The Diary of Reverend James Newton provides a wealth of social history; the eighteenth century through the eyes of a well-to-do country parson. James Newton was rector of Nuneham Courtenay at a time of great change. He witnessed the destruction of the medieval village to make way for Lord Harcourt's new park in 1759, and both his parsonage and his church were destroyed and replaced.
It has been suggested that Oliver Goldsmith based 'sweet Auburn' on Nuneham in his poem The Deserted Village. This diary provides the historical reality behind the literature. Newton chronicles life in the country with all its joys and tribulations. We have glimpses of his philosophy on life, his treatment of servants, his interest in gardening as well as his reactions to national events.
Further interest is added by his regular visits to London, usually for a mixture of business and pleasure. He has tenants to check, his family house and sisters to visit, as well as wooing to be done in his continual quest for a wife. However, there is no evidence that he ever married.
Long stays in Bath also feature and his descriptions of visits to the Assembly Room and the Pump Room give us an eye-witness account of the daily doings of polite society. His comments and observations during his journeys also merit attention, as indeed do his methods of travel. The difficulties and time taken in such undertakings become apparent.
It has been suggested that Oliver Goldsmith based 'sweet Auburn' on Nuneham in his poem The Deserted Village. This diary provides the historical reality behind the literature. Newton chronicles life in the country with all its joys and tribulations. We have glimpses of his philosophy on life, his treatment of servants, his interest in gardening as well as his reactions to national events.
Further interest is added by his regular visits to London, usually for a mixture of business and pleasure. He has tenants to check, his family house and sisters to visit, as well as wooing to be done in his continual quest for a wife. However, there is no evidence that he ever married.
Long stays in Bath also feature and his descriptions of visits to the Assembly Room and the Pump Room give us an eye-witness account of the daily doings of polite society. His comments and observations during his journeys also merit attention, as indeed do his methods of travel. The difficulties and time taken in such undertakings become apparent.