Diarist's vivid image of a Victorian Easter

Diarist Francis Kilverts vivid image of a Victorian Easter

11:00am Sunday 20th April 2014 in News

IT was said that Victorian clergyman Francis Kilverts diaries reflected his strong love of life and landscape. Here, Nigel relates how he presented for posterity the celebration of an Easter long ago.

THE entries in his journal in early April suggested the diarist lived in an area that was close to being a hell-hole.

We were told that a thug was sentenced to six weeks hard labour for assaulting a licensee by kicking him violently and viciously in his bad place.

And on April 12, 1870, the writer expresses relief at how the Swan public house was marvellously quiet and peaceful no noise, rowing or fighting whatever and no men, as there sometimes are, lying by the roadside all night drunk, cursing, muttering, maundering and vomiting.

But within a few days a completely different picture is painted by clergyman Francis Kilvert of the Herefordshire/Wales border that he served. With his description of the goings on at Easter he demonstrated that, at times, the area could be serene and joyous.

Kilverts Diary has become established as a minor classic. As the editor of the work, William Plomer, wrote: Kilvert has the uncommon gift of making one see vividly what he describes. His detailed picture of life in the English countryside in mid-Victorian times is unmatched.

As a faithful country clergyman he moved with equal ease among people of all classes, and by all was welcomed.

Life there could be brutal and tough with the prevalence of premature death, poverty, squalor and the harshest of weather.

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Diarist's vivid image of a Victorian Easter