1889 diary, in Reading

[Gadget]

Just to say that there's an Abbottsleigh Gardens in Caversham but think it's a recent addition - but  what was it named for.

[Karen McDonald]

Here I go again... 

I keep looking at the flourish on the top of the first "b". Why is it there?

Maybe it's not a "b" after all? Maybe he started to write a "b" and changed it to an "r", giving us "Arb...".

I thought originally that the additional bit above the word was "ad", but I've enlarged it greatly on my screen and it could be "fld." - what looks like a curve on the top of the (third letter) "b" could actually be the tail of an "f".

That would give us something along the lines of Arb...fld...

I've been googly mapping and there is an Arborfield which is part of Reading.

I realise that this is all very speculative, but the more I look at it, the more I can see an attempt at Arborfield...

Karen

[Gadget]

Saw that, Karen. I think it was to the SW of Reading itself - wasn't there an Arborfield Hall on the old OS maps?

Still looking for something with a leigh or ley ending as well.

[despair]

I know this is on thin ground,but the phrase "met at...." seems to imply a named house to me,whereas if it was a town it might more likely be "met in...."?(now I've written it out,I"m less sure!).

Regards
Roger

[Deskman]

What an interesting turn of events.
Karen McDonald's very neat forensic examination really helps my unhappiness about the 'bb'. Meeting gadget's and despair's criteria  and the curious subscript like characters I offer without understanding or prejudice Arborfield Rectory

[despair]

I don't know if this has any relevance for you but Arborfield Rectory is occupied by John(rector) and Susanna Jones(rector's wife) and family in the 1891 census.

Regards
Roger

[despair]

...and in 1881 it is Edward Walsh and family.

Regards
Roger

[Deskman]

Thanks - I am unable to make anything of John Jones (who was appointed in April 1885 when Walsh moved to a parish at Honley near Huddersfield).

The Parrys were Anglicans, the diarist Baptist so I don't assert any understanding about Arborfield Rectory and would welcome any smarter interpretation or confirmation of the script, or indeed any interpretation!

[Gadget]

Any chance of another snip from the page to see how some of the other bs, etc, are formed. He does tend to change the shape of his letters.

Gadget