1915 Diary of Elliot Woolford of Hook Farm, Lydiard Tregoze

1915

On Wednesday February 3, 1915 Elliot writes in his diary: - “Baby “Rowland George Henry Woolford walked first time this Evening 17 months & 3 weeks old.” Elliot married Amy Newth in 1911, following a long liaison with another woman. Elliot was 43 and Amy 27 years old. Their only child, a son, was born in 1913 and was the apple of his father’s eye. The 1915 diary records all the usual farm routine but constant references are made to ‘the Babe.’ “We had a walk round the fields this Evening took Babe.” “Amy Babe & I went to Wootton Bassett this Afternoon bought a new cheque Book 2/6.” “Paid for Milk 9/- which I put in Babes money box.

Background

In a meticulously kept and unbroken series of diaries, Elliot Woolford provides the reader with a no-nonsense view of farming life at Lydiard Tregoze spanning more than 45 years. His livelihood was forever at the mercy of the vagaries of the weather and fluctuating market prices.

Elliot and his brother Rowland acquired the tenancy of Hook Farm in 1899 from the 5th Viscount Bolingbroke. In 1930 Elliott was able to purchase the farm when part of the Bolingbroke estate was sold by the Viscount's widow, Mary in 1930. The Woolford family remain there to this day.