A Snapshot of Winter 1884

Although hopefully this winter is now behind us, the following comes from the Eastington Parish Magazine of January 1884. It helps throw a bit of light on the way our predecessors lived and of how times in the village have since changed.

During this month, George Hill and Elizabeth Wager married, as did James Warner and Eliza Watkins.

William Barnfield (aged only 2) and Mary Ann Bailey (aged 73) died.

The Temperance Association held a number of lectures, readings and musical events in the Wesleyan schoolroom and the Temperance Hall.

 Now read on….

Eastington Parish Magazine  January 1884

The mild and open weather which has characterised the early part of the present winter, with the exception of a few keen frosts in November, has followed us through Christmas. Our young people, who have been longing to see a prospect of using their skates, have had to find other pleasures. Perhaps the ice which would not ‘bear a duck before Christmas’ may ‘bear a goose after’!

Among the usual indications of the festive season, the earliest was, of course, the butcher’s display. No choicer beef can be anywhere found than is produced in the pastures of our valley lands, and a capital show was provided, notably by our neighbour

Mr John Warner, and mainly of his own feeding. Following, and on the close approach of Christmas day, came as usual the evening melodies of the carol singers, the band, and the hand-bell ringers.

Our parish band has really become thoroughly efficient, and their performances do them much credit. It strikes us too, that on the whole, our carol singing has been of a much better quality than usual - less of the irreverent style, and more of the well-sung appreciative music. It will be pleasant indeed, if, as years go on, this should become increasingly the case.

Eastington volunteer brass band assembled outside Eastington Park

The annual ‘mill dinner’ to the Sunday scholars working for Messrs. Hooper & Co, took place on Saturday Dec 22, and was as pleasant an occasion as it has been in so many preceding years.

Christmas day occurring this year on Tuesday, involved an unusually long holiday for the mill operatives, the works being closed from Saturday Dec 22, to Wednesday Dec 26. The usual religious services were held on Christmas morning, followed in the parish church by an administration of the Holy Communion.

The decorations of the church are marked by the same simplicity and good taste to which we have been  accustomed, the windows, chancel- arch, and gallery bearing appropriate scripture quotations.

About mid-day, the usual treat of a good dinner to the inmates of the Union Workhouse was provided by the liberality of the guardians and others, and was fully appreciated.

I wonder what Eastington winter will be like in another hundred years’ time?!

Stephen Mills

Published in ECN 132 Aril/May 2012