I would like to wish my readers a Happy New Year and to say that my New Year's Resolution is to write my blog more often! Apparently it was September when I last posted a message.

I am still working on the vicars and rectors of Swineshead and recently was contacted by the new owners of the old vicarage. They wanted to know if I had any information as to its history. I was surprised to find I had quite a lot and was able to put a package together about it. It was built in 1850 for Rev Joseph Holmes who came to the village in 1848 and lived here for the rest of his life. He was the longest serving vicar we have had as he was our vicar for 63 years.

The previous vicarage (referred to by Tansley Huffer in his autobiography as the 'old white vicarage')  was very old and perhaps beyond repair. I know nothing about that one and would be interested to hear from anybody who may have some information as to its whereabouts and/or actual age.  I was once told that the little old white cottage in Church Lane was connected to this vicarage and once housed the vicar's washerwoman - hence the damp walls at the rear of the cottage!

Well that's all for now, but I promise not to stay away for three months again!