Got up about 9 o’clock. Got luggage packed. I called at station and arranged for it to go. Had dinners and went up to the moors and read until train time. Left Bowes at 3.18. Arrived Sunderland about 7.30. Met Mr Whittaker at Durham and came down with him in the train. Had short walk at night with Charlie. Father and Mother went down to see Grandmother. Charlie and I met Willie and Lily in the town at night.
9 July 1914; Thursday
Went nowhere particular. Walked over the moors to Bowes in the evening. Went down to Gilmonby in the afternoon and read there. Fine day after the storm. Had short walk about the village at night. Moors very fine last thing. I wrote long letter to Ernie and told him all the news.
Received postcard from Jack and letter from Joe (per bus-train†) telling us of the death of Uncle Ned. We altered our plans and arranged to leave tomorrow.
8 July 1914; Wednesday
Got up rather late again. Family went to Barnard Castle. Charlie and I walked over the moors to Cotherstone and train to Middleton. We went in the motor bus to High Force1 and stayed there a short time. It rained shortly before we left. Heavy thunder shower and some thunder as we crossed the moors. Rather an experience. Moors very wild and the clouds very low. We were drenched and had to change all our clothes. Had short walk about the village at night.
Uncle Ned2 died. He took very ill early Monday morning and had to be taken to the infirmary at once to be operated upon. He never recovered but gradually sank and was in terrible pain.
High Force: A waterfall on the river Tees, location marked on map. See also Bowes map. ↩
As noted earlier, Uncle Ned was Edward Beauman Linfoot, father of Charles Edward Linfoot. ↩
7 July 1914; Tuesday
Got up late as usual. Took Father round by Rokeby and Greta Bridge. Inclined to thunder but got out fine. Called at Egglestone Abbey again. Got 5.47 train back to Bowes. Had walk at night and looked for more flowers.
6 July 1914; Monday
Got up about 6.20. Walked in to Barnard Castle with Joe. We mistimed ourselves and had to hurry. Joe left us near to Barnard Castle and ran to the station. We were terribly hot and tired. Sat in the Bowes Museum grounds and read a bit and then walked out to Egglestone Abbey1 and had lunch there. Fine day. Crossed Abbey Bridge and paid our toll. Had lemonades and a ginger beer. Got 3.45 train back to Bowes. Had short walk at night. Fine day.
Received flower books from Ernie and sat a bit at night.
5 July 1914; Sunday
Got up late. Had walk by Spital Way with Father and Charlie. Stayed in in the afternoon and read and wrote up diary. Rather dull. Went to Wesleyan chapel at night. Better services but much smaller choir and congregation. Preacher not so talkative and apparently more sincere. Had short walk afterwards. Fine night.
4 July 1914; Saturday
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.
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. ↩