Letters sent by Charles Donaldson-Hudson, in Cheswardine, to his wife Sara, resident in London with their children during the construction of Cheswardine Hall from June to August 1875.

Shropshire Archives Wednesday 16th November 2022

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Cheswardine

(Wednesday)June 2 1875

My own dear wifey

I had a very hot dusty journey hence my telegram to you – bought a pork pie at Stafford and ate a sumptuous luncheon from it with my loins girded and staff in my hand. I enclose that plan of grates at Old Hall If you don’t object. It will be a capital house when complete. Please unlock my second drawer from the top right hand side.

[……………….] me how sill I am I should not get what I want in time to mean [……….]. It was only through my […….] the stationery drawer but I shall have enough.

The [……………] really makes a [………..] house most complete and it […………] […….] clean. […………………..] is bedding out at the Old Hall. I send this to Drayton and then just going out again 6 o’clock.

God bless and keep you my darling.

Your most loving devoted

C D H.

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Cheswardine

(Thursday)June 3 1875

My own darling Pet

Your welcome letter came this morning and I am very sorry to hear a bad account of Mrs Nugent. The heat is peaceful here today. Do you think the small range in Old Hall kitchen will be enough or would not an additional plate for which there is room be very useful. I think I will finish the loft room over the stables there for the men to sleep in. They are making 4 or 5 thousand bricks a day now but I fear they will burn only 2 inches instead of 2½. If so they will have to be enlarged. The machinery works well. I shall be with you tomorrow in time for dinner. Please order a brougham. I have no more news. I cannot get together enough nice books to fill my London bookshelf

God bless you dearest little wife.

Your very loving

Cocky.

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Cheswardine

Market Drayton

June 11 1875

My own little dear wife

It was a terribly good rent day yesterday about £50 in arrears only but I was really tired when I went to bed and […….] I cannot get away so well tonight as my first train in the morning. I hope to be in time for luncheon tomorrow. I feel very sorry though to be so long away. I will not forget the flowers. Your little letter came this morning all right and very glad I was to get it.

The old Hall only gets on slowly but most of the grates are in and half the doors done and half Cockayne’s work done. I have told Arkinstall what to do and am having the place thoroughly cleaned out. 60,000 bricks are now being burnt in one[piece]. I hope you will enjoy your little dinner tonight.

Poor Myrtle was killed by a threshing machine in fact he deliberately admitted suicide as the machine was going along, he put his head under the wheel and was killed in a moment. Toby feels his loss very much as they were inseparable.

The trees are all looking very well here.

Your darling I love you very much. God bless you. Dearest. The post is just going.

From your devoted true

Cocky.

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Cheswardine

Market Drayton

July 8 1875

My own sweet love

I cannot find a white envelope. I arrived here in very good order and find most lovely weather. Last night I went to the Old Hall which is getting very shipshape and the brickyard. The wet has done a deal of damage to the unburnt brick. A new lot of men there they all fought one with another and viciously. But found one day a regular gladiatorial show the arena being a clay bank. The conquering gladiator a deaf old man. Caesar with turned down thumb (pollice verso) being Preston the brick burner who looked on with the ordinariness  of a Roman emperor.

[…………….] the school master has just been here complaining of Harding who he fears will cause us to have a chessboard. He says no one can trust him and will subscribe nothing. Also two Sundays ago he got the policeman into church and gave him orders to allow no one to go out until he and the choir had returned to the vestry. Of course the people got their backs up and there was a regular noise in church. The policeman being foolish enough to try to keep them in their places. Didi you ever hear of such a thing in your life.

I am glad to hear my dear wife is more comfortable and hope to find her nearly well as well as to hear good accounts of Doris. I will return tomorrow late. The invitation to Holland House will enable us to leave cards there so you will probably go another year, you little darling.

Your loving lovey

C D Cocksparrow.

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Old Hall

Cheswardine

Market Drayton

July 27 1875

My own darling wife

I am quite delighted with this place – it seems so homely though the furniture is very low. All is moved now and I will have a room or two put right. Let me know please how Ralph gets on and about your own dear self. The well is all right I think now. I travelled up with Sir B Leighton. God bless you my pet.

Your most loving

Husband

“Excuse the blue envelope”!

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Cheswardine

Market Drayton

July 28 1875

My own dearest Pet

Your letter this morning was very welcome and I am very happy to hear all so far are well & so glad. Lady G & C came to cheer you up. On the principle of “charity begins at home” I have got the dining room and my room now quite habitable – carpets down pictures all hung in the latter and furniture arranged. Now the nursery carpets are being nailed down. Next the furthest drawing room.

I cannot get on without the kitchen so as to give the housemaid here all the time she can so I have ventured to send for her. Am I right, if not telegraph & pop her on if you prefer the scullery maid, I can telegraph her to come instead. The plumber is going to put a ventilating pipe to each W.C. and I am having a ventilator put in the main hall. Both hard and soft water are now all right. I have no news to tell. Please put your diamonds either in your dispatch box and never let grasp it for a moment or take care of them in some other way when you come.

God bless and keep you always my own love & bring you safely to me again.

Your most loving devoted

C D H

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July 29 1875

My own sweetest love

I write from the Shropshire Club having come to the Agric. Show

I fell in with Newport at the station and walked up with him. Lady N is going as well. I have seen lots of people here. The Wrights, Levens & Corbetts, Mr Owen & Mainwarings, Mr & Mrs Jackson and plenty of others.

The trains were crowded coming up. I am so glad to hear good accounts of the children. The nurseries are now quite ready and I expect to find the drawing room carpets down [……………….] [……………..][………….…] to right. I have had a busy conference with Bush about his affairs and he denies it in toto. I shall try to investigate the matter but tell him that his notice must remain in force unless I can quite convince myself of his innocence.

         Everyone asked after you. Mrs Jackson said “You’ll be glad when she comes back to you” I said “I always am”. Quoth her “ I don’t at all wonder”. There’s a small double put(?) for you.

You little darling, God bless you

Your ever loving devoted

Husband

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Cheswardine

Market Drayton

July 30 1875

I am very thankful that all is going on so well. I do not think the Bank Holiday will make any difference to your travelling into London on Monday as the excursionists always return by late trains. Please do just as you feel inclined my darling. Take care of yourself above all.

         The kitchen maid her confusion means more compounded mess. All bed and dressing rooms completed but I will hang nothing there till you come. I wonder if you have news of Sidney lately. He thinks himself I suppose hardly used. Old Harding paid me a visit yesterday. The weather is really unpleasant now.

God bless and keep my own love.

Your own devoted true

Cocky

I saw the Long…..bles yesterday. Certainly I now see what Rhoda Broughton means when she says Mrs L gives her the creeps. I enclose key of my knee table in London. Please take care of it. In it you will find key of sideboard in dining room which contains some wine. The other keys are also in the knee table.

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Cheswardine

Market Drayton

July 31 1875

Darling little wife

Your news is very good about the children who will I think soon be all right again. Won’t this place be cheerful when you all come. I am sorry about poor Harry. The attack must have been very sharp. I suppose [………] [……………]. Please let me know all about him next time you write

The kitchen maid has come. Our drawing room is now ready after a fashion. The WC’s are ventilated. We had a school meeting this morning which went all right. Meg Mainwaring has just been to see me. The weather keeps beautiful & bright. Mr(s) Harding has just gone to Weston super Mare. I have now no doubt whatever about poor Bush. He told me an awful untruth about Onions the lawyer - i.e. laid the blame of compromising upon him – whereas Onions said don’t think up doing such a thing if innocent. At Bush’s request I have carefully enquired and the evidence would have carried conviction of any bench of magistrates.

The bricks are going on well

Yesterday I went to Drayton & saw some of the Lightfoot party. No one at home now hardly.

My own love I have a great many kisses in store for your pretty little mouth

[………..] [………..] […………] your most loving

                                                         CDH

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Cheswardine

Market Drayton

Aug July 1 1875

Your little note this morning made me very glad as I am living in hope of seeing your tiny face with all its sweetness on Tuesday. If this letter is a little incoherent blame “ that bell” which I hear “B.V” Harding has started from services per times 8 am, 10.30 am, 3 pm for children, 6.30 pm for adults besides a daily. I expect to see Barnes vanish into thin air. Our village teacher said when the policeman’s wife was in a most galloping consumption (poor thing she is not expected to live many days, that he/she was in the FW and treated her accordingly as the policeman himself told me ruing his stomach with his medicines. I wish Lloyd wer made into pills and being dispensed thus through large numbers of […………] people he wouldn’t do so much harm though people would suffer largely from “squirms like in the stomach”. He makes me that angry! The house now in a tidy state, i.e. I cannot do much more not knowing exactly what to do and being occupied a great deal out of doors. When you come through London will you please bring my dirty kid gloves out of my dressing table drawer. I want them for shooting. You do not say anything about your own health but no news I hope means good news.

On second thoughts I send this to London.

God bless you & bring you & the children here safely. You had bring as few servants as possible.

Your most loving

Cocky.

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Cheswardine

Market Drayton

Aug 2 1875

My little darling love

Your telegram came this morning and I am so glad you will be here tomorrow. I suppose I shall get all particulars by letter. Today is boiling hot  - real summer but I think it will thunder soon. This is the 23rd letter I have written today so my hand is rather stiff and shaky. I have no news at all. I am going to ride the mare this afternoon and write this early as most likely we shall not be in time for post. The Hill Top Hall looks vert dreary now and I very seldom go near it. Thomas [A………………….] & Brunswick will be here on Thursday. Will you bring all the London bills with you. I suppose you have arranged with Penith & Co of South Street not the Smith of Post Street to dismantle the house. What a silly I am – quite forgetting you will only have a few hours in Town so don’t bother about anything darling. I can do all by writing. Many anxious enquiries from Cottagers ask after you when I smoke my cigar. I generally go to see some one and find them more talkative & pleasant when taken in that way.

Your most loving loving

CDH