Tuesday, December 29, 1835

1835

December

Tuesday 29

8 1/4

11 1/2

No kiss. Ready in 3/4 hour.  Rainy morning and F 41° at 9, at which hour, breakfast – Sat reading till after 10 from page 75 to 87 part 1 Milne Edwards’ Elements of Zoology –

Then Horner’s man brought home 2 of my Geneva prints from which Mr. Horner had removed the effect of damp – Sent back the large view of the Lake of Geneva to be done in the same way –

My aunt considerably better this morning – had no fluttering during the night –

Went out at 10 1/2 – In the farm yard and about – Robert Mann + 3 and Frank cutting up and putting in the barn the haystack that Matthew Avison so ill-thatched that 2 or 3 feet thick of the top is quite spoilt –

Mr. Bray, bringing with him his friend Mr. Barber, called on Ann about Water Lane mill between 11 and 12 – Went in to them (when I had been a little while with Mr. Harper, who came just before them) for 1/4 hour – According to Mr. Bray’s account, an 8 horse steam etc. etc. including general repairs = £650 – Ann to consider about and fix a rent, and let Mr. Bray know as soon as she could – He not wishing to make any offer till he heard what rent she thought of having – 

All seemed to agree it would be best to pull all the mill down and build a new one on a proper scale – The present mill too narrow for worsted or cotton, only 6 yards 2 feet inside – Should be at least 16 yards – The best mills 25 yards wide within – this with a 20-horse engine and a reservoir I said would be best, and should be brought into public competition for Mr. Bray to bid for the mill, taking his chance with the rest – 

He wanted a 14 years lease – Ann said 8 – Should apply to Lady William Gordon for leave to make a reservoir to take the water off brook into – the whole of the water down to Salterhebble belonging to Lady William Gordon, in right of her father, Lord Ingram –

Took Mr. Husband to Whiskum and told him what to measure off for Mark Hepworth to cart away –

Then back to Mr. Harper – Told him to make me a specification and working drawings of the intended garden cottage – Like his sketch very well – As also the sketch of cottage to be near the top of Conery wood for the use of Walker Pit – Much talk about additions to Shibden – Mr. Harper to make a new ground plan including stable within the castle court on the west – And to make perspective drawings – Mr. Harper went away about or soon after 3 –

Then had Booth the mason – Shewed him what I wanted doing at the farmyard, Cascade Bridge arch, etc.  Then with Robert Mann and company till they had got and sided all about the haystack till near 5 –

Then dressed – Then with Ann, very low and poorly – Then 25 minutes with my aunt till dinner at 6 10/..Coffee – 10 minutes with my father and Marian – Read the first 99 pages, Volume 2, Quin’s Steam Voyage Down the Danube, and then 1/2 hour with my aunt till 8 3/4 –

Then wrote all but the 1st 5 lines of today till 10 10/.., at which hour, F 42 1/2° – Fine day – Rubbed Ann’s neck and back with spirit of wine and camphor –

 

WYAS Finding Number SH:7/ML/E/18/0151