Mr Robert Brand lived at Martinholme on the green where he ran the village store. A keen writer he recorded many of his activities, which is how we know what he was doing on Christmas Day one hundred and seventy years ago…

“Attended to my home and answered about twenty people that called for trifles out of the shop – Christmas boxes etc. Was at the Church with school children at half past ten, attended service at 11 o’clock, had a few things to attend to after service, attended at home and then joined a party of Singers and Senior scholars (about 20) at Dinner at the Red Cow. 

Sent an errand for Mr Everth to Mr Nash’s and from him to Mr Everth. Went to Building End, paid a visit to Edwin and his family and father and G Wood, who was very ill. Came home and looked round, then went to tea with Mr James Hayden at Elmdon where I met a large party of his children and grandchildren.

I spent a happy evening and left as soon as I could after supper, took a parcel to James Law’s to be sent to Mr Downhams.

Went to the Red Cow to settle the accounts, when coming home I heard a great noise, went to hear what it was and heard the voice of the police, so came home. After sitting about half an hour heard someone at the door, it was the police come to ask for a horse and cart to carry a lad to Newport who had been kicking him and was still acting the madman.

I went with him, the police, and found Thomas Slater as he had said. Mended his (T Slater’s) brace and put his clothes a little in order and said it was best to act sensible. He got much milder. Got the horse ready and sent him to jail to have his hearing. (He is now lying in jail six weeks for the offence).

I then came home and sat a little while with my family and got to bed about one o’clock. So ended my day.  Robert Brand.

Notice how many people called at the shop on Christmas morning! Mr Everth was the vicar and Mr Nash lived at Nash’s Farm in Church Road, farming 63 acres with two labourers. Mr Brand’s father farmed Building End Farm of 450 acres with 18 labourers working for him, and Edwin was Mr Brand’s brother. George Woods was William Cranwell’s father-in-law. They lived at the first cottage in Building End. Mr Woods died the following April – he was 83. Thomas Slater was 16 and lived with his family in Church Road. 

Joseph Downham lived at Parsonage Farm, farming 700 acres with 25 labourers. James Law was an agricultural labourer, living in High Street – so possibly working for Mr Downham?

Martinholme continued as one of the shops in the village for many years, run subsequently by Mr Robert Chambers from 1894 to 1937.

(Article first published in the village magazine Winter 2020)