The diary of a Cotswold parson, from 1820 to 1852, throws new light on to a fascinating period of English social history. It was just before the railways made travel faster, and we are astonished how well the Reverend F. E. Witts manages to commute from Upper Slaughter to Gloucester on his horse or in his carriage.  He is a shrewd observer and notices how the fashionable world behaves as he passes through Cheltenham, and how the building of the town progresses.  For the first time we discover that John Forbes the architect of the beautiful Pittville Pumproom was sentenced for fraud to transportation for life, even though it was subsequently commuted to a few years in prison.  Witts may not savour each unique experience to the same extent as the diarist parson Kilvert did later in the century; but he had far wider and more interesting contacts. His references, for instance, to the widow of Warren Hastings, to Dr. Jenner, to the bibliophile Sir Thomas Phillipps, the philanthropist Samuel Warneford, or to Bishop Monk, enable us to form much more complete pictures of these historical figures. Reading the diary is an enjoyable experience for anyone; but particularly for those who love Gloucestershire.

The Diary of a Cotswold Parson

David (ed) Verey

Amberley Publishing Plc

<p>Reflections of Guernsey is a wonderfully enjoyable read which brings home very clearly the difficulties and hardships of war time Occupation and then the problems associated with adjusting to a more normal life, a life that is liberated and free. In Reflections of Guernsey Molly Bihet offers a charming account of how a community changes over time and the impact these changes can have on the families and individuals living in that community. This is a beautifully written tale of life in Guernsey with a variety of illustrations and photographs to help bring Molly's memories to life.</p>

Reflections of Guernsey

Molly Bihet

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Books by Amberley Publishing Plc

See the best price to sell, buy or rent books by the Amberley Publishing Plc publisher. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

The Diary of a Cotswold Parson

Reflections of Guernsey