Book Excerpts
Cleeve Families on the North Circular Road
“Then Aunt Sophia likes to see me, so nearly every day I go over to Bracken Brae which is half a mile from Sunville. Beechlawn is next door to Sunville while Fernbank is half a mile nearer to town. But as all these houses are on a circular road, Aunt Sophia is only equal distance from Fernbank and Sunville. Indeed, Aunt is a wonderful old woman, so bright and active and proud of her children. She is very fond of me.”
“Fernbank, Fred’s home, has the most land and lovely gardens, all kinds of fruit and vegetables, nice flowers, beautiful stables, summer house and tent. The house, Mary says, is the best placed, not pretty on the outside, but they will do it up and build a veranda next year which will improve it.
Beechlawn has the finest trees, and I almost think the prettiest grounds. Sunville House is the grandest and best-laid-out, Bracken Brae the cosiest. There is a lot of land there too, but the house is not well placed and the rooms are small.”
“Today Phoebe and I went over to see Uncle Ben for tea at Bracken Brae. We then drove in to Town in the little Trap. I did some of the driving and shopping for Phoebe while she was being fitted for two silk blouses.
Then, in the rain, we sat for three hours again at the Tennis Club Tournament. In spite of the wet, I had a fine time. It was like playing in a bog and oh, but the players were muddy! The final is put off till Monday. Two of my friends won prizes.
I had a fine hot cup of tea at the Club, which warmed me up. Mr. Kelly got it for me. He was quite attentive, got me a dry seat etc. Oh, won’t I catch it when I see Joe! He sat opposite us, and I knew he was trying to catch my eye, but I would not look at him.”
“Fernbank, Fred’s home, has the most land and lovely gardens, all kinds of fruit and vegetables, nice flowers, beautiful stables, summer house and tent. The house, Mary says, is the best placed, not pretty on the outside, but they will do it up and build a veranda next year which will improve it.
Beechlawn has the finest trees, and I almost think the prettiest grounds. Sunville House is the grandest and best-laid-out, Bracken Brae the cosiest. There is a lot of land there too, but the house is not well placed and the rooms are small.”
“Today Phoebe and I went over to see Uncle Ben for tea at Bracken Brae. We then drove in to Town in the little Trap. I did some of the driving and shopping for Phoebe while she was being fitted for two silk blouses.
Then, in the rain, we sat for three hours again at the Tennis Club Tournament. In spite of the wet, I had a fine time. It was like playing in a bog and oh, but the players were muddy! The final is put off till Monday. Two of my friends won prizes.
I had a fine hot cup of tea at the Club, which warmed me up. Mr. Kelly got it for me. He was quite attentive, got me a dry seat etc. Oh, won’t I catch it when I see Joe! He sat opposite us, and I knew he was trying to catch my eye, but I would not look at him.”
Trip to the Clare Glen
"I am going to write you an account of a lovely picnic we took yesterday. On account of the two girls (Miss Aston and Miss Woodburn), Tom and Joe decided to take a half holiday. So at twelve o’clock, Joe, Kathleen and Katy Aston left Beech Lawn. Joe, with his man and the baskets, was driving a fine pair of red horses the colour of our Jack.
Tom, Phoebe, Olive and me were in the Wagonette with Dick in livery. With many boxes, baskets and the boot piled with bottles, we set out for Clare Glen. (I had better tell what I wore as mother says I must tell every little thing. I looked quite fine in my old black skirt, white blouse, black belt and gloves, plaid tie and sailor hat.) We drove through the Irish town, past the new Reservoir which is near Troy Castle and Castle Connell. We passed the Masterson’s and Baunaline’s lovely residences, over the lovely little Annacotty bridge, past the Annacotty grist Mill to Annagh Factory. This is a new factory the Cleeves have just put up where the milk from fifty farmers is brought and separated and then the cream is driven to Limerick Factory. The milk is returned to the farmers as the Cleeves only buy the cream. |
At two o’clock we set our table beside a lovely brook, when down came the rain. So we hurried into the factory and finished our lunch standing. At three we started off again, the rain only lasting for a few minutes. We journeyed over lovely winding roads where the trees, their trunks covered with ivy, and leafy branches overhead give shade. We finally reached the Glen where many cars and carriages were standing. Two old women, with many blessings for the silver coins we gave them, let us in the gates.
Oh how lovely it was! We walked up the lovely glen, and across the stile, through the little meadow to the Second Glen which is quite as beautiful as the first. We crossed a new little stone bridge to the falls where we sat and talked for a long while. I have enclosed some heather from the Glen. The lovely Rhododendrons were in flower and the gorse made the warm bright air sweet. The shades and shadows were grand, but you know all dear Father, so why would I try to describe? Joe brought his Camera. I hope he will give me some snaps to send to you. Except for Tom and Joe, none of us had seen the Glen before. " |
St. Mary's Cathedral
“Yesterday was Ascension Day, so Dick the coachman drove us in to the Cathedral on the sidecar. I enjoyed the ride very much as it did not shake today - had not to hold on at all. Cousin Phoebe and I remained for Holy Communion.”
“There is no service at the Cathedral in the evening, only in the afternoon at three. This is an awkward hour for us as we have no time for dinner with it being a long way to St. Mary’s from Sunville.”
“Yesterday we all went to church. I wore my black skirt and Mary’s silk jacket. I fixed it up a bit, so have it for a time for best, gray gloves, and my black hat with white veil. As it was Trinity Sunday, we remained for Communion. How I longed to be kneeling beside you there, dear Mother, instead of between my kind cousins.”
“There is no service at the Cathedral in the evening, only in the afternoon at three. This is an awkward hour for us as we have no time for dinner with it being a long way to St. Mary’s from Sunville.”
“Yesterday we all went to church. I wore my black skirt and Mary’s silk jacket. I fixed it up a bit, so have it for a time for best, gray gloves, and my black hat with white veil. As it was Trinity Sunday, we remained for Communion. How I longed to be kneeling beside you there, dear Mother, instead of between my kind cousins.”
Condensed Milk Factory
"As you know the cream we get on porridge, pudding, and fruit is the Cleeve Condensed Cream thinned with milk or water. The milk is also condensed.”
“The Cleeves are turning out ten ton of butter in a week. They have 800 hands here, 300 in Mallow where Ted is living now.”
“We walked home during the factory dinner hour and got mixed up with about 150 working women and girls. This was not nice at all.”
“I met Frank at the factory gate at eleven and he took me on a tour all over it. It was most interesting, but very hot and smelly. I should hate to work in it and feel sure Edward could not live in it. He is better off where he is, I think.”
“The Cleeves are turning out ten ton of butter in a week. They have 800 hands here, 300 in Mallow where Ted is living now.”
“We walked home during the factory dinner hour and got mixed up with about 150 working women and girls. This was not nice at all.”
“I met Frank at the factory gate at eleven and he took me on a tour all over it. It was most interesting, but very hot and smelly. I should hate to work in it and feel sure Edward could not live in it. He is better off where he is, I think.”
Diamond Jubilee Day
“It was eight when we arrived in Limerick. Dick had the carriage ready for us and we hurried home where we ate a much-needed dinner. Then we dressed up for the “Military Tattoo” over at the barracks. Such a crowd there was! All the Cleeves turned out except Jennie, and there were six visitors. We all drove up together and so were a huge party by ourselves.
The Tattoo was a torch light procession with all kinds of brass and stringed instruments that played beautifully. There were also fireworks and illuminations in the big square. Seats were placed about so people could sit down when tired of promenading. Of course we met many we knew, as there were several thousands. The square is enormous and as there are about 600 soldiers quartered here all the time with their families, they are a world by themselves. It was fine to see all the windows blazing.
As we drove through the town, we met a “Rebel lot of Rabble”, (the bad Irish, about 200 to 300 strong.) They had a cart on which was a black coffin and a black flag, on which in white was written “Long live Old Ireland, down with the queen, who does nothing for us”. They were pretty quiet for so many, but as our ponies were restless, we turned down the street. This was the only fuss we saw all day, not much for Old Ireland.
From all public buildings flags were flying. The Cleeve Factory had strings of them. The ships in dock were gay with flags and bunting. Many houses and buildings were illuminated. So the town was wonderfully gay.
Tom and a few of the Circular Road people are going to have fireworks on the river (on a barge) opposite T.H. Cleeve’s lovely residence, the best on the Circular Road. Ten pounds have been spent on the fireworks! They are to be shown off tomorrow night after the Horse Show. A party is to come back from the Horse Show with us and we are to have dinner (very swell) at eight. After that, the fireworks will be set off. I will finish this when I can tell about it tomorrow.”
The Tattoo was a torch light procession with all kinds of brass and stringed instruments that played beautifully. There were also fireworks and illuminations in the big square. Seats were placed about so people could sit down when tired of promenading. Of course we met many we knew, as there were several thousands. The square is enormous and as there are about 600 soldiers quartered here all the time with their families, they are a world by themselves. It was fine to see all the windows blazing.
As we drove through the town, we met a “Rebel lot of Rabble”, (the bad Irish, about 200 to 300 strong.) They had a cart on which was a black coffin and a black flag, on which in white was written “Long live Old Ireland, down with the queen, who does nothing for us”. They were pretty quiet for so many, but as our ponies were restless, we turned down the street. This was the only fuss we saw all day, not much for Old Ireland.
From all public buildings flags were flying. The Cleeve Factory had strings of them. The ships in dock were gay with flags and bunting. Many houses and buildings were illuminated. So the town was wonderfully gay.
Tom and a few of the Circular Road people are going to have fireworks on the river (on a barge) opposite T.H. Cleeve’s lovely residence, the best on the Circular Road. Ten pounds have been spent on the fireworks! They are to be shown off tomorrow night after the Horse Show. A party is to come back from the Horse Show with us and we are to have dinner (very swell) at eight. After that, the fireworks will be set off. I will finish this when I can tell about it tomorrow.”
Liz and Grandpa Ben
“In those days, I believed that Dad and Grampa knew everything. It must be so or they wouldn’t be the boss. I learned in Sunday School that God was a ‘He’ and Jesus, his son was also a ‘He’. The minister at church was a ‘he’ and so were all the religious leaders that I knew of. And God was supposed to be all-knowing so maybe it just fell naturally to men to be the ultimate authorities. At least that’s what the Bible seemed to say. And my favourite books backed it up, that women were delicate and helpless and needed to be endlessly rescued by princes and knights.
For by far, my most cherished memories of visiting Grampa Ben were the afternoons I spent cuddled into the crook of his arm as he read to me by the hour. We sat together in his big overstuffed chair and read wonderful stories of ogres, gremlins, and knights in shining armour that rescued beautiful damsels in distress. Inevitably the protagonists would fall in love, get married and “live happily ever after.” Grampa would then tell me about the days when Granny Bessie was alive and how much he had loved her.
Granny Bessie died of a sudden heart attack when I was only two years old so I had no memory of her. But Grampa made sure I knew about her by showing me the family photographs and telling me the stories of their many adventures. Often he would have a tear in his eye, followed by a bout of chest pain. Then he would reach into his pocket for his nitroglycerine pills, saying, “I’ll be alright in a minute.” After offering me a peppermint, he would tell me I must be sure to be a good girl around my father, Frank, as he had a very weak heart and nothing must happen to upset him.
I learned very early in life that heart disease ran in the family. It was strange that none of the characters in my storybooks had heart problems but Dad was still my hero and I preferred not to think about it. I just tried very hard to be a good girl and hoped for the best. But my beloved Dad died of heart failure all the same just before my eleventh birthday. Mom was very stoical and put on a brave front that we would manage. No one was allowed to cry.”
For by far, my most cherished memories of visiting Grampa Ben were the afternoons I spent cuddled into the crook of his arm as he read to me by the hour. We sat together in his big overstuffed chair and read wonderful stories of ogres, gremlins, and knights in shining armour that rescued beautiful damsels in distress. Inevitably the protagonists would fall in love, get married and “live happily ever after.” Grampa would then tell me about the days when Granny Bessie was alive and how much he had loved her.
Granny Bessie died of a sudden heart attack when I was only two years old so I had no memory of her. But Grampa made sure I knew about her by showing me the family photographs and telling me the stories of their many adventures. Often he would have a tear in his eye, followed by a bout of chest pain. Then he would reach into his pocket for his nitroglycerine pills, saying, “I’ll be alright in a minute.” After offering me a peppermint, he would tell me I must be sure to be a good girl around my father, Frank, as he had a very weak heart and nothing must happen to upset him.
I learned very early in life that heart disease ran in the family. It was strange that none of the characters in my storybooks had heart problems but Dad was still my hero and I preferred not to think about it. I just tried very hard to be a good girl and hoped for the best. But my beloved Dad died of heart failure all the same just before my eleventh birthday. Mom was very stoical and put on a brave front that we would manage. No one was allowed to cry.”
Header: Contemporary photograph of Liz Woodburn: Dave Battler Photography.
Website © Liz Woodburn and Woodlandstream.com. All rights reserved.
Book excerpts © Liz Woodburn. All rights reserved.
Website © Liz Woodburn and Woodlandstream.com. All rights reserved.
Book excerpts © Liz Woodburn. All rights reserved.