#shibden hall 1832

[queerstuffonscreen]

Gentleman Jack (2019-2022)

Episode length: 60 min.

Country: UK, USA

Genre: History, Biography

Language: English

Halifax, West Yorkshire, England, 1832. Anne Lister attempts to revitalize her inherited home, Shibden Hall. Most notably for the time period, a part of her plan is to help the fate of her own family - by taking a wife.

Season 1

Episode 1: I Was Just Passing

Episode 2: I Just Went There To Study Anatomy

Episode 3: Oh Is That What You Call It?

Episode 4: Most Women Are Dull and Stupid

Episode 5: Let's Have Another Look at Your Past Perfect

Episode 6: Do Ladies Do That?

Episode 7: Why've You Brought That?

Episode 8: Are You Still Talking?

Season 2

Episode 1: Faith is All

Episode 2: Two Jacks Don't Suit

Episode 3: Tripe All Over the Place, Presumably

Episode 4: I'm Not the Other Woman, She Is

Episode 5: A Lucky and Narrow Escape

Episode 6: I Can Be as a Meteor in Your Life

Episode 7: What's All That Got to Do with Jesus Though?

Episode 8: It's Not Illegal

Watch on HBO

#gentleman jack #history #biography #L #lesbian #lgbt #lgbtq #lesbian tv shows #lesbian series #queer series #queer tv shows

[whatdoesshedotothem]

Saturday 22 December 1832

7 ¾

12 10

soft damp morning and F52 ½° at 8 a.m. – breakfast at 9 with my father – Simeon Shaw brought his black horse to look at – hardly 15 hands – 15 years old if a day - £14 – not worth it – and my father thought the horse too little – Grey mare £17 but cheaper at that than the horse at £14 - out at 9 50 - along the walk to Lidgate in ½ hour - sat with her the 7 minutes while she ate her dinner at 2 ½ and at near 4 walked with her to Cliff Hill - left her at the home gate and then walked pretty quickly to Pickles and his son John stubbing in James Smith’s upper brow - P- planted near the middle gate into walk goodish holly he had got up and then came at 5 in and I paid him up to tonight - found note from Mr Parker with written order signed by M. Stocks as chairman authorizing me to plant the Godley slope

§§ Godley Lane road 21 December 1832. Ordered that Miss Lister of Shibden hall be allowed by the trustees of this road, to plant the south side of the embankments etc. etc as above

‘south side of the embankments of the Godley lane road, that the wood shall belong to her, but the same shall be cut by her at the top, so that the road shall not be shaded there by M. Stocks chairman’.

Mr. Parker will explain the particulars of the meeting when he sees me ‘I doubt not but you will by degrees get all you want.’ it seems, I inadvertently asked for the coal lease instead of the coal plan but Mr P- has sent the plan read Miss W- Doctor B-‘s letter asked what answer I was to send  but she could not or did not tell me anything satisfactory she thought all at an end between us and said she should not live long   should never be happy however she sat on my knee and I grubbled her a little and then said I had given no answer   left it all to her and her sister’s letter  would not give back the purse and her word till the very and till I had done that she was still mine   thought she had better reconsider the thing   still she harped on Cliff hill and Mr Ainsworth   I argued as usual   said I would do anything I could for her and would leave the thing open till the eleventh hour   asked if she would come and stay with me at Shibden  yes or go with me anywhere for a little while and would have me stay with her what said I  and run the risk  of its ending in our begin together   yes   again had her on my knee and grubbled her more and better than before and on leaving her at Cliff Hill said many things were after all more impossible than her going away with me (to which she agreed) and I advised her to do anything she could by way of preparation   and she seemed better and to have much cheered up    she had before said she could live at Cliff Hill single if I was at Shibden and repeated that had not things been as they are I never could have such influence over her   she wants my services and time and friendship and to keep her money to herself   will even Mr A- be able to get her fast?    I left her with less care than ever and more resignation at being rid of her I may use her person freely enough I cease to respect and all my fine talk and professions of regard cost me less and less trouble    well I half promised to go to her on Monday night I shall see whether it will suit me or not   I am better without her and    talk as I may  will have no serious thought of her again – wrote all but the 3 first lines of today till 5 50 – sent off by John before breakfast my notes written last night to Jeremiah R- Esquire and to Messrs. Parker and Adam dinner at 6 10 – Marian came to me to tell me she had seen Mrs. Holmes this morning who mentioned Godley to her – her husband would not interfere against me – thought I ought to have it – in short behaved very handsomely – said I ought not to give more than £1800 or £2000 for it – Marian staid with me till 8 ¼ - then writing out copies of letters into business letter book till went into the other room at 9 40 and sat talking to my aunt and looked over the courier till came to my room at 10 50 very fine mild day – F51 ½° now at 11 p.m.

 vid. p.225.

Pickles shewed me 3 specimens of lead pipe from Firths  3/4in. 7lb. per yard at 1/2 ½

1in. 8lb. ---------

1 1/4in. 10lb. -----------

made up out of the sheets and .:. never of such good quality [?] Pickles would have the piping cast which is always of best quality Firth is now laying cast or run lead piping at Burks hall.

3/4in. 7lb. to the yard much too think – should be as thick as the 1 ¼ in. pipe, and if so, the 3/4in. should weigh ten lbs. per yard!

10lb. to the yard not too much but then the ¾ in. must be thicker than the patter of 1 ¼ in. bore -

[deeisace]

I don’t know how Baptists work at all tbh, but I’ve got this family here, the Brearley’s - they were born like 1790′s through late 1810′s, ones what I’m looking at, but they were all baptised in the 1830s - or, the baptisms were registered, I’m not sure if there’s a difference there?

“These are to certify, that William Brearley, son of Robert Brearley, weaver, and Betty Brearley his wife who was daughter of Joseph Pickles, was born at Shibden Hall Northowram, in the parish of Halifax and in the county of York on the eighth day of July in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety at whose birth we were present. Registered at the General Baptist Meeting House, Queenshead. 31st July 1837 by Thomas H Hudson, Register.”

A record of his birth, registered to the Baptists, fully 47 years after his birth

The village they lived, that’s when the church was built, 1837, so I spose it makes sense they converted from like,, yer average 1800′s christianity then all together, but there don’t seem to be any previous baptisms/register of births as you would think there might

Or? The register as it was was copied?? because of the new church? that makes no sense

The set of records I’m looking at is not titled baptisms, it’s just “west yorkshire, non-conformist records”, and most of them appear to be average baptism times - the one two above William is Henry Thornton, born 1835, “registered” (as baptist) in 1837

So that is a baptism, isn’t it, even if they call it a different word - they’re being registered as a religion, and as someone who hasn’t been baptised I imagine that’s what that is, basically, right?

So yeah they generally were baptised/converted as a family - not the same year, but between 1832 and 1837, round about - I imagine there’s some studying involved? idk

One, the woman was baptised/registered in 1832, married in 1833, and then her husband was baptised/registered in 1837

Most of the family appear to have been registered in 1837, but I spose that makes sense what with the new church been built

#genealogy

[skgway]

1832 Oct., Friday 26

10

11 10/..

Grubbling till late and gave her, as she owned, pleasure. Tired as she was, not too tired for that. At it again before eight in the morning and left our bed sheets (she came and slept with me) quite wet, our night linen being ditto. The house maid being a widow might suspect what had been going on. 

Unluckily, so pleased with the success of last nights grubbling ventured to take off my drawers and try to get to her. Did not succeed. In despair about it. Owned that I had no business to think her fairly my own till we had been really and properly together and this led to doubts and fears on my part, and she talked of not deciding till the third of April –

Breakfast at 11 – Sat talking till after 2 – Then walked slowly along the village to Cliff hill, 1st went to see the carriage and then made our call – The letter with black edged paper and black seal from Miss Bentley, Manchester being given to Miss W– [Walker] junior to read – It fell from her hand on seeing that it was to announce the death of her friend Mrs. Ainsworth in consequence of being thrown out of an open carriage – To be interred on Monday – But no other particulars mentioned – Immediately proposed on returning –

Walked home with Miss W– [Walker] and instead of going to Shibden, as I had intended, wrote and sent at 5 little note to my aunt stating the case, and begging her not to expect me today – Would see her tomorrow but might return here – Note from my aunt by the boy to say sorry but beg me not to return on her account – Should however be glad to see me tomorrow –

Miss W[alker] and I had had much talk this morning about bringing the Ainsworths here and about money matters etc. Seem to have persuaded [her] to let Lidgate to Charles Robinson for a good rent instead of letting Washington have it for nothing. How all these Ainsworth plans are changed and over! Miss W[alker] seemed much affected but I have really got her to be far better than I could have expected. It instantly struck me. She would in due time succeed her friend and be Mrs. Ainsworth. However she has just said , "Well, now there is no obstacle to our getting off in January."

Wrote the journal of yesterday and so far of today till prayers at 10 – Fine, soft, thickish, November day – Went upstairs at 10 20/.. 

#anne lister code breaker #anne lister #ann walker #Shibden Hall 1832 #mr. ainsworth

[kcrabb88]

Queer Movies/Books/TV Shows for Pride Month!

Happy Pride everyone!! For your viewing/reading pleasure I have made a (non-exhaustive) list of queer media that I have enjoyed! 

Movies/Documentaries

Pride (2014): An old tried and true favorite, which meets at the intersection of queer and workers’ rights. A group of queer activists support the 1985 miners’ strike in Wales (complete with a sing-through of Bread and Roses + Power in a Union)

Portrait of a Lady on Fire: On an isolated island in Brittany at the end of the eighteenth century, a female painter is obliged to paint a wedding portrait of a young woman (or, two young lesbians fall in love by the sea, and you cry)

God’s Own Country: Young farmer Johnny Saxby numbs his daily frustrations with binge drinking and casual sex, until the arrival of a Romanian migrant worker for lambing season ignites an intense relationship that sets Johnny on a new path (Seriously this movie is GREAT and doesn’t get enough love, watch it! It’s rough but ends happily)

The Half of It:  When smart but cash-strapped teen Ellie Chu agrees to write a love letter for a jock, she doesn't expect to become his friend - or fall for his crush (as in she falls for his crush who is another girl. This movie was so good, and really friendship focused!) 

Saving Face:  A Chinese-American lesbian and her traditionalist mother are reluctant to go public with secret loves that clash against cultural expectations (this is an oldie and a goodie, with a happy ending!)

Moonlight:  A young African-American man grapples with his identity and sexuality while experiencing the everyday struggles of childhood, adolescence, and burgeoning adulthood (featuring gay men of color!)

Carol:  An aspiring photographer develops an intimate relationship with an older woman in 1950s New York (everyone’s seen this I think, but I couldn’t not have it here)

Milk: The story of Harvey Milk and his struggles as an American gay activist who fought for gay rights and became California's first openly gay elected official (the speech at the end of this made me cry. Warning, of course, for death, if you don’t know about Harvey Milk)

Pride (Hulu Documentary):  A six-part documentary series chronicling the fight for LGBTQ civil rights in America (they go by decade from the 50s-2000s, and there is a lot of great trans inclusion in this)

Paris is Burning (Documentary): A 1990s documentary about the African American and Latinx ballroom scene. Available on Youtube!

A New York Christmas Wedding:  As her Christmas Eve wedding draws near, Jennifer is visited by an angel and shown what could have been if she hadn't denied her true feelings for her childhood best friend (this movie is SO CUTE. It’s really only nominally a Christmas movie and easily watched anytime. Features an interracial sapphic couple!) 

TV Shows 

Love, Victor: Victor is a new student at Creekwood High School on his own journey of self-discovery, facing challenges at home, adjusting to a new city, and struggling with his sexual orientation (this is a spin-off of Love, Simon, and it’s very sweet and well done! Featuring a young gay man of color)

Sex Education:  A teenage boy with a sex therapist mother teams up with a high school classmate to set up an underground sex therapy clinic at school (this has multiple queer characters, including a featured young Black gay man and also in season 2 there is a side ace character!) 

Black Sails: I mean, do I even need to put a summary here? If you follow me you know that Black Sails is full of queer pirates, just queers everywhere.

Gentleman Jack:  A dramatization of the life of LGBTQ+ trailblazer, voracious learner and cryptic diarist Anne Lister, who returns to Halifax, West Yorkshire in 1832, determined to transform the fate of her faded ancestral home Shibden Hall (Period drama lesbians!!! A title sequence  that will make you gay just by watching!) 

Tales of the City (2019):  A middle-aged Mary Ann returns to San Francisco and reunites with the eccentric friends she left behind. "Tales of the City" focuses primarily on the people who live in a boardinghouse turned apartment complex owned by Anna Madrigal at 28 Barbary Lane, all of whom quickly become part of what Maupin coined a "logical family". It's no longer a secret that Mrs. Madrigal is transgender. Instead, she is haunted by something from her past that has long been too painful to share (this is based on a book series and it’s got lots of great inter-generational queer relationships!) 

The Haunting of Bly Manor:  After an au pair’s tragic death, Henry hires a young American nanny to care for his orphaned niece and nephew who reside at Bly Manor with the chef Owen, groundskeeper Jamie and housekeeper, Mrs. Grose (sweet, tender, wonderful lesbians. A bittersweet ending but this show is so so wonderful)

Sense8: A group of people around the world are suddenly linked mentally, and must find a way to survive being hunted by those who see them as a threat to the world's order (queers just EVERYWHERE in this show, of all kinds)

Books

Loveless by Alice Oseman:  Georgia has never been in love, never kissed anyone, never even had a crush – but as a fanfic-obsessed romantic she’s sure she’ll find her person one day. This wise, warm and witty story of identity and self-acceptance sees Alice Oseman on towering form as Georgia and her friends discover that true love isn’t limited to romance (don’t be turned off by this title, it’s tongue-in-cheek. This is a book about an aroace college girl discovering herself and centers the importance and power of platonic relationships! I have it on my TBR and have heard great things)

Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters: Reese almost had it all: a loving relationship with Amy, an apartment in New York City, a job she didn't hate. She had scraped together what previous generations of trans women could only dream of: a life of mundane, bourgeois comforts. The only thing missing was a child. But then her girlfriend, Amy, detransitioned and became Ames, and everything fell apart. Now Reese is caught in a self-destructive pattern: avoiding her loneliness by sleeping with married men.Ames isn't happy either. He thought detransitioning to live as a man would make life easier, but that decision cost him his relationship with Reese—and losing her meant losing his only family. Even though their romance is over, he longs to find a way back to her. When Ames's boss and lover, Katrina, reveals that she's pregnant with his baby—and that she's not sure whether she wants to keep it—Ames wonders if this is the chance he's been waiting for. Could the three of them form some kind of unconventional family—and raise the baby together?This provocative debut is about what happens at the emotional, messy, vulnerable corners of womanhood that platitudes and good intentions can't reach. Torrey Peters brilliantly and fearlessly navigates the most dangerous taboos around gender, sex, and relationships, gifting us a thrillingly original, witty, and deeply moving novel (again, don’t be thrown off by the title, it too, is tongue-in-cheek. This book was GREAT, and written by a trans women with a queer-and especially trans--audience in mind)

A Tip for the Hangman by Allison Epstein: A gay Christopher Marlowe, at Cambridge and trying to become England’s best new playwright, finds himself wrapped up in royal espionage schemes while also falling in love (this book is by a Twitter friend of mine, and it is a wonderful historical thriller with a gay man at the center).

Creatures of Will and Temper by Molly Tanzer: a very very queer remix of The Picture of Dorian Gray (which was already quite queer), featuring amazing female characters, a gay Basil, and a much happier ending than the original. 

Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston: The gay prince of England and the bisexual, biracial first son of the president fall in love (think an AU of 2016 where a woman becomes president). Featuring a fantastic discovery of bisexuality, ruminations on grief, and just a truly astonishing book. One of my favorites!

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston:  For cynical twenty-three-year-old August, moving to New York City is supposed to prove her right: that things like magic and cinematic love stories don’t exist, and the only smart way to go through life is alone. She can’t imagine how waiting tables at a 24-hour pancake diner and moving in with too many weird roommates could possibly change that. And there’s certainly no chance of her subway commute being anything more than a daily trudge through boredom and electrical failures. But then, there’s this gorgeous girl on the train (This is Casey McQuiston’s brand new novel featuring time-travel, queer women, and I absolutely cannot WAIT to read it)

The Heiress by Molly Greely: Set in the Pride and Prejudice universe, this takes on Anne de Bourg (Lady Catherine’s daughter), and makes her queer! 

Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters:  Nan King, an oyster girl, is captivated by the music hall phenomenon Kitty Butler, a male impersonator extraordinaire treading the boards in Canterbury. Through a friend at the box office, Nan manages to visit all her shows and finally meet her heroine. Soon after, she becomes Kitty's dresser and the two head for the bright lights of Leicester Square where they begin a glittering career as music-hall stars in an all-singing and dancing double act. At the same time, behind closed doors, they admit their attraction to each other and their affair begins (Sarah Waters is the queen of historical lesbians. All of her books are good, and they’re all gay! The Paying Guests is another great one)

(On a side note re: queer books, there are MANY, these are just ones I’ve read more recently. Also there are a lot of indie/self-published writers doing great work writing queer books, so definitely support your local indie authors!) 

#I am inevitably forgetting things!!! #These are just ones that came to mind #Long post #Pride

[burntlikethesun]

Happy Pride Month!

if you're from the UK and your LGBT education begins and ends with Stonewall, and you want to know about British history, here's a little starter pack of visual media that will entertain and educate about our past:

Maurice (1987) - After his lover rejects him, a young man trapped by the oppressiveness of Edwardian society tries to come to terms with and accept his sexuality. First gay film that has an unambiguously happy ending for a romantic couple.

It's a Sin (2021) - Ritchie, Colin and Roscoe leave home at 18 to begin new lives in 1981 London, but they find themselves challenged by a virus that most of the world ignores.

Gentleman Jack (2019) - It's 1832 in West Yorkshire, England -- the cradle of the evolving Industrial Revolution -- where landowner Anne Lister is determined to save her faded ancestral home, Shibden Hall, even if it means bucking society's expectations. Based on the diaries of Anne Lister.

Pride (2014) - Realising that they share common foes in Margaret Thatcher, the police and the conservative press, London-based gay and lesbian activists lend their support to striking miners in 1984 Wales. Based on a true story.

Against the Law (2017) - When Peter Wildeblood fell in love with Edward McNally in 1952, homosexuality was a crime in Britain. Their love affair would have devastating consequences for each of them. Events leading up to the Wolfenden Report and the first openly gay man to challenge discrimination in court in England.

Queer as Folk (1999) British television series that chronicles the lives of three gay men living in Manchester's gay village around Canal Street. One of the first instances of gay life being centred in a British drama rather than a sub plot.

Man in an Orange Shirt (2017) - Two entwined yet separate stories illustrate the very different challenges to happiness for two gay couples in England - Michael and Thomas in the aftermath of World War II and Adam and Steve in the present day. Although they are set decades apart, the two stories are linked by family and a painting that holds a secret that is carried down from one generation to the next.

A Very English Scandal (2018) - It is the late 1960s, homosexuality has only just been decriminalised, and Jeremy Thorpe, the leader of the Liberal party, has a secret he is desperate to hide. Based on a true story.

Bob and Rose (2001) - A gay school teacher, Bob, is fed up with the shallowness of the gay club scene in Manchester. A romantic at heart, Bob yearns to meet the right person and settle down. After yet another unsuccessful date, he meets a woman who catches his eye, Rose. Features protests against Section 28.

Hating Peter Tatchell (2021) - Documentary. The profound life story of the controversial human rights campaigner whose provocative acts of civil disobedience rocked the establishment, revolutionised attitudes to homosexuality and exposed tyrants in the fight for equality.

#lgbt history #lgbt uk #lgbt #gay history #pride

[skittlebits]

Gentleman Jack Re-watch - S1E1 - I Was Just Passing

Three minutes into the episode and we’re reminded that Anne’s father and Aunt both know what Anne ‘gets up to’ and deliberately avoid processing that information further than they need to.

They know something went south with Anne’s arrangement with Miss. Hobart in Hastings and you can tell from their voices they suspect what it was, but again...they aren’t going to speculate in front of company.

Company: Why is Anne coming back to Shibden?

Jeremy & Aunt Anne: Obviously she got dumped again. We just don’t know the details.

-

It’s not long after Anne arrives home when Aunt Anne goes looking for the story.

Aunt Anne has already had the thought of placing Miss Walker in the direct path of her lady-loving niece but it’s here she decides to plant the seeds, so to speak and “ship it” for her niece’s sake.

At the time Anne is still upset about Miss Hobart and is like, ‘yeah, whatever Aunty’, but later on Aunt Anne tries again and suggests one of the Lister sisters should befriend Miss Walker and be a “companion”. She stops short of doing a “nudge nudge, wink wink” because they didn’t do that in 1832, but she might as well have. Anne catches on this time. And oh, just in time too because it’s announced that Miss Walker and her nosy cousins are downstairs!

Cue Anne’s epiphany and her master class in how to woo a lady in the 1830’s (or anytime in history).

Pleasant greeting of others, saving the target of wooing for last

Greet enthusiastically, as though there has never been a more wonderful person to see again

Sit close enough to cause a slight fluster

Take control of the conversation by presenting a well-informed opinion

Include her in said conversation even though she has zero interest and/or knowledge of the topic, and knowing that, masterfully steer her back out of the conversation while making it seem as though she somehow contributed

Observe how she shuts down when a man attempts to woo her and immediately have him yeeted

Blatantly flirt with her while she melts while her cousins look on with their ‘gals being pals’ goggles on

8. Ignore sister rolling her eyes at the performance

Poor Marian.

So the game is on for Anne at this point. She’s going to get Shibden Hall fixed up, look into the coal mining business, and get herself a wife!

The end of the episode is a dream many of us on Tumblr have had...a capable lesbian speed walking showing up on our doorstep to woo us.

(Honestly, Suranne Jones has taken this role and thoroughly owned it)

One last break of the fourth wall before she goes to get her girl..

#gentleman jack #gentleman jack rewatch #anne lister #ann walker #anne x ann #suranne jones #sophie rundle #aunt anne lister #marian lister #gemma whelan #gemma jones

[vivianecarstairs]

Anne Lister ... was an English landowner and diarist from Halifax, West Yorkshire. Throughout her life, she kept diaries that chronicled the details of her daily life, including her lesbian relationships, her financial concerns, her industrial activities, and her work improving Shibden Hall.[1] Her diaries contain 7,720 pages and more than 5 million words,[2] and about a sixth of them—those concerning the intimate details of her romantic and sexual relationships—were written in code.[1] The code, derived from a combination of algebra and Ancient Greek, was deciphered in the 1930s.[3][4]

Ann Walker ... was an English landowner from West Riding of Yorkshire.

Walker and Lister became neighbours when Lister moved to Shibden Hall in 1815, but met only occasionally.[4] It wasn't until 1832 that the pair became involved in a romantic and sexual relationship.[3] Their relationship intensified over the next few months. Walker and Lister exchanged vows on 10 February 1834,[2] the date they considered their union official, and exchanged rings on 27 February 1834[5] as a symbol of their commitment to one another. They took communion together in Holy Trinity Church, Goodramgate, York on Easter Sunday (30 March) in 1834 to seal their union, considering themselves married.[5] The building now displays a commemorative rainbow plaque.[6]

Lister died on 22 September 1840, aged 49, of a fever at Koutais (now Kutaisi in Georgia) while travelling with Ann Walker.[36][37]

Walker struggled with mental health issues throughout her life. She was prone to bouts of anxiety and depression, which appeared in part to be linked to her religious faith.[5] Walker struggled to accept her own sexuality, which put additional strain on her mental health as well as her relationship with Lister.

In 1843, three years after the death of Lister, Walker was declared to be of 'unsound mind' and removed from Shibden Hall and treated by Dr. Steph Belcombe in York. She returned to Shibden Hall after a brief stay under Dr. Belcombe's care and later moved back to her family's estate in Lightcliffe, living at Cliffe Hill until her death in 1854.[5]

#this feels like bury your gays #but it is real life #anne lister #gentleman jack #anne/ann #history #lgbt history #queer history #lesbian history

[iredreamer]

Master-post: Anne Lister content on this blog.

During this past year I’ve been collection info, transcribing journal entries and answering questions about Anne Lister. I thought it was time to properly tag everything...

This is a “master-post” with everything that is currently on this blog about the real Anne Lister.

My tags are mostly organized by topic since a lot of the discussions we’ve had during this time are focused on meanings and interpretations rather than un-edited transcriptions of the journals. Journal entries will also have a chronological tagging system (by year).

Anne Lister & Ann Walker: • courtship (#AL and AW: courtship) • reunion (#AL and AW: reunion) • married life (#AL and AW: married life) • anniversary (#AL and AW: anniversary) • problems (#AL and AW: problems) • backgammon (#AL and AW: backgammon) • travelling (#AL and AW: travelling)

Anne Lister (specific topics): • appearance (#anne lister: appearance) • nature (#anne lister: nature) • family (#anne lister: family) • sexuality (#anne lister: sexuality) • sex life (#anne lister: sex life) • oral sex (#anne lister: oral sex) • STI (#anne lister: STI) • her father paying a female prostitute (#anne lister: her father paying a female prostitute) • Christmas 1834 (#anne lister: christmas 1834) • thermometer (#anne lister: thermometer) • tinderbox (#anne lister: tinderbox) • french (#anne lister: french) • “Fred” (#anne lister: fred) • “Gentleman Jack” (#anne lister: jack) • walker pit (#anne lister: walker pit) • tenants (#anne lister: tenants) • politics (#anne lister: politics) • rank (#anne lister: rank)

Anne’s journal: • code (#anne lister: code) • symbols (#anne lister: symbols) • plain hand (#anne lister: plain hand) • earliest journal (#anne lister: earliest journal)

Anne Lister (terminology): • “having a kiss” (#anne lister: having a kiss) • “queer” (#anne lister: queer) • “incurred a cross” (#anne lister: incurred a cross) • “going to Italy” (#anne lister: going to italy) • “grubbling” (#anne lister: grubbling) • “being near” (#anne lister: being near) • “monsieur” (#anne lister: monsieur) • “dinky” (#anne lister: dinky) • “a little play” (#anne lister: play)

Anne Lister &: • Eliza Raine (#anne lister: eliza raine) • Mariana Lawton (#AL and ML) • Miss Browne (#anne lister: miss browne) • Maria Barlow (#anne lister: maria barlow) • Princess Radziwil (#anne lister: princess radziwil) • Madame Galvani (#anne lister: madame galvani) • The Ladies of Llangollen (#anne lister: llangollen)

Ann Walker (specific topics): • appearance (#ann walker: appearance) • mental health (#ann walker: mental health) • eating disorder (#ann walker: eating disorder) • family (#ann walker: family) • birthday (#ann walker: birthday) • “Adney” (#ann walker: adney) • Ainsworth (#ann walker: ainsworth) • the tribe (#ann walker: the tribe) • Ann Walker’s diary (#ann walker: diary) • after Anne Lister’s death (#ann walker: after AL death)

people (general): • Anne Lister (#real people: anne lister) • Ann Walker (#real people: ann walker) • Marian Lister (#real people: marian lister) • Aunt Anne Lister (#real people: aunt anne lister) • Jeremy Lister (real people: jeremy lister) • Rebecca Lister (real people: rebecca lister) • Mariana Lawton (#real people: mariana lawton) • Dr. Stephen Belcombe (#real people: dr steph belcombe) • Aunt Ann Walker (#real people: aunt ann walker) • Cordingley (#anne lister: cordingley) • Sam Sowden (#real people: sam sowden) • George Pickles (#real people: george pickles) • John Booth (#real people: john booth) • George Playforth (#real people: george playforth)

places: • Shibden (#topic: shibden hall) • Crow Nest (#topic: crow nest) • Lidgate (#topic: lidgate) • Cliff Hill (#topic: cliff hill) • New House (#topic: new house)

journal transcriptions: • all posts [+] (includes every post with a passage from Anne’s journal) • year: 1806-1814 / 1816 / 1817 / 1818 / 1819 / 1820 / 1821 / 1822 / 1823 / 1824 / 1825 / 1826 / 1827 / 1828 / 1829 / 1830 / 1831 / 1832 / 1833 / 1834 / 1835 / 1836 / 1837 / 1838 / 1839 / 1840

full transcriptions: SH:7/ML/E/26/1 (1806-1814) / SH:7/ML/E/26/2 (Aug-Nov 1816) / SH:7/ML/E/26/3 (Nov 1816-Mar 1817) / SH:7/ML/E/1 (21 Mar 1817-25 Jan 1818)

Transcription blog > @listertranscriptions (here you’ll find the unedited transcriptions I’m working on as a volunteer of the Anne Lister Diary Transcription Project)

I loved sharing, researching and talking with all of you about this brilliant woman. Let’s keep doing it!

#gentleman jack #anne lister #ann walker #anne lister: masterpost

[sex-lies-and-boiled-milk]

“the 1st thing she ever gave me”

I started working on just one sentence I read in Anne Lister's diary:

Wednesday 26 September 1832

“then called to inquire if Miss Walker was returned – yes! last night – sat with her from 12 50/”  to 2 20/” – she had brought me a presse-papier from the marble works at Kendal”

After Miss Ann Walker returned from her trip to the Lake District in September of 1832 she brought a present for Miss Anne Lister. It seems it was the 1st ever present she gave her. It was a paperweight made of polished marble, bought in Kendal, a market-town situated on the border of today's Lake District National Park. Ann Walker indeed went to the Lake District with her cousin Catherine Rawson just like we saw it happen in Season 1 of Gentleman Jack. We know Anne did not follow Ann to Wasdale (a valley near Wastwater lake in the Lake District) and her going there was dramatized for the needs of the show.

Before Ann went on this trip, Anne and Ann had been enjoying each other’s company for just over a month. During that time Anne visited Ann frequently at her home at Lidgate; confiding conversations and gaining each other’s trust became a regular occurrence and the bond between them was growing stronger on a daily basis. However, buying a gift implied that the nature of that bond was likely to become even stronger in the future. Or at least, that was something Ann Walker was looking forward to.

A paperweight (press-paper or letter-press) – in French it's presse-papier – is a small heavy object whose purpose is to be placed on top of papers to keep them from blowing away. Any material can be used for its production, they can be more or less decorative, cheaper or more expensive, made as unique objects or on a mass scale. Workmanship, design, rarity, and condition determine a paperweight's value, and the ones made out of glass are often considered to be fine art.

I went reading on, checking through a couple of days later in Anne's diary hoping for some kind of description of this paperweight. No luck. There were some mentions though. Words in bold are bolded by me.

Later, on 26th September when Miss Lister got back home to Shibden after a whole day of work on her estate, she found Ann's manservant James with a note – Miss Walker asking her to return a couple of books she lent her, which Anne did and also replied:

“may I beg for my press-paper – now that you have given it me, I am impatient to have it – very truly yours, A Lister”

Two days later:

Friday 28 September 1832

“On my return home found on my desk parcel the Letter-press (presse-papier) and Note from Miss Walker – explaining about Collins, and that she should hope to find me in my walk between 3 and 5 – begins with “I have real pleasure in sending the letter-press, tho’ my own motive, and its possible utility are its only recommendations to your acceptance” – “

In the margin: “the 1st thing she ever gave me”

All transcription credits: Dorjana Širola 

Before many questions I started asking myself about the paperweight, I couldn’t help noticing how appropriate, singled out and romantic this object would be as a present for Miss Lister. It confirmed my sentiments of Miss Walker as a person of good observations and excellent taste. Indeed an item more than harmonious with Miss Lister’s books and papers collection? I think so.

It would be thrilling to find out where this object is today, or if it ever left Shibden Hall. Unfortunately we don't know. Anne doesn't record at all what it looked like, she doesn't say what size or shape it is, is it just plain geometrical shape or more decorative and maybe a shape of an animal, flower, book etc. But there are some things I have managed to find out.

These websites (and many others) have been of great help:

http://www.stricklandgate-house.org.uk/historic-kendal/

https://www.feolifineart.net/artist.php?id=541 

the page from Anne’s journal 28 September 1832

Credits: West Yorkshire Archive Service 

These are screenshots from WYAS catalogue with the note made by Anne in the left margin of her journal page. The marginal note is also demarcated with two straight strokes of the pen from the rest of the text.

It seems she thought of adding this remark a bit later, after already filling the lines in the journal for that day, like she gave it extra thought and then noted it down this way.

Anne’s handwriting, in plainhand: “the 1st thing she ever gave me.”

Credits: West Yorkshire Archive Service

Francis Webster Sr.

Credits: stricklandgate-house.org.uk

Francis Webster (1767–1827) started a successful and well known architect's business in the north of England in the 2nd part of the 18th century. His speciality was the production of marble chimney-pieces and funerary monuments. He introduced two of his sons, George and Francis Jr., to the business. Around 1800 the firm started with water-powered machinery for cutting and polishing marble at their mill at Helsington Laithes on the river Kent (a few miles from the town of Kendal). The type of marble he would have quarried there was called Dent marble. The stone is not actually marble, it is a highly polished form of black limestone. Its beauty and ability to take a highly polished surface in its final form is, in large part, due to the high percentage of fossils that it contains. 

A specimen of Dent Marble 

Credits: Gallery Sedbergh, Cumbria

A Chessboard made of Dent Marble

Credits: museumsintheyorkshiredales.co.uk/dent-marble

The larger of the two mills (both of which would have closed down by 1895) polished locally mined limestone for ornamental use. It seems the Websters produced all sorts of objects (including paperweights) to advertise and market their architects' business. These objects would have been sold at the showroom at Marble Works, today's Bridge House restaurant in Aynam Road in Kendal.

Francis Webster Senior's most notable achievements surviving today are many buildings in Kendal: schools, churches, assembly rooms, banks, mills, bridges, monuments etc. The Websters also worked on the construction of the Lancaster canal, which opened in 1819 and closed in the 1960s.

Marble Works, Kendal

Credits: stricklandgate-house.org.uk

Marble Works in Kendal, designed and built in 1819 by Francis Webster, architect, as his offices and showroom, is today's Bridge House restaurant in Aynam Road. In 1832 Francis Jr. was in charge of the Marble Works.

This is where Ann bought the paperweight in September of 1832. 

We don’t know if she bought it on her way to Eskdale or on her return home to Lidgate, Halifax. She could have stopt at Kendal at any point, it being an important stop on the trade routes towards the north.

George Webster’s (1797–1864) architectural designs include classical public buildings and gothic churches, but his most important and innovative buildings were Jacobean or Tudor Revival country houses, such as Eshton Hall, Gargrave and Underley Hall near Kirkby Lonsdale. He also built 13 churches in the Gothic Revival Style.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_works_by_George_Webster  

St Mary's church in Rydal was also designed by George Webster, for Anne Frederica Elizabeth le Fleming (1784-1861), the Mistress of Rydal Hall at the time. When Anne visited Rydal in July 1824, the church was just about to be finished, and would be consecrated in December that year.

Paperweight made of Dent Marble

The only thing I am sure about the paperweight is that it was made of Dent marble, or more likely from smaller broken off pieces of Dent Marble, as slag in production. It could have been just a by-product of a more substantial industry so perhaps not a lot of artistry would have been invested in its crafting.

We don't know what the paperweight looked like. I imagine it looking like any of the examples on the photos I found online, although none of these are perfect.

From these examples it can be seen how marble takes on a nice polish. The object could have had sharp or canted edges; price would have also been a significant factor as well as a compromise between the practicality of the item and esthetics of the time. Perhaps even the fact that Anne didn't note down what it looked like suggests that it was a pure geometrical shape like the paperweights in these photos.

I haven't been able so far to find a photo of any paperweights produced by the Websters from Kendal.

Examples of paperweights Ann might have bought in September 1832, (all are made of marble, but not Dent marble):

Credits: Pamono.eu

Credits: britishfossils.co.uk

Credits: lot-art.com

Credits: Oxford Exchange

I like how the symbolic value of this object has been noted down by Anne in her diary entry. It was one of the first material tokens of love between Anne Lister and Ann Walker resulting in them taking the sacrament on Easter Sunday in York in 1834 and living together at Shibden Hall, Halifax.

My guess is that this paperweight is still somewhere at Shibden Hall, having lain unnoticed for decades on Listers' writing desks or on top of piles of papers in the library tower. Of course, it’s more than possible that it might be, as well ... lost forever.

#paperweight #letterpress #presspaper #papierpresse #marble #webster #kendal #limestone #architecture #annwalker #annelister #gentlemanjack #lakedistrict

[nitewrighter]

Do you have a top 5 of period drama series? I'm really want to get into that kind of genre but don't know where to start. If you have any rcomnendations I would appreciate it a lot! :3

1. Poldark--- Ohhhh Mr. Poldark....This one takes place in Cornwall, England shortly after the American Revolutionary war. It’s about Ross Poldark (Aidan Turner) returning to his home after fighting for Britain to find his lands in total disarray and his childhood sweetheart married. So it’s this ongoing uphill battle of this really short-tempered dude trying to restore his family legacy while staying true to his very progressive (and aggressive) ideals. It is such a soap opera but that lends itself to its bingeability.

yeah i... uh... i watch it for the plot.

2. Gentleman Jack---Based on the diaries of Anne Lister (once described as “the dead sea scrolls of lesbian narrative”). Anne Lister (Suranne Jones) is a power-walking firebrand butch lesbian living in 1832, and she is determined to restore her family home of Shibden Hall, open up a whole damn mine, and woo the lovely and delicate Ann Walker. Since it’s based on her diaries it gets really fun and meta sometimes. Also the soundtrack slaps.

3. North and South--I stress: The British Serial, not the American Miniseries. It’s about this woman Margaret Hale (Daniela Denby-Ashe) who moves to this hardcore industrial mill town around the 1850′s. She wants to help improve conditions for the mill workers, but she also finds herself falling for the mill’s steely owner, John Thornton (Played by 2004 Richard Armitage oh my god)

4. Sanditon-- Okay admittedly I hesitate to recommend this one because it never got confirmed on a second season but I really enjoyed it and maybe I hope if I get enough people into it I will get a second season. But anyway, this one’s based off of an unfinished Jane Austen novel (...so maybe it will never get completed..) and it’s about this girl who comes to this seaside town that’s trying to establish itself as a resort town. It’s got a surprising amount of intrigue for something based on Austen’s work! 

5. The Durrells in Corfu--- I got into this one solely because I noticed people kept putting it on hold at the library, so I’m kind of proud of myself for that. It takes place in the early 1930′s and it’s about this funky family that moves from England to this beautiful greek island. It’s based on a trilogy of autobiographical books by this zoologist, best known as “My Family and Other Animals,” so the youngest of the family is obsessed with animals and it’s really cute. The family’s dysfunctional but they really do care about each other so it’s really fun to watch.

#the durrells in corfu #sanditon #gentleman jack #north and south #poldark

[whatdoesshedotothem]

Friday 21 December 1832

8 ¼

11 ½

Damp wet morning F47° at 9 ¾ at which hour breakfast – had got up on receiving note from Mr Jeremiah Rawson to say he could not come this morning - will be here if possible at 9am on Monday if not on Wednesday to let him know if either of these days will suit me - then looking into Horace which also delights me - how have I lived so long without another little pocket Horace? (my old one was somehow lost in London on en route last year 14 or 15 months ago – staid talking to my father till 10 ½ - Letter from Miss M.T. Bolland containing her receipt for £12.10, due, as she will have it, to herself and her sister E.S. Graham, 20th December – to direct to her at ‘Mr. Grahams’, Surgeon, 17 High street, Stockport, Cheshire’ – told my father of this letter – he agreed that he, if in my place, would certainly get done with them and throw the manner into chancery as I have nearly made up my mind to do – talking to my aunt till 11 ¾ - had John in the drawing room and read him Miss Norcliffes’ letter respecting his son – out at near 12 – found Pickles who had finished digging west arbutus slope, and made another little drain in the low part of Lower brook Ing wood, just come up to ask what to do next – went with him and set him to begin stubbing the hedge (cut off by the Lower brea breach road) in Wellroyde upper brow, and staid with him till 4 ¼ when he went home it being too dark to do much more – he had lastly planted a goodish thorn close to the new footpath sleps [steps], a thorn that he got up in stubbing – sauntered in my walk – came in at 5 – some time with my aunt – dressed – wrote the following note to ‘John Waterhouse Esquire Wellhead’ and sent it by John – ‘Shibden hall Friday 21 December 1832. Dear sir – I shall be much obliged to you to pay my navigation dividend into Messrs. Rawsons bank, to be placed to my account – my kind regards to Mrs. Waterhouse and the youngers of your family – I am, dear sir, very truly yours A. Lister’ – Dinner at 6 ¼ - Marian came to me, and kept me talking till 8 when came to my room and wrote all but the 1st 4 ½ lines of today the plasterer here all the day doing the underdrawing in the entrance passage which Wilson knocked down in laying down 2 new board in the library passage, and finishing plastering all about the library passage stove since its being reset - letter 2 pages from Dr HSB- no date, but post mark 21 December - saying he had last night (yesterday) received a letter from Mr Sunderland ‘giving me a slight account of Miss Walker and recommending some tonic medicines, as she seems to have recovered from her attack of catarrh’ - Dr B- answered immediately and sent ‘a prescription for a slight chalybeate which is to brace the nerves’........... Mr S- had mentioned the medicines being made up in York - Dr B- said very properly this was on account of Miss W-‘s anxiety not to have it known she was an invalid - ‘are you tired of nursing or do you hope you may do some good - I trust you will not yet desert your post, as I am convinced you are more likely than any of us to be eventually beneficial - pray let me know your proceedings’ - poor Steph he little dreams the real state of the case - then till 11 20 wrote notes to go tomorrow morning to ‘Messrs. Parker and Adam solicitors H-x’ dated tomorrow to ask for the coal lease as I should want it at 9 on Monday morning and our servant should call for it in the evening - and said I should be glad to know what was at the Godley road meeting this morning - note, too, to ‘Jeremiah Rawson Esquire Shay’ to say I should be glad to see him at 9 on Monday morning or, if prevented that day, at 9 on Wednesday morning – tolerable morning tho’ a little small driving rain ditto in the afternoon about 1 for ½ hour then tolerably fine at least quite fair – F54° (fire in my room all day) now at 11 25 p.m.

Mr. Mitchell sent back the plan of Park farm (Pickersgills’) this morning with his valuation

D. r. p.

48.0.15 at £87.6.11 per annum rent –

6.2.11

41.2.14 exclusive of Bairstow and Far ditto  

Buildings valued at £15. per annum

Bairstow 3.3.19 at 8/. per D.W. = 1.11.6

Far Ditto 2.2.18 at 8/. per D.W. = 1.1.4

5 ½ square yards x 5 ½ = 30 ¼

square yards 30 ¼ = 1 pole or perch

square perches 26 = ¼ D.W. = 786 ½ square yards x 4 = 3146

But 1 D.W. at H-x = 3136 square yards

[gentlejack]

  @rectoress​ ❤️

                                                                                          Halifax, Wednesday May 25th 1832

To the Right Honourable Miss de Vries, 

Miss Anne Lister of Shibden Hall, Halifax, head of the renowned Lister household, takes the liberty of offering her sincerest compliments & of asking permission to visit the school-grounds tomorrow after breakfast. Miss Lister has harboured a long-standing interest in your style of education & not least your person, and would much cherish an opportunity to build a connection. 

In all due gratitude, A. L. 

                                                                            *

      MANY a rumour concerning Miss de Vries is in frenzied circulation among the higher echelons of Halifax society. By all verbal accounts Anne has gathered through well-timed and strategic hearkening over the course of the past weeks, the woman is swathed in particularities each more fascinating than the rest: given to strict rulership, staunchly educated, uncompromising in character and appearance, and - perhaps most importantly! - blessed with financial independence and spinsterhood alike. Hearsay aside, there is but ONE attribute Anne knows with certainty to be in the schoolmaster’s possession: the note she sent to her, a candid self-invitation that surely does not necessitate a reply. In fact, Anne’s early-morning departure for Miss de Vries’ institution is conveniently scheduled an hour and a half before the delivery of her daily correspondence. Thus, should any potential rejection miss her EVER so narrowly on her way, it could not be considered a misconduct on Anne’s behalf, certainly, for which party might bear the blame but the one too sluggish to answer?

      For her own part, Anne wastes very little time. She arrives a meagre four minutes after nine in the morning, dressed to leave an impression, walking-cane tucked neatly beneath her arm and an aura of efficient curiosity about her. She has waited too long to secure herself this extraordinary woman’s friendship, clearly, and has no mind to dawdle away another moment. Instead, firing off a jovial greeting like a bullet, she breezes past the young woman welcoming her - an assistant, perhaps? - and has herself shown to the schoolmistress’ office at once. A brisk knock --- then, without further ado, Anne throws open the door and crosses the room with a fast stride, sweeping the top-hat off her head and thrusting a confident hand across the desk that separates them. Her gaze embarks upon an appreciative journey along the softness of her newfound acquaintance’s features, every bit as unexpected as they are delicious: the gently curved jaw, the pallid cheeks, and a set of determined eyes beneath the slightest frown ... well, now. This relation seems promising already! 

      “ Miss de Vries. My name is Anne Lister. I announced my visit in a letter the other day. How do you do --- shall I sit here? ”

#rectoress #( this is the rudest way to introduce oneself. please forgive us #if you need me to rewrite anything let me know !! <3 #anne just decided to do her own thing and I couldn't hold her back :/ )

[skgway]

1832 Nov., Fri. 2

8 1/2

11 10/..

We fretted ourselves to sleep last night. She lay on me as usual to warm her stomach and then lay in my arms, but I was perfectly quiet and never touched her queer. The tears silently trickling from [m]y cheeks down hers. Somehow I was shockingly attendri, tho perpetually saying to myself ‘Well, I care not how she decides, I care not much for her.’ 

On awaking found myself as tearful as ever. Just before getting up I got scissors, took up her night chemise and attempted to cut the lockut [locket]. Kissed her queer gave her the scissors said she must cut it for me herself and threw myself into the great chair. She soon gave me the golden lock, threw herself on the chair by me. We wept and kissed. I thanked her and she left me –

Fahrenheit 51 1/2º at 8 1/2 a.m. and damp drizzling morning – Packed my traveling bag – Downstairs and breakfast at 10 – Both of us attendries and the tears [s]tarting perpetually. I said my mind was made up for the worst. She said, well but, she had not given her answer yet. She had begged me before getting up not to come again till Monday. I only asked her to send James over as early in the morning as she could with a note containing her answer. Her letter to Mr. A[insworth] is also to be sent. 

Made a thousand apologies, but only gave her this trouble that I might have a litt[le] while. An hour or two for preparation, and then I would be off to see her. She seemed pleased at my request, saying yes it would be better. She wished to try the effect of absence from me. Had near given her answer the night we returned from [York] and now wished she had done it then.

I said that as things had turned out I was thankful it was as it was. She said how well I behaved. That I could not be unhappy. She would, and did, mend my gloves. Begged me to promise to let her have a night chemise for a pattern. But she saw I declined promising. She hoped she should do many more things for me. Never knew till now how much she was attached to me. I made no reply but that she would know I was silent merely because I doubted what answer I ought to make. She hung upon me, and cried, and sobbed aloud at parting, saying ‘Well, I hope we shall meet again under happier circumstances.’ ‘Ah,’ said I, ‘any circumstances would be happier than suspense,’ and hurried off.

Would not anyone suppose from her conduct and manner that she meant to say yes? Well said I to myself, as I walked off, a pretty scene we have had. But surely I care not much and shall take my time of suspense very quietly and be easily reconciled either way –

Home in less than 1/2 hour at 12 10/..  – It rained all the way, and latterly pretty smartly – Sat talking to my aunt but nothing about Miss W[alker]. Mr. Jeremiah Rawson came at 12 40/.. and staid 40 minutes not meaning he said to have gone away without bargaining but he only bade £160 per acre and I would not abate at all from what I asked when he was here before, i.e. the middle price between the 2 prices at which my uncle had sold the lower bed to Messieurs Oates and Green, and Hinscliff and Company –

Mr. J[eremiah] R– [Rawson] said he thought I should have been more reasonable – Said if he knew me at all he would know that I should not swerve from what I said – But that in fact, I had heard a good deal about the coal since I saw him, and so far from being better, should be worse to bargain with –

Said that even if we agreed as to price I would only sell the coal in parts and parcels – He wanted all they could get with their water head hold – Not said I, till I know what and how much you can get – Well, but they would let nobody go into the works till we had made the bargain – Very well then said I, I will not sell according to the quantity you can get, but according to the quantity I myself choose to dispose of, which I will take care shall be little enough at a time – I do not want to loose anybodies coal but my own – 

He did not believe their water head hold would come lower than the house (Shibden hall) but owned it would go down in a diagonal taking up a good deal below – Said they could not get more than a breadth of 20 yards from the old water head holds of Oates Hinscliff and company – He owned that if they could not soon agree with me they must turn their works in another direction –

Said I should be going from home in January (to the continent I hoped if I could on account of my aunts health) and after that should have nothing done about coal till my return – When he saw me so determined, he said well he must consider about it again – Said they should want an air pit or 2 – I said I thought one would do – Had no great objection to that if not inconveniently placed, and if the stuff was properly taken away so as to make no eyesore – But I must know when it was to be placed –

He mentioned the upper bed, as if he meant to have both the lower bed and what remains of the upper at £160 per acre – Of this I took no apparent notice – He wished me to look at the coal leases to see what were the prices my uncle sold at and begged me to write and fix my price – The latter I said was unnecessary as I should not take less than I had already named – But at last agreed to write and name the 2 prices my uncle sold at –

Went to my room at 2 and from then to 6 taking paint out of the sleeves etc. of my new pelisse (done on Tuesday in Miss W– [Walker]’s new greenhouse), and putting away and tidying my things – Dinner at 6 1/4 – Afterwards till 9 1/4 wrote out the last 16 lines of Wednesday and the whole of yesterday and so far of today –

Went into the little room at 9 20/.. – Read tonight’s courier – Came upstairs at 10 10/.. – Rainy day – Fahrenheit 57º at 10 1/4 p.m. –

#anne lister #ann walker #shibden hall 1832 #anne lister code breaker

[awhilesince]

Saturday, 2 June 1832

9 3/4

12 35/..

fine morning Fahrenheit 61° at 9 3/4 – incurred a cross just before getting up thinking of Mrs Milne tho despising her – down at 10 25/.. – hurried to see Mr Cobb – George had had a quiet night and shewed some sign of consciousness this morning in opening his mouth when desired by Mr Cobb – no fever as yet – but impossible to calculate the effects of reaction to say he is out of danger yet – Mr Cobb or his son (who slept here last night) will him again today – 16 oz. (ounces) of blood taken from the arm yesterday, might lose 5 oz. (ounces) before getting home and the 24 leeches might take 8 or 10 oz. (ounces) – the poor fellow looks more himself this morning – seems asleep – is to be kept very very quiet – very kind joint letter from Mr and Mrs Duffin glad to see me at all times – beg me to fix a day – do not go to Acomb till Whitsun-Tuesday – skimmed over my Times newspaper came upstairs at 11 50/.. – in 1 3/4 hour till 2 35/.. wrote 3 pages and one end and 1/2 the other small and close to M– (Mariana) mention and explanation of George’s accident – and that Mrs M– (Milne) and I got on very well together – my persuasion that she and CN– (Charlotte Norcliffe) etc etc think I know all about the proposal to Louisa  explain how I turned them off this idea by talking of Lous formality said I should – own that M– (Mariana) repeated to me never have thought of her but might of Eliza if not married some observation of Mrs M–‘s (Milne’s) or my style of conversation …. 

‘I only mention this, that, in case anything of this sort should be hinted at (tho’ I suspect it will not) you may merely declare that you have never told me anything without a very sufficiently good reason, nor anything which you did not feel it your duty to tell me as a friend – keep to yours – Mrs Milne, at least, will understand you – In days of yore, I praised you to her – I have done it again even more effectively – Stand firmly on your own high ground, assured that you are, and can be only raised in the estimation of everyone in proportion as that one who has known you best is led by circumstances of any kind to speak of you with unreserve – that I have descended a little in your scale of interests, is doubtless, as it will be believed by everyone who knows us, not your fault, but mine, – a belief that must be confirmed in the minds of all who see or even suspect the bitterness of my own disappointment and regret – I only hope that amid all your changes of plan, your visit to York will not be prevented – I should really grieve over your mother’s disappointment – recommended from us all geranium (a sort of bright cherry colour) for your light-blue-walled saloon –

Tabourette, says Mrs N– (Norcliffe), with a satin stripe – wide 7/. or 8/. a yard – narrow 4/. or 5/. a yard – to be had all colours from Manchester – like the sitting room curtains here – then wrote 3 pages and ends and under the seal to my aunt – account of George almost the same as that to M– (Mariana) but modified and rather enlarged – promise to write again by Monday’s or Tuesday’s post – then having just said that I should see John’s son and give him the one pound my aunt meant to give out the gig-sale, and lend him what more might be necessary, the boy came – gave him a good sermon upon conduct, etc and finished by giving him in his name £1, and 25/. more as a last gift from myself telling him he must do for himself in future and never want another shilling from his father or me – he has 6 guineas a year out of which pays a guinea a year for washing – 1st 1/2 year due the 9th of this month – he seems likely to do well, and, as I told my aunt looks really much improved in his new clothes – then having had Charlotte for a little while before the boy came had Mrs N– (Norcliffe) afterwards – sent off by the keeper at 3 3/4 my letter to my aunt ‘Shibden hall, H–x (Halifax)’ and to M– (Mariana) ‘Lawton hall, Lawton, Cheshire’ – CN– (Charlotte Norcliffe) and I agreed to walk after dinner and then dress afterwards – dinner at 4 1/4 – coffee and then CN– (Charlotte Norcliffe) and I out at 6 for 1 1/4 hour – went into the little wood and saw the tree in which poor George was shot – then sauntered in the fields and in the village – dressed – tea at 8 10/.. – 

Mr Charles Cobb came – thinks George quite as well as could be expected but still in a very precarious state – put a blister on the nape of his neck – asked what opening medicine he had been taking – powders calomel and another purgative, which I got him to say was epsom salts i.e. with senna in a drought which drought was given every 3 hours till the medicine operated –  which it did before and after Mr Charles Cobbs being here the pewter bedpan being left in the bed he had clean sheets and was made quite comfortable this afternoon  Begged Mr Charles Cobb to stay here all night if he thought there was the least occasion but he thought not – he apprehended no bad symptoms and if there was any nothing could be done – bleeding could not be necessary again tonight – If he snored (without being asleep) it was all over – CN– (Charlotte Norcliffe) and I had examined his hat – 16 or 18 shot had entered it – of the 5 or 6 that had entered his head, none of any conseqence but that that had entered by the eye – and so small a substance could only have produced so great an effect by having wounded some of the small arteries of the brain – read a few pages of volume 1 Mrs Jameson’s memories of female sovereigns – she says women are not fit to rule  all the instances we have of their sovreignty prove this

wrote the last 14 lines till 11 3/4 p.m. at which hour Fahrenheit 62° – fine day –

reference number: SH:7/ML/E/15/0075, SH:7/ML/E/15/0076

#annelistercodebreaker #annelister #june1832 #mariana #mrsmilne

[woollymitts]

Ann Walker’s diary

Recently a slim volume was found in the upholstery of an old chaise that was being refurbished in Shibden Hall. On further examination, it has been announced that the work is the lost diary of Ann Walker. An extract of which is below:

14th April 1832

Miss Lister came to visit today. I made an witless fool of myself conversing inanely about how we had met previously. She does not remember but is too polite to say so.

We had the most pleasant afternoon talking about all manner of things. From the mountains in the Alps she has climbed to her studies of the human body in Paris. I would not care to examine the things she has seen and touched for fear of one of my dizzy spells coming on.

I did at one point feel the strangest palpitation of my heart which was curious as I had not at all exerted myself since a short walk in the morning and was only sitting in the drawing room gazing upon Miss Lister. She does seem to have the most compelling eyes and radiant smile that makes her whole demeanour give the impression of my being her only real concern, despite our being only very recently re-acquainted.

She stayed so long that Bernard came in with the tea tray and he had burned the muffins again. Miss Lister recommend a toasting fork of her own design, which she hopes to take to Mr Parker. She claimed it is an ingenious device in an iron box that can be put on a range or in the fireplace. It is apparently possesses a clockwork mechanism and is able to toast any muffin admirably with a small bell to ring to advise the servants of its readiness.

I said I would very much like to make an order of one should she ever make it to manufacture. She seemed most pleased with my interest in her project but insisted that I should not purchase one but it would be gifted me. I responded that I could not think of anything to repay so generous a gesture but she told me quite firmly that she would think carefully upon it and would in due course suggest a fair exchange.

After her departure, I stared out at the garden window for reasons I cannot now recall.

#gentleman jack #ann walker #anne lister #sorry at it again #wanted a companion piece #clearly utter parody as Lister would never be involved in something as vulgar as trade #also im very fond of the very silly joke stretched until almost breaking point #reblog if it made you laugh