Bridget Jones depicted the trials and tribulations of her life in 1990s London in her diary, but the famous, fictional scribbler had a real life counterpart living in 19th century Westmorland.

During 1876, 19-year-old Agnes Ann Kendal kept an almost daily journal chronicling her life at Killington Hall Farm .

In this diary, the heroine is more likely to spend her days loading cartloads of hay and selling cattle at Sedbergh rather than counting calories and swigging Chardonnay.

The journal has now been published as A Year At Killington Hall and is illustrated with line drawings by Astri J. Robinson.

Although Agnes Ann lived in the depths of the country, she managed to keep herself constantly busy, welcoming visitors and helping with work at her father's farm. Her diary provides a fascinating insight into rural life at the time.

A typical entry reads: "John has been killing a pig at Low Bendrigg. We have had James Gibson called this evening as he was returning back to Kendal. He had a new pony in the trap. I have been helping to milk tonight."

The spare pages at the beginning and end of the diary were filled with accounts of sermons she had heard as well as other items such as recipes and an address.

The publication of the contents of the diary is thanks to five years' hard work by Natland woman Judith Robinson a distant relative.

"The book was handed down through the family of Agnes's husband, Jim Wharton, through the years. His son married my aunt and she gave me permission to use it," she explained.

Ms Robinson has managed to track down most of the visitors mentioned by using the census and other records. She has also added well-researched explanations to events referred to by Agnes Ann such as the spelling bee at Tebay or Orton Pot Fair.

Sadly, the life of Agnes Ann did not follow a fairy tale ending. In December 1882, a year after marrying her sweetheart, John Wharton, she developed scarlet fever while pregnant with her first child. She died three days after giving birth and her baby survived only a fortnight longer. Both are buried at Orton churchyard in a grave without a headstone.

A Year at Killington Hall, by Judith M.S. Robinson, is published by Judith Robinson and is priced at £6.50 (ISBN 095491770). It is available from bookshops in Kendal and Sedbergh as well as from Mrs Robinson at Abbey Drive, Natland, nr Kendal, LA9 7QN, plus £1.50 postage and packing.