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Elizabeth Raffald, An Uncommon Woman
In the middle of the 18th century the housekeeper of a stately home marries the head gardener and they move to a town fast industrialising where fortunes can be made. He joins his family’s horticulture stalls in Manchester’s market-place, while she sells confectionery dishes from their home in Fennel Street.
Elizabeth Raffald makes herself indispensible to the new money society in Manchester, a town growing fast on the cotton industry. She moulds the style of cooking and fine dining in the rough and ready town, and raises standards for domestic servants and society events. She is constantly taking on new businesses, hardly stopping to draw breath between pregnancies.
Elizabeth Raffald, An Uncommon Woman is the dramatised account of Elizabeth Raffald's life in diary format. It is based on extensive research into her life and is an attempt to bring her character to life. The first entry is below.
Elizabeth Raffald makes herself indispensible to the new money society in Manchester, a town growing fast on the cotton industry. She moulds the style of cooking and fine dining in the rough and ready town, and raises standards for domestic servants and society events. She is constantly taking on new businesses, hardly stopping to draw breath between pregnancies.
Elizabeth Raffald, An Uncommon Woman is the dramatised account of Elizabeth Raffald's life in diary format. It is based on extensive research into her life and is an attempt to bring her character to life. The first entry is below.
1763
1763 March 3rd
Today I begin a new life as a married woman, and so it is fitting that I start a new volume of my diary. My previous one is as Miss Whitaker and now I will make a fresh start in a new station as a wife, something I had not expected to be my lot. This is the last time I will be alone in my sitting room here at Arley Hall, for by this evening my new husband John Raffald will be sitting here with me.
John to be my husband! How fortunate was I to win this prize? Such a comely man, knowledgeable too, he could have had his pick of the maids here at Arley. They were all daily a-twitter about him, and they didn’t know him in his younger days in Yorkshire as I did. I will need to be watchful that he does not think of wandering once we are wed, though how I will bear married life, I cannot imagine.
My whole life is to change with just this one act, and I am not thinking just of my marriage bed but of finding a new place to live. The rules of the house will not allow us to stay on as housekeeper and head gardener and so by marrying we are also leaving the only work we have ever known.
I am accustomed to the ways of living in a grand house, having a wonderful mistress in Lady Betty, and straight dealings from Sir Peter, but now we will need to make a new way. I have loved living at Arley Hall, even with all the dreadful dirt of the rebuilding. I know Lady Betty is sorry to lose me but there is a rule and so we must abide by it. And I confess I am keen to try my hand in the new business that John is certain will make our fortune. We are to go to stay with his brother James in Manchester where anything is possible. It is an exciting place of new opportunities and John believes that he can make his brother’s business better than it ever was. For myself I will be vigilant to find an opportunity.
I have lost sleep, wondering if it is right to do this, so much to risk. At first we must throw ourselves on the mercy of John's brothers, men I have never met, although I have heard much about them. One thing is certain, that we must leave this beautiful place and find our way in the very heart of Manchester. I have heard it is exceedingly dirty and it always rains, making the streets and the houses dirty with the constant mud. I shall be constantly cleaning.
Chin up, Elizabeth. This will not do to be so gloomy. Your father did not raise a coward. Never let it be said that you shirked from a challenge. It is time to show these Lancastrians what some Yorkshire grit looks like. Oh, I can hear my father's voice as clearly as if he stood here now. How I wish he was. I could ask his advice, and yet I know what he would say. ‘Take an opportunity and turn it into a prize, never walk the other way and live to regret inaction.' If only he could have been here today. I am sure I would feel stronger with him at my side.
Now I must take a deep breath and step positively towards my future; a future with the chance of a family of my own, a chance to pass on my father's excellent teaching. As he gave it to me so I will pass it to my children, God willing. And there are fine houses in Manchester. Such a big city as that must have its men of importance from whose families I hope to find a market for my cooking, for until babies come I must earn my keep, and I am hopeful of finding other business opportunities there. I am not afraid of hard work.
Lady Betty has promised me a good letter of recommendation though I know she is reluctant to let me go, as Sir Peter is to let John go. My good friend Ann Worsley, while waiting on Lady Betty, heard them have terrible words last week. Sir Peter was angry at losing his fifth gardener in twelve years and he wants to separate his gardeners from the house servants. He told Lady Betty she must be sure the next housekeeper is a sour female past the age of dalliance. Lady Betty, a lady of some spirit, had replied that he must also ensure the gardeners saved their efforts for out of doors and not try to charm her maids.
I am sad to cause them discord but we must take our opportunity. I must set these worries aside, and hope Lady Betty does not hold against me for leaving her. I know Ann won't be too pleased to take on my duties again, but she does enjoy having everyone answer to her, so she may get over that tolerably soon. At least we do not have to leave here directly. That would surely break my heart to go so abruptly. Sir Peter has ordered that we must stay until they have found our replacements. I live in dread of the day that we must abandon the fine standards we have here to move in with John’s brother James.
For now I will remember what my dear mama told me every morning. 'Hold your head up high and face the day with determination. Either you get the better of it, or it gets the better of you.'
Oh I wish she could be here, and father too. I had never thought to be getting married at nearly thirty years of age. I had never expected such a prospect, not after my only offer seven years ago. I know I am plain looking and plain speaking, and had thought my one chance had gone years ago. But I should not be dwelling on that on my true wedding day.
I must leave my reminiscences here and now prepare myself for church, to stand next to Mr. Raffald, soon to be Mrs. Raffald. Oh my! Will I like it, I wonder? Still, the deed once begun must be done. I shall like it. I am determined to do so. Farewell Miss Whitaker. Only my sister Mary will carry that name from today.
And so it continues... Buy the paperback or Kindle copy here
1763 March 3rd
Today I begin a new life as a married woman, and so it is fitting that I start a new volume of my diary. My previous one is as Miss Whitaker and now I will make a fresh start in a new station as a wife, something I had not expected to be my lot. This is the last time I will be alone in my sitting room here at Arley Hall, for by this evening my new husband John Raffald will be sitting here with me.
John to be my husband! How fortunate was I to win this prize? Such a comely man, knowledgeable too, he could have had his pick of the maids here at Arley. They were all daily a-twitter about him, and they didn’t know him in his younger days in Yorkshire as I did. I will need to be watchful that he does not think of wandering once we are wed, though how I will bear married life, I cannot imagine.
My whole life is to change with just this one act, and I am not thinking just of my marriage bed but of finding a new place to live. The rules of the house will not allow us to stay on as housekeeper and head gardener and so by marrying we are also leaving the only work we have ever known.
I am accustomed to the ways of living in a grand house, having a wonderful mistress in Lady Betty, and straight dealings from Sir Peter, but now we will need to make a new way. I have loved living at Arley Hall, even with all the dreadful dirt of the rebuilding. I know Lady Betty is sorry to lose me but there is a rule and so we must abide by it. And I confess I am keen to try my hand in the new business that John is certain will make our fortune. We are to go to stay with his brother James in Manchester where anything is possible. It is an exciting place of new opportunities and John believes that he can make his brother’s business better than it ever was. For myself I will be vigilant to find an opportunity.
I have lost sleep, wondering if it is right to do this, so much to risk. At first we must throw ourselves on the mercy of John's brothers, men I have never met, although I have heard much about them. One thing is certain, that we must leave this beautiful place and find our way in the very heart of Manchester. I have heard it is exceedingly dirty and it always rains, making the streets and the houses dirty with the constant mud. I shall be constantly cleaning.
Chin up, Elizabeth. This will not do to be so gloomy. Your father did not raise a coward. Never let it be said that you shirked from a challenge. It is time to show these Lancastrians what some Yorkshire grit looks like. Oh, I can hear my father's voice as clearly as if he stood here now. How I wish he was. I could ask his advice, and yet I know what he would say. ‘Take an opportunity and turn it into a prize, never walk the other way and live to regret inaction.' If only he could have been here today. I am sure I would feel stronger with him at my side.
Now I must take a deep breath and step positively towards my future; a future with the chance of a family of my own, a chance to pass on my father's excellent teaching. As he gave it to me so I will pass it to my children, God willing. And there are fine houses in Manchester. Such a big city as that must have its men of importance from whose families I hope to find a market for my cooking, for until babies come I must earn my keep, and I am hopeful of finding other business opportunities there. I am not afraid of hard work.
Lady Betty has promised me a good letter of recommendation though I know she is reluctant to let me go, as Sir Peter is to let John go. My good friend Ann Worsley, while waiting on Lady Betty, heard them have terrible words last week. Sir Peter was angry at losing his fifth gardener in twelve years and he wants to separate his gardeners from the house servants. He told Lady Betty she must be sure the next housekeeper is a sour female past the age of dalliance. Lady Betty, a lady of some spirit, had replied that he must also ensure the gardeners saved their efforts for out of doors and not try to charm her maids.
I am sad to cause them discord but we must take our opportunity. I must set these worries aside, and hope Lady Betty does not hold against me for leaving her. I know Ann won't be too pleased to take on my duties again, but she does enjoy having everyone answer to her, so she may get over that tolerably soon. At least we do not have to leave here directly. That would surely break my heart to go so abruptly. Sir Peter has ordered that we must stay until they have found our replacements. I live in dread of the day that we must abandon the fine standards we have here to move in with John’s brother James.
For now I will remember what my dear mama told me every morning. 'Hold your head up high and face the day with determination. Either you get the better of it, or it gets the better of you.'
Oh I wish she could be here, and father too. I had never thought to be getting married at nearly thirty years of age. I had never expected such a prospect, not after my only offer seven years ago. I know I am plain looking and plain speaking, and had thought my one chance had gone years ago. But I should not be dwelling on that on my true wedding day.
I must leave my reminiscences here and now prepare myself for church, to stand next to Mr. Raffald, soon to be Mrs. Raffald. Oh my! Will I like it, I wonder? Still, the deed once begun must be done. I shall like it. I am determined to do so. Farewell Miss Whitaker. Only my sister Mary will carry that name from today.
And so it continues... Buy the paperback or Kindle copy here