Journals of Annie Lambert

Two small volumes of closely-written journals by Annie Lambert.
The first volume covers the period January-September 1845 and gives a fairly detailed record of middle-class family life in the early days of Queen Victoria's reign. The second volume covers November 1845-November 1846 when the family spent nearly twelve months in Oporto, Portugal.
The volumes give insight in the life and times of a young woman whose family was engaged in the port wine trade, thus providing the reason of the visit to Portugal recorded in the second journal.

Anne Elizabeth Lambert, was born in c. 1823, the daughter of John Lambert, wine merchant, of 33 Tavistock Square, London. The 1841 census return for that address lists John Lambert, merchant, [his wife] Katherine and children Katharine, Henrietta and Anne, and Thomas described as a merchant. The family had five live-in servants (but not including a maid called Chapman who is mentioned in the earlier diary); their immediate neighbours in the square were persons of independent means, a barrister and other well-to-do merchants. By the time of the 1851 census, John Lambert had died and the family had moved to Upper East Sheen in Mortlake. Katherine Lambert was described as a fund-holder and still living with her were daughters Henrietta (aged 30) and Anne Elizabeth (aged 28) and son Thomas (aged 39, merchant Oporto) and five live-in servants, one of whom had been with the family in 1841. The production of port wine from vines grown in the Douro region of Portugal had been developed by British wine merchants in the later 17th century and it quickly became very popular in England, though trade suffered to some extent in the wake of the Napoleonic wars.

Open. Access to all registered researchers.

See note on these journals in 'Reseach Libraries Bulletin' number 3, summer 1995

Please see full catalogue for more information.

Available on microfilm and online.

In 1996, the collection was microfilmed by Adam Matthew Publications as part of the micropublication, 'Women's Language and Experience, 1500-1940. Women's Diaries and Related Sources'. A set of the microfilm is available in the Cadbury Research Library for use by all registered researchers.

The collection has since been digitally published by Adam Matthew Digital Ltd so the collection can also be seen online by members of, and visitors to, the Cadbury Research Library and other institutions that subscribe to 'Defining Gender - Consumption and Leisure', AMD Ltd. All visitors who have registered for a Cadbury Research Library Reader ticket can access this Adam Matthew Digital product on the public access computers in the Cadbury Research Library Reading Room. Staff and students of the University of Birmingham also have access when off campus through the University's eResources (log in through FindIt@Bham), To find out more about Adam Matthew Digital or to request a free trial, go to https://www.amdigital.co.uk/.

Described in accordance with guidelines provided by ICA General International Standard Archival Description (ISAD(G)), second edition,Ottawa; and in-house cataloguing guidelines, January 2015

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.

Former location: MSS 4/v/9-10