Three hundred years after being penned, letters from a son in London to his father in historic Westmorland are going on display, revealing money troubles, secret romances, and city-life anxieties.
Townend, in the Lake District, cared for by the National Trust, was in the Browne family for more than 400 years between 1525 and the 1940s.
It houses a rich collection of the family’s written records ranging from legal documents to shop receipts.
The letters going on display were written by Ben Browne, who journeyed 300-miles on horseback from Troutbeck to London in 1719, at the age of 27, to start his training as clerk to a lawyer.
Ben’s letters to his father, of which around 65 have survived, are full of intriguing details of his experiences in London.
One of his chronicles relates to the violent protests of Spitalfields silk weavers, painting a vivid picture of the period’s social unrest.
He wrote: "Very great mobbing by the weavers of this town…they are starved for want of trade."
Living in his new lodgings, Ben's letters often requested money to help cover his expenses, for rent and for items like stockings, wigs, and breeches, which were necessary for his new life.
He wrote: "…my Cloaths which [I] have now are but mean in Comparison [with] what they wear here."
Ben’s accounts also include descriptions of his social life with friends, reminiscent of scenes from the satirical prints of the time by William Hogarth.
In one letter, Ben reveals a secret – he had married his employer’s maid, Mary Branch, in secret.
After his father accepted the situation and told Ben's stepmother, the young man wrote: "shall ever acknowledge the many and endearing kindnesses and affectionate advices by me rec’d from so indulgent and affectionate father and mother."
His letters also recount the expectations of his friends and family back in Troutbeck, who frequently asked him to acquire fancy city merchandise for them, including commodities like sealing wax, a silver thimble, and chocolate.
Ben's letters also show his bitterness over being apprenticed by his father for five years to his employer, lamenting, "I have Lost the prime of my Youth."
Emma Wright, collections and house manager at Townend, said: "Young Ben was in London for 16 years and his letters are full of fascinating details of his life during this time, with his numerous requests for money towards his keep and for what he needs to live a fashionable lifestyle, not to mention some bombshell surprises like his secret marriage.
“These letters are so relatable, and they show nothing has really changed. Like the emails or text messages they may receive today, many parents with a child going off into the world will appreciate how Ben senior must have felt getting news of them and requests for help, while any young person who has arrived in a big city to study or work will recognise the situations in which young Ben finds himself.”
The letters’ preservation is credited to George Browne, a family member, who had them leather bound in the late 19th century.
Prior to the exhibition, repairs were carried out by book conservator Ann-Marie Miller, who said: "I feel as if I have also got to know young Ben, with his solicitous turn of phrase and the flourish of his handwriting."
The display, featuring the letters and other Browne family artefacts, opened to the public on March 26 and will stay open until November 1.
A Conservation in Action demonstration will also take place on March 26 where visitors can see horologist Matthew Read work on Townend’s clock collection.
More information on visiting hours can be found on www.nationaltrust.org.uk/townend.
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