The Diary of Nathaniel Bryceson (Part 6)

[Siamese Girl]

Sunday 6th September is a very typical Nathaniel Sunday - a trip to a church, an attempt at vandalism, stopped because there was a policeman there and the usual italic with Ann 

It did remind me - because I had forgotten about it - that if we want any blackberry jelly this year I had better go out and pick some.

Carole

[drykid]

Sunday 6th September is a very typical Nathaniel Sunday - a trip to a church, an attempt at vandalism, stopped because there was a policeman there and the usual italic with Ann 

Yeah, that was my thought too; it covered all bases really.  Sundays always seem to have the most intereresting entries. It might be my favourite entry in the diary so far, anyway.  Although I sincerely hope that the statement "interfered with a policeman" is missing a "by"...

[Aniseed]

That made me laugh too! He got told off last Sunday for looking round the church just after the service by an old man, ticked off by a policeman this week; people don't seem to have welcomed him with open arms, did he maybe look suspicious?! Maybe with good reason, though, he really is intent on carving his initials into every church porch in the area.

[drykid]

That made me laugh too! He got told off last Sunday for looking round the church just after the service by an old man, ticked off by a policeman this week; people don't seem to have welcomed him with open arms, did he maybe look suspicious?! Maybe with good reason, though, he really is intent on carving his initials into every church porch in the area.

Well considering by 1848 (if the sole entry fom that diary surviving is anything to go by) he'd progressed to stealing skulls from graveyards, they probaby were justified in treating him with some suspicion.  But that's half the appeal of the diary really; you're never exactly sure what he's going to do next.  The only disappointment for me with this entry is he didn't stalk Mrs. Skirricker for a bit while he was at it.  Then it would've been perfect

[Siamese Girl]

I really miss Mrs S. I was so hoping for just another clue or two to help us finally pin her down.

Carole

[Ruskie]

I thought that yesterday's entry was very amusing too.

I know that many of the places which have been swallowed up by "Greater London" in the 1840's were villages. I still need reminding of this though as I just can't imagine how it must have been. So here is a picture of an idyllic looking Hendon Church:
http://www.londonancestor.com/views/vc-hendon.htm
It still looks nice now: 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/satguru/218789844/

Just over 7 miles from Hendon to Richmond Buildings, so a bit of a lazy day for Nathaniel ...  no wonder he had plenty of energy to try to 'paw up' Ann. 

Yet MORE details of the gas lamps today. 

Forget Mrs Skirricker, it's the gas lamps that are Nathaniel's latest obsession. 

[steve_gus]

Having gas lamps installed would have been a big jump in technology for the time - Nat has mentioned a week or so back about having to work by oil lamp / candle light. I guess we are used to technology nowadays, but this would have been big for Nat.

[Siamese Girl]

As he was so annoyed at poor old Mr Walker having hs old oil lamp removed and a new gas one fitted instead I wonder how he feels about gas light coming to Ecclestone Wharf - or will the improvement in the amount of light he gets win him over?

Carole

[Mongibello]

I checked some time ago but the gateposts had been changed long ago and there was no sign of NB1.
The Greyhound pub is still there and the Church, pub and Church Farmhouse make a fine group today.  The farmhouse is the Barnet Borough Museum.
All this is at the top of the hill overlooking the area that was Hendon Aerodrome, set up originally about the time that Nathaniel died.