The Bennet Diaries Project

An Archive of the Journals and Correspondence of Bradbury Bennet, Esq. (1797–1881)

Welcome to the digital archive of the Bennet Diaries Project. This project aims to make accessible the newly discovered journals of Bradbury Bennet, a gentleman-naturalist from Somerset, whose precise and ironic observations provide a unique insight into the intellectual and social life of Victorian England.

The diaries, found in a forgotten deed box at The Larches estate in 2024, are currently being transcribed and annotated by Dr. Evelyn Reed of the Department of the History of Science, University of Bristol.

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Featured Entries & Artefacts

This selection highlights key moments from Bennet’s journals, offering insights into his scientific work, his philosophical musings, and his unique observations on the society of his time.

• 1845: Observation of the Green Tiger Beetle (12 July) - A typical example of Bennet’s meticulous naturalist fieldwork.

• 1845: A Visit from Mr. Hargrave, Speaker to Entities from Planet H (18 July) - Bennet records an encounter with a local spiritualist with characteristic dry wit.

• 1845: On the Futility of All Endeavour (30 July) - A philosophical entry reflecting on a curious local custom.

• 1846: On the August Meteors, and the Comfort of Predictable Things (11 August) - Bennet finds solace in the predictable mechanics of the cosmos.

• 1847: A Census of My Silent Parishioners (4 November) - An entry detailing his personal system for classifying the local flora and fauna.

• 1852: The Calotype Ordeal (8 June) - Bennet’s reluctant submission to the “modern art of calotypy,” resulting in his only known portrait.

• 1852: An Illustrated Entry: The Elephant Hawk-moth (11 June) - A beautiful example of Bennet’s skill as both a scientist and an artist.

• 1852: A Record of Light from a Salon Full of Shadows (3 July) - The arrival of a photographic portrait from Mrs. Adelaide Finch, prompting a reflection on photography and personality.

• 1853: On a Youthful Intervention in a Drought (15 August) - A memory from Bennet’s youth provides a rare glimpse into his early character.