Speddoch <1>
Saturday October 29th
My dear Papa,
You will already have heard from Mama <2>, that Mamie <3> and I really set off on Tuesday by most brilliant though very cold weather, drove to Kendal, for Kirkstone was not to be thought of, and were very comfortable indeed in the queer old fashioned Hotel the King’s Arms. It is full of the most beautiful carved oak furniture, some of which, old chairs and cabinets, we could not help coveting, they would look so well at Lacock! – Next morning we left Kendal in the midst of wind and rain, which had however melted all the snow around so that we rather rejoiced at the change. But on approaching Shap <4> it grew gradually whiter and whiter, till at the top we found ourselves in the midst of a snow storm drifting strongly from the north, and which as fast as it fell seemed to freeze on the carriage windows. You cannot conceive anything more dreary than the prospect on either side as the train went slowly up the ascent, and we began to entertain serious fears of being snowed up – At Penrith however, the scene began again gradually to change, and improve, till just on the border the sun actually shone out and all traces of snow had disappeared. It was almost dark when we arrived here, so that the scenery could be < f > but vaguely perceived through the carriage windows – The house is very comfortable, and Tilly <5> gave us a warm reception. She is looking very well and happy and proud to shew off all their new improvements. But I am so glad we were really able to come at last, as she had quite worked herself up into a state of excitement for fear we should disappoint her altogether. It has been so stormy all the time that we were only once able to get as far as the greenhouse and Game Keeper’s: but that enables us better to poke into every little corner and nook of the house and examine everything – It is larger than I expected from Mama’s description, and with a few more improvements, double doors &c – could be made more air tight, and better able to keep out hard frosts and north winds – On Monday we expect an addition to our numbers, Mama was written to yesterday to prevail upon her to come with Ela <6> for one day: sending on the servants to Lacock, before hand and we starting all together from here on Wednesday to reach home Thursday. I am sure nothing will prevent them from accomplishing this, which we all so much wish, as otherwise poor Ela would have been the only one who had not seen Speddoch, and Mama only paid it a few hours visit in the Spring when it was uninhabited – and they can be taken in easily for so short a time. – Mamie has not suffered from her journey, and I think on the contrary the change of air will do her good.
I will write no more now, as I hope to see you so soon, but I thought you would like to hear a little what we are about. Tilly sends her love, and promises to follow us to Lacock very soon.
Believe me
your most affectionate daughter
Rosamond
Notes:
1. Speddoch, Dumfriesshire, 10 mi NW of Dumfries: home of WHFT’s daughter Matilda
2. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.
3. Amélina Petit De Billier, ‘Mamie’, ‘Amandier’ (1798–1876), governess and later close friend of the Talbot family [See Amélina's journal ].
4. Shap Summit, near Penrith
5. Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter.
6. Ela Theresa Talbot (1835–1893), WHFT’s 1st daughter.