              Copyright
Helen Forder
2004
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In 1861, a
girl called Margaret Davies, daughter of William
Davies, agent to Lord Mostyn, went to Llanofer,
and stayed for a year. During the following
months she had various duties including time
spent in the kitchens, the workroom and acting as
an assistant secretary to Lady Llanofer. She
recorded her impressions of her stay in a diary,
which gives an insight into the social customs of
the day.
Although Christmas was a very festive season at
Llanofer, Lady Llanofer did not forget her
responsibilities. A couple of months before
Christmas, a list would be made of the poor and
needy.
|
Margaret Davies |
From
the Diary of Margaret Davies
Nov. 4th. Mrs.
Manuel, Mr. Rees and I began to go to collect the
names of the poor and to see what they were most
in need of ... I never dreamt there was such
poverty about. It certainly was a blessing and
charity to give them clothing ...
Nov. 8th. Mrs. Manuel, Mr. Rees and I
again went about the poor...
Nov. 29th. We were very busy these days,
the charity goods having arrived. The servants'
hall was like a warehouse, and we all like
'counter jumpers', measuring, cutting and making
the bundles and labelling them. After that
process was finished were were two days giving
the bundles to their respective owners. Her
Ladyship and little grandchildren gave them away.
Each individual was called in from the yard by
Mr. Rees and ushered in by Elizabeth to the
servants' hall, and the person's name called out
by Mrs. Manuel, and I had to find the bundle to
give her Ladyship, who spoke Welsh to each, and
was very particular in noticing that each was
dressed in the Welsh style.
Dec. 19th. We were very busy all day
making up the clothes for the poor here again.
Mr. Edwards and his daughters came to assist us.
Dec. 20th. We distributed the
clothing to above a 100 of the surrounding poor.
Some few of them came in their Welsh dress,
evidently they had not worn it since the last
time they came for their clothing ...
Dec. 23rd. We were all busy making flags
etc. etc. to decorate the hall. The gardeners
dressed it with holly and mistletoe etc. very
beautifully. Our finished flags were put up and
the servants' hall really looked beautiful.
Dec. 24th. After supper we were all
very busy dressing up candlesticks with coloured
paper to be ready for us to go to the Plygain
[matins] next morning. It was almost morning when
we got to bed. |
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