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Studying further manorial and family history in Bedford Library each side of taking snacks and lunch with the family and viewings of the Peacock’s Auction whilst my new Range Rover endured its first service and hen home to hear of the good election result set against the Thatcher visit to see Reagan with whom her charms may no longer be working with regard to Syria and nuclear arms control
Slept well and sat in bed with my cup of tea this morning, reading yesterday’s paper and a little more of a book on ‘Life on the English Manor’ in the middle ages. As I was shaving and preparing to shower, Debbie came in to join me and insisted on taking a shower with me at the same time. Both then dressed and down to a breakfast of warm croissants with butter and marmalade. Once we got the children off to school (Debbie early to a friend of hers for that purpose), we loaded up the Range Rover and set off for Bedford, stopping on the way for a full tank of petrol. I had arranged a 1000 mile (free) service and so we dropped the vehicle off at Marshalls and we walked into the town on a fine day. First, coffee and biscuits at the coffee house, where the staff now know our regular order, then I left the girls to go shopping, whilst I walked along to Gibbs and Dandy Gale to get some hose fittings and then to Peacocks to view the lots for tomorrow’s general auction.
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Some domestic arrangements this morning and then to inform my solicitors of my purchase of the Linton Manors and then to write to St John’s College to offer to buy the Little Paxton one! The day then studying manorial rites and rights and exploring a grant of arms that might accompany the matter before back to more domestic reality helping Daniel with his homework and entertaining the girls as his stammer abates. This as Reagan plans to justify his Iranian Arms for hostages deal, The Petersfield Prison Siege ends and Labour looks set to win the Kirby by-election with The Alliance in a good second place and the Tories nowhere.
Another sound night, but tired after this week’s travelling to and fro and somewhat overwhelmed by the task of archive research; I was still reluctant to get up. Eventually washed and shaved ready for breakfast, opting for my working clothes and jeans for a change. Spent some time helping Di with the girls and avoiding upset and then went out to move The Lady back into her accustomed position at the main landing stage, after the bonfire and firework display. Also fed the doves and ducks, before bringing back mail from No 39 and getting the Range Rover round for Pete to clean. To my office after and made a number of phone calls. I was pleased to hear from Nicholas de Zoete that my stockbrokers were willing to disregard all of these onerous terms that they have been sending me and I am to meet him in a week’s time in London, to review my affairs. Also booked the Range Rover in for a 1000 mile service tomorrow, as we are visiting Bedford, and this initial attention is free and included in its purchase price. Also informed my solicitors of the acquisition arrangements for the Lordships of the Manors of Great and Little Linton and ordered a number of affairs. By midday, Diana’s mother had arrived for lunch and I had a good idea. This afternoon I followed it up and composed a letter to the Master of St Johns College, Cambridge, offering to buy the Lt Paxton Lordship and assuring them that, not only would the documents remain deposited with them, but that I would finance further research into their translation and transcription.
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Up to spend time with the children and dressed smartly for my visit to St Johns College, Cambridge, Archivist to see the Little Paxton Manor Court Rolls after spending time reading up on manorial history and before returning to The Cambridge Collection to see ‘my own’ Court Rolls for the Linton Manor. Back home to hear news of 19 new Government Bills which only pursue the Thatcher Government’s doctrinaire prejudices , including a host of privatisation plans and none to relieve unemployment and poverty but better news of the Queen Mother who is home for the weekend after her hospital stay.
Slept better last night, after retiring with Diana, and was refreshed when waking to my morning tea. Showered, shaved, and then dressed in smart sports jacket and trousers to be ready for my trip to St John’s, Cambridge. Breakfast of boiled hen’s egg (as the ducks are not laying too well at the moment) and Di had managed to overcook them and they were quite hard. Managed to be down early enough to eat with the children for once. Helped, after, with the children, as they and Di have been quite fraught of late. Sat in the play room and read my paper, as the girls played under my control. Then, after reviewing the mail, it was time to set off for Cambridge. A fair journey, but in line with a procession of traffic, as usual, and then parked in the Round Church car park and dropped in at Heffers bookshop. Bought a couple of books on interpretation of old records and documents and a nice social study of manorial society. Then walked on to St Johns College and had some trouble finding the Bursary at No 1 New Court, but found Mr Underwood, the Archivist, there. A very helpful man, who quickly found maps of the pre-enclosure period of Little Paxton and then the latest of the series of Court Rolls for Little Paxton Manor.
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Time researching Manorial History in St Ives and Huntingdon before taking the train to London and making my way across the City to get to Painters Hall in time to find the Great and Little Linton Manors withdrawn from the auction in my favour and so bought them for £12,000 and then found them to be a good buy after further research with complete Court Rolls surviving. Time with the children later and news of the French now doing a deal with the Lebanon, a mailing campaign to highlight AIDS awareness, huge pollution on the Rhine which is turned red with mercury salts killing ¼ million eels in Germany and of Ken Baker seeking to overrule the teacher’s pay deal and impose his own
A rather restless night. It was warmer than of late and my mind has been full of Manors and Manorial rights and history. Eventually to sleep, but then reluctant to awake again. Decided to have a bath and wash my hair, as I have been remarkably itchy of late. A nice rest, but it made me even later than usual – a good chance, however, to consider what to do on Manors. Chatted to Di and agreed that I should go down to London again today and buy the Lintons, if they were a good bargain. Set off at 9.30am, after some time in my office paying all of my outstanding bills and preparing documents for my solicitor. I also called Bernard Thorpe and Ptns and registered an interest, should any Huntingdon Manors come up again. To Huntingdon, buying my day return train ticket and then to St Ives and the Norris library. I went through Mr Inship-Ladds Little Paxton notes and then identified a number of Manorial and family trees for photocopying and the historian is going to get them done for me. Back to Huntingdon library to photocopy the Little Paxton section out of The Country History for tomorrow and succeeded in getting a £12 parking fine for leaving the Range Rover outside in the street on double yellow lines! Then to the station, with time for a prawn sandwich and cup of tea before the train arrived.