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Archive Reference / Library Class No.D258/50/4
TitlePersonal letter from Sir William Gell to `Rural nymph' [Miss Mary Nicholas] `O divine Cartismandua'
Date1801
DescriptionGell describes journey to Birmingham from Ashbourne which took only four hours; `I could not escape the patent window and the stained glass manufactories'. Travelled on to Worcester that night and then to Hereford to hear music in the Cathedral. Bored there by a Col Heathcote of Littleover. Gell now at Abergavenny where people are `all in the first style of fashion - gypsy hats and go without suppers', but intends to visit Bath which is 52 miles distant. Has ordered a pair of blue pantaloons and has bought `a book of the Swiss lakes' at Hereford. He is dining at Robert Williams of Crickhowell, but is `compleatly miserable'. His mother says at Hopton `letters are not held as sacred things'; describes her as meek, patient and resigned, `easy prey to any designing person' [inserts sketch of dancing skeleton]. [Postmark: Abergavenny]
Levelfile
RepositoryDerbyshire Record Office
Archive CreatorGell family of Hopton Hall, Wirksworth
FormatDocument
Artwork
CopiesA digital copy of this item can be viewed on the public computers at the record office.
TermTravel
Letters (documents)

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Name (click for further details)
Gell; Sir; William (1777-1836); Diplomat and antiquarian of Hopton.
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