The Weather Diary of Sir John Wittewronge, January 1686
Audio footage of extracts from Sir John's diary
Read by Geoff Cordingley
To listen to the audio clip, click play on the bar below the image on the right.
January 1686
The river began to run in Rothampsted mead the latter end of December, but did not run above half way, till the first week in January, & then it ran quite through the mead & over the high way to Redbourn, with a pretty stream: I saw it so the 12th of this instant January.
This winter was so calm & warm that the Emenyes* continued all winter in flower till Jan 22 primeroses began to bloom the beginning of January, the rose leaves continued on the trees: which all were wipt by the frosty weather, beginning the 21st instant.
1 After a miserable wett night a cloudy day but dry W:NW
7 After an extream wet night an indifferent fair day W:SW
15 A huge fog til afternoon then close & darck W:S
22 A pretty smart frost again & a clear cold day W:SE
Jan 29th A very rainy darck day & warme W:S
* Emenyes: anemones