Wild Works: '100: The Day Our World Changed':
THE GARDENER
The series on this page tell the story of a young gardener working at Heligan in July and August, 1918, during the build up to the outbreak of World War One. I am embedding the Tweets here as they are released by Wild Works.
@1914Gardener
Friday 3rd July 1914 morning. Pinching out and tying in tomatoes.
Helping Mr Paynter (Frederick) watering new grass and watering in the glasshouses.
@1914Gardener
Saturday 4th July 1914 morning. Helping Mr Rundle today cleaning up in the quarry.
Still working in the quarry with Mr Rundle. I forgot my croust and he gave me a sandwich.
Back aching from the quarry today. Glad tomorrow is Sunday.
@1914Gardener
Sunday 5th July. No work today. Chapel.
Me and Elizabeth having a Sunday walk. Stopped for a while in The Dell.
Mother gave us pilchards after I did some gardening. Back still aching from yesterday.
@1914Gardener
Monday 6th July 1914. Morning, I’ve been removing an apple cordon.
Sent to help Mr James with the fences round the mansion.
Fence posts rotten at the ground. Doubled up.
@1914Gardener
Tuesday 7th July 1914. Planting winter leeks.
Sent to help Mr James again, hanging a new gate.
Weeding in the pea rows. Glad to get away from Mr James – has been in very bad temper.
@1914Gardener
Wednesday 8th July 1914. Me and Mr Pascoe have been set to cut the lawns.
Asked Mr Pascoe what is wrong with Mr James. Said he’s probably worried about his sons. He said quietly, Aren’t we all?
This afternoon Mr Pascoe too keeps snapping at me. Going to keep my mouth shut tomorrow.
@1914Gardener
Thursday 9th July 1914. More leek planting in the kitchen garden.
Still on leeks. Mr Tremayne came and watched me planting. Makes me uncomfortable.
— William Pill (@1914Gardener) July 9, 2014Mr Tremayne walked over to me. Said nothing, then he asked how old I am. Told him. He stood quiet again then left me.
— William Pill (@1914Gardener) July 9, 2014Friday 10th July 1914. Carting and spreading seaweed on the brassicas @HeliganGardens
— William Pill (@1914Gardener) July 10, 2014Five trips up and down with seaweed. Stinks when the sun gets on it.
— William Pill (@1914Gardener) July 10, 2014Sent to put the cart away then home.
— William Pill (@1914Gardener) July 10, 2014Saturday 11th July 1914. Watering peaches in the glasshouse. Fed melons and cucumbers.
— William Pill (@1914Gardener) July 11, 2014Harvesting broad beans.
— William Pill (@1914Gardener) July 11, 2014Sunday 12th July 1914. Chapel.
— William Pill (@1914Gardener) July 12, 2014Listened to the men talking at the Parliament. All about war. Mr Treffry got angry and swore.
— William Pill (@1914Gardener) July 12, 2014Walking with Elizabeth. Shippams fish paste for tea.
— William Pill (@1914Gardener) July 12, 2014Monday 13th July 1914. Helping Mr Moss in the Rockery.
— William Pill (@1914Gardener) July 13, 2014Wheeling rocks in the barrow.
— William Pill (@1914Gardener) July 13, 2014Planting alpines in the rockery.
— William Pill (@1914Gardener) July 13, 2014Tuesday 14th July 1914. Walked down to Trewinney with the Misters Paynter.
— William Pill (@1914Gardener) July 14, 2014At Trewinney. Mr Frederick very quiet today. None of his jokes.
— William Pill (@1914Gardener) July 14, 2014Frederick Paynter asked what I would do if there was war. I laughed. Mr Paynter went off.
— William Pill (@1914Gardener) July 14, 2014Mr Fred walked back with me. He said he hoped I didn’t mind his joke earlier about going to war. I said of course not.
— William Pill (@1914Gardener) July 14, 2014Nearly everyone on cleaning all day today.
— William Pill (@1914Gardener) July 15, 2014Told to sit in shade. Was feeling a bit sick.
— William Pill (@1914Gardener) July 15, 2014On sharpening tools. Better this time. Only three cuts.
— William Pill (@1914Gardener) July 15, 2014Thursday 16th July 1914. Lot of us on weeding the drive.
— William Pill (@1914Gardener) July 16, 2014Raking and weeding the drive.
— William Pill (@1914Gardener) July 16, 2014Back hurting now after a lot of bending.
— William Pill (@1914Gardener) July 16, 2014Friday 17th July 1914. Tying in broad beans.
— William Pill (@1914Gardener) July 17, 2014Tying in cucumbers and tomatoes.
— William Pill (@1914Gardener) July 17, 2014Weeding bed edges.
— William Pill (@1914Gardener) July 17, 2014Saturday 18th July 1914. Where is Sarajevo? Will ask father.
— William Pill (@1914Gardener) July 18, 2014Where is Serbia?
— William Pill (@1914Gardener) July 18, 2014I like thinning parsnips because it means that’s less in the world I might have to eat.
— William Pill (@1914Gardener) July 18, 2014