A Shropshire Squire

The diary and letters of John Clavering Wood (1778-1835) provide a practical and compelling insight into the life of a country gentleman in early 19th century Shropshire.

"A Shropshire Squire" documents Mr Wood's routines of managing his 350-acre Marche estate, which included tree-planting, fruit-tree grafting, cider-making, book-buying, dealing with Shrewsbury lawyers, mining feldspar for Staffordshire potteries, protesting against industrial pollution, supervising tenants, travelling locally and on the Continent, and enjoying a wide variety of social contacts.

His interest in horticulture, ornithology, natural history and literature was shared with his friend, poet and natural historian John Freeman Milward Dovaston (1782-1854) of West Felton near Oswestry. The volume contains seven of Dovaston's letters including pieces of poetry and music. Also included is correspondence from their mutual friend, engraver and ornithologist Thomas Bewick (1753-1828).

Wood's diary spans 1819-23 and the 20 letters covers 1812-25. With around 60 illustrations including maps, extensive biographical notes and endnotes, along with appendices and a detailed index, "A Shropshire Squire" provides a valuable resource for Shropshire historians and genealogists as well as students of British horticulture and ornithology.