Diary extracts as an English tourist

The series of Diary extracts falls into five groups on separate pages, reflecting Woodforde's career: Oxford undergraduate; Somerset curate; College fellow; Norfolk rector; Tourist.

In each extract the first part is a faithful transcription of the original manuscript, as published in the Parson Woodforde Society's edition in seventeen volumes. The diarist's line-breaks in his manuscript are retained. The second part is a transcription in modern English, with revised punctuation and spelling and set as continuous prose.

In these glimpses into Woodforde's daily life we see him on holiday with his niece Nancy Woodforde. In the first extract they are in London, where they stay at an inn and attend the theatre. In the second they join a family party while in Somerset to journey to Sherborne in Dorset; there they have a very good view of the King and Royal Family.

They attend Covent Garden theatre, 11 June 1789

We breakfasted, dined, supped and slept again at
the Angel at the back of St Clements Church –
After breakfast I hired a Hackney Coach and
Took Nancy with me a shopping –
Lent Nancy to buy things this Morn' -  1 – 1 – 0
At a Fan shop in Tavistock Street for 2 Fanns
1 for Nancy's Sister in Law and one for my Niece
Jane Pouncett – p^d -  0 – 11 – 0
Nancy owes me for her Sister's Fan  0 – 5 – 0
For the Hackney this morning - pd -  0 – 3 – 0
We dined rather late – at 6 o'clock this
Evening we went in a Hackney Coach to the
Theatre in Covent Garden and there saw the
Duenna performed, Mrs Billington the famous
singer, sung most delightfully this evening –
The Entertainment was the midnight hour –
The House was much crowded, we sat in
the Boxes, Nancy was obliged to sit without a
Hat, a person in the lobby taking care of it –
For our Seats in the Boxes – I p^d -  0 – 10 – 0
To a Woman that took care of the hat gave  0 – 1 – 0
To a Coach for Covent Garden Theatre p^d -  0 – 1 – 6
For ditto- from thence – gave  0 – 2 - 0

Elizabeth Billington (1765-1818), by John James Masquerier [courtesy of The Garrick Club]

The auditorium of the Theatre Royal at Covent Garden before the fire of 1808 [from The Microcosm of London 1808, Thomas Rowlandson and Augustus Charles Pugin (after) John Bluck]

We breakfasted, dined, supped and slept again at the Angel at the back of St Clement's Church. After breakfast I hired a Hackney coach and took Nancy with me a-shopping. Lent Nancy to buy things this Morning   £1 1s 0d. At a fan shop in Tavistock Street for two fans - one for Nancy's sister-in-law and one for my niece Jane Pouncett - paid   £0 11s 0d. Nancy owes me for her sister's [sister-in-law's] fan  £0 5s 0d. For the Hackney this morning paid  £0 3s 0d. We dined rather late.

At 6 o'clock this evening we went in a Hackney coach to the theatre in Covent Garden and there saw The Duenna performed. Mrs Billington, the famous singer, sang most delightfully this evening. The entertainment was The Midnight Hour. The house was much crowded; we sat in the boxes. Nancy was obliged to sit without a hat, a person in the lobby taking care of it.

For our seats in the boxes I paid  £0 10s 0d; to a woman that took care of the hat gave  £0 1s 0d; to a coach for Covent Garden Theatre paid  £0 1s 6d; for ditto [the coach] from thence gave  £0 2s 0d.

A sight of King George III and Royal Family, 4 August 1789

I rose this morning at 6 o'clock, shaved & dressed,
And at 7. I went in a Bruton Chaise and my Niece
Jenny Pounsett with me, to my Brothers at C. Cary
And there we made a second breakfast, after
That my brother and Wife, Mr Richd Clarke & Nancy,
A Dr Brodum who is a German Doctor, Mr James
Clarke and Wife and the latter's Brother Mr
Will^m Dawe, all sat of about 9 o'clock for
Sherborne for to see the Royal Family . . .
We all went down to Lord Digby's Park and
there walked about till about 12 o'clock, at
which time, the King, Queen, Princess Royal,
Princess Elizabeth , and Princess Augusta
[several words scribbled out ] arrived in the Park
in three Royal Coaches with 4 Horses to each
We were very near them as they passed by –
After they had taken some refreshment, they
All walked upon the Terrace before the crowd
We were all very near indeed to them, the
King looked very red and is very tall & erect
The Queen & Princesses rather short but very
pleasing Countenances and fair

King George III (reigned 1760–1820), by Jeremiah Meyer (d.1789) [York Art Gallery through Art UK]

I rose this morning at 6 o'clock, shaved & dressed, and at 7 I went in a Bruton chaise, and my niece Jenny Pounsett with me, to my brother's at Castle Cary, and there we made a second breakfast. After that my brother and wife, Mr Richd Clarke & Nancy, a Dr Brodum who is a German doctor, Mr James Clarke and wife and the latter's brother Mr William Dawe all set off about 9 o'clock for Sherborne for to see the Royal Family . . .

We all went down to Lord Digby's park and there walked about till about 12 o'clock, at which time, the King, Queen, Princess Royal, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Augusta [several words scribbled out ] arrived in the park in three royal coaches with four horses to each. We were very near them as they passed by.

After they had taken some refreshment they all walked upon the terrace before the crowd. We were all very near indeed to them. The King looked very red and is very tall & erect; the Queen and princesses rather short, but very pleasing countenances and fair.