32 THE PEPYS OF SOUTH DORSET. 



their descendants allied themselves with some of the principal 

 families in the county. 



A few years before Mr. Richards settled at Warmwell the 

 estate had belonged to Mr. John Sadler, a learned and remark- 

 able man, a favourite of Cromwell, and formerly Town Clerk of 

 London. Having suffered great losses at the Restoration, he 

 retired to Warmwell, and there led a private life. 



Let us now take a view of Mr. Richards' surroundings in his 

 new home. His wife was a lady of a somewhat irritable and 

 excitable disposition. Mention is frequently made of their son, 

 John ; there was also a younger son, William. Mr. Richards 

 had a brother, James Richards, who also had been a London 

 merchant. Soon after the former had settled at Warmwell, James 

 Richards bought the Manor of West Knighton, an adjoining 

 parish, and there built his seat, so that the two brothers were 

 neighbours. The house is now a farmhouse, occupied by Mr. 

 Bartlett. The residence of our diarist, Mr. John Richards, was 

 the handsome stone-built mansion, called Warmwell House, 

 said to have been erected by Sir George Trenchard, and now 

 belonging to Captain R. B. Foster.* He farmed his own estate, 

 attending Dorchester markets on Saturdays to deal in corn and 

 sheep. His favourite hostelry there was the old " Antelope " in 

 South Street. He kept his greyhounds and enjoyed a fair 

 amount of coursing. He bred " Shake-bag " cocks ; these were, 

 I believe, fighting cocks, which were carried to the fighting pit 

 and there shaken out. The water-mill at Warmwell was part of 

 his domain ; the river he calls " my river," and there his swans 

 added to the beauty of the landscape. His gardens were 

 carefully tended ; they contained choice pear and apple trees, 

 also mulberry and fir trees ; potatoes are not mentioned, but the 

 'squire grew asparagus, which he sometimes spelt " Sparrow- 

 grass." The gravel walks and squares, as appears by the diary, 

 were kept well rolled. As regards his personal appearance he 



* Some interesting notes on Warmwell House, by the Rev. W. Miles Barnes, 

 appear in Vol. XXV., slvi., of the Club's "Proceedings," 



