“Rose soon after 5 o’clock and took walk to Chelsea Bun House – great bustle. From thence to Wharf till 10 o’clock. Coals sold 21 tons 7 sacks. Money taken £11 7s 0d. Liberated at half past 10 and went and afterwards took walk till dinner time. Had for dinner boiled beef and pancakes. Granny Shepherd present after. After ditto took walk with Ann through the City, Shoreditch, Kingsland, Stoke Newington, Stamford Hill to Tottenham and returned by the Western Road and ate some buns which she purchased, seating ourselves in a field near the four mile stone. Had pint porter at public house in the road upon which is written the following: ‘Queen Victoria halted here 1843’. Proceeded onward home down Maiden Lane, being none the fresher for my walk, my feet … me.”
[Editor’s note: The Chelsea Bun House on Jews Row (now Pimlico Road) was mentioned by Swift in 1711. It is said to have been closed down in 1839 having sold 24,000 buns on Good Friday.]
The Life and Loves of a Victorian Clerk 