Francis Kilvert
Encyclopedia
Robert Francis Kilvert always known as Francis, or Frank, was born at The Rectory, Hardenhuish Lane, near Chippenham, Wiltshire
, to the Rev. Robert Kilvert, Rector
of Langley Burrell
, Wiltshire
, and Thermuthis, daughter of Walter Coleman and Thermuthis Ashe. He is remembered for his diaries, reflecting rural life in the 1870s, which were published over fifty years after his death.
. He then entered the Church of England
and became a rural curate
, working primarily in the Welsh Marches
between Hereford
and Hay on Wye. Initially from 1863 to 1864 he was Curate
to his father at Langley Burrell, and in 1865 he became Curate of Clyro
, Radnorshire
; he remained there until 1872 when he rejoined his father at Langley Burrell. From 1876 to 1877 he was Vicar
of St Harmon
, Radnorshire
, and from 1877 to his death in 1879 he was Vicar of Bredwardine
, Herefordshire
.
In August 1879 he married Elizabeth Ann Rowland (1846–1911), whom he had met on a visit to Paris
, but he died a few days after returning from his honeymoon in Scotland
.
Now there is a Francis Kilvert Society which holds meetings looking around places where Francis went and where he lived.
describing rural life. After his death from peritonitis
, his diaries were edited and censored, possibly by his widow. Later they were passed on to William Plomer
who transcribed the remaining diaries and edited and published a three-volume selection and later a one-volume selection Kilvert's Diary, 1870-1879 (Jonathan Cape, 1938—corrected in 1960, and with an abridged and illustrated version for children published as Ardizzone's
Kilvert in 1976). A different selection from Plomer's original version was published as Journal of a Country Curate: Selections from the Diary of Francis Kilvert by The Folio Society in 1960. In 1992 a new selection was published under the editorship of David Lockwood, Kilvert, the Victorian: A New Selection from Kilvert's Diaries (Seren Books, 1992). Out of print since 1970, the 3 volume indexed edition was reprinted in 2006 by O'Donoghue Books of Hay-on-Wye (http://www.kilverts-diary.com). The complete surviving diaries were destroyed, for reasons unknown, by the relatives who owned them, except for the volumes listed below, which had been given to other people, while Plomer's own transcription was destroyed by fire in the Blitz
. Kilvert also privately published pleasant but conventional poetry.
The Cornish
Diary: Journal No.4, 1870 - From July 19 to August 6, Cornwall
was published by Alison Hodge in 1989 . The National Library of Wales
, which holds two of the three surviving volumes, published The Diary of Francis Kilvert: April-June 1870 in 1982 and The Diary of Francis Kilvert: June-July 1870 in 1989.
BBC
television documentary on Kilvert, called Vicar of this Parish, was shown in 1976 . This led to Kilvert's Diary being dramatised (270 minutes or 390 minutes—sources differ) on British television between 1977 and 1978, with Timothy Davies in the title role. The programmes are no longer available, and may have been lost.
Chippenham, Wiltshire
Chippenham is a market town in Wiltshire, England, located east of Bath and west of London. In the 2001 census the population of the town was recorded as 28,065....
, to the Rev. Robert Kilvert, Rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of Langley Burrell
Langley Burrell
Langley Burrell is a village just north of Chippenham, Wiltshire. It is notable in particular as one of the termini of Maud Heath's Causeway and, also for its Early English and Perpendicular church. The Georgian parsonage was for many years the home of the Rev...
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, and Thermuthis, daughter of Walter Coleman and Thermuthis Ashe. He is remembered for his diaries, reflecting rural life in the 1870s, which were published over fifty years after his death.
Professional life
Kilvert was educated privately in Bath by his uncle, Francis Kilvert, before going up to Wadham College, OxfordWadham College, Oxford
Wadham College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, located at the southern end of Parks Road in central Oxford. It was founded by Nicholas and Dorothy Wadham, wealthy Somerset landowners, during the reign of King James I...
. He then entered the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
and became a rural curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
, working primarily in the Welsh Marches
Welsh Marches
The Welsh Marches is a term which, in modern usage, denotes an imprecisely defined area along and around the border between England and Wales in the United Kingdom. The precise meaning of the term has varied at different periods...
between Hereford
Hereford
Hereford is a cathedral city, civil parish and county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately east of the border with Wales, southwest of Worcester, and northwest of Gloucester...
and Hay on Wye. Initially from 1863 to 1864 he was Curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
to his father at Langley Burrell, and in 1865 he became Curate of Clyro
Clyro
Clyro is a village in Powys, Wales with approximately 600 inhabitants . The nearest town is Hay-on-Wye, some 1.5 miles to the southeast. The nearest city is Hereford in England, some 23 miles to the east.-History:...
, Radnorshire
Radnorshire
Radnorshire is one of thirteen historic and former administrative counties of Wales. It is represented by the Radnorshire area of Powys, which according to the 2001 census, had a population of 24,805...
; he remained there until 1872 when he rejoined his father at Langley Burrell. From 1876 to 1877 he was Vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
of St Harmon
St Harmon
St Harmon is a village in Powys, Wales. It is located on the River Marteg on the B4518 road running between Llanidloes and Rhayader.St Harmon FC is the village football team.- External links :*...
, Radnorshire
Radnorshire
Radnorshire is one of thirteen historic and former administrative counties of Wales. It is represented by the Radnorshire area of Powys, which according to the 2001 census, had a population of 24,805...
, and from 1877 to his death in 1879 he was Vicar of Bredwardine
Bredwardine
Bredwardine is a village in Herefordshire, England, located off the B4352 road in the west of the county.Features include a brick bridge over the River Wye, a historic late 17th century coaching inn named the Red Lion, St Andrews parish church and the site of Bredwardine Castle.The Wye Valley Walk...
, Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
.
In August 1879 he married Elizabeth Ann Rowland (1846–1911), whom he had met on a visit to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, but he died a few days after returning from his honeymoon in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Now there is a Francis Kilvert Society which holds meetings looking around places where Francis went and where he lived.
Kilvert's Diary
Kilvert is best known as the author of voluminous diariesDiaries
As a proper noun, Diaries, the plural of diary, can refer to:*Diaries: 1971-1976, an 1981 documentary by Ed Pincus*Diaries 1969–1979: The Python Years, a 2006 book by Michael Palin...
describing rural life. After his death from peritonitis
Peritonitis
Peritonitis is an inflammation of the peritoneum, the serous membrane that lines part of the abdominal cavity and viscera. Peritonitis may be localised or generalised, and may result from infection or from a non-infectious process.-Abdominal pain and tenderness:The main manifestations of...
, his diaries were edited and censored, possibly by his widow. Later they were passed on to William Plomer
William Plomer
William Charles Franklyn Plomer CBE was a South African author, known as a novelist, poet and literary editor. He was educated mostly in the United Kingdom...
who transcribed the remaining diaries and edited and published a three-volume selection and later a one-volume selection Kilvert's Diary, 1870-1879 (Jonathan Cape, 1938—corrected in 1960, and with an abridged and illustrated version for children published as Ardizzone's
Edward Ardizzone
Edward Jeffrey Irving Ardizzone, CBE, RA was an English artist, writer and illustrator, chiefly of children's books.-Early life:...
Kilvert in 1976). A different selection from Plomer's original version was published as Journal of a Country Curate: Selections from the Diary of Francis Kilvert by The Folio Society in 1960. In 1992 a new selection was published under the editorship of David Lockwood, Kilvert, the Victorian: A New Selection from Kilvert's Diaries (Seren Books, 1992). Out of print since 1970, the 3 volume indexed edition was reprinted in 2006 by O'Donoghue Books of Hay-on-Wye (http://www.kilverts-diary.com). The complete surviving diaries were destroyed, for reasons unknown, by the relatives who owned them, except for the volumes listed below, which had been given to other people, while Plomer's own transcription was destroyed by fire in the Blitz
The Blitz
The Blitz was the sustained strategic bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, during the Second World War. The city of London was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 76 consecutive nights and many towns and cities across the country followed...
. Kilvert also privately published pleasant but conventional poetry.
The Cornish
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
Diary: Journal No.4, 1870 - From July 19 to August 6, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
was published by Alison Hodge in 1989 . The National Library of Wales
National Library of Wales
The National Library of Wales , Aberystwyth, is the national legal deposit library of Wales; one of the Welsh Government sponsored bodies.Welsh is its main medium of communication...
, which holds two of the three surviving volumes, published The Diary of Francis Kilvert: April-June 1870 in 1982 and The Diary of Francis Kilvert: June-July 1870 in 1989.
Kilvert adapted to film
A John BetjemanJohn Betjeman
Sir John Betjeman, CBE was an English poet, writer and broadcaster who described himself in Who's Who as a "poet and hack".He was a founding member of the Victorian Society and a passionate defender of Victorian architecture...
BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television documentary on Kilvert, called Vicar of this Parish, was shown in 1976 . This led to Kilvert's Diary being dramatised (270 minutes or 390 minutes—sources differ) on British television between 1977 and 1978, with Timothy Davies in the title role. The programmes are no longer available, and may have been lost.
Further reading
- John Toman. Kilvert's Diary and Landscape. (Lutterworth Press, Dec 2008)
- David Lockwood. Francis Kilvert. (Seren Books, 1992)
- John Toman. Kilvert: The Homeless Heart. (Logaston Press, 2001)
- Frederick Grice. Francis Kilvert and His World. (Caliban Books, 1980)
- Readings are available on Saydisc CD (available from Qualiton US, and other retailers). The CD, Kilvert's Diary, (CD-SDL 309) can be ordered from the Saydisc web site, http://www.saydisc.com/. Reader is Timothy Davies.
- Mark Bostridge on the fate of Kilvert's Diary, 'Life on the Wing', Guardian, 19 January 2008.