KILVERTS DIARY

Francis Kilvert was the son of a Wiltshire clergyman and lived from 1865 to 1872 at Clyro, where he was the curate. His diary gives an unparalleled picture of the region around Clyro, the beauty of its scenery and the character of its people. As an impecunious young clergyman, he was accepted by the local gentry but he was also painfully aware of the sufferings of the ordinary labouring people. His practical sympathy and good manners, his willingness to meet people on their own ground won him the affection of his parishioners.

Tuesday,29 March 187o

Turned aside into the meadow to look at the great stone of Cross Ffordd. It is a long time since I stood beside it,and I had forgotten that the stone was so large. I suppose no one will ever know now what the grey silent mysterious witness means, or why it was set there. Perhaps it could tell some strange wild tales and many generations have flowed and ebbed round it. There is something very solemn about these great solitary stones which stand about the country,monuments of some one or something,but the memory has perished and the history is forgotten.

Home at 6, dressed for dinner. At 6.30 Charles with the mail phaeton and the two mares, grey and bay, dashed up to the door in grand style. I was ready and away we went to the Vicarage to pick up the Vicar who took the reins. At Peter's Pool we overtook and passed at a dashing pace the Clyro Court brougham with one horse wherein were the Squire and Mr Frank Guise the recorder of Hereford bound like ourselves for dinner at Oakfield. It was refreshing to see the Vicar's stylish equipage driven by himself with two servants behind, dashing past the small humble turn-out of the Squire, rather reversing the usual order of things.

Robert Francis Kilvert