20 November 1918
To Mayfield. Very foggy & cold. Most intense fog in Tun Wells & difficult to find one's way about. Home by mail.
Frank & May move to Newstead.
21 November 1918
Walk to Paley in afternoon & stay to tea with Mr & Mrs Weeks. Pollie & self to Maidstone. Harry comes home every evening from Matfield.
22 November 1918
Most extraordinary weather for November, fine, dry, day after day with white frost & roads perfect.
29 November 1918
Friday. Sudden attack of neuritis while dressing, very painful & confined in doors all day Friday Saturday but pretty well alright by Sunday.
01 December 1918
Dull & damp & thin congregation.
03 December 1918
Very mild after wet night & very dirty roads, washing day. Ernest Owen Piper favours us with a visit, staying all night leaving by 9.45 train on following morning. Particularly mild.
07 December 1918
Saturday. Quite a Spring day, but roads still dirty.
08 December 1918
Sunday. Fine morning followed by wet evening.
09 December 1918
Mild & damp & roads exceedingly dirty. Nellie goes to Tun Wells all day.
14 December 1918
Saturday. General Election Bellairs & Burgess. Damp & extremely dirty.
15 December 1918
Fine day but wet evening. A good congregation at chapel.
16 December 1918
Weather much improved & very drying & colder.
20 December 1918
Pollie & self attend funeral at Staplehurst, Mr Baines recently married daughter.
Chestnut tree at Mrs Lodders blown down.
21 December 1918
Harry leaves the nurseries finally. Weather very pleasant for Dec 21st - fine & drying, but deal of wind for several days.
25 December 1918
Wednesday. Fine, dry, frosty morning followed by very slight hail storm during morning but eventually clears off. Rose & Jennie come down in lorry staying until following evening. Harry goes to Headcorn to tea.
26 December 1918
Bright sunny morning, calm & frosty & very pleasant all day.
27 December 1918
Rough boisterous morning. Fine afternoon & evening. Harry to Tom Tipples to spend the evening. Shop closed three days. Shop opens on 28th Saturday.
31 December 1918
Year goes out mild & calm. Very dirty roads. People quietly hopeful.
01 January 1919
Fine morning but exceedingly wet evening. Minnie to tea, Harry returning with her & both getting very wet.
02 January 1919
High wind & fine drying day. Great fire in London & ship wreck north of Scotland 250 lives lost.
05 January 1919
Sunday. Wet morning & extremely dull & very dirty with showery evening. Glass particularly low & on very stormy.
06 January 1919
To Maidstone in afternoon. Harry to Matfield, Farleigh & Maidstone.
08 January 1919
Sam Dann junior takes himself a wife from Crowplain. Harry motors overs, roads very dirty & very mild with smart showers. Harry at wedding, Colliers St church.
10 January 1919
Alfred, Stanley & Geo Holder motor over from Hawkhurst & spend the afternoon. Very wet day after day.
11 January 1919
Pollie, self, Harry, George Holder & Gracie Piper leave Staplehurst by motor 10.45, Matfield around noon, call at Nurseries & then on to Tun Wells & Mayfield, reaching there by one o'clock, dine at Star & visit church & c. yard, Mr Hodges, Mrs Richardson, the chapel & Rockmead & the old shop. Very heavy rain on way down but fine afternoon & frosty evening, reaching home by 6 o'clock & say good bye to George who goes to London on following morning. Parish council meeting.
12 January 1919
Sunday. Showery with fine evening.
13 January 1919
Dense fog all day. Very heavy in London.
14 January 1919
Tuesday. As gloomy & dull almost as possible, raining more or less all day. Heavy floods & everything sodden.
15 January 1919
Continuation of mild unpleasant weather, small rain at intervals. John Sanders of Smarden passes away. Spend an hour with Mrs White in Crown House.
18 January 1919
Saturday. Plant broad beans. Manine down from shop.
20 January 1919
Very poorly in afternoon. Clara calls & stays in shop all night.
Harry goes back to Maidstone.
21 January 1919
Stay in bed until noon & lounge about at home rest of the day.
23 January 1919
Pollie goes to Maidstone by train to take important letter to Harry.
24 January 1919
Absent from shop until Friday afternoon. Weather much colder & fine & bracing with flakes of snow.
27 January 1919
Very wintry weather with driving snow showers but not laying.
28 January 1919
Call on Dr Love & obtain a gargle for throat - not very smart all the week & longing for Summer.
30 January 1919
Visit schools & check registers, etc. Go with Thos. Burey to Cranbrook inspecting his son's property. Very cold & searching wind.
01 February 1919
Saturday. Ground covered with snow & sweeping off top of shop.
02 February 1919
Sunday. Very cold & wintry. Thin congregation & ordinance postponed for a week. Clara down for the day.
03 February 1919
Monday. Still cold & gloomy, no sunshine for a week or more. Harry returns by motor bus.
05 February 1919
Snow falling all day but thawing late in day.
06 February 1919
Nellie goes to Tun Wells to meet traveller, dull, cold, gloomy weather.
07 February 1919
Snow wasting with sharp frost at night.
10 February 1919
Mildred Piper & Mr Hunt spend the afternoon with us. Very sharp frost & bedroom frozen up, in spite of stove.
13 February 1919
Hard dry frost continues, excellent, beneficial weather but trying. Great labor unrest throughout the country.
16 February 1919
Sunday. Frost pretty well gone. Inclined to be wet & very dirty. Almanac removed from desk.
18 February 1919
Very cold & wet, unpleasant weather - rain & snow & extremely dirty.
19 February 1919
To Ashford re. taxes. Dry but very cold & deal of water out. Pollie to Tonbridge. Weather very wet for rest of week. Self very poorly.
21 February 1919
Clara down in afternoon.
25 February 1919
Call on Dr Love, much out of sorts, kidney trouble, etc. Pollie very poorly. Weather dull with some rain.