1921 Christmas diary entry, Elliot Woolford of Hook Farm, Lydiard Tregoze

One hundred years ago, in 1921, local farmer Elliot Woolford described each day in his diary. In this extract we take a look at Christmas week. Naturally the weather and work carried out on the farm make up most of the entries, but what is especially delightful about this week is the record of activities relating to Christmas.

Elliot and his wife Amy were involved in providing a Christmas tea for 75 school children, 30 mothers, pensioners and the teachers. With assistance from the teachers they purchased presents for each child which they wrapped and labelled. Lady Bolingbroke provided the Christmas tree for the school, which Mrs Woolford and the teachers decorated in time for the tea party, while Charles St.John made a 'capable Father Christmas with his beard and red cloak'. Father Christmas came a little late to Hook, the party was held on the 30th. Christmas in 1921 was very much a community affair, with everyone getting involved.

Background

Elliot and his brother Rowland (Rowlie) acquired the tenancy of Hook Farm, Lydiard Tregoze, 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.

The Friends of Lydiard Park are gradually transcribing Elliott's meticulously kept and unbroken series of diaries which span over 45 years, thanks to the Woolford family.