Diaries of Lady Anne Romilly 1793-1798

Five diaries written by Lady Anne Romilly. The first volume, a 'Souvenir or Pocket Remembrancer' for 1793, contains transcribed quotations and lists of expenses. The other volumes are a 'Polite Repository or Pocket Companion' and contain brief diary entries recording events in her daily life and lists of expenses. There are marked differences in the style and pace of the diaries. The first, with intermittent, copied commentaries on social ideals and expectations in the form of riddles, puzzles and verse, gives a picture of a young woman anticipating the life to which she has entry in the following years. As she reaches the age of 21, the volumes become a vivid, first hand account of her lively participation in the social circle of notable families of the area. With the fifth volume there is another change, with entries all but disappearing soon after her marriage in January, an occasion which she herself leaves unmarked.

Between 1794 and 1797, entries generally recount tales of visits, dinners, balls and the partaking of tea. There are numerous references to people who visited, or were visited by, Anne and her family, including the family of Matthew Boulton (1728-1809), Lord Lansdowne (1737-1805) and other members of the local aristocracy - most frequently Lord Oxford and the Harley family of Eywood House [Edward Harley (1773-1848) 5th Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer]. The diaries show her to have had an enjoyment of sketching, active outdoor pursuits and a wry sense of humour. Her choice of transcriptions in French, Italian and English suggest a pleasure in the use of language.

The diaries for 1793 and 1796-1798 contain loose items (dated up to 1804), including pencil and ink sketches, manuscript transcripts, items of correspondence and brief printed extracts.

There is no volume for 1795.

Anne Romilly (c 1773-1818) was the daughter of Francis Garbett (d 1800) of Knill Court, Herefordshire. Garbett was secretary to former prime minister William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne and 1st Marquess of Lansdowne (1737-1805), Bowood House, Wiltshire. She married Sir Samuel Romilly (1757-1818) lawyer, politician and legal reformer, Huntington Park, Herefordshire in January 1798 and they went on to have seven children. Stricken with grief, he committed suicide just a few days after his wife's death on 2 November 1818.

Growing up at Knill Court, Anne would have lived with her grandfather, Samuel Garbett (1717-1803) and brother, Colonel John Walsham Garbett (1771-1819), both of whom were active in Birmingham industrial life. Like her father and husband, Anne's grandfather played an active role in political life, lobbying Parliament on behalf of Birmingham Manufacturers in London. Matthew Boulton (1728-1809), prominent Birmingham Industrialist, was one of his close friends and supporters.

Sources: R. H. Campbell, 'Garbett, Samuel (1717-1803)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/40491, accessed 2 March 2007; 'Industrial Revolution: A Documentary History'. Series One: The Boulton & Watt Archives and the Matthew Boulton Papers from Birmingham Central Library published by Adam Mathew Publications.

These diaries are arranged chronologically.

Open. Access to all registered researchers.

These items were purchased in 2005.

Please see full catalogue for more information.

Small red leather volumes of printed diaries and almanacs with engraved illustrations. Loose items included in end pockets.

Permission to make any published use of any material from the collection must be sought in advance in writing from the Director of Special Collections (email: special-collections@contacts.bham.ac.uk). Identification of copyright holders of unpublished material is often difficult. Special Collections will assist where possible with identifying copyright owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material

The custodial history is unknown.

Correspondence written by Anne's husband Sir Samuel Romilly can be found at various repositories including the British Library and North Yorkshire County Record Office.