1827-29 Handwritten Diary Emily Grimston Coluntess of Craven Hertfordshire RARE

     I’ve done some extensive research on this diary and will send along with it all of the printed pages and printed photos I found. It’s truly an amazing piece with INCREDIBLE provenance. The diary belonged to Emily Mary Grimston who ended up marrying the William Craven known as the Earl of Craven on September 5^th, 1835 and they ended up having 9 children. Because of her marriage she became the Countess of Craven.

     The diary consists of 147 handwritten pages and 136 pages of those have to do with her life from September 1^st, 1827 to December 3^rd, 1829. Then 11 pages in the back represent a handwritten essay on “The Life of Martin Luther.”

     She was born on February 5^th, 1815 so the diary begins with Emily being 12 years old and of course stopping when she was 14.

     The Grmiston’s were a very well known, prominent and very wealthy family. There are so many famous people that visit the family including Prince Leopold, Duke of Wellington, Duchess of Gloucester, Duke of Buccleuch, Lady Duff Gordon and Sir Alex and many more. Of course this is not the same Lady Duff Gordon who was on the Titanic but I believe it’s the same family.

     Emily was the daughter of James Walter Grimston, 1^st Earl of Verulam and Lady Charlotte Jenkinson. The two photos above of the engravings side by side are her mother and father.

     She lived at a home (I’d say castle by the looks of the photos above) called Gorhambury in Hertfordshire. The house is located near St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England and is an Elizabethan mansion, built in 1563-8 by Sir Nicholas Bacon, Lord Keeper, and visited a number of times by Queen Elizabeth. It was used as a residence by Nicholas’s younger son, (scientist, philosopher, statesman and essayist) Sir Francis Bacon. There is so much more history on the house but as far as the Grimston’s are concerned the estate passed in 1652 to Anne Bacon’s second husband Sir Harbottle Grimston, Master of Rolls and Speaker in the Convention Parliament of 1660. The estate is still owned by the Grimston family to the present day. So, all of her diary entries were written while in this house.

     When Emily married she moved with her husband, Earl of Craven, to what was called “Coombe Abbey.” When the first Earl of Craven died in 1825, his son William became the second Earl. The earl and Countess (our author) seven of their children and two other members of the family were in residence of Combe where they were attended by two governesses and 33 servants. And this wasn’t their only home.

     The photo above of the elderly gentleman was taken of the Earl of Craven, Emily’s husband in I believe the 1860’s. It says that he was also an accomplished amateur photographer and so much more; way too much for me to quote here.

     I even got lucky enough to find an engraving on the web which depicts a funeral and it’s actually the funeral of Emily’s mother, Lady Verulam, who died in 1863. It took place in the graveyard of St. Michael’s Church, St. Albans.

     As you can see the history behind this diary is exceptional and rare. The age of the diary is even rarer as I hardly ever get early 1800’s diaries. She even speaks of a duel fought between the Duke of Wellington and another man and also attending a “Child’s Ball” given by the King where her brother dances with Princess Victoria.

     As far as the entries are concerned, Emily doesn’t write every day and some of her entries are just a line or two but others take up a page or two. I’ve taken several excerpts to give you a better idea and then at the end listed many of the names I found in the diary as that is also such an important part…..

1827

“September 28^th,

Grandmama about the same. My sore throat rather worse. The gentlemen are gone out shooting. Mr. Henderson came and brought Mary and I each a bow and made us each a present of 5 arrows. The bows being give us by Grimston. Kath and I shot once with the outer white but the arrow did not stick in and I with one particular arrow. I call partridge shot the first time into the outer white, the second was into the inner white and 3 times into the red. The arrow stuck in every time. We did not ride. Edward came home from Harrow.”

“Friday,

We ticketed all the things we have made for the sale now and we have got taking out a great many things. 44 pounds worth on the table. Grimston set off for Oxford. Got up at 6 to see him off. Barker says that if I was to run my pony at the pony races at Rendurne she would be sure to win the silver cup. I have to a great mind to try. I intend at any rate to ask papa about it. Papa came home. He said that he had left Grimston very comfortable and that the very first time he put on his Oxford gown he stepped right through it. Lord Frederick came here.”

“Wednesday, November 13^th,

Went to Buckhurst as we passed through London. I found a beautiful basket that old Aunt Fanny had sent me and a letter to say that she would pay for the seal Cloak. She has given me all but one pound and that papa says he will pay. Arrived at Buckhurst at about 8 o’clock.”

“Thursday, November 14^th,

At Buckhurst was a gentleman called, Colonel Darcy and he showed us a new way to drawing with a bit of burnt paper.”

“Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, December 9^th, 10^th & 11^th,

Prince Leopold came here. There was a party of neighbors in the evening but none of them stayed during the night….The gentlemen went out shooting and killed 144 pheasants. Aunt Harriet went away with Miss Drummond. Mr. E. Drummond came here….Everybody went away. We had the most lovely music that ever was heard all the time that Mr. Worthly and the others singing gentlemen were here.”

1828 (She doesn’t write a great deal in 1828. I would say about 23 pages are devoted to this year and most are in the fall and winter)

“October 17^th & 18^th,

Papa lost the something great stake by half a head. Rough Robin beating poor dear Brocade. If papa had won he was to have given Kathy and I each 5 pounds. Mama, Kathy and Mary returned from Berkhamsted…..Papa lost another race coming in 2^nd. The Dowager Queen of Wurttemberg died. We go into mourning for her on Sunday.”

“November 5^th,

My brothers went out cavorting. We followed them at 12 o’clock. Rode after dinner to Mr. Albans for fireworks. Mr. Giles, Mr. Ben King and Lady Pulter came here. Mrs. Martin and her children, Lady Frederick Beauclerk and her children and the Gapes dined here after the fireworks. We had a dance which finished with a reel and Sir Roger de Coverly.”

1829

“January 6^th,

The Duke of Wellington, Mr. and Mrs. Peel, Mr. Worthley, and Mr. Jack Talbot came here.”

“January 9^th,

Went to Panshanger for the ball there (See above scan of this mansion). It was capital fun. I danced 20 dances that it all but one when mama was dressing. The party in the House consisted of Lord Cranwilliam, Lady Tankerville and Lady Emma Bennett. The two Miss Kincaid’s, D. Elphineton, Mr. Corry, Mr. Cole. D. and Lady Frederick Beauclerk, and young D. Frederick, Sir F. Lamb and Lord Abercorn and Claud.”

“March 21^st,

The Duke of Wellington and Lord Winchelsea fought a duel in consequence of a very impertinent and scandalous letter Lord W. had published. The Duke fired first and missed. Lord W. then fired in the air and upon the Duke’s wishing to fire a second time Lord Talmouth showed him a sort of apology from Lord W. which satisfied him. Kathy went and sung with Miss Hobart.”

“March 28^th,

Went to see my Aunt who are just come to town. Saw Mr. Henderson for a few minutes, he having come to London upon some business with the Bishop of London. Miss Parry went to her mothers. Mamma and papa dined out and then took Kathy with them to the opera. The Duchess of Gloucester having lent mamma her box.”

“March 30^th,

Mr. Henderson returned to Oxford. Mrs. Henderson gave me a lesson. Miss Parry returned from her mother’s. The Catholic Relief bill was read for the first time in the House of Lords.”

“May 28^th,

The King gave a Child’s Ball. Robert and Charles came home for it. It was capital fun. Charles danced with the Princess Victoria. The little Queen of Portugal fell down and hurt her face. It ended in a grownup ball.”

“July 18^th & 19^th,

Lord Hartford gave a most splendid fete at his villa. The day luckily was very bad but it went off upon the whole very well according to the report I received from my out brother’s and sister. I have got the Chicken pox. What a bore!!! Miss Parry went home…..Did not go to church of course. I have got above. Forty spots upon my face alone. Poor me. Lady Knightly and several gentlemen dined here. I am too great a figure to go into the drawing room, a good riddance for them.”

“August 13^th,

Went to London. Met the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch. Went to the Haymarket Theatre with mamma, papa, Kathy, Robert, Charles, Mary Mr. E. Drummond and Mr. Lushington. Saw the Rivals, King Charles the 12^th and A Lock and Key. The two first were Capital, the last atrocious.”

     There is much more then what I’ve quoted here. Some of the many names listed are (and please note there were so many I stopped writing them down at one point)…. Lushington, Henderson, Hervey, Berkley Drummond, Nash, Rowles, Seymour, Lord and Lady Delaware, West, Robinson, Cole, Cullen Smith, Col. Darcey, Worthlty, Villers, A. Talbot, Simon Taylor, Anderson, Lord Goderich, Ben King, Giles, Lady Duff Gordon and Sir Alex., Lord Fordwitch, Fitzroy, Lady Plymouth and more. I’m sure my spelling is wrong on many but you get a general idea.

    The diary is a really beautiful marbled covered book, marbled end pages and leather spine. It’s in wonderful shape and measures about 4 ¼” x 6 ¼” and is 1” thick. You not only get her 147 handwritten pages but there are also blank pages in the journal.