Diary of a Victorian Shopkeeper, 15th October
Kirkness grocers, with white blinds, c. 1860. On the left is Matches Television Enterprise.
A few weeks ago I received a phone call from the Archive which greatly interested me. While going through some mundane files from Kirkwall Town Council dating to the late 19th century, they had discovered a document unconnected to rate collecting, street sweeping, or curbing the dangerous speed of horse-drawn carriages along Broad Street. Whether it had been deliberately hidden amongst the council paperwork or simply misfiled, they said, it was impossible to know. But it was certainly relevant to Kirkness & Gorie, and potentially of much wider interest.
As soon as there was a lull in business, I took the few steps from our car park, across Junction Road, and into the Archive. What I was shown explained why they had contacted me. And it set me reeling. The book was slightly taller and narrower than A4 in size, and had a battered, dark green, card cover. Inside, each recto was printed with the words James Kirkness: Family Grocer, Tea and Wine Merchant. A series of columns was intended to record purchases and payments.
There was no doubt that the book was a genuine relic of our shop in its earliest days. And the archivist assured me that the handwriting and ink appeared to be consistent with the Victorian era. What astounded me was that the accounts book contained no pounds, shillings and pence. The Victorian handwriting was not recording customer transactions in James Kirkness’s shop. Rather, it filled page after page with – well, you will soon see.
But what of its author? The archivist said that several features pointed to it being a woman. So when I noticed, hidden away at the bottom of the inside cover, the initials MK, I was immediately able to suggest Margaret Kirkness (1831 – 1915) wife of James, and cofounder of our family business. At least one and possibly more pages were missing from the front of the book, torn out at some time over the past 150 years. Whether MK explained there her motivation for writing, we will never know. We will also never know if she intended the book for publication – probably not, as it reads like a private diary – and if she would have objected to me transcribing it and presenting it to you now.
What she records is, I think, of interest to historians, as well as a gripping read in its own right. So I hope the ghost of MK – and of the other characters who throng her pages – forgive me for sharing her story with you over the next few weeks.
Here begins the transcription:
…newly arrived from the Nor-Wast, and anchored in the Bay during the hours of darkness. As we have come to expect on these occasions, the streets today are full of whalers reeking – as only men who have been six months without washing can reek – of blubber and sweat.
To that matelot perfume will soon be added the whiff of beer and whisky.
We heard banging on the doors of the Castle Hotel very early, while the family was breaking its fast. James abandoned his sowans and treacle, and rushed downstairs, declaring that he must change his window presentations. Out with the Fry’s chocolate and cocoa, I suspect, and in with bottles of porter and White Horse.
Sometimes I question whether it is godly to sell intoxicating beverages in the shadow of our great kirk, but James quotes the word of God in response. “Proverbs 31: ‘Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.’”
Best kens there are many in this town who have much misery and poverty to forget. And lest anyone doubt it, let him pass some time amongst the Shoricks.
The children will be returning from School Place presently, and soon thereafter James will appear and expect the table to be set. I must lay down my pen and ensure that Mary has done all necessary preparation.
Of course she will not, for she has been out at the pump dawdling and gawping at the tarry breeks half the day. These whalers do depress and deprave the morality of our town’s population. I thank the Lord that most of them anchor in Stromness, where their depravity will hardly be noticed, such is the general condition of the place.
To be continued
The wonderful photo at the top of the page is sourced from Orkney Library and Archive, with thanks. In the foreground is the pump that provided water for Broad Street residents for much of the 19th century.
This diary appeared in The Orcadian on 18th October 2023. A new one appears weekly. I post them in this blog a few days after each newspaper appearance, with added illustrations., and occasional small corrections or additions.