I've been spending a bit of time in Winchester Archives for a project on Hinton Ampner House, near Petersfield. Aside from the odd, boring invoice, perusing through the documents has been really interesting - I've found out some great information about the ghost story, and reading a 300 year old account of the disturbances was INCREDIBLE. The last owner of the house, Ralph Dutton (1898-1985) left hundreds of articles, speeches and diaries to the archive, so there was a lot to get through, but something draws me back...
Dutton travelled extensively throughout his life, and his travel diaries are extraordinary windows into twentieth century history. One recounts his memories of communist Berlin, and his experiences with Germans whose families are beyond the wall, fully expecting never to see each other again. Other diaries take him through Tahiti, New Zealand (he wasn't impressed with Maori dancing) and Australia. But it was his diary from the US which I (obviously...) found most interesting. He made his way through D.C., New York and New Orleans in the 1920's, an incredible journey and if there was a time machine going, one that I would sell my soul for. Ralph wasn't fussed about New York, but an entry in 1926 amused me greatly. He alludes to a day spent sight seeing, and then he was taken to a friend's house for a cocktail party (which, again he didn't enjoy and left early). A cocktail party in 1926 - the height of prohibition! And no mention of it whatsoever! I'm not surprised really - the rich had ways of not only getting alcohol but avoiding detection. But this small entry speaks volumes about American society. After all, it's all about who you know...
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