THE LETTERS AND DIARY of John Clavering Wood (1778-1835), spanning 1812-1825, show just how diverse were the interests of a Shropshire country gentleman during the early 19th century.
Curiosity about the natural world, an enthusiasm for ornithology, European travel, tree-planting, experimenting with horticultural techniques and cider-making, along with solving family legal problems, investing in locally-mined feldspar for use in china-making, and keeping bookshelves well stocked with volumes on natural history, philosophy and poetry, were facets of the life of the 350-acre Marche estate’s owner.
Looming large was Wood’s close friendship with poet and naturalist, John Freeman Milward Dovaston (1782-1854) of West Felton near Oswestry, along with their mutual acquaintance, the renowned wood engraver and ornithologist Thomas Bewick (1753-1828) of Gateshead.
John Clavering Wood’s grandson, also JCW (1837-1910), visited Australia as a young man. The experiences on Queensland’s pioneering pastoral frontier inspired him to write a novel in 1865. The manuscript lay dormant for more than 140 years, before being recognized for its historical and literary value. Tom Hurstbourne or A Squatter’s Life was published in Brisbane by Boolarong Press in February 2010.
The launch of A Shropshire Squire – Letters & Diary (1812-1825) of John Clavering Wood, Esquire, Marche Hall near Shrewsbury, also edited by Gerard Benjamin & Gloria Grant, marks a unique milestone – two books by the same-named authors (grandfather and grandson) in the same year.
A Shropshire Squire was launched at Booka Bookshop (phone 01691 662244), Oswestry on 9 June 2010, under the auspices of the Oswestry and Border History and Archaeology Group.
Book details | Colour cover; black and white text illustrated; 200pp; 170mm x 244mm portrait; weight: 0.724 lb or 328.395 gm; includes foreword, introduction, endnotes, biographical notes, appendices, family tree and detailed index.
A Shropshire Squire is available in the UK from Booka Bookshop, Oswestry, (phone: 01691 662 244), or from Shropshire Family History Society. In Australia, the book retails for $27.50 and may be purchased from Brisbane’s Mary Ryan’s Bookshop (3254 0444) at New Farm, and the State Library of Queensland Bookshop (07 3840 7576) thelibraryshop@slq.qld.gov.au.
[...] letters will provide further facets to the intriguing slice of Salopian life depicted in A Shropshire Squire. No doubt there are many more letters of Capt. W. Wood and his son John Clavering Wood in library [...]