Y Tywyddiadur

Wednesday, September 14 Today was held the Merionethshire agricultural show at Bala, and a better day for it could not have been imagined. My mother came up by the morning train, and Mrs Hickman met her at the station while Mr Hickman and I rode down. The show was held near the town, and was a great success in every way. I lunched at the tent which was well patronised. The jumping and trotting commenced at 3 o’clock, and the entries were numerous: some amusing incidents of course occurred, not the least being the total demolition of the stone wall by one of the horses. We drove and rode back to Aberhirnant soon after 5, and dined there, and then mother and I drove to Bala to catch the last train back, which was very late indeed, and we did not get home till 1030.

Saturday, September 17 

I played in a cricket match between the Dolgelley eleven against Garth, but the weather was far from favourable for it, as rain fell throughout the day. The match came off on Dolgelley green... 

Thursday, October 6  As the weather appeared so fine, I made a start to Llanymawddy [sic], to end up the grousing [sic]. Going up to Llanuwchllyn by the 8.40 train I went with Kinsey on Bwlch y groes, but as soon as we started up, rain began and it looked very thick and ugly on the hill, however nothing daunted, we went on, but of course the mist from the E. was terribly thick, and during the morning we could not find our way about at all, and put up birds without seeing them, and I only killed one. About 12.30 it began to clear, and I am glad to say was fine for the rest of the day. We saw a great many birds on the Bwlch and also on Pant, but they were unapproachable. I killed three by stalking. We had a long walk, and finished at Pengelli. Slept at the Sun Tun, Llanymawddwy - Grouse 3  Bwlch y groes. Pant. I had only Hide’Em (sic) and Bess with me.

Friday, October 7   A lovely morning, which however did not last, as the weather turned very gloomy and unsettled later in the day. I started up Llwyngwilym about 8.30, and began well killing one bird on the Werngoch flat, but I lost another which flew towards the Foel out of my sight, and we spent some time in looking for it. We found some nice packs on Llwyngwilym, but I only got a single bird; but I ought to have had a brace out of a lot driven to me by Kinsey. I killed another bird on the Pant and we then crossed to Bwlch y groes, where, though we saw birds, we could not get near them. We came down from the head of the Bwlch, and rain came on just as we reached Llanymawddy [sic Llanymawddwy]. 

Llwyngwilym to Pant. Grouse 3

Saturday, October 8   A very misty morning, which turned to rain from the NE, but we delayed our start in consequence, as we wanted to go over Wein Lugyn [sic] (Dr Roberts’) and we did not know our way very well. We started about 9 and the rain came down in torrents as we ascended the hill and what was worse mist hung very thick. On reaching the top we could see a yard, but fortunately the tenant going up to cut rushes met us, and showed us our way. It began to clear about 11, and turned out a beautiful afternoon., But the mist spoilt what chance we had of getting sport on Wein Lygun [sic]. We went over Drws Bach to Wein Camddwr where we killed a brace of birds, and eventually went on to Coed Maeswglog, where I ought to have had a brace of birds. The trap met us at Bont Llynrhiadyr, and we were glad of the lift home. 

Wein Camddwr Grouse 2, over Wein Lugyn from Llanymawddy [sic]

Monday, October 10   A windy, unsettled day, with showers of rain. I made a start today about 11 to Corsygarnedd with Kindey, William Roberts and the spaniels. We beat the brushwood carefully, but did not see many hares, found one covey of partridges in the brushwood – out of which we killed a couple of brace: and just as we were finishing off on Cae Heuadd [sic], I put up a covey on the stubble, out of which I got a bird. 

Corsygarnedd. Partridges 5. 

Cae Heuadd. Hares 2  Rabbit 1.

Tuesday, October 11. I had an invitation to go to Rhiwlas to shoot, but as the river was in good order owing to last night’s rain, I made a start there. I went to the Upper Water, and killed one grilse in the top pool below the Falls, and fishing down the second time I hooked a nice fish on the “Mystery” at the head of the 1st Long pool in the wood. These were the only fish I met: and I fished till late trying many pools below the Meeting of the Waters. Grilse 1. 5 [and three-quarter] lbs. Large Blue dh Jock Scots

Sea trout 1

Wednesday, October 12   I made a start at 9 o’clock this morning, having stayed at Tyn y groes for the night. I began fishing above Tyn y groes but the river was low. The water however rose an inch or two in the afternoon, and just before the rise, I rose a nice grilse twice in one of the Tyddyn y gladys [sic] holes: I hooked the fish the second time, but lost him. At Tyddyn y Gladys pool I met Harry Lee and a friend fishing, and he had lost a good salmon then, and he lost one afterwards. I tried the pools above without success. I stayed tonight at Tyn y groes, but had not intended to do so, but the trap was not sent: however as the weather looked unsettled I did not mind [sic].

Blank day

Thursday, October 13 the river was very low this morning, and seemed hopeless, and the water moreover was very dark. I tried very hard all day up to the Falls, but although I saw numbers of fish jumping, I was not successful in moving one. Rain commenced about 2.30 in the afternoon, which was the precursor of a great storm. I returned home this evening in pelting rain. Blank day.

Friday, October 14   It blew a terrible gale in the night, with deluges rain and the wind continued throughout the day with great fury, and with heavy showers of hail and rain. I had some difficulty in getting to Tyn y groes owing to the wind but Edward drove me and Kenzie over in the [tax] cart. The river was high and milky white, but had fallen a good deal during the morning. We went up above the Meeting of the Waters and up to the Falls in the hope of evading the wind & we certainly did get sheltered above the Tyddyn y Gladys [sic]. Worm fishing was alone practicable, but it was not much use, and I only caught one sewin, but lost a nice fish. I went to the Eden late about [2?] the wind having moderated: I had not the courage to face the wind there before, so but [sic] the Eden was in fly order all day. I rose a fine salmon in one of the pools, but he would not come a second time, and half an hour afterwards the river rose a foot and was barely fishable. Kinsey finished with worm. Mawddach. Sewin 5 Trout 10 

Dined at Mellynllyn [sic] tonight & slept at Tyn y groes.

Saturday, October 15 

Weather cold and showery, hail and rain. Snow on the mountains. I made a start to the river soon after 7am and went to Cornelius’ pool, intending to try the Eden first. I commenced though at Cornelius‘ and had the  luck to hook a fine fish at the tail end of the pool. I played the fish for about 20 minutes,  and gaffed him myself; the fish being too large for Kinsey to get it in the net. The fish was a splendid shape, thick and fresh. I left the fish at Cornelius‘ house, and then went up the Eden, and tried many of the pools up to the factory without meeting the fish, but the river was very clear. I then returned to the Mawddach and went above the wooden bridge, and in the  gut pool  I killed a grilse of 7 pounds – a red cock. I did not meet another fish until I got to the Minor’s pool, and here I rose a nice fish 4 times, and he did not move after that. At the top of pool  below Falls I met a grilse, but he refused any other offers: both these fish rose to a large Jock Scots. I tried most of the pools down again, and did not meet another until I came to the gut pool, where I killed my grilse in the morning, and here at the tail end I moved a fine salmon with the Stevenson: he would not come a second time, although I tried him hard.  I gave up about 5, and Edward met me at Tyn y groes in the cart. The river fell but little all day, and was of a clear white colour and the bottom very clear.

Mawddach

Salmon 1 16 [and a half lbs,) Cornelius’ pool. Fly Thunder & Lightning 

Grilse 1. 7lbs  Gut pool  Fly Jock Scots. 

Sewin 1 about 1 1/2 pounds. This is the largest fish I have a killed in the Mawddach

Sunday, October 16   This afternoon after lunch I walked over to see the state of the Mawddach, and I called in at Hugh Jones; where I heard from Captain Bailey’s keeper, that he (Bailey) had also killed a salmon of 16lbs yesterday, also a grilse. I walked up the river to Gelligemlyn, and then turned up the hill to Llanfacreth [sic] and so home. It was a very fine day.

October 17th 18th 19th.  I was laid up these three days from having got a severe chill, and I did not go out at all. 

Thursday, October 20 a stiff gale of wind blew from the S-East, and the day was very cold and gloomy. I went up this morning to Cefn Issa, with Kinsey, William Roberts and the spaniels and began by beating the lower coverts, but found no pheasants but killed two hares. Found a covey of partridges immediately on the stubble, but they were very wild, but we got two birds out of it, with some difficulty. Another covey got off a stubble as we were walking along the road, and only gave me one shot which realised a bird, and then they were over to Helygog. A third covey we found on the Garth, and I only had one shot, and we could not find this lot again. We beat Tyddyn Moch on our way home and killed a brace of pheasants. 

Cefn Issa. Partridges 3  Hares 2

Tyddyn Moch  Pheasants 2 Rabbit 1

Friday, October 29     I had only the morning to shoot, as I had to attend a fishery Meeting this afternoon. Went up to come to Corsygarnedd, but did not start till 9.45, consequently my time is very limited. We found two coveys of partridges, and got two brace, although we made a nice mess of one covey (the best) owing to the wildness of the spaniels. I beat but little of the brushwood, but we tried the most likely place for Woodcock. Home by 1.15 and I drove into lunch with Willie Griffith at Brynmair and we went to the Meeting together. 

Corsygarnedd

Partridges 4   Rabbit 1

Saturday, October 22. A dull gloomy morning, wind from the SE. Griffith and Sketchley came up to shoot with me at Tyddyn, and we met at Dolgun gate, but hardly had we began [sic] shooting when down came the rain, which lasted the greater part of the day, and quite spoilt our sport and we were obliged to give up at 12 o’clock, and I walked home quickly: Griffiths and Sketchley went back to Dolgelley, and came up to dine afterwards. I think we should have had a fair days sport had the weather proved fine, as we saw quite a dozen pheasants and some hares. Griffith was the fortunate slayer of two cock pheasants. 

Tyddyn 

Guns 3 

WG Sketchley & CME Cock Pheasants 2

Stopped by rain

Monday 24th of October I went up to Drws y Nant with Kinsey., William Roberts and the spaniels. It was very windy from SE but I went to the top of Cae Coch to try and get some grouse and succeeded in killing a brace by stalking, but I ought to have had a brace more. We were not lucky with partridges is the best covey we did not get a shot at, and the other was small. We beat the scrub carefully for cock, but did not find one till the last beat. The bird fell to our two shots. I only saw one hare, but a nice lot of golden plover, but they were very wild. I walked home as it was cold, and I did not care about waiting so long for the 6 o’clock train.

Cae Coch 

Grouse 2.  

Partridges 4. 

Snipe 1

Woodcock 1 

The first Woodcock

Tuesday, October 25  I arranged to shoot the coverts today with a Willy Griffith. Kingsley and Kinsey carried a gun. We began at Dolgwarthog, as I had leave from young Nelly to go there, but we did not see many pheasants there. Flushed a  Woodcock in Litterice [?] which Willy Griffith shot, but were very unlucky with the pheasants we came across, and I heard a good few of them were on Litterice. We beat a great deal of covert, and found the second Woodcock on Brynglas. Kingsley got it. Rabbits were not plentiful, but more ought to have been killed. I went this evening by the mail to stay at Rhiwlas for tomorrow’s shoot, and arrived there in the middle of dinner. 

Dolserau coverts, Dolgwarthog & Bryn bras

guns for WN Griffith, S Kingsley, CME and Kinsey 

Pheasants 3 (2 hens and one cock)

Woodcock 2 

Rabbits 11 

Thursday, October 27  A cold day, wind NE. This morning I went up to Sarnau Bog with Birbeck to have a turn at the snipe, and Kinsey met me with my gun. I fired one of two shots at snipe and missed, and then  found that the stock of my gun was cracked right across the [griss??]! I continued using it with care, but could not hit the snipe, a very few of which we saw. Birbeck killed six and I only one. We shot till 2 o’clock and then started to walk back to Rhiwlas as we were very wet and cold but about 1/2 a mile from Rhiwlas we melt [sic met] the others going out to beat a few coverts in [sic] for tomorrow’s shoot. But we returned home and changed and had some lunch, and during the afternoon I played some tennis in the covered Court, with Lady Emily. Doe[?] and Miss Markham and we had very good fun. 

Sarnau Bog. Guns 2 Birbeck and CME 

Snipe 7. Pheasant 1 Partridge 1 Rabbit 1

Wednesday, October 28   A fine day, wind NW and cold. We shot the Hendre coverts, and saw lots of stuff, but the pheasants did not fly kindly: as a rule the shooting was good, especially Sir William Hart Dyke, Ashley and Birbeck. I had my two [Dougall] guns with Kinsey to load, and performed very well in the afternoon. The Ladies (Lady Emily Hart Dyke, Miss Markham and Mrs Pinder) came out to lunch which we had in a tent. The wild duck (!) were killed at a pond, but the birds flew badly, and not much sport was had; the wild duck proper skidaddled as the guns were getting to their places. I killed a couple. Hendre coverts (Rhiwlas) Guns nine SirvWilliam Hart Dyke, Birbeck, Captain Ashton, G Ashley Dodd, Willie Wynne, Pendere [sic Pendre?], R Ll Price, Tom Ellis & CME. 

Pheasants 450 corrected to 508 after the pick up. 

Wild duck 15 corrected to 26 has 25 snipe one equals 604 

Partridges 2 corrected to 3 

Rabbits 35 various 5

Woodcock 1 

Hares & Rabbits &c

Total about 501 head.,