Hereford, February 24

Having examined the pens of lambs and ewes for sale I made my way towards the attractive farmhouse. I passed by some strange relics displayed amongst the machinery. A pair of large spindly wheels of a pale yellow colour fascinated me. I imagined them spinning over the ground bearing a tilbury or curricle, owned by a dashing young man in a high top-hat. But what seemed to attract attention was a dump of coal and firewood. The only drawback to this lot seemed to be that it went with an ancient steam threshing-machine.

Country diary: Kilpeck, Herefordshire Read more

The farmhouse was of grey stone with clusters of high red-brick chimneys, for the most part in groups of three. There were leaded windows of all shapes, and many gables and two entrances to the house. I was invited in and found myself in a partly panelled room where farmers were enjoying a substantial luncheon round a table which filled the room. I was taken up a spiral oak staircase to the low rooms under the roof where the skeleton timbering was exposed. I like these barn-like places, but they are more picturesque than habitable. I looked out and down over the tops of wych elms crimson with flowers. One glorious ancient golden willow showed up against the brown woods.

Gwen McBryde was a country diarist from 1939 to 1958.