Moving on, 1906

The Woodlands, image taken circa 1875
Copyright The National Library of Wales, permission for non commercial use.

News of Thomas’ retirement from his post at Palé comes without warning in January 1906 with the entry: Tuesday 9th To Bala College to advise them about trees and grounds ‘It was my last chance to go before leaving Palé’.

Then, there is his own heading ‘Leaving Palé’.

Wednesday the 17th [January]. We have been busy packing everything for about 10 days, and now we leave dear old Palé where I have been for 37 years. I made all the grounds, gardens, and had the hothouses erected in Mr Robertson’s time. I have had happy and sorrowful times at it, and now as I am not young, the strain and constant tie tells on me.

Sir Henry wishes me to go into his house, called the Woodlands at Llangollen; a home much too big for us, but he says I can occupy all I require of it. It is a pretty little spot, just out of town and yet close to it and within 7 or 8 minutes of the station. We got all our furniture etc. into the vans and all weighed about 4 tons. Sir Henry removes my things for me. We left by the 4.20 and were met at Llangollen by Mr. Chinnock of Leahurst and his kind family. They stay with Chinnock family overnight as beds were not ready in new home. I believe Mr Chinnock to have been a former employee of the Robertson family.

Thursday the 18th We brought my box and Henry’s box, the collections of eggs and shells with us in the carriage – are all safe and left them at the Woodlands last night. Today we got only one load of furniture, for the weather was so stormy, sleet and wind. As the rest had not all arrived, Henry and I made up shakedowns and slept at the Woodlands, for the rooms have been well aired by Mr Chinnock.

Friday the 19th. We got the rest of the furniture and got up the beds, so that all of us slept at the Woodlands. We also managed to cook our own food at it. … The unpacking was very exciting; there was not a single article broken or damaged. The railway wagon man said he rarely saw such good packing. John Thomas packed all crockery, glass and the pierglass, the latter in a crate. Henry and the girls packed the books, and I packed the fossils, minerals and antiquities.

Saturday the 20th. Busy putting things together. Francie left by last train for Llandderfel, as she has to play the organ on Sundays until other arrangements can be made.

It is not clear exactly how the decision for Thomas to leave was made, whether by his request, the gentle encouragement of Sir Henry, or a mutual decision. However as if Sir Henry’s provision of a substantial house and continuing gifts of game birds at Christmas was proof of ongoing care. There is no indication that Thomas ever returned to Palé.

As will be seen, Thomas made the most of his tenancy of the spacious house provided for him by setting up his various collections on a room he would name ‘the Museum’. Thomas had long known the Woodlands as a house belonging to the Robertson family, having mentioned being sent to inspect the garden at some time in the 1880s. It would seem that the house later became a hotel, perhaps somewhat extended. There is evidence online of its being sold as late as 2014.

University Days, 1905

Aberystwyth College about 1901

Thomas’ journal for the year 1905 is quite sparse. He was to retire in the spring of the next year and there are hints that his energies were diminishing. He records a number of walks undertaken by his children on their own and such walks as he joins in are modest. There are no geological expeditions recorded, and no high level rambles.

Most of the news he records concerns his children; by now he has two, both a son and daughter at University. His eldest son of his second marriage, Henry having left Aberystwyth in 1903 was continuing his higher education at Jesus College, Oxford, studying mathematics. Now in 1905 his second daughter, Caroline Elizabeth, ‘Carrie’ was offered a place at Aberystwyth where women students had been admitted in 1884 and a hall of residence for women opened in 1885 At first Thomas was undecided whether she should go, worrying about expense, but when Carrie achieved a Scholarship, Thomas resolved that she should follow her brother. I believe she read Latin from a newspaper article following her graduation which I can’t now locate.

The academic successes of his children were very gratifying to Thomas, who all those years ago had chosen gardening as a path to social mobility. Sir Henry Robertson seems to have taken a lively interest in the youngsters’ fortunes, advising and encouraging Thomas to facilitate his daughter’s further education as well as his son’s.

A New Home for the Journals, 2023

Pictured – handing over the journals at the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Science store at the AG Brighton building. After 19 years of giving a home to Thomas Ruddy’s fascinating journals, and having transcribed most of the journals fully, and taken notes on the final three to cope with fading eyesight, the journals have at last found a home where they can be properly housed, conserved and consulted by researchers. Their destination could not be more appropriate, and I’m most grateful to the Archivist of the Sedgwick Museum, Cambridge for her interest and encouragement over the years.

Thomas never visited Cambridge, but his mentor and collaborator over many years was Thomas McKenny Hughes, who in 1873 succeeded Adam Sedgwick as Woodwardian Professor of Geology at Cambridge. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_McKenny_Hughes McKenny Hughes’ expeditions with Ruddy over many years are documented in this blog (see Category) He was often accompanied by his wife Mary Caroline, herself a very competent geologist. Her presence enabled other female geologists and enthusiasts to take part in expeditions led by Ruddy, who seemed particularly welcoming and concerned for the women who showed interest in his passion for geology.

Following Sedgwick’s death, McKenny Hughes began to consider and plan for a new museum which would also be a working research institution to honour his mentor, Sedgwick. His plan finally came to fruition with the opening of the building in 1904. From Wikipedia:

The building of the present Sedgwick Museum on Downing Street was supervised by McKenny Hughes. McKenny Hughes was particularly skilled in the art of persuasion and had no trouble negotiating and cajoling the University to consider erecting a new museum, as a permanent memorial to Adam Sedgwick. He raised over £95,000 through public subscription towards the construction of the new Museum.

Recently a new facility has been opened at the Madingly Rise Site in Cambridge which works as the ‘back office’ of the Sedgwick, and it is here to the AG Brighton Building that I was able to take the remaining journals and a few other items of interest. Sandra, the Archivist gave a fascinating tour of the many and varied items stored there, including some relating to the Hughes’s.

One of the items I was able to deposit was a magnificent example of Ruddy’s geological draftsmanship. This now fragile document was probably created when Ruddy displayed some of his Bala Fossils to members of the International Geological Convention in 1888 (see related post).

Playing the ‘Degrees of Separation’ Game. Otherwise known as ‘Lloyd George Knew My Father’. I enjoyed musing on this. Adam Sedgwick – Thomas McK Hughes (1) -Thomas Ruddy (2) – Revd. Henry Ruddy (3) – Revd. Denys Ruddy (4) – Revd. Wendy Carey [me](5). Honoured, I’m sure!

Thomas Ruddy’s Journals can be consulted by application to the Archivist at the Museum by bona fide researchers, Catalogued as RDDY001.001 -RDDY001.008

Enduring Friendships 1904

Thomas’ connection with the Caradoc and Severn Field Club went back many years. In organising their residential Long Field Trip in June 1904 the members did not forget their old friend and guide, nor the convenience of the White Lion Hotel in Bala as their comfortable base for a variety of activities and experiences. Thomas’ own journal is backed up with reference to the official report in the Field Club’s Journal (pictured), now held and available on line courtesy of the National Library of Wales.

Thomas writes: Thursday the 9th June. I went by train to Bala to join the members of the Caradoc and Severn Valley Field Club. This is their Long Excursion, which they held at Bala this time making the White Lion and their headquarters. …….. We went as far as the farm of Cwm at Bethel. Here I led them up the mountain road onto the moorland, which we crossed to the gullery of Mynyllod.  It was good walking across the heather. 

All had luncheon at the lake, and then returned to Palé by the road over the moor.  We got caught in a shower on the hill but took no harm.  They went into the church to see and the wooden horse (Derfel’s horse) It is amusing to note that Thomas’ ‘shower’ became ‘a driving rain’ in the club members’ recollection.

‘Derfel’s Horse’ is pictured in Diarmaid MacCulloch’s biography of Thomas Cromwell with the comment ‘This now rather shapeless beastie seems to be the wooden base–block for the statue of Dderfel Gardarn, astonishingly still surviving in the porch of Llandderfel parish church, even though Cromwell had the image which stood on it carted off to London in 1538.’

On arrival at Palé, they saw through the grounds, gardens and went into the Hall to see the rooms and birds eggs. Then the ladies had tea with Francie and I showed the fossils to the gentlemen. As it was wet they went to Bala by the 4 o’clock train.

Friday the 10^th I went to Bala by the training to meet the members and to go with them to Llanwddyn. The carriage and some of the party will waiting for me at the station.   …. We had a pleasant drive all through the Hirnant valley; the scenery was highly admired and I pointed out the strata on the way under the sites of the Bala and Hirnant limestones. I saw a silver fir and old larches at Aberhirnant. …

After we got into Montgomeryshire we had a ‘Scotch mist” until we got to Lake Vyrnwy. The geranium sylvaticum, globe flower, starry saxifrage,  etc grew near Rhiwargor.   Further botanical description.I went to this guide, philosopher and friend as the Vicar the Rev John Williams was to be the local guide, we drove to the hotel and then walked to the vicarage. Mr and Mrs Williams were exceedingly kind and after luncheon, their invalid daughter who is obliged to recline on a couch, being stricken with paralysis, played a selection of Welsh airs for us on a true Welsh harp.  

It is fascinating in the 21st century to be able via the internet to compare Thomas’ own reflections with the public account of the Field Club. Unfortunately, the article written by Thomas about the Expedition for the Oswestry Advertiser is not available via the British Newspaper Archive, but another search revealed the Field Club’s archive in the care of the NLW, who are credited with the excepts shown in these screenshots. The nearly 18 years of research in the Ruddy/Pamplin archives would not have been sustainable without such finds.

1903 Not Resting on his Laurels

The Natural History Museum of Pretoria, South Africa, established 1895. Image used under Wikimedia Commons

Now in his 60’s Thomas was not this year engaged on any new geological projects. However, his settled status as an expert in his field and the provision of his display of fossils at Palé resulted in interest and contacts which reached beyond the British Isles. It is often not clear how these international links were established.

On July 6^th Thomas received a box of specimens from the ‘Curator of Pretoria’ Mr. Tweddill; ‘magnetic iron ore, semi opal, gold ore, nephrite, staurolite, serpentine, scheelite, mostly from Swaziland.  Also fossil gum, garnets, iron pyrites and specimen rocks from De Beer’s mines in Kimberley, also a beautiful stone hatchet made from a variety of jade which took a high polish.   Sent via Mr Barr, a friend in the mining business all is specimens labelled with locality and date.’ Import and export conditions obviously didn’t apply at this date. Unfortunately, I have no idea where these specimens may have gone after Thomas’ death.

On Wednesday the 15^th July there was a visit from Mrs and Miss Wheelwright, mother and daughter, to see the fossils. …. The young lady is a fair geologist and has been working up the Oolite at  Bath, where they live.  Miss W. has been reading for Bala birds, but all was new to her.  ….. I gave her a few [birds eggs] I had, much to her delight.  She is also a good botanist. Throughout the Journals it is interesting to see how many women geologists Thomas encountered, including encouraging the Robertson daughters from Palé Hall in the pursuit. It is encouraging to note that Thomas regarded them with an admirable degree of equality and seriousness, perhaps not always present in some scientific circles of the time.

On Monday the 3rd   August Sir Henry asked Thomas to show the fossils to his guests Sir James and Lady Sawyer.  Thomas and Sir James discussed at length the South African rock samples recently arrived. Sir James Sawyer (1844-1919) was a prominent Physician, knighted in 1885 for his medical work. He also had interest in agriculture and politics.

On October 31^st ‘Lieutenant Vaughan Wynn of Rûg was here; he wished to see the fossils, because he said my name was quoted at the military school when he was going through a course of geology. He was delighted to see the collection and could see the value of it, for he has given the subject matter study.’ 

On Saturday the 21^st. Mr Cope, President of the Liverpool Geological Society gave me a call when passing in the afternoon. Mr Cope is working at the Greenstone and ash rocks of the district; petrology is his chief work, so that he is not much skilled in fossils. He was much pleased to see my collection, and was surprised at the extent of it and the perfection of the specimens. 

Meanwhile, the family heard the sad news of the death of Thomas’ brother in law William Pamplin Williams at the end of July, at the early age of 54. In May the whole family were vaccinated against smallpox as there were cases in the village. The vaccination made Thomas ill with severe flu like symptoms and a sore arm slow to heal.

Henry, the eldest son by Thomas’ second marriage received his degree in maths from Aberystwyth and began studies at Jesus College Oxford. In December Thomas received news that Henry rowed for his college and was successful.

1902 Thomas at 60

Jesus College Oxford via Victorianweb.org

In the year of Thomas’ 60th birthday, a milestone not mentioned in the journal, Thomas’ attention was mainly on family matters. For the first time since his arrival at Palé he does not mention any geological expeditions and there are hints that his energies are diminishing. A number of significant family circumstances are of note.

Henry, the eldest son of his second marriage, attained his BA in mathematics from Aberystwyth, and received an Exhibition grant of £50 enabling him to continue his studies at Jesus College Oxford. The younger children continued to do well in school as well as helping their sister Francie in the house. Millie captained her school’s hockey team.

On April 23rd Willie, younger son of Thomas’ first marriage brought his fiancée May Morris to meet the family. Willie and May married on May 20th, Thomas does not appear to have attended the ceremony.

Thomas continued to write his nature notes for the Oswestry Advertiser. He continued to have visitors to his collections of fossils and birds’ eggs. In November theHon. C.H. Wynne, a member of a local family of gentry visited, bringing with him ‘Mr. Gladstone’, presumably one of W.E .Gladstone’s younger sons: the eldest son had succeeded to the politician’s title and the second son was a clergyman. They took much interest in his collections and lingered for some time with Thomas, mentioning that they read his Oswestry Adverser articles with interest, and enquiring where similar fossils could be found in rocks locally.

1900: New Century, new experiences

Model T Ford from an advertisement in Life MagazineOctober 1 1908 issue. via Wikimedia Commons

The New Year of 1900 passed without particular celebration, but several of Thomas Ruddy’s journal posts heralded a new century in technological innovation. Some things did not change, however, and friends who knew Thomas’ passion for collecting continued to send him treasures and items of interest from near and far:

Thursday the first [February]. I had a small box of minerals this morning from Mr Barr through his sons.  One a peculiar piece of limestone from Kettle Point, Lake Huron, Lambton County, Ontario, Canada. It is called a concretionary limestone.   He had it from Mr Wolverton, a geologist. Another is a piece of elaterite; it is hard and glassy looking; 4×2 and ½ inches thick.  It is from Utah, United States. Another is a slaggy looking stuff without a label. The last is called a meteorite; it is oval shaped three quarters of an inch long by half an inch wide.  It looks like a mass of angular rough sand fused together by iron.  It is a quarter of an ounce weight. I never saw anything like it. The meteorite is said to be one of hundreds of like size found on the plains near Peublo, [sic] Colorado, America.  Obtained by Mr Wm. MacMillan from Mr Robert Nesbit who picked it up. Mr McMillan gave it to Mr Peter Barr.  I am highly pleased to have it.

Later in the year, Ruddy experienced the use of a hand held Kodak camera. Well used to the static studio cameras which had provided family portraits, and professionally used tripod mounted models which recorded scenes at Palé, he now saw a fellow amateur geologist and naturalist use one:

Saturday the 21^st[April]. My friend Mr H.E. Forest; author of the Fauna of Shropshire came to see me.  We spent a very interesting evening together. I got lodgings for him as my guest at Bryntyrion. 

Sunday the 22^nd. Mr Forrest and I went to Mynyllod to see the gulls.  It was a beautiful day, and we much enjoyed our visit. We saw coots and a drake pochard there.  We were glad of a very substantial tea on our return home. We had a pleasant evening walk after, and ended with a long chat. Monday the 23^rd Mr Forrest and I had rambles about. He took several photos with his Kodak or hand camera. He was obliged to leave in the evening. He said he highly enjoyed his visit to us. Francie managed the meals very well for us.

1901 Becoming Edwardian

In January 1901 the Victorian era came to a close. Queen Victoria’s reign had been the background to Thomas’ life, and he greatly treasured the memories of his meeting with her, and her gift to him of a gold pin at the end of her visit to Palé . Thomas gives much detail in his journal of the events surrounding the Queen’s passing and of her funeral.  This is probably copied from a newspaper, perhaps The Times, as was his habit regarding significant national events.

He sums up his assessment of the reign that has passed and a cautious optimism for the future:  Queen Victoria has been the best sovreign ever reigned in England, and probably in the world. Her memory will be handed down to prosperity for goodness, virtue, kindness, and humility.  Since she began to reign, great strides have been making everything good for the nation, perfect freedom to her people, railways, telegraph, wonderful engineering works, free trade, electricity, Arts and sciences, literature, Commerce and great expansion of the Empire. Religious freedom and education are now everyone’s inheritance.

Friday the 25^th .  The Prince of Wales was yesterday declared king as Edward VII.  I feel sure he will follow, to the best of his ability, in the footsteps of his good and noble mother.  

Crowds line the route of Queen Victoria’s funeral procession. Public domain

The Queen’s death was on everyone’s mind, and Thomas was happy to recount his own experience with her: Tuesday the 5^th February.  Miss Williams, a friend of Lady Robertson, wished to see my fossils and eggs. She was a very amiable young lady and took great interest in the collections. She chatted about the visit of the Queen and the interest she took in the fossils. I told her some of what the Queen had said about the things which delighted her very much. 

Much was changing in the world around him, and the increasing independence of his children changed the aspect of his fatherly duties. His eldest son by his late second wife Frances was studying at Aberystwyth, eldest daughter Francie had become the principle keeper of house and family cook. Carrie (16) Millie (14) and Alfie (11) were relatively self sufficient.

Some of the children accompanied Thomas on his walks, it appears that they were free to choose whether to join, although Francie was perhaps too occupied with household duties to take part regularly. On September 10th Henry, still home for the holidays from Aberystwyth and Millie joined Thomas on what turned out to be a very long expedition to the waterfall Pistyll Rhaiadr. Setting out at 8.40 am, the first part of the day became foggy and damp, and they gave up the attempt once reaching the top of the Bala – Llangynog pass. However, after eating their lunch, the weather changed for the better.

Path below Craig Rhiwarth, Richard Park, via Geograph.

They continued towards a recently closed lead mine, found rock specimens and continued to the nearby summit of Craig Rhiwarth where they examined the remains of an ancient ‘British camp’ finding circular hut foundations etc. this time the day was beautifully fine, so they decided to make a dash the 3 miles to the waterfall as Millie had not seen it. They commenced a ‘toilsome climb’ over the hill getting to the falls at 3.47 and leaving at 4.37. Thomas gives much description of the view from the top of the falls, the surrounding botany and geology and includes a field sketch.

Indefatigable, they commenced the lengthy walk homewards, coming across a stone circle and avenue of stones which Thomas measured and sketched. This is an extensive description of a very long and arduous walk of at least 25 miles with two of his children. He comments that he needed to rest several times on the homeward journey. Aged 59, there are hints that his enormous energy is diminishing and he may be expecting too much of himself. Nevertheless, his enjoyment of walking in his beloved landscape in the company of his children is undiminished. So too is his interest in geology, Botany, ancient history and his love of the Welsh landscape.

1899 Francie Keeps House

The family in 1895, Francie (Frances Harriet) top right

Every member of the Ruddy family was deeply affected by the tragic death of wife and mother Frances Harriett at the age of 52, but for eldest daughter Francie it had a huge impact. Along with many other girls of her age whose mothers had died, the expectation was that she would take on the motherly role. she was 14, and at this age girls from less well off families would enter service as a maid, so there would have been no doubt that she could manage.

Francie had a number of advantages: the family had Mary, one of a succession of live-in general maids who had been with the family since Thomas’s appointment as Head Gardener. Francie was at the Girls’ school in Bala, doing very well, and in receipt of a scholarship. Thomas enabled her to continue in education a further year, although her spare time seems have been much taken up with domestic duties. In addition, though not mentioned in the journal, there would have been an oversight for the family’s welfare from the Robertson family and staff at Palé Hall.

It wasn’t always plain sailing for young Francie: Monday the 12th [June 1899]. Francie cut her finger rather badly with the breadknife.

in 1899 it is noticeable that Francie was rarely walking with the family, presumably being much occupied with both school work and extra housekeeping duties. Mary, the maid, was sometimes included in walks when Francie was also present. This inclusion of Mary in the family’s activities was initially convenient, but was to lead to trouble later. There was fun with a bicycle in July: Saturday the 29^th [July].  Mary and the girls have been practising with a bicycle on hire all week. Monday the 31^st Francie went with Mary in the evening to Bala to deliver up the hired bicycle. It was warm but they rode turn about and walked the difficult places.  They came back by train. 

In August, Thomas, aware that Francie had missed out on a treat enjoyed by her siblings, took her out with him for the day: Wednesday the 16^th [August]. I had to go to Porthmadog to be one of the judges at the flower show there. As a Francie had not been to Rhyl, I took home with me to go this circular tour. I got her to put on a gold watch and chain (Her grandmother’s) for the first time. 

The journey took them on the narrow gauge railway from Blaenau Ffestioniog to Porthmadog, which Thomas calls the ‘Toy Railway’: From Blaenau we went by the Toy Railway to Porthmadog.  This miniature railway is 13 ¼ miles in length and runs uphill from Porthmadog to Blaenau 700 feet above sea level. The guage is but 1 ft 11 ¼ inches with  Little engines and carriages overhanging the rails. The curves are numerous and sharp, and the gradients are from one in 68 to 1 in 92. It is a single line with no slopes in the cuttings of rock, and there is not much more width than is required for the carriages. There is the one tunnel through Moel Dduallt of 73 yards, and another of 60 yards. The views all the way are very beautiful as the line is so elevated that it overlooks the vale of Maentwrog all the way. The river Dwryd  winds along the valley to the sea at Traeth Bach.  The sides of the valley are beautifully wooded with rocky heights here and there. 

Steam train at Ddallt station on the Heritage Railway in 2018

Thomas and Francie enjoyed their day and arrived home to find Mary’s sister Annie there with her: We had a very pleasant journey home and found Mary had her sister Annie here to keep her company. We very much enjoyed our outing.

Then, suddenly, it all goes wrong: Wednesday the 23^rd [August]. I had to send Mary away for she has been idling most of her time for about two months. She is continually idling and gossiping out of doors with the next-door people and the passers-by. I have warned her many times but she only laughed at me and became insolent.  She had an idea that I could not do without her, but now when I have Francie at home she has made a great mistake. We were sorry for her, for we have been very kind to her in many ways, but she does not seem to have any gratitude in her.  

There is a sadness that Francie is now left to manage entirely on her own, but Thomas continues to give her breaks from household duties: Thursday the 24^th [August]. Sir Henry wished me to go to Shrewsbury flower show. I took Francie with me. It was very warm all the way there, and the heat was very great at the show. The plants, fruit, flowers and vegetables were very good, that the heat in the tents was unbearable, and every place outside and in was crowded with people.  We had a good tea there, but the heat made us very thirsty.  We saw a balloon go up with two men in it. We saw performing dogs, monkeys, and wonderful bicycling by the Selbini troupe, saw the wonderful Arab group of 12 performers tumbling in a wonderful manner and balancing themselves one above another as pillars, walls, etc.

Francie continued to learn to keep house, usually with appreciation from Thomas. So on Christmas Day 1899: The children and myself had a comfortable dinner. Francie cooked our goose and plum pudding to perfection. Friends sent books, cakes, sweets, cards and a silk handkerchief.

Francie’s early introduction to housekeeping and the care of her four siblings did not seem to put her off a caring lifestyle. As a grown woman she did not marry, but pursued a career in caring for orphaned and disadvantaged children in various charitable institutions.

Frances Harriet in later life, courtesy of family member R.W.

1899 The Family Soldiers On

Following the devastating loss of his wife Frances Harriett in August 1898, Thomas and his five children at home continued to carry on with their lives together. Reading between the lines of the 1899 section of the journal, we see Thomas caring sympathetically for each of the children, and continuing his round of work at Palé which he doesn’t mention specifically, his interest in geology and natural history, and wide relationships friends, often fellow geologists, and family.

January brought Thomas an unexpected gift from a fellow antiquities collector: I had a box of interesting things from my friend Mr Barr who is travelling in America.  He sent the box to his sons in London and they sent it on to me. The box contained some minerals of lead, gold, copper, blende and iron pyrites.  Also 13 Indian arrowheads in flint, quartz and felstone and obsidian; a most interesting the lot.  There was a stone and needle, and Aztec clay figure from a sepulchral mound at Atzcapolazalca, Mexico.  It is supposed to be from 500 to 1000 years old. There was also a beautiful rock crystal, a good garnet from California and a little ruby from Alaska.

In March a business trip for trees reunited Thomas with a geologist friend, the Nurseryman and with the Curator of the Grosvenor Museum. I went to Dicksons, Chester for trees.  I saw Sir Henry at the station, Chester. I looked over the hot houses and then got the trees I required.  Mr Trevor Dickson got a trap to take me to the shop in town.  Mr George Dickson was delighted to see me and have a chat.  I have not seen him since I went to receive the Kingsley medal in 1889. After I got some tools and a bit of lunch, I went to see the Grosvenor Museum. I met Mr Newstead and the curator there who was much pleased to see me. I looked over the antiquities specially with him.  He gave me two of the small Roman coins found at Maesmor.  

The children were successful academically. Henry, the eldest of the second family, was studying at Aberystwyth College. His mother had lived long enough to know of his success. In September Henry and his second Sister Caroline (Carrie) received good news: We had a circular from Aberystwyth to say Henry gained a scholarship of £10 at the University College. We were highly pleased. In the evening we heard Carrie gained one at the County School, Bala. The £10 pounds will pay Henry’s fees at college of the year. Carrie will have her tuition free for the year or more at Bala.  It was curious we should hear of both scholarships the same day. And  curious to say Henry, Francie and Carrie are the only scholars who have gained scholarships to Bala schools from this parish.

As was seen from earlier in the journal, Thomas’ relationship with Thomas Alexander, his eldest son from his first marriage was complex following Thomas junior’s marriage, but his son regularly sent gifts to his father from Monserrat where he was working with the Lime Juice Company: Friday the 10^th. We had a box from Monserrat, per King Arthur ship to Liverpool. It contained two bottles of tamarind syrup for drinks, oranges, limes, one shaddock orange, arrowroot and the complete jaws and the fin of of a shark. The shark’s teeth are ivory white 5 to 6 rows all round; that one row lying flat; the edges are sharp and serrated. The fin (pectoral) is strong and ribbed, 17 inches in length by 12 inches and of the triangular shape. Tom sent off the box from Monserrat on the 19^th of last month.

William, Thomas Alexander’s younger brother, visited regularly from his work as a clerk in the iron and coal company owned by the Robertson family in Wrexham.

Local community events provided opportunities for enjoyment: Thursday the 27^th June. Mary, Henry and Carrie, Milly and Alfie went to Rhyl with the church excursion. Francie could not go, because she had to go to school to wind up her term at Bala. It was a very fine day there, the children enjoyed themselves. I stayed at home. They left here at 7:15 and got back by 9.30, the time fixed for going and returning. Francie finishes at Bala County school today. Saturday the 29^th. Mary and the girls have been practising with a bicycle on hire all week. It has been very exciting. They go fairly well, and so does Henry, that they only go on gentle slopes and on levels. Henry goes uphill. They finish with it on Monday.

Thomas continued to be invited to use his skills: Thursday the 10^th July I left here by the 9.30 train for Llangollen to act as judge at the flower show there.  It was very pleasant travelling. On arriving there I went straight to the cricket ground where the show was to be. Mrs Sampson Smith the secretary met me and introduced me to my fellow judge, Mr Roberts Jr of Halston near Whittington, Shropshire. We soon set to work and got done about 12.30.  It was a fairly good show, and we took much care, and we were afterwards told that we gave great satisfaction.  We were given a good dinner at the Bridge Hotel.  

We afterwards visited the show ground to see of bicycle parade.  Eight ladies dressed in white, for with the yellow sashes and four with green sashes went through wonderful evolutions on the tennis ground near tents. The performance was perfect and the ladies were much applauded. They were Llangollen ladies. One of them told me when we were having tea in the tea tents that they were practising for the last fortnight.