backbooks

Set down in the parish minute book, kept with building accounts and repairs.

14 April 1947

Minutes of the Parish Meeting held following the reopening service.

It was agreed that the service held on the Sunday prior had been well attended, given the short notice and the continuing works. The weather had been cold and unsettled, with a sudden fall of hail during the service, which caused a sharp draught through the building when the doors were opened.

Shortly after this the vicar was taken with a coughing fit, thought at the time to have been brought on by the cold air and dust from the works, and was unable to continue. The service was brought to an early close. No blame was attached and concern was expressed for his health.

In the days following, movement was noted in the ground at the east end of the building. Cracks appeared in two panes, and a leak was found along the new guttering. The builder was consulted and could give no clear reason beyond the ground not having settled as expected after the winter. It was agreed the matter be watched.

It was further noted that several of the young trees planted along the boundary had failed, despite having been sound at planting. No cause was determined.

In light of these matters, and given the need to avoid further strain on the building while repairs continued, it was proposed that certain uses formerly held within the church not be resumed for the present year. This was carried without objection.

The building remains open for regular worship.

[In a smaller hand, written at an angle in the margin:]

Woke in the night. Did not get back off.

Coughing brought it on, though it were nowt but cold air and dust off t’place. I know that well enough.

Had that dream again. Not had it since crossing. The bit where I kept quiet when I should not have. Comes back plain once it starts.

Not about church. Leave it so.

It is what I left.

Set it right next service. Quiet like. Just do it and have done.

Cannot keep letting things lie.

Extract from Night Attendant Log Site: West End Central Car Park, London W1 Operator: MetroPark Services Ltd. Date: 14 October 1984 Attendant: A. Green Shift: 18:00–02:00

22:11 – Customer query re entry time printed on ticket issued at Basement (B1) machine. Ticket shows 22:14. Booth clock 22:11. Wristwatch 22:11. Customer concerned re possible overcharge at exit barrier. Advised barrier clock governs tariff.

Checked Ground Level machine 22:16. Printed 22:16 (matches booth clock).

Returned to B1 machine 22:19. Test ticket shows 22:22.

Difference approx. +3 mins.

Weather: heavy rain since approx. 19:30. Water tracking in via ramp despite drainage. No pooling visible at machine housing. Housing installed July this year under electronic upgrade (ref. MP/Upgrade/7/84).

22:27 – Accessed front panel using site key. Internal clock unit checked. No visible condensation. Wiring secure.

Reset internal time to 22:27 per booth clock. Observed for approx. one minute by count. Internal time remained aligned during observation.

22:41 – Further test ticket printed. Shows 22:44.

Drift returned approx. +3 mins. Observed again approx. one minute. No immediate further increase.

Ground Level machine rechecked 22:45. No drift.

Exit barrier printer 22:52 matches booth clock.

Lift timing normal. Lighting steady. No voltage drop observed in booth.

23:05 – Telephoned MetroPark technical support. Advised minor clock drift not uncommon on early clock boards, particularly in damp conditions. Suggested board replacement if variance exceeds five minutes. Logged under Ref: TG/1014/84.

23:40 – Additional B1 test ticket printed. Shows 23:43. Drift approx. +3 mins (not consistent to second).

No customer disputes at barrier during shift.

Advised late-entry drivers to retain ticket and contact daytime office if queried. Note added to cash sheet margin.

System left operational.

Addendum – 16 October 1984 (Day Shift): Clock board replaced morning 15/10/84. No further drift reported as of 16/10/84.

Set down on a loose leaf kept with field notes and wages.

7 January 1924

Frost been down hard all week. Ground’s set right through. You can hear it ring if you strike it, and there’s no getting a blade in without iron and swearing.

I shifted the stone by the lower gate yester morning. It was off, leaning in, and that won’t do. Got the bar under it and prized it out, then dragged it clear toward the fence where it ought to sit. Took some doing. Had to rock it and curse it both. Packed what I could about the foot, though it was all like brick.

Stamped grit round till my heel ached and left the mark plain in the frost.

Hands were dead after.

This morning it was back.

Not over. Not sunk. Back. Same lean as before. Same face to it. The chip on the corner was where it always is.

I stood with it a bit, to make sure I wasn’t being daft. Frost hadn’t lifted. No rain in the night. No soft patch round it. Ground was tight same as the rest.

No heel where I’d set it.

Told myself I’d not pulled it as far as I thought. Cold makes you careless. Makes you think you’ve done more than you have.

Shifted it again. Further this time. Near two foot, and clear of the old hollow. Wedged it with broken stone and stamped grit round till my heel ached again. I looked back once from the fence to be certain.

Didn’t go straight back this morning. Had pens to see to and feed to get out. Left the lower field till after.

It was back when I came down.

Set as it had been. Ground about it clean and hard. No mark of working. It sat there as if it had never been touched.

I left it.

There’s no sense fighting ground in winter. You’ll only break yourself and get nowhere. Gate swings well enough. Stone does no harm where it stands.

Marked it on the paper.

I’m not moving it again.

Set down at the back of the household book, after the reckonings.

12 March 1840

Kept a candle on last night after the others were gone up, as I was mending by the table and had not finished the seam. The weather was close and the fire did not give as it ought.

I forgot it when I shut the book and cleared the table.

There was no fire. I thank God for His mercy in that. The cloth was not marked, nor the table, and the holder stood as it had been set. The wick was bent over by morning and cold.

I do not know when it went out.

It had burned more than was right.

Not to the end, but further than it should have done, given the length of the night and the draught in that room. I thought at first the tallow must have been cut thin, though I do not remember doing it so, nor when I last looked to it. My hands were steady that day and the fat well tried.

The room was set cold, though the fire had been laid proper and the door kept. Old houses take the air into themselves. That is known.

I said a prayer and put the candle away. I did not throw it out. There was no call for waste. I finished it in its turn, but I did not leave another burning once I had gone from the room.

Light is for use and keeping. It is not a thing to be left to itself.

Order is given us to mind, and when we are careless with it, correction follows soon enough, whether we have marked the fault or no. It is best not to make trial of it.

We still keep candles, as is needful.

Only now they are put out when the work is done.