The Weather Diary of Sir John Wittewronge, July 1686

Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies

Read by Geoff Cordingley

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July

The 14th instant finished the two Cocks# in hay mead which had each 18 or 19 loads of hay layd on them & brought home 3 loads & Ed: Hawkins had one, out of the siad mead: 03

15 brought out of the Lent cornhedgegreens in Summerdells & bones close 2 Joggs of hay Jogs 02

16 brought one good Jog more out of bones close & one good load out of hither hose 02

In all 07

16 Friday July 16th wee began to reap wheat

21 Wednesday the 21th wee bound & carted some in

23 Friday bound all the remainder & carted at Harding* Field

24 Satterday the 24th carted in all upper sheepcot field.. & made an end of wheat harvest, being all very well inned:

26 Mowed down my barly in hither hoze being about 9 Akers

29 Inned this day & on tuesday allmy Barly

30 & this day what was dragraked+.

1st A close day for the most part yet very hot W:N

8 Thunder showers most pt of the fornoon, afternoon fair till 6 a clock then rain again till 9 a clock W:NE&E

15 A fair day for the most part brisk wind though sometimes cloudy W:WSW

22 A close fornoon, a very warm & calm day W:W

29 A delicate clear warm day harvest day W:WSW

* Harding was an old name for Harpenden

+ a dragrake was a type of agricultural rake

# Cocks: hay stacked for drying in a conical shape