This blog is a bit different from my usual ones, as it’s not about an old photo, but an old Diary written by Julia Harriett Grubbe in 1879. This is part 1.

My association with the Grubbe family dates back to 2016, when I discovered the first of the old family photos that I own at the Ford Airfield Car Boot sale.

I have since then written three blogs about the family.

First Blog: Burke & Grubbe Families Pt 1

Second Blog: Burke & Grubbe Families Pt 2

Third Blog: More photos from the Grubbe Family Pt 3

At the beginning of June, I received a message from Jeremy Carson, who has The Antiquarian Book Company. He had acquired a Diary written by Julia Harriet Grubbe for the year 1879 and was doing a little research when he came across my blogs about the family. I was really thrilled to see some photos of it that he sent me, so after emails and a phone call to discuss it, Jeremy has very generously let me borrow the Diary for a while so I can read it and share its contents with you all. Then, when I’m finished, I shall return it to Jeremy for his collection.

After reviewing several photos of the family, I am now certain that Julia Harriett Grubbe is the young lady I’ve identified below with her parents and siblings.

Julia Harriet Grubb

Julia Harriet Grubb was born on 9 February 1846 in Middlesex, the eldest child of John Eustace Grubbe and Julia Catherine Hall.

She had nine brothers and two sisters, only the youngest, Margaret not surving to adulthood. She died on 22 May 1907 in Suffolk at the age of 61. Here are all the siblings, just so you know their names, as there is mention of them in Julia’s Diary.

Some of the other people mentioned in the Diary I have researched and identified just under my transcriptions.

1879 Diary Pages

January.

1) A horrible beginning of the year for me. Father & Mother today to Wycombe. The lucky Constance got her annual pocket book from H.B. but I think all happiness of that sort is over for me. If I ever had any! Except in my imagination.

2) One day over. There is quite a change it is freezing hard again with a showering of snow on the ground. George went to Southwold. Eustace to the Auberies. Poor Emily Wilmer died yesterday.

4) Mother & Father have come back quite safe & well I am thankful to say. Francis went early this morning, my darling Lawrence this afternoon. Harold Burke had a hurried dinner here on his way to Paris.

5) Uncle Robert dined here & Francis & Henry came in the evening, it is very cold again.

6) I dined with the Henry’s? & went to such a delightful POP? with Francis. Mrs ???my gave us the benefits of the stalls. There was a beautiful solo by Locatelli for the violin.

‘Pop’ is mentioned several times in the Diary, and it seems to be a ‘Popular Concert’ or musical meeting/evening.

Pietro Locatelli 1695-1764, was a groundbreaking Baroque composer and violinist whose exceptional technical skill and innovative compositions, particularly L’arte del violino, profoundly influenced the development of violin technique and left a lasting legacy on the world of music.

7) Eustace came back. It has come so horribly cold such a bitter east wind everything looks so grim.

8) Poor Miss Newbury died this morning, I am so very sorry I cannot think what Charlotte will do.

9) Today I went over & saw poor Miss Newbury & put some white flowers on her. She looked so beautiful with almost a smile on her face. We, Constance, Eustace & I have been to an amateur concert.

10) Eustace & Walter went to the Auberies.

The Auberies, a property in Bulmer, Essex, was purchased by James St George Burke in 1857.
While he initially resided elsewhere, by the 1871 census, he was living at The Auberies. The Grubbe family connection is through marriage, as James St George Burke’s wife was Anne Eliza Grubbe, who was a sister of John Eustace Grubbe, Julia’s father.
I also believe the mentions in the Diary of ‘Auntie’ were her visiting from The Auberies. It was about 65 miles from Southwold.

11) Lawrence came. Bitter.

13) I have had such a dreadful disappointment. Mrs Henry sent George & me tickets for the popular concert this evening I was already dressed & everything when Papa came in & said there was such a thick fog he thought we had much better not go, so of course had to give in. Lawrence back to Sunbury yesterday. George came home. There is a thaw.

14) Edmund came back. Poor dear Miss Newbury was buried at Brighton today, feel so very sorry for the poor sister. (that would be Charlotte Newbury)

16) We had a nice little dance of about 50 people last night partley children. Lawrence came for it but went away early this morning. Annie Brougham came & is still here.

17) Papa & Eustace went to the Parliamentary Agent’s dinner.

Papa, John Eustace Grubbe, was a Parliamentary Agent until he retired. He was made the Mayor of Southwold in 1879. John also served as Mayor in 1867 and 1875, and again from 1879 to 1891. He was a Barrister and a Justice of the Peace for Suffolk and Southwold. A portrait of John Eustace Grubbe, painted in 1891, is held at Southwold Town Hall.

19) We had 14 to dinner Louis Frank Burke & Mrs Ellis were the extras. Lawrence came this morning but went back to Sunbury this evening.

22) I have been staying at Lo’ (London?) since the 20th. Mother went to Tendring? yesterday & brought back Katie & Mabel to stay with us. Arthur went to Auberberies today. The weather is most bitter east wind & a great deal of it’s frozen snow which has been lying since Saturday.

23) I came home. Frank Henry (Francis Alexander Henry) dined here. Reggie went back to Eton.

24) Mr Helyar dined here. Cousin George came.

25) A day of scramble we thought the house was going to over flow but after all Edmund has not returned from Wallington, but Arthur has very unexpectedly from Boineries? Willie Foster came.

26) Willie Foster went back to Woolwich. Edmund came but fortunately not Lawrence.

27) Cousin George went away I wonder when I shall see him again he sails for India the 13th of next month.

28) I think it is the dismal weather fever remember very cold & no sun & an east wind. Father & Mother dined with Mr Sherwood.

30) Eustace & I dined with Mr Sherwood.

February.

1) Kate & Mabel went away yesterday they are nice children The latter a pretty delicate looking thing with large brown eyes, she had my old doll Leslie out to play with. Katie is said to be very delicate.

2) Mr Stevens dined here. There is a thaw but wether it is going to last I don’t know.

3) Constance & I went to a musical meeting & both played one of Bachs little things

4) Agnes Wilmer arrived today. She went to bed with a bad headache but I hope will be well tomorrow. I went to see the U Burbries. Dorothy nearly 2 years old is such a pretty little thing.

5) Agnes was recovered this morning & has been out all day. In the morning with Jane & in the afternoon with Constance. Frank Henry (Francis Alexander Henry) dined here.

6) A real nice day at last all the ice & snow gone a south wind. Agnes, Constance & I have been to the Albert Hall to hear the ‘Elijah’ it was delightful. Lawrence came back yesterday.

In February 1879, the Royal Albert Hall hosted a performance of Mendelssohn’s oratorio “Elijah” as part of Mr. William Carter’s Oratorio Performances. The specific date was Thursday, February 6th, at 8:00 PM. The performance featured notable vocalists such as Miss Anna Williams, Mme Touzeau, Miss Meenan, Mme Antoinette Sterling, Edward Lloyd, C A White, Mr. Conyers, Mr. H Winter, and Mr. Thurley Beale, with Edwin Bending on the organ.

7) Arthur & Henry dined here.

8) Agnes & I went to a Pop? I did not care for it much except the Beethoven Quartett.

9) No entry on this day, although it was Julia’s birthday, she was 33.

10) Captain Wilmer came. Lawrence went away. Mother is very poorly but think it is only a heavy cold. It has come quite mild but very wet.

11) The Wilmers went away. Mother has been very poorly all day but is better this evening. George went to Churchend.

12) We have had a dinner party which I am very glad is over. Mother although better was unable to dine so I had to be Mistress.

13) Constance & I were to have gone to the Auberies but Mother seemed so poorly & low & so loath for us to go that we stayed at home. Perhaps we shall go tomorrow.

14) We did not go to the Auberies as Mother seemed so poorly & wished us to stay at home but she is better this evening. I am thankful to see.

16) Willie Foster turned up at luncheon time & stayed to dinner. Mother is better.

17) Mother came down to dinner.

18) Papa & I dined with the Jervis’s.

20) Constance & I am to the Auberies. Only Edith & Alice. Uncle Bertie? & Miss Walton are home & it is very snug.

23) Edith, Alice, Constance & I went to a very fine entertainment in Sudbury. It is very cold again.

You can also see other places that are mentioned as we go through Julia’s Diary. The Auberies were close to Sunbury.

24) Frank who came for Sunday went away this morning. We have been to a musical meeting this evening. It has been a lovely day but very cold.

25) A lot of people came up here today & read Henry ??? & it was very nice. (I think it was Henry’s Birthday?)Three of the Miss Andries & stayed to tea here. Uncle B???? has gone to London for a few days.

March.

March entries are a bit sparse compared to January and February, so I shan’t show all the pages.

5) Ulick came.

6) Ulick went away. Such a lovely day.

Ulick John Burke was Julia’s first cousin on her father’s side. Having become familiar with the family through years of research, I recognised the name instantly.

His son, Sir Ulick Roland Burke, held the office of Justice of the Peace (J.P.) for Derbyshire between 1927 and 1951 and was President of the Royal Agricultural Society of England in 1937. He was appointed Knight Commander, Royal Victorian Order (K.C.V.O.) in 1939.

8) Constance & I came home Hubert arrived. Edmund is at home, but drilling with the Guards.

9) Poor Francis has had an accident out hunting which I knew nothing about until I came home.

12) Constance went to Wallington. I went to a musical meeting alone but did not play.

13) Francis came he is much better, but looks thin & pulled down & has grown a beard which does not improve him.

14) It snowed this morning but turned to rain, it is very cold.

16) Mr Ellis & Louis dined here.

17) Constance came back we went to a M M (Musical Meeting) & both played. Auntie came to luncheon.

18) Constance & I went to Miss Busby’s concert. Francis went away.

19) Hubert went away.

20) Constance & I had afternoon tea with the Watson’s.

22) Edith Shute came & we went to a Pop. Hubert came back alas. Sheffield has come to. Such a cold dreary day.

23) Such an awful day, so bitterly cold.

24) It has been trying to snow all day, but is really too cold. Edith & Hubert went away, the latter to Berners. I took Constance for a music lesson.

26) John Brougham dined here, he is such a nice looking young man.

29) Miss Ayle Mrs & Miss Terry & Miss Honfray? came to luncheon. Francis & Hubert & Auntie A dined. Edmund went to Aylesbury. A nice day at last.

30) Edmund came back bringing a Collie puppy presented to him by Col Prath?

31) Auntie went away. George came home. Francis went away.

April.

1) Edmund & the puppy went to Wycombe.

3) Mother has been spending the day at Teddington.

5) Auntie came in to luncheon. George & I went to a lovely late Pop.

7) Uncle Shute dined here. Hubert went to Mentmore.

Mentmore is a village in Buckinghamshire.

8) Monsieur & Madame Le Conte. I drank my tea & spent the evening with Charlotte. Walter went to Chelmsford.

In 1879, Victor Hugo and his wife, Adèle Foucher, were residing in Paris. Hugo was a celebrated French writer and a prominent figure in the Romantic movement. He had recently returned from a long exile in Guernsey, where he had lived for many years, and was once again involved in French political life. His works, including Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, were widely known and admired.

9) Father, Mother, Arthur & I came to Southwold. Constance went to Heveningham (a village in Suffolk) At the Liverpool St Station Arthur said he saw E & A but of course I did not.

10) Walter arrived & Reggie. Bitterly cold. The day we left London I saw some pink almonds in blossom. I am afraid those at the end of the Park are dead.

12) There is nothing to write except that it is very cold.

13) The Church looked so pretty with flowers & the bells woke me at 6 o’clock this morning.

16) We have had such a day. Mother & I have been to Norwich & it has snowed.

18) Father, Mother, Walter & I came home. Arthur & Reggie stayed behind.

19) Hubert came from Berners. Father began sitting for his picture.

20) Such a horrid wet day. I have not been to Church at all, Louis dined here.

21) Mother began sitting for her picture.

22) Went with Mother to M(onsieur) Le Conte.

23) Went with Mother to M(onsieur) Le Conte.

24) I went with Mother to the ‘studio’ Auntie came in to luncheon. Miss Mcfarlane to 5 o’clock tea.

25) Went with Mother to the Studio.

26) Went with Mother to the Studio. The LeContes dined with us.

27) Frank & Harold Burke dined here. Frank Henry (Francis Alexander Henry) came to tea.

28) Mother went for a sitting, but I did not go with her.

29) I went with Mother for a sitting this morning. To a lecture on Mendelssohn by Ernd & Power? this afternoon & have come to London for a few days this evening.

30) I dined at home. The Lacontes, Ulick Burke & Edith & Alice came. (Edith was Ulick’s wife) Mother went for a sitting alone. Arthur came back from Southwold last night. Constance came home.

The next part of Julia’s Diary entries will follow soon.

Jeremy Carson is a Dealer in Books and Ephemera and also a Collector. You can find him at Book Fairs around the country or make contact via his website, the link is at the beginning of this blog.

You can contact me either by commenting here or via email at lynnswaffles@gmail.com. 

Till next time then……..