Diary of Margery May Barrett

The collection consists of extracts from a five year diary that MMB kept from 1940 to 1944. The diaries are laid out so that there is a page for each date over five years, so one page will show what MMB was doing on the same date over a 5 year period. She had kept a series of four diaries (1940-44, 1950-54, 1956-61, 1962-66) covering the events in the life of MMB and that of her immediate family. The early diaries contain mainly factual accounts of the weather, domestic life, and life in Lewes; the later diaries give more insight into the relationships between the sisters. In all the diaries, there are references to outings in Brighton and Hove. The diaries were left in the house when it was sold and there is no surviving family. The diary extracts of which we have digital copies covers the dates 1940- 1944 and juxtaposes ordinary everyday domesticity such as visits by the chimney sweep or outings to church and the cinema with the reality of life during wartime. MMB notes how many times the sirens go off, where bombs are dropped locally and her fire watching and ARP duties, as well as the restructions on food and travel caused by the war. She occasionally touches on international and national events related to the war. The diary is written in a very matter of fact way despite the dangers and problems of life during wartime.