Foreword
This is the diary of Walter Freeman Hunt for the year 1885. As the diary starts Walter is living at Sedgeford Hall in Sedgeford, Norfolk with his wife Alice and eight children. The family have been living at Sedgeford Hall since around 1880 when Walter took a lease on the hall from his friend Eustace Neville Rolfe of nearby Heacham Hall.
Walter was born on 31 May 1845 to James Edward Hunt and Eliza (née Seager) in Westminster, London. He was educated at Harrow School and Trinity College, Cambridge. He was called to the bar at the Inner Temple on the 17 November 1869 on the South Eastern Circuit.
Alice was born on 4 Feb 1844 to William Mortimore and Harriett (née Foster) at Champion Hill, Camberwell, London. The Mortimore family ran a well established manufacturers of leather goods. Alice and Walter were married at Holy Trinity Church, Paddington on 14 Jul 1870. Between then and moving to Sedgeford, the family lived at 25, Palace Gardens Terrace, Kensington where their first six children were born.
Family
At the beginning of the year, the family consists of Walter, Alice and eight children:- Walter Ernest, Gilbert Mortimore, Reginald Seager, Donald Rolfe, John Foster, Gerald Owen, Gertrude Maud and Nona Isobel.
Ernest (aged 13) is at school at Eton CollegeEton College, Windsor
, Gilbert (aged 12) & Reggie (aged 10) are at school at Laleham in Middlesex under headmaster Frank Buckland. Donald (aged 9) is at school in Norfolk (maybe Wells-next-the-sea). John is aged 6 and Gerald is aged 4. Gertie is nearly 3 and Nona is nearly 9 months old. In between Donald & John there had been another daughter, Ella Mary Alice, born in 1877 but she died at just 6 months. Alice is expecting a child who will be born in August.
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This picture was taken by Alice Hunt probably about two years after the diary. The baby in Alice's arms is their youngest child, Helen Violet, who was born in 1887. It shows the whole family posing on the lawn at Sedgeford Hall. It is possible to see the tennis court that Walter has marked out in the background.
Walter often communicates by letter and telegram with his wider family members, in particular his brother Frederick Seager Hunt who he refers to as "Fred". Fred is the owner of Seager, Evans & Co. Seager and Evans was founded by Fred's maternal grandfather, James Lys Seager, in partnership with William Evans. Their business is distilling and their most well-known product is Seager's Gin. In the general election held at the end of the year, Fred will be elected as M.P. for the Conservative Party for the constituency of Marylebone West.
Occupation
Walter is a Justice of the Peace in the Smithdon & Brothercross Hundreds of Norfolk. The Sessions are held twice a month on Mondays and alternate between HunstantonHunstanton Town Hall, Hunstanton
and DockingHare Inn, Docking
. Hunstanton sessions are on the second Monday of the month and Docking sessions are on the last Monday. Walter has been sitting at the sessions since the end of October 1884. Other J.P.s mentioned in the diary include Henry Hollway Calthrop, Lionel Oliver, Captain Gerard Noel and Hamon Le Strange.
Walter is also a member of the Board of Guardians of the Docking Union that runs the Docking Workhouse. The Board meets every other Wednesday.
Social
The Hunts are accepted as members of the local gentry and are on friendly terms with many owners of large houses in the area. They play tennis at Ingoldisthorpe Hall, the house of Katherine Davy. They regularly visit Stanhoe Hall, the home of the Calthrops and Hollways. Walter dines at Ingoldisthorpe Manor, the home of Rev. Dr. James BellamyDr. James Bellamy
, the President of St. John's College, Cambridge. By virtue of this circle of friends they are invited to evening balls at Sandringham House that is in the process of being rebuilt by the Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VII.
The Hunt family lists all of the local clergy in their social circle. They have a particularly close friendship with the family of Rev. James Ambrose OgleJames Ambrose Ogle
who is the vicar of St. Mary's, Sedgeford. Walter visits Ogle at moments of stress such as after the birth of Frank in August. They are also on very good terms with Rev. George ThompsonGeorge Thomas Thompson
, vicar of Heacham, Rev. John Francis MitchellRev. John Francis Mitchell
, Rector St. Peter's, Wolferton, Rev. Hugh HareHugh James Hare
, Vicar of Docking and Rev. William Thomas BeckettRev. William Thomas Beckett
, Rector of St. Michael, Ingoldisthorpe.
Local village life
Walter regularly visits the local trade shops. He buys postal orders and stamps at Mrs. Skerry's post office. He goes to Mr. Goodliffe's to change cheques. He goes to Binks for hardware and furniture.
The Hunts are on familiar terms with many of the local farmers including the Curls at Glover's farm (just outside the gates of Sedgeford Hall) the Plattens at Wethered Manor, John Anthony at West Hall Farm, the Brookes at Magazine Farm, the Browns at East Hall Farm, the Granges at Hill Farm and the Hubbards at Eaton Farm
The Hunts often visit other local families, particularly in times of bad health.
Significant events during the year
In January, Walter and Alice attend a ball at Sandringham HouseNote: Article in the Lynn Advertiser to mark the coming-of-age of Prince Albert Victor, Prince of Wales.
In June, Walter's nephew, James Edward Hunt, died aged 22. James had been brought up by Fred and his wife Alice. He was the biological son of Walter and Fred's eldest brother James Jennings Hunt who died at the age of just 29 probably in India. Nothing is known of his mother. James had visited Sedgeford Hall earlier in the year and appeared to be not very well but clearly had recovered enough to go home. Walter and Alice attend the funeral and interment at Brompton cemetery in Kensington, London.
August saw the birth of Alice & Walter's tenth child and seventh son, Francis Whittaker. After the birth, Alice was unwell for several weeks. The local doctor was concerned enough to send to the Norfolk and Norwich hospital for a second opinion.
In December, Walter and Alice are once again invited to a ball at Sandringham House. This time the ball is described as a "County Ball". During the year they acquired a brougham and they used this to travel to Sandringham.
Also in December, there was a furniture sale at Sedgeford Hall. Back in October, Walter wrote to Eustace Neville-Rolfe to request a ten-year lease on the Hall. This appears to have prompted Eustace into selling all of the furniture at the Hall despite the fact that the Hunts had already lived there for five years. As a result, the Hunts go on a furniture shopping spree.
Walter is a staunch Conservative, so the General Election in December brings plenty of opportunity for political activity. He chairs several Conservative Party meetings. He is also a member of the Primrose League which is an organisation that exists to spread Conservative principles throughout the country. Fred was a founding member of the Primrose League. After the election results are announced, Walter is extremely unhappy that the Liberal Party candidate, Joseph Arch, was elected for Norfolk North-West.
December 2021
