Christmas in Hardenhuish

Francis Kilvert, diarist and clergyman, was a native of Hardenhuish, and spent each Christmas, 1870-3, with his family at Langley Burrell. As I am currently working on the history of commerce and service industries in Chippenham, I find it interesting to see what shopping he records in his diary – whether he went to his local town, or to Bath, and what he bought – buying skates for example, or a trip to the dentist, are both recorded. He also at Christmas went ‘villaging’, calling on the parishioners, especially the elderly and housebound, for a chat. And from them he learnt anecdotes about life in the Chippenham area long before his time – he was born in 1840. This is my favourite, recorded on 16 December 1872.

‘One evening she [the ‘Dame’, Mrs Matthews of Home Farm, Langley Burrell] saw one of the farm men steal a pound of butter out of the dairy and put it into his hat, at the same moment clapping his hat upon his head. “John,” called the Dame. “John, come here. I want to speak to you.” John came, carefully keeping his hat on his head. The Dame ordered some ale to be heated for him and bade him sit down in front of the roaring fire. John thanked his mistress and said he would have the ale another time, as he wanted to go home at once. “No, John. Sit you down by the fire and drink some hot ale. ‘Tis a cold night and I want to speak to you about the kine [cattle].” The miserable John, daring neither to take off his hat nor to go without his mistress’s leave sat before the scorching fire drinking the hot ale until the melting butter in his hat began to run down all over his face. The Dame eyed him with malicious fun. “Now, John,” she said, “you may go. I won’t charge you anything for the butter.”’

From Dr John Chandler.