CANTERBURY — It was a relatively early start today (out of the hotel by 9:00 a.m.) for a short walk to the cathedral. Entrance to the cathedral precinct cost £9.50 but I was directed through when I mentioned that I had an appointment at the Cathedral Library.

The main reason for visit was to try and find the baptism record for Harriet Hunphrey. On my last visit to Maidstone the parish record for Biddenden was missing the year 1813, the year later census records suggest is her birth year. I was hoping the Bishop’s Transcripts, a copy made for the diocese, would be complete and knock down this particular brick wall. Unfortunately her baptism, and hence the identities of her parents, were not to be found. I did find, though, that at least two Humphrey families seemed to have a habit of not baptising their children, the said children being baptised later as older children or as adults. I may have to accept that it is a real possibility that Harriet was never baptised.

When I left the library mid-afternoon it was raining so I headed back to the hotel, stopping in at a pub on the way for some lunch. Later that night we had the biggest thunder storm that I can remember experiencing. Both sheet and forked lightning lit the sky up for at least half an hour. A couple of overhead thunderclaps rattled the windows and set car alarms ringing. Tomorrow is supposed to be dry.