Trying to work out just how much (and why) the early days of Janie and Fred’s relationship were blighted by the disapproval of Janie’s family, the Warburtons, is tricky when the only lens I’ve got for this time are the sporadic entries from Fred’s diary. Fred is feeling that his shortcomings in the eyes of… Continue reading Let’s call the whole thing off (but I’ll see you once a week)
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Burning with the power of 8000 candles…
Following the somber events of early October, Fred + Janie resume seeing each other and I have one short letter from Fred who pleads to see Janie again from the time around the death of his father. There is an initial discussion about the different trains he tried to ‘accidentally’ meet her from and this… Continue reading Burning with the power of 8000 candles…
Vlog – a tour of the letters
Thought I’d give you a little look at the letters:
Stop all the clocks…
In my initial excitement at reading and starting to transcribe the letters and Fred’s diary, I wasn’t really aware of how much this was getting under my skin. So when I came across this entry I froze. And then I found myself full of tears: Transcription: Friday October 4th. My father died on this day.… Continue reading Stop all the clocks…
Fred worriedly writes to Janie for the first time
The drama of Jane being hit by her mother for being seen with the wrong man really upset Fred. I’ve just finished reading, and have now transcribed his whole diary, and now realise he’s not given to writing his feelings down in it very much at all. It’s rare when he does and on one… Continue reading Fred worriedly writes to Janie for the first time
In which we meet Fred, and Jane gets into trouble
Along with the letters, we also have a diary that Fred kept for about 2 years – which looks like he started it on his 19th birthday – May 16th 1878. Between May and August he is courting, on and off, Miss Lucy Craven, a “fine looking girl about 17 years old. Tall and well… Continue reading In which we meet Fred, and Jane gets into trouble
A first look at a family treasure
Fred writes in the most beautiful copperplate. He has access to good paper and ink from his works at Brown Bayley & Dixon, Attercliffe – where in 1878 he worked as Trade Clerk for 25 shillings a week. Given that while coming from a poor area, he’s done well with education to the point that… Continue reading A first look at a family treasure
My very own time machine
This is the excerpt for a placeholder post. It can be deleted, or edited to make it your own.
My Darling Janie 