Went on the moors with Joe in the morning. Father, mother and Gertie went to Barnard Castle in the afternoon. Charlie and I stayed near home and read. Joe and Marmie knocked about a bit. Played “golf” in the morning with Joe’s ball. Had walk by Spital Way at night.
Yearly Archives: 2014
3 July 1914; Friday
Charlie and I did record walk. Went by Gilmonby, Rutherford, T[h]waite, Scargill, Barningham over the moors, and came back by Greta Bridge and Rokeby 1. Got some lime juice and soda in Barningham and some milk at a farmhouse on the way home. Didn’t get in until 9 o’clock at night. Found Joe here when we got back. He has got off for the weekend.
2 July 1914; Thursday
Sat by the moors in the morning with Charlie and Father. In the afternoon Charlie, Father and I walked up to Sleightholme round by Gilmonby by the moors1. Grand day and lovely scenery. Saw scores of wild rabbits. Didn’t get home until about 8 o’clock. Had short walk at night.
1 July 1914; Wednesday
Family got the 12.7 train to Barnard Castle. It looked showery. Charlie and I intended to walk back but it rained heavily and †diverted us to our† train. Spent afternoon in Bowes Museum1. Got out fine at night and we went on to the top of the nearest moors again.
Bowes Museum (marked on map): the 19th century château-style art gallery at Barnard Castle, now widely known and admired. See also Bowes map. ↩
30 June 1914; Tuesday
Dined out much better dinner. After dinner all the family trained to Lartington and walked to Cotherstone. Fine day. Charlie and I went up to the leap† at the top of the moors. Filled in time with bagatelle and reading Strand magazines1.
Strand magazines: monthly magazine, 1891 – 1950; contributors included Conan Doyle, E W Hornung (writer of the ‘Raffles’ novels), W W Jacobs, H G Wells, Agatha Christie, E Nesbit, Dorothy L Sayers. See also: The Strand and Arthur Linfoot’s Library ↩
The Strand
The Strand Magazine was a monthly magazine founded by George Newnes, composed of short fiction and general interest articles. It was published in the United Kingdom from January 1891 to March 1950, running to 711 issues.
Arthur Linfoot noted, in his diary entry for 30 June 1914, that he had “filled in time” reading Strand magazines. This may suggest that Strand Magazine was something he was inclined to take less seriously than some of the other items in this list.
29 June 1914; Monday
Hottest day this summer. Walked with Charlie to Cotherstone over moors, and up by Lartington to B. Castle1. Train back from Barnard Castle home at about 6 o’clock. Had grand day and were tired at night. Began to play with bagatelle board.
The map shows the entire journey, from Bowes (A), to Cotherstone (B), via Lartington (C) to Barnard Castle (D). See also Bowes map. ↩
28 June 1914; Sunday
Got up late. Didn’t go to church until night when Charlie and I went to the Wesleyan anniversary. Singing was awful. Had 3 walks, up moor in the morning, round the south side in the afternoon and at night. Met old farmer and talked with him and his wife. Fine day. Liked the place all right. Wrote to Ernie.
27 June 1914; Saturday
[Written in longhand above date -] Advance in wages. Went to Bowes.
Got up at about 7.30. Family went with 9.13 train to Bowes.1 I worked until 12.30 and then rode home on bicycle. Hurried up to station. Met Charlie there. Travelled with him. Left Sunderland by 1.26. Arrived Bowes 6 o’clock. Spent time in Bishop Auckland and Barnard Castle. Fine day. Had short walks at night. Went on to moors last thing. Received advance in wages from Mr Scott. 30/- per week now. Bowes is a small village built on the main road to Tebay. The houses are mostly stone. It stands high. The air is good and the village very quiet and pretty.
26 June 1914; Friday
Got up at 6 o’clock. Went to the baths and had a good time. Finished in good time. Luggage sent on. Made final arrangements last thing. Had walk out. Very unsettled. Not much to do. Fine night. Went up to the library and left a book there.