Barr Estate Gardens

New Ipswich Historical Society

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On this day - May 2, 1898

2 MAY 1898

Left Paris early in the morning for a trip up the country toward Rouen.  At St. Pierre du Vauvray we left the train and waited an hour for the train that goes out on the branch to Les Andelys, our objective point.  The rain set in and prevented us from getting as good a view of this beautiful country as we wished.  What we saw was of the most pleasing and delightful valley and hills was enough to convince me that it was the best place for a painter that I have ever seen.  After hearing so much about Les Andelys from the Dearths and seeing the pictures he painted there I was anxious to visit the country and see it myself.  I now can understand why they spoke so enthusiastically about the place.  It is on the Seine which flows through a wide and fertile valley, near the town which is sheltered under some great hills that stretch away in a half-circle for miles.  Those hills are very picturesque and in outline and shape.  The bare limestone patches make them full of color.  The valley very promising but I could not see but little in our short stay.  The river is wide and narrow with islands in places.  The town of Les Andelys is old and picturesque, more so than Crécy by far.  There are ruins of an old castle on a hill overlooking the town and river; one of the oldest in France and was built by Richard Coeur de Lion.  The hotel near the river is well situated for work.  It is clean and very satisfactory.  The price of pension is a little too much for my purse.  It is probably worth it all owing to its splendid location.  The rain prevented us from going about the town and the surroundings so that I did not get a good idea of the scenery.  What I have seen pleased me so much that I resolved to live in Les Andelys before I left France.  At. St. Pierre du Vauvray we had an hour but the rain kept us from seeing the place.  Dearth said that St. Pierre was a picturesque place but it did not strike us so in just what little we saw.  The trip to and from Paris took all day as it was a good fifty miles each way

James Roger diary entry

2nd May 1912

Fine day; east wind. Express Agent telephoned that Mr. Heald’s eggs had come, so I went and got them. Drew some money at Bank and paid Prescott. David with John Barnett trimming trees to Gordon's and then with Daniel at Spoffords’ in the afternoon. He went to plough Mr. Lord's ground. G. Sargent got away his chicks (64) and brought eggs for Mr. Heald. Got letter from Hamish. Mens’ Society organized in the Church tonight. 16 present