1921 Diary of Elliot Woolford of Hook Farm, Lydiard Tregoze

1921

In 1921 Elliot enjoyed a busy social life. He watched a lot of football and saw Swindon Town beat Sheffield United 1-0 at the County Ground in the English Cup. He writes in his diary that it was "rather a rough game." There are numerous card games with friends and neighbours, whist drives and dances and the village of Hook even established a Tennis Club. Lady Bolingbroke officially opened proceedings on Saturday June 18.

.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 Elliot 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.