Tales of 18th century life win history award
ABOOK compiling the work of a famous diarist and journal writer from the 18th century – who often wrote about Southport – has won a prestigious award.
The publication, Miss Weeton Governess And Traveller, has won the 2017 Alan Ball Award.
The awards were established by the Library Services Trust in 1985 to encourage local history publishing by public libraries and local authorities.
This book is filled with the work of Nelly Weeton (1776-1849) who wrote letters and extensively revealing journal entries about the lives of both rich and poor in Georgian Lancashire and beyond.
The writings were first discovered in a second-hand bookshop in Wigan during the 1920s by Edward Hall, a collector of manuscripts and diaries.
The original work is now kept in the Wigan Council Archives, and has been used to create the award winning 248-page book.
The publication was edited by Alan Roby, and follows the life of Miss Weeton and outlines the challenges she faced.
Although she grew up near Wigan, many entries about Southport have been included in the publication.
She visited various areas within the seaside town, including the sea bathing lake, Crossens and Churchtown.
Alan Roby said: “There is quite a lot of Southport in Miss Weeton’s story.
“It is clear that Miss Weeton was one of the regular early visitors to North Meols, which was the foundation of the town’s prosperity as a sea bathing place.
“Miss Weeton visited Southport and Meols on a number of occasions, sometimes staying for up to three weeks at a time.
“Lodgings were obtained in the cottages of fishermen at North Meols, an area which became very popular because of the new sea bathing craze during the 1790s.
“Soon after the birth of her only child, Mary, in 1815, Miss Weeton suffered ‘depression of spirits’, and went to Southport for a few weeks to recuperate.”
She also visited Southport as she was going through a difficult divorce.
Alan said: “The stylistic beauty of Miss Weeton’s prose displays remarkable powers of observation of a life that was ordinary and yet extraordinary, and in the process brings us face to face with those who had too much and those who had too little.”
The Wigan Council archivist, Alex Miller, commissioned the work of editing the material during 2012, and it took three years to complete.
Terry Bracher, convener of the Alan Ball Award judging panel, said: “Miss Weeton Governess And Trav- eller is an outstanding publication in every sense, with engaging content that is accessible to a wide range of audiences. Alan’s skilful editing and research for this new edition has enhanced the reader’s enjoyment and is a story that can be appreciated by audiences across the country and beyond.”
Miss Weeton Governess And Traveller is now available to purchase from Amazon and Waterstones.