INTRODUCTION

This is the diary of Charles Walker who lived in Worcester in 1851. He was 21 1/2 years old at the time the diary begins. By making assumptions from the diary, this is the way I see him. He had been working in Worcester as a Bookkeeper for about 6 months when the diary begins, but it wasn't his first venture from home. He describes being involved with a Theatre group in Liverpool, although it isn't clear if it was professional or part of his studies. He was born in Worcester and christened there, at St. Martin's Church- his parents George and Mary Walker giving their address at that time as Park Place, Worcester. One assumes it was the original family site as there are relatives from both sides of the family in Worcester. But when he was still very young his father (George Walker) who married Mary Anne Mayfield moved to York where they shared a business in cabs with her brother Henry Mayfield. Charles attended infant school in York at Lockrick, where Mrs. Sherner was Mistress, up to the age of 12. Charles seems to be an only child but he is very close to and fond of his numerous aunts, uncles and cousins and the joint families seem very close.

As the diary starts Charles talks about his need for a soulmate or more specifically, a girlfriend with intent to marry, to complete his life. This theme is continued throughout the diary as we find his dreams of girlfriends, attempts to get involved, and bitter disappointments. Even as the diary ends, we find him still dreaming of a future wife, although not the same girl that he was thinking of at the beginning.

It is interesting to note his very indirect forms of courtship. But from reading Jane Austin books, it is apparent that at that time if a man wrote directly to an eligible female, this was as good as being engaged to her, so one had to choose one's method of correspondence carefully- hence Charles sent newspapers as his means of showing himself interested without committing himself or compromising the girl.

Charles thinks of himself as an important family member and gives advice freely (often unasked) to all of his friends and relatives. He has several quests to fulfil:

• A Miss Smith was accused of misdeeds at his Uncle's home and he is determined to make his family whom he feels have accused her unjustly make it up to her;

• Just before his uncle dies, he reveals that he wasn't married to the mother of his children, but Charles is determined that his common law wife and her children shall get their inheritance regardless of the views of other family members;

• Charles wants to make his own name in business, establish his own home and family, and in fact, to be a full-fledged adult.

Charles is a highly regarded part of his employment team. I would guess he was 2nd in charge of a group of 5 or 6 men who bought various commodities (hops, coal, corn) and delivered goods to various localities by wagon and canal barges. He worked for F.M. Needham who was a coal and corn merchant and agent for the Worcester Canal Company with an office on Lowesmore Wharf. Charles is given considerable responsibility and acts very maturely in his work-related dealings. He works long hours, but enjoys the privilege of taking the occasional holiday like when his parents come to visit him. Later in the year, he is instrumental in getting his cousin, Charles George Walker, usually referred to as CG, a position first at Pickfords, and later in his own office under Mr. Needham.

Charles' interests are numerous. He loves to go walking on the Malvern Hills and other countryside areas around Worcester. He walks miles each weekend. He also loves to read and lists many books that he read in the course of the year. He enjoys drawing too, and tries to teach his young cousin all he knows about it.

He likes to write, and as well as the diary and his letters to dozens of people, with the help of his cousin, he restarts, encourages and dominates the Pen, Paper and Ink Society which eventually publish an issue of his and his friends work. He likes to socialize too, and has a few parties and goes into great detail describing the games they play at them. He obviously enjoys people and seems always to be going out to tea with somebody.

The major event of 1851 in the country was the Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace. Charles goes to it twice and details many of the exhibits as well as the plays and parks that they visited in London.

As well as keeping up his diary faithfully, he also details all his expenses, down to the smallest biscuit that he buys and carefully balances it all up each month, and worries if there is any discrepancy. He also details all the costs of his project on gardening which turns out not to be as lucrative as he had hoped.

This diary is fascinating as it tells what life was like in 1851 in Worcester. Charles writes well and with much feeling about things, and having read the diary, I feel that I am one of his friends too.

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