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In my last article I wrote about ‘The Three Virgins’, as recorded in the diaries of Annie Parker Greenwood of the Mason’s Arms, Eastby, which included the marriage of 40-year-old Miss Betty Biker of the Manor House, Embsay, in 1881. However, Annie herself married only four weeks later which she recorded in her diary in great detail.

Annie was 25 when she married 30-year-old George Dinsdale at St Mary’s Church Embsay on Thursday 28^th July 1881. George was a foreman working on the building of Upper Barden Reservoir and lived in one of the Navvy Huts that stood opposite the present car park at Black Hill. He lived with his younger sister Jane who ran a navvy lodging house for the men who worked for George.

In her diary Annie speaks to us across more than 140 years that have elapsed since then, revealing that she was full of vitality, loyalty, and humour.

3^rd August 1881 Wednesday

It is better than a week since I wrote my dear old Diary, & since then, there has been many changes, but I hope please God, all will turn out for the best. On Saturday [23^rd July] George came down & we had a long talk [Annie was 2½ months pregnant].

On Sunday he came down & we arranged all for our Wedding, & George & I spoke to my dear Mother about it. I was troubled after George left, I thought of my home & girlhood & the love I had for my dear Mother. What pleasure & pain we had felt together, & I asked help from above.

On the Monday I felt a little better. I went down to Skipton & George met me there, & we bought the “Ring” at Maule’s [James Maule, Watchmaker, 22 Sheep Street] & George went with Mr Wilcock to the Rectory & got the License.[Anderton Wilcock of Scott’s Skipton Brewery, who acted as a witness for George]. Oh dear me it seemed to say leave all & cling only to my Husband, & then again how strangely pleasure & pain are blended. I thought of the dear good Husband I was going to have & hope to be worthy of, & then of my home & my dear kind Mother.

I got my Dress tried on at Green’s [John Green, Linen Draper, 12 Otley Street] & got a beautiful “Silver Locket & Necklet” at Maule’s as a Wedding present from my dear Mother, & then George & I walked gently back, & spoke of the future.

On the Tuesday night George came down & we were both troubled & felt grieved & hoped with God’s assistance to lead a better life with his help in the future. George went & arranged with Mr Kidd for our Wedding on Thursday morning [Rev John Tyrwhitt Davy Kidd, Vicar of Embsay].

Wednesday was an awful day, both Mamma & I fret a deal all day & night. Dear dear Mamma, how lasting our love & I thought of tomorrow, what I was going to take on myself, what vows.

Thursday, my Wedding Day. Fine morning & the sun shining, a good omen for the future. I felt troubled this morning, but Mamma helped to cheer me up, & I got attired in my Wedding Garments, and all said they were nice & looked remarkably well. We had Breakfast and Mrs Chapman & Sally joined us. [Elizabeth & Ned Chapman lived at Dale Head Farm, next to the Mason’s Arms; and the Greenwood’s former servant Sally Bowness]. Then Jack brought the Cab. [John Chapman, Ned’s brother]. Sarah & Richard went as Bridesmaid & best man & did look very well [Annie’s eldest brother and sister].

Arriving at the Church I felt the solemnity of all & the Rev Mr Kidd read the service most impressively & then before God declared George & I man & wife & we went into the Vestry & signed with Richard & Sarah as witnesses, & we started home again midst showers of rice etc. Arrived at home, I kissed my dear Mamma, then I took off my Wedding array, & put on a travelling suit & George & I knelt down & asked “God’s” assistance to help us on our way, & to help us in our duty to each other, & we both felt comforted afterwards.

Uncle William Parker [of The Heugh] came down & had lunch, Wedding Cake etc, & spoke so very nicely. We both were pleased with him. Then we said Goodbye to all & Jack drove us down to the Station & we went by the 11-30 to Morecambe. We called at Hellifield & saw a few we knew. Then went forward to Morecambe. We had a nice journey & I felt much better & thankful to God for my good Husband. Now I have both a Husband & Mother to love & protect me.

Arrived at Morecambe. We stayed at Mrs Tempests [Alice & John Tempest, family friends from Cononley who had opened a boarding house near the Promenade]. We had dinner, then we went out onto the Sands & heard them crying a “Sail in the ‘Queen of the Bay’ round the Lightship”. We went onto the New Pier & I left George to get Tickets & I went in the impulse of the moment & jumped into the Steamer at the risk of my life as the Steamer was starting, & George was left behind with a face so white, very anxious about me. The sea was awful rough, George came out in a Boat after, but they were obliged to put back, the Sea was so rough! But I landed back all right. George was thankful & we went & had tea & did enjoy it. Then we had a Promenade round & into the Bazaars, & afterwards to the Winter Gardens where we heard some really good singing & splendid Ventriloquy. Then back to Mrs Tempests where we had a light Supper & then to bed. Here ends the first day of my married life. God grant that it may be a happy one, & that I may do my duty in this world, & help me to prepare for the life everlasting

Friday. We had an early Breakfast & then went onto the Steamer to Sail to Glasson Dock below Lancaster. The Sea was awfully rough & rocked & the waves rushed on & all were rather afraid, but we landed all right, & George & I saw lots we knew in the Street etc, & they did seem amused to see us in our new relations. We had Lunch, then back to Morecambe & we both enjoyed it thoroughly, it was so rough. We looked round the Pier, got presents for Tom, Sally & Mamma, had Tea, paid Mrs Tempest, & then left for home by the six Train. Tom Green got on at Hornby, seemed very surprised [a wool merchant married to her cousin Mary Alice Parker]. Jack met us at the Station & quickly drove us home. They all seemed glad to see us & I felt so thankful to be home again & with my dear Mother, & the more I am with my Husband, the more I love & respect him for his sterling good qualities.

Saturday [30^th July]. Rather an upset day, so many people congratulating us. George went up to the Moor but did not stay very long, & the men who worked for him all came down at night & he treat them, & they did enjoy themselves. Sunday, George & I attended Morning Service. We had a good Sermon, and I felt so pleased to have my Husband with me.

A year later, in August 1882, Annie & George Dinsdale and their baby son Robbie left Eastby and emigrated to Nebraska – but that’s a story for another time.

David Turner, Embsay with Eastby Historical Research Group

(with special thanks to Lynda & Dick Dinsdale of Fort Worth, Texas for generously sending me photocopies of Annie’s original 1880-1882 diaries. Dick is the grandson of Annie & George’s baby Robert Dinsdale who was born at the Mason’s Arms on 19^th February 1882)