I went to Wootton Church. In the afternoon Julia went to Ryde. Mr. W.W.D drank tea with us. Julia came home in the coach after which we went for a nice walk.
The Diary of Mary Ann Denham
Wootton Bridge 1857 -1859
October 3rd, 1858
Sunday 3rd October 1858
September 30th, 1858
Thursday 30th September 1858
Julia went to Newport.
September 26th, 1858
Sunday 26th September 1858
Julia went to Wootton Church. In the afternoon I drank tea at Mr. Dore’s. In the evening I went to St. Thomas’s Church . Mr. W.W.D walked home with me. Miss J. Rolf and Mr. F.L. Cousin William and little Annie drank tea with Grandma. Mr. J.P. called in about 9 o’clock on his return from Portsmouth.
September 25th, 1858
Saturday 25th September 1858
1st Bargain Saturday. In the afternoon Julia walked into Newport.
September 18th, 1858
Saturday 18th September 1858
We had ½ ton of coals from Wootton Bridge. In the afternoon Julia went to Newport.
September 12th, 1858
Sunday 12th September 1858
Julia went to Wootton Church. In the afternoon I went to Newport Miss D. and Miss C. came to met me. I drank tea at Mr. Dores. In the evening we went to Church Mr. Connor preached Mr.W.W.D Miss D and Mr. K. came home with me. We met Mr. R Mr. W.F.L and Mr. P on their return to Newport after calling at Grandma’s.
September 11th, 1858
Saturday 11th September 1858
I went to Newport. In the afternoon Julia went to Newport Mr. J H and Miss Dore home with her. We saw the comet* for the first time.
*This would have been Donati’s Comet one of the brightest and most visible comets of the 19th century; it was discovered by Giovanni Donati on June 2, 1858, brightened to magnitude -1 in September 1858, reached perihelion on September 30, came closest to Earth (0.5 AU) on October 9, and was last seen on March 4, 1859. Around the time of closest approach the Earth, the comet developed a prominent dust tail, up to 60° long and curved like a scimitar, for which it is best remembered.
Donati’s Comet was the first comet to be photographed. It was nearest the Earth on October 10, 1858 and is expected to return in the 39th century.
August 29th, 1858
Sunday 29th August 1858
Julia went to Wootton Church. Grandma was taken very ill with the spasms they lasted 5 hours. Mr. Fords little baby was christened and Mrs Millers. I did not go out the whole of the day. Grandma was much easier in the evening.
August 28th, 1858
Saturday 28th August 1858
I went to Newport, in the afternoon Julia walked into town. Mr. J.K. and Miss D.D. walked home with her.
August 24th, 1858
Tuesday 24th August 1858
Grandma rather better. I went to Newport, in the evening Julia walked into Newport, rode home in Mr. Lamberts carriage. Mr. G.C. called in to see Grandma.