Publications
The Diaries of Sarah Hurst, 1759-1762: Life and Love in 18th Century Horsham, by Barbara Hurst (transcription) and Susan C. Djarbi (editor), published 10 December 2003 (343 pp., Horsham Museum Society, ISBN-10: 1902484223 & ISBN-13: 9781902484228) accessible at: Horsham Museum Society & West Sussex Libraries
Abstract:The Diaries of Sarah Hurst records the day to day life of a young woman who lived in Horsham, Sussex between 1759 and 1762. Consequently, this book can claim to be one of the most important sources of information on life in the 18th century. The Diaries of Sarah Hurst not only create a vivid portrayal of the local town's people they also provide a fascinating insight into the social history of women, as they contain the intimate thoughts and feelings of a young woman and her relationships with the people around her. Sarah's intimate diaries can't help but touch the reader as she writes about her love for Henry Smith, a man who was thirteen years older than her.
Review by Sue Berry in Sussex Past & Present no. 121, August 2010:Diaries can tell us much about how a person sees his or her world and when they can be linked with others of the same period or close to, even better - for one person's view of a time, person and place may be very different from another's. Sarah Hurst's diary predates that of John Baker of Horsham but they knew the same people and this Susan Djabri uses well to show how the two writers had very different views of the same people. Sarah's diary is of the same date as Thomas Turner of East Hoathly who, like Sarah, went sea-bathing along our coastline. The difference in their approach to going bathing is a comment on the difference between the lifestyle of the affluent Hurst and the struggling Turner as well as their personalities. Both diarists are from businesses. Sarah expects to help in her family's shop but also writes poetry and has a lively social life as many urban Georgian women did. One would like to know why she was so secretive about her marriage, not telling her family until afterwards. The diary ends before that story unfolds.
Many women like Sarah worked in businesses in Georgian England and a considerable number ran their own. The formidable Mrs Dring of Brighton ran a shop and a lodging house, Isabella Pullen built her own. Their role is understated in most Georgian studies but a start has been made in Hannah Barker's The Business of Women - female enterprise and urban development in Northern England 1760-1830, Oxford University Press, 2006. Diaries such as this with the excellent background research by the editor, street directories, inventories, wills and other sources should help us to understand the role of women in Georgian Sussex.
Many women like Sarah worked in businesses in Georgian England and a considerable number ran their own. The formidable Mrs Dring of Brighton ran a shop and a lodging house, Isabella Pullen built her own. Their role is understated in most Georgian studies but a start has been made in Hannah Barker's The Business of Women - female enterprise and urban development in Northern England 1760-1830, Oxford University Press, 2006. Diaries such as this with the excellent background research by the editor, street directories, inventories, wills and other sources should help us to understand the role of women in Georgian Sussex.
John Hurst, Rector of Thakeham 1834-1881: a Victorian parson who behaved badly, by Spencer Thomas, published Autumn 2006 in West Sussex History, the Journal of West Sussex Archives Society (no. 75, article, p.4) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16404/75] & The Keep [LIB/500499]