Part 2: A month at Petworth - July 1898
Saturday 2nd July 1898
Still working at Petworth House. Have now finished inside and
nearly all outside. Have only the three sets of iron gates to do.
Wouldn’t mind if they were also finished. It’s not the best of
jobs. I think it’s quite likely some of us may be “off” in the near
future. The Swan Hotel is not forward enough for us and there don’t
appear to be much else in now. I hear most Horsham firms are a bit
slack now, supposed to be a Jubilee reaction. Dad only fairly busy.
Kate Arthur[1] here today for a short
holiday.
Sunday 3rd July 1898
Kate Arthur went to Chapel with me this morning. Sunday School and
Evening service as usual. The Sunday School Excursion to Bognor
takes place tomorrow. Am not going this time but no doubt if
weather keeps fine they will get a good company.
Week ending 9th July 1898
Petworth Park on Monday and Tuesday, but rest of the week at Swan
Hotel as we are delayed by paint for gates not arriving. The Hotel
is not nearly ready for us yet. Only doing top work while
scaffolding is up. The gables are oak carved in an old vine design
by a chap named Hoad who works in My Lord’s shops as a cabinet
maker, carver etc. Very clever workman I believe. No relation of
ours I think. Have not ridden bicycle last week or this. Find it
too fatiguing especially on warm Saturday afternoons.
Swan Hotel, Fittleworth, c.1920,
reproduced with permission from West Sussex Past Pictures, Ref:
PP/WSL/P000960, Rep: West Sussex County Council Library Service;
Image credit.
Saturday 9th July 1898
Happening to meet Bern this afternoon, went up to tea with him and
was very much surprised to find Kate and Lois Stepney[2] there. Of course had to stay then all
evening till time to see them off by last train. Tried to persuade
them to stay till tomorrow, but finally arrived at a compromise by
their promising to come up again tomorrow. After they had gone on,
Bern and I arranged provisionally to drive down in the morning to
fetch them.
Sunday 10th July 1898
Got up soon after six, got mare ready, Bern came down to stable and
off we went. Were rather later in starting than we intended (as a
matter of course) and the last part of the journey full expected to
meet them “en route” for the station, but when we arrived at
Shipley found the beggars had not yet “rizz”. After a time they
bundled up. Only Kate returned, Lois promising to come up with May
by afternoon train. Got back in time for breakfast and then to
Chapel. No. 10[3] for dinner and tea,
other two arriving in the meantime. We had quite a strong party for
the choir seats this evening. Finally saw them off by last train
and then home to work.
Week ending 16th July 1898
At Swan Hotel early part of the week. Afterwards, back to the gates
at Petworth Park. Not so bad a job after all. Have had some very
hot weather this week but stood it all right. Thursday evening
“knocked off” at tea time and went to “Fittleworth Club” with
Whithington the House Captain and Summersell, Sergeant Instructor
of the local Vol. Corp[4]. Had a
beautiful walk over Egdean Common, very wild scenery. Found
Fittleworth Club. Quite an ideal country club feast. First, the inn
(Swan) is a quaint old fashioned place, very popular with
“Painters” (of the Common or Garden variety, not House Painters!)
who find plenty of pretty spots round here to transfer to their
canvas. Found the band (Storrington) blowing away for all they were
worth at the end of a long marquee. Although not strong in numbers
or troubled with a “too musical ear”, they were certainly not lazy,
especially the Leader whom one could well imagine blowing the
leading cornet of a circus orchestra where quantity is of more
importance than quality. Besides this, there was the usual swings,
roundabouts, coconut shies, shows (for Gentlemen only), shows with
performing ponies, monkeys, birds etc. (the cause of untold
cruelties no doubt), glittering stalls where, for a shilling or
two, one may purchase these vile German vases and glass ornaments,
“Brum” jewellery and cheap toys generally. All sold at a price
giving the vendor a profit beyond the wildest dreams of avarice of
an ordinary shopkeeper. Then there’s the shooting “Galleries and
Saloons” for the benefit of the local marksmen who, by merely
poking to object shot at with the end of the shooting iron, give an
exhibition that knocks Bisley into cocked hats. The one thing
missing was the dancing ring. The Fittlites went one better than
the usual and held their ball in a large room at the inn where
there appeared to be some very decent dancing. On the whole enjoyed
myself very much, quite a change and rather better company than my
mates. After a brisk walk home, just arrived in time for a
refresher at the “Angel”.
Angel Hotel, Petworth, c.1901,
reproduced with permission from West Sussex Past Pictures, Ref:
PP.WSL/PC009360, Rep: West Sussex County Council Library Service;
Image credit.
Sunday 17th July 1898
Mr Marten being away, the services at Chapel were taken by Mr
Humphrey Nash. Mr Sydney Price I learn is very ill again. Very
doubtful if the old gentleman will ever get up again.
Monday 18th July
To Petworth again this morning. Expect it will be my last week here
as the hotel is not yet ready for us. Shall not be sorry in many
respects to get away.
Wednesday 20th July 1898
Another letter from AJB[5] from
Sydney. He has, through a row with an official, left the boat he
was on and is expecting to be put on the Queensland trip which
prospect he doesn’t much relish. Great pity as he was doing very
well on the “Buningyong”. Having nearly finished our fence and
gates, was sent to Swan Hotel again on Thursday and Friday. As I
found I was to finish up on Saturday, took the bull by the horns
and resigned on Friday evening thinking perhaps I might get a job
on Saturday. Came home Friday by last train.
Saturday 23rd July 1898
First thing this morning started off on my bicycle to try and find
a job, nothing doing in Horsham. Tried first at Streets, Warnham,
then on to Dorking. No luck. At Leatherhead saw Jim Garman Sen. and
on his advice waited about to see Mr Harry Brown, but he couldn’t
give me a start then, promised to let me know later on. By this
time it was no use thinking of trying any more – all shut up. So
had an easy spin into Epsom, put machine up and took train to
Victoria. Arrived there after a lot of waiting about, had a walk
across park to Whitehall and had a look in the United Service
Museum.
Whitehall and the Royal United
Service Institute Museum, reproduced from Billy’s copy of The
Queen’s London, 1896, p.204.
The principal attraction there is, I find, a fine painted ceiling
by Reubens. It was said to be the banqueting hall of Whitehall
Palace and said to be all that remains of that building. There is a
large collection of arms (ancient and modern) and accoutrements,
models of ordnance, ships etc. and relics of great soldiers and
sailors. No doubt very interesting to a practical service man.
After “doing” the museum, had tea and a stroll down the Strand
admiring the pictures etc. in shops until about 6.30 when I looked
around Covent Garden and found people already patiently waiting for
doors to open, so took my place. Found myself paired with a very
nice young fellow, a German from Berlin. We stayed together all the
evening and I think each enjoyed the other’s company. After a very
tedious wait, we managed to get in by 7.30. The opera this evening
was Gounod’s “Faust”. The company was nearly the same as I saw in
“Romeo and Juliet”. A beautiful thing as regards music and
“mounting’ but should in my ignorance have enjoyed it more had it
been in English instead of French.
- [1] Kate Arthur
subsequently married Billy’s brother Herbert.
- [2] Kate and Lois
Stepney were Bernard Baker’s cousins. They lived in Shipley, some
six miles south of Horsham.
- [3] The Baker family
lived at 10 Arthur Road, Horsham.
- [4] Probably referring
to D company, 2nd Sussex Rifle Volunteer Corps, formed in
1880.
- [5] Arthur Baker had
given up on gold mining by this time and had resumed his trade as a
steward on an Australian coastal steamer.
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