National Landscapes

Places where our stories come to life.

Hutchinson’s Diaries

Peter Orlando Hutchinson’s (POH) diaries (1846-1894) have been kept for many years in the Devon Record Office (DRO) strong rooms, occasionally consulted by researchers and writers. Jack Hillman, a DRO volunteer, has made digital images of the entire diaries, running to well over 2000 pages, as a shared resource for the DRO and the East Devon AONB Peter Orlando Hutchinson project. 

Much of the archaeological and topographical content of the diaries already exists in print in two excellent collections edited by Jeremy Butler. However, other elements, such as landscape, agricultural and economic information, family histories, political comment etc. do not always feature in the edited version, neither do all Hutchinson’s humorous and other asides on his life and times; all of which you can now discover for yourselves.

Diary 1848-1854

POH Diary entries 1848 – 1854 Part 1

POH Diary entries 1848 – 1854 Part 2

Diary 1855-1864

POH Diary entries 1855 – 1864 Part 1

POH Diary entries 1855 – 1864 Part 2

Diary-1865-1871

POH Diary entries 1865 – 1871 Part 1

Diary-1872-1877

POH Diary entries 1872 – 1877 Part 1

POH Diary entries 1872 – 1877 Part 2

Diary-1878-1894

POH Diary entries 1878 – 1894 Part 1

POH Diary entries 1878 – 1894 Part 2

Diary transcripts (1846-1894)

Thanks to diligent project volunteers, the handwritten content of the diaries has been reproduced in digital format and a pdf of the text is available here.

Using these images

Scans may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes provided permission is sought from the South West Heritage Trust (SWHT). Illustrations must be credited to the SWHT and the East Devon AONB.