The Wisewould Chronicles

A history of the Wisewould family.  James Wisewould, solicitor and his wife, Sophia lived with their six small children at 99 Hotham Street in the late 1860s.  During this time at least two of the children attended Mrs Roberts School, Sydenham House, across the road at 80 Hotham Street.  Adeline, the eldest child, as a twelve year old wrote a diary for a period of just two weeks.  The diary is reproduced in full in the book and makes some interesting reflections about the school.  It names two other pupils, Muriel Egan and Libbie (no surname). The diary tells of home life:  the fowls that kept the family in eggs and Adeline's jobs which included stacking the firewoood against the stable wall,  and gardening, although a regular gardener, Mr Bachelor, did most of the maintenance.  Shopping was a big part of life and trips to the Bridge Road shops are mentioned almost daily.