Heavy rain this morning. A quiet night here, but on the news we heard that there had been a heavy raid over the S. West counties,
Committee at Birch this
afternoon. The Chairman was very
outspoken about Layer Breton Hall again, as he has discovered quite accidentally
that a man called Eves, who is on the Executive Committee intends to go there
to live in September. Hundreds of pounds
of public money have been spent, the occupiers have been evicted at great
inconvenience to themselves, all to no useful purpose whatever. Further talk about post-war housing in
country districts. The most fantastic
schemes are now being put forward by various officials, concerning the
formation of new “communities”, etc.
Before I came away from Birch I
was allowed to see what remains of the Library, and found a copy of Morant’s 'Colchester' which belonged to James Round, but on
searching it could find no trace of any drawings of the “Stonehouse”. There was however an original letter from
Morant to Charles Gray, dated from Lambeth of 1769, in which after mentioning
various antiquarian matters, he says his daughter has just given birth to her
third son, and that her husband, Mr Astle, being well satisfied with her
condition, has gone off on a riding tour.
This son was I believe Philip, who took the name of Hills and inherited the Morant papers.
Sent off my letter to Lady
Benham.
Called at Holly Trees, and
mentioned to Poulter that Molly Blomfield had been ill again. In the course of talking he mentioned quite
casually that a few weeks ago a detective called to see him, making enquiries
about her. He said that he understood
that the enquiries were in consequence of her having applied for some job, he
did not know what, but this I do not believe.
It is possible that she has been found on military or RAF property in
the course of her work [for the National Buildings Record], and they are checking up on her identity but it seems
very curious. Poulter saw nothing odd in it
at all. He made me very angry as he has
thrown away nearly all the papers we got from Craske’s [Solicitor's] office, including the
very interesting farm sale catalogue of 1820.
I was so furious I left at once.
More rain tonight. Boxted at 9. ‘Planes went out for 10 minutes soon after 11, droning horribly above the clouds. Very cold.
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