EXTRACTS

FROM THE TRAVEL DIARY OF LILLIAN BLANCHE McGEAGH

from Pittsburgh, aged 23 & visiting with her Father: concerning her visit to Blackawton

Tuesday. August 25. 1896

Left Castle Hotel at Totnes for Blackawton²³ at 11:05 AM and reached Wadstray House²³, by driving, at 1:30PM. If we had aimed for Dartmouth it would not have been so far, but we did not know about it before we arrived at Wadstray. Had a very pleasant drive. Had a pleasant time seeing grounds. They have about 30 acres consisting of the ground around the house which has a large number of fine large hydranias [hydrangias], bushes full of blue flowers and pink and white turnings, large rose bushes with large white roses on them, and climbing rose vines on the house and wall at back of house called seven sisters. There [? these] are in clusters of seven and more, a peculiar plant, and red flower called red hot poker, sweet williams, dahlias, rhododendroms, immense bushes which would have a fine showing of flowers when in bloom. Bloom in May. Holly, both green and varigated, bushes and trees, Laurel trees both large and small. A honeysuckle vine and a passion vine growing on the front porch; it is a red flower, and is not the common honeysuckle of which many are growing wild almost everywhere in England, but it [is] called the french honeysuckle. The passion flower is beautiful. It has white petals, then a fringe of blue and deep red or brown over that very odd. Carnations, especially the deep red clo—ear [?colour] and other flowers. On one side of the house for a long distance there is a great number of tall Scotch fir trees. Three windows forming a bow window on each side of front door (which is in the centre) both upstairs and down, and a window above front door gives you a little idea of the front of the house. I am sitting on the front porch (which extends around part of one side of house) writing. It is a delightful day; just saw a part of a rainbow. It has been showery ever since we left Totnes, but the sun comes out and makes everything look beautiful. Down below the house is the garden, having a stone wall around it, about 7 feet high to keep out wind and storm. In garden are potatoes, cabbages, red raspberries, plums, ect. Hanging over one side of the wall is a curious tree called the fig tree. It has a peculiar fruit on it and Mr. Ferris³³ gave me a fig. Cannot say I liked it; it does not taste like our figs, but has a fresh taste; probably a little salt would improve the taste. The orchard is filled with apple trees loaded with apples. Also plum trees. Ate a great many plums, both from the trees and also in the house. The view from the porch is fine. It faces the English Channel, and with the trees,

Aug.25 [Re hydrangias] Also pink and white they turn.

The house has four very large rooms and more at the back, at least six altogether²⁴. Mr. and Mrs. Ferris³³ have a dog, several cats and six cows.

[Supper]., a very good one consisting of pork chops, eggs, tea, bread, butter and home made cheese (very good).

They had not heard we were coming³⁴, only supposed someone was coming, likely Mother & Father from the fact of Joseph's Letter³⁵ coming here dated Aug 7. Miss Dingle³³ was glad to see us.

Mr Ferris said his brother had a tame elk. He was at Cincinnati³^, at one time some twenty five years ago.

Aug.26 Got up this morning at 8:30AM. Had breakfast at 9 AM, consisting of eggs, sausage, pork, tea, cream, honey, bread, butter & tea.

After breakfast saw Mrs. Ferris make 5 1/2 Ibs. of butter. Her servant mixed the Devonshire cream with her hand, turning her right hand from left to right for about 5 minutes. Then Mrs. Ferris makes the butter and weighs it for market. Then she got the chicken ready to roast and made mutton suet pudding and tapioca pudding. Saw pan after pan of cream get scalded; one pan of cream inside a pan of water on the fire until cream is well gathered.

After dinner Mr. Ferris took us for a drive from 3 to 6 PM with a nice little Shetland pony, brown & white. A fine drive through Devonshire lanes. Had tea after we came back. You may be sure I did justice to my tea. Was quite hungry because it was a cool drive, and it showered somewhat. Went to bed at 1 AM Thursday morning, Aug 27, 1896. Breakfasted at 9 AM, and then saw Mrs. Ferris making butter and prepare market basket of 16 Ibs. of butter and three doz. eggs for Miss Brooking and Mr. Ferris to take to Dartmouth town to sell in the shop at 9 pe—[??pence]. In the afternoon Mr. Ferris drove us to Dartmouth. The regatta was there. When we were coming into the town we rode under the stars & stripes and of course the Eng. flag. A great number of yachts were on the harbor of Dartmouth.

Also saw punt race one.

[End of notebook]

Addresses:

These are found at the very front of the notebook; they start on the first available page³⁷. They are in a continuous sequence as printed below, using all the blank spaces. On the page after the last address, the diary entries begin. All entries are written in ink; the nature of the ink seems to change on two occasions: (a) beginning with Mrs. Wild, (b) beginning with James

arge tall oak, beech, chestnut and holly, makes the scenery grand. Had a powerful field glass from which the vessels on the channel could be seen very plainly²⁴- Mr. and Mrs. Ferris³³ have a pet dog and several cats. Had dinner soon after we arrived. It was very good for we were extra hungry after our long drive. On the veranda is a large elk horn, and Mr. Ferris said his brother³^ had a tame elk. The woodwork on the porch right in front of the door contains a dog chasing a hare²⁴. Had supper about 6:30 PM consisting of blackberry pie with Devonshire cream (which is excellent), honey from their own bee houses, tea, and home made butter and cheese. Went to bed at 10 PM. had a fine nights sleep and rest. The air

here is fine and bracing. Fine see [sea] air.

•

Wadstray House Wednesday. August 26. '96

Breakfast at 9AM. Then saw Mrs. Ferris make 51/2 Ibs of butter, that is she did the finishing touches; the dairy maid really did the work, which is churning the thick Devonshire cream with her hand, and it takes only a few minutes to turn to butter. Saw pan after pan of cream being scalded. One pan of milk that has stood for 24 hrs. (and the cream is mostly on the top) is set into another pan of hot water, and when the cream comes to almost boil, it is taken of [f] the fire and set in the dairy to cool, and after another 24 hrs is skimmed, and you have the celebrated Devonshire cream.

After dinner Mr.Ferris took us for a drive with a fine little brown and white Shetland pony from 3 to 6 PM. A fine drive. Enjoyed it as the air was cool and bracing and also a little showery. We did justice to our tea.

Thursday. August 27. 1896 Saw another butter making of 16 Ibs. In the afternoon drove to Dartmouth. The regatta was there. When we were coming into the town, which is about three miles from Wadstray House²³, we drove under the stars and stripes and of course the English flag. A great many yachts were in the Harbor of Dartmouth (so called because at the mouth of the Dart River). / Saw a race on the water. It was very fascinating. There were many yachts from America and belonging to English gentlemen in the Harbor. The Singer yacht was to be there, but it had not arrived. The Prince of Wales and some German's yachts were to be there. The regatta lasted three days at Dartmouth. Merry-go-rounds and switch backs and other attractions for the children are in the town. The town was quite gay with people from all the towns around.

Friday. August 28, 1896

Went to Ditsome [?Dittisham] with Mr. Ferris to get plums from a farm he

has there²⁵ and we had a plumbing. Had a fine time and could see from the

hills over to Torquay. Could see the Dart River from the plum tree orchard. Had a load of plums coming back. Had a fine time picking plums, the only real work I have done since I left home, but it was real good fun when the rest were picking plums also.

Saturday. August 29. 1896

Drove to Blackpool sands²⁶ on the English Channel. Saw the mills²⁷ but none of them are running now. There were quite a number of sailing; yachts in sight on the channel. A very pretty place. Willows are growing in the low ground and rushes grow along the sea coast. We saw Woodberry²⁸ one of the days we were out driving.

Sunday. August 30.1896

Sunday morning it rained very hard. Spent the day indoors. Mr. Ferris and and Miss Brooking sang some hymns in the afternoon, and Miss Brooking³³ played on the organ.

Monday. August 31. 1896

Had a drive about Dartmouth in the morning. Left Dartmouth, about four miles from Wadstray and our nearest way, but we saw much more by going; by way of Totnes. Arrived at Paignton, an English watering place, a short / distance from Dartmouth, where we stayed about an hour. Then went to Newton Abbott where we stopped overnight at Globe Hotel, a very nice place, a pretty park right at the depot.

Tuesday. September 1.1896

Left Newton Abbott at 9:45 AM and reached London at Paddington Station ^v^
at 3:05 PM. Went to Midland Grand Hotel, one of the finest buildings in
London. It is connected with the RR, and is on the floors above St.Pancras x
Depot.