Showing 17 results

Copy correspondence between two generations of Perkinson and Monaghan family members, all connected with Croghan, near Birr, Co Offaly and the Irish Hills area of the state of Michigan, USA. Following the devastation of the Great Famine, John Monaghan emigrated firstly to Suffolk and then to Michigan, where he received letters from his sister, Mary and her husband William Perkinosn, pleading for assistance to also enable their family emigrate to America. The correspondence describes the effect of famine and emigration on the Croghan area. Their son William, who emigrated to Lancashire, also writes to his cousin in Michigan of the second generation with much the same request.

Series of Hullmandel lithographs of a view of the Thames, together with a printed 'Plan of the River Thames from Westminster Bridge to Blackfriers Bridge, showing the line of [the] new quay, as proposed by Colonel Trench, MP...'.

File of letters between Dora Turnor and her father Christopher Turnor, her mother Lady Caroline Turnor, Bertha Turnor, Graham Turnor and Cecil Turnor.

The majority of the letters were sent to Bertha Turnor who is addressed as 'Tuz'. The letters were sent from across Europe as Dora visited places such as Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France; Menton, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France and Genoa, Italy. Topics covered within the letters include Dora's ongoing struggle with her health as she deals with asthma, her meeting with friends, her day to day activities, her husband Benjamin Bloomfield Trench and her impressions of the places she visits.

File also contain letters stitched into two covers from Lady Caroline Turnor (neé Finch-Hatton), Stoke Rochford, Grantham, Lincolnshire, England to her daughter Dora Trench (neé Turnor). The letters are of a personal nature informing Dora of her day to activities, news and dispensing advice. Contained with the cover are loose pages of household notes.File of letters sent to and from Dora Turnor when she was a child from family and friends. Her Friends include Josepha Martenson, Copenhagen, Denmark; Edith Holland, Kemerton court Tewkesbury, England; E. Blythe, The Vicarage, Hammersmith, England and Mrs Askew.

Diaries belonging to Dora Trench (née Turnor), Benjamin Bloomfield Trench and Theodora Trench.
Each writer used their respective diaries to record signifcant life events, feelings and appoinments. They offer a unique insight in to their lives.

Diaries and notebooks belonging to Dora Trench née Turnor.
Dora’s diary documents her life at Stoke Rochford Hall, Lincolnshire, and at the family’s London home at Chesham Place, Belgravia, London.
The diaries chronicle her struggles with asthma, her family tragedies, her marriage, her children and her every day life.

Four diaries belonging to Dora Turnor.

Within the diaries Dora discusses her childhood and her activities with her siblings. On 12 January 1871 she writes 'Did lessons till half past 11, then went out with miss Maclean & Bert, we went down to the farm pond. I watched, Bert & Mr Ash skating. Bert skates alone now, & can go all round, the place that is swept without a tumble, of course she goes very slowly, then Miss Maclean & I walked down to the Brickyard, then came back, I walked home with Freddie & Bert (Mr Ash, never comes up to lunch, he always takes [the buns in his jacket]). After lunch, sat in the schoolroom with Miss Maclean , working till 4, then did lessons, till half past 6, Bert did not come in till a quarter to 5 so, she had not finished her lessons till7. From half past 6 till 7, I had a game of. G.B, G, with Freddie, in [Solie's] bedroom, she was then also , nursing Hugh. Had tea at 7 & from half past 7 till half past 8 sat in the schoolroom working, & the last 20 minutes writing my journal. Fine ? last night, Edie, Freddie, Charlie, Bertha, Mr Ash, were all skating this afternoon. Bert, Freddie & Charlie, all tumbling about, & going very slowly, Edie went a little further than they did , & did not have any falls. [Grose, ?] went to Grantham (they started about 12, & were back about half past four)...'.

Dora also frankly discusses her struggle with asthma and her frustrations with the impact it has on her life. On the 22 August 1871 she records the everyday impact of her illness. ,' Got a cold & asthma did not go out of my bedroom till Friday August 25th then went into Mama's bedroom. I also went into Mamas bedroom on the 26th. There is a nice little cat stairs which I cuddle all day.' By 1875 Dora grew increasingly frustrated with her struggle with asthma and chronicles this frustration. ' Oh this bitter, bitter life, how hard it is to bear! Feeling always ill, & unable to do much, being alone nearly all day, having nobody to talk to, & nothing to do except knit, seeing everybody going for nice drives & long walks by the sea. Being told, they have come here on purpose for me, & that it was such of expense, & bored Papa, & kept Bertha away from her hunting. I should been much happier alone with Miss E, & not half so much alone, as Bert is always taking her for long walks...'

Two calendar notebooks belonging to Dora Turnor.
Dora used these notebooks to record birthdays, death anniversaries and other important dates.

Two sketch books that belonged to Dora Turnor.
The notebook contains drawings of Château de Pau, France; San Sebastián from the Citadel Spain 9th July 1879; The mouth of Bidassoa, Spain; La Pointe de Castel-Vieil; Dawlish Devon in England; Battle Abbey, East Sussex, England; and Bodiam Castle, Sussex, England.

File of diaries belonging to Dora Turnor.

The diaries chart happy experiences with her family and friends. On 23 February 1883 Dora writes about time she spent in the south of France, 'Went to Monte Carlo. Lunched with Murrays. Drove to see palace at Monaco. Sat in garden with [Thoralds], I went to hear concert. Home at 5. Staid (sic) in salon till 10 pm. Mr J sang. Very hot & fine.' On 27 April 1885 she writes, ' Left Mentone at 2.30. Had carraige to ourselves got to Pegli at 9.30 pm pouring, pitch dark & no bus. Went to Grand Hotel. Met Capt. & Mrs Pryse (Pau) at station. Got 5 bunches of roses & 2 presents. Fine, hot.'

The diary also charts her relationship with Benjamin Bloomfield Trench and significant events such as her wedding on 25 July 1889.
'My wedding day. Drove to the church with Edie & Bert, St. Mary's Bolton . Afterwards to Edie's house. Bennie & I left (dark blue & gold silk dress) at 5.30, arrived at Stoke at 8.40 dropped down from [?]. Dull, heavy showers am, fine pm.'

The diary also explores difficult aspects of Dora's life such as her fathers death on 7 March 1886. 'B & I went to church am. Went to Papa's room for a few minutes till 3- again at 5- all was over by 5.15 Papa never spoke or opened his eyes all day...'.

Photocopy of a fragment of a letter from William Parkinson in Widnes, Lancashire, to his cousin, John Monaghan, in Michigan, introducing himself and his family, and asks after news of their aunts in common, Judy Duwan (nee Monaghan) Bridget Harrison (née Monaghan), all of whom had emigrated to America, and where he would like to emigrate to in the future.