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UNKNOWN : 1886 HANDWRITTEN MANUSCRIPT HONEYMOON TRAVEL DIARY OF AN ENGLISH GENTLEMAN AND HIS NEW BRIDE OFF TO WALES

16mo - over 5¾" - 6¾" tall. On offer is a fascinating and delightfully handwritten manuscript diary that was authored in 1886 as titled on the inside of the cover: "A Short History of a Short Honeymoon for the use of those contemplating a similar step" thusly being a detailed memoir of this newlywed couple's honeymoon in Wales. On the First page is a Heading Vol 1 Tuesday 4th May 1886 and it commences "At 11 a.m. we were married at St Paul's Church C.......... Amid ringing of bells and showers of Flowers and rice we walked down the churchyard path….." It then details the Wedding Breakfast and how they change into traveling Dress when at 2 p.m. "The Carriage with the orthodox pair of Greys and Postilion appear" and takes them to the Station where they catch a train to London. On arriving at Paddington they drive to Euston Square Hotel where they stay the night. This is not a success, their luggage is lost, they dare not use the lift and are at the top of the Hotel. They find the food plain but good and exorbitantly priced and complain about the incivility and bad manners of the Porter. The next day they travel by 2nd Class train to Betwysy Coed where they stay until May 12th when they move on to Llantrisant, before returning home on Saturday May 15th. The descriptions are wonderful, the writer whose name we never find out, details the menus at the places they stay, the weather, walks, outings and a fishing trip in fact he mentions and discusses everything but barely ever, if ever does he mention his new bride. More apt researchers of British collectables should have some clues to ascertain the couple's name given the date and the fact this couple must have been in high society given the description of the nuptials and the throng of well wisher stretching from the Church and continuing to the train station where they were given refuge in the Station Master's room. It is well written and gives such an insight to a more formal, less hectic age. This diary came from the estate of Reverend Mansel Peacock who was vicar at Dickleborough in Norfolk though we do not know of the connection to the diary. 58 pp. VG.. Manuscript. Book Condition: Very Good+

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