12 February From GDP/8 John Leeson John Leeson (1803-1865) owned and rented out property in London. In his diaries, he regularly recorded a mixture of his business dealings, family news, and politics. 12 February 1853 Parliament met – Lord Aberdeen leader in the Lords & Lord J Russell in the Commons. Charlotte [the diarist’s wife] called on Mrs. Beasley with her rents – is still ill, the abscess discharges very much & she takes but little nourishment. Napoleon the 3rd Emperor of France married a young French Countess – we are strengthening the National Defences, in case he should invade [...]

2 February From GDP/8 John Leeson John Leeson (1803-1865) owned and rented out property in London. In his diaries, he regularly recorded a mixture of his business dealings, family news, and politics. Here, amid the usual mixture of the diarist’s home life and international affairs – in this instance the run-up to the American Civil War. 2 February 1861 An accident on the Southampton Railway – nr Guildford – Dr. Baly of Queen Ann St. Physician to Queen Victoria – who was in the train – thrown out & killed. Earl of Guildford died at Waldershare 88 yrs age – [...]

From GDP/1 AM AM was born in 1937 and grew up in Cumbria. She kept a detailed diary during her teenage years and her early twenties, covering her final years at school, and her first job doing secretarial work in Edinburgh. Here she describes a dance she attended when she was 16. 5 December 1953 When I woke up this morning, I was honestly surprised to find that I had survived the night! Old Champagne C left immediately after he’d had his morning tea – never even waited for his breakfast. The party was great fun + the cocktail a [...]

‘Twenty-five pages nearly completed! I wonder if this diary is worth the few minutes I spend on it daily. I believe I have some faint hope that years and years ahead my daughter will find some interest in it, as I have found in a few odd notes which my father wrote many years ago (on his trip through France, Switzerland and Italy). Always I have been fascinated by the small details of the life lived by people of the last generation or two. So very much has changed that its [sic] more easy to imagine life as the Romans [...]

From GDP/27 Rev. D (Digby) B In this excerpt, he writes about the passage of a new Church of England Prayer Book through the House of Lords. The proposal was later defeated in the Commons. 15 December 1927 Snow, but did not rest. The set P.Bk. passed the Lords yesterday – 241 for 88 against – much better than I had expected & I think most people. Today the Commons vote. The most dangerous parts passed & in HoC all in [illegible] but the opp: we may be [illegible] than we anticipated &be endorsed by many abstentions. 29 December 1927 [...]

Happy New Year 2013 From GDP/1 AM AM was born in 1937 and grew up in Cumbria. She kept a detailed diary during her teenage years and her early twenties, covering her final years at school, and her first job doing secretarial work in Edinburgh. This is the final entry in her diary, covering her 21st birthday. Friday 3 January 1958 I had a quite out of this world [21st] birthday + gathered around me all the people I love best. There were dozens of cards, telegrams + parcels to open + I had some heavenly presents. Special note for [...]

From GDP/8 John Leeson John Leeson (1803-1865) owned and rented out property in London. In his diaries, he regularly recorded a mixture of his business dealings, family news, and politics. This entry is unusual in focusing entirely on family matters, and underlines how important the birth of his daughter was to him. 20 December 1851 Mrs. Leeson, my dear wife, confined at ½past 5 of’clock in the morning with a daughter, attended by Dr. Nicholson of Davies Street. She walked out with me around Grosvenor Square on Thursday afternoon, which fatigued her, complained of pains in the back + stomach [...]