1878-9. Winter very severe: from Nov. 9, when the first great snow-storm came, to nearly the end of February, scarcely anything but snow and frost: skating for months together on the Park "Cascades." Trade of every kind greatly depressed. The harvest of 1879 was very poor generally, 3-5ths of an average: the corn not so bad in this Parish as in many districts. Harvest very late: beans out till Christmas. Skating towards the end of Nov. and beginning of Dec., again just before Christmas. Terrific gales, in one of which the Tay Bridge (Scotland) was destroyed, Sunday Evening Dec. 28th.
1880. The harvest again was generally a poor one. Mrs. Stanhope arranged a course of Lessons in Cookery for women and for the School in the winter 1879-80, in connection with the Yorkshire School of Cookery. During Mrs. Stanhope's illness at Bournemouth in September, a Parochial Address of sympathy was prepared, but too late for her to receive it, in the following words:
"To Mrs. Spencer-Stanhope, Cannon Hall: Dear Madam, Having heard with much sorrow that you have been obliged to leave home on account of your health, we are anxious to assure you of our kindest and best wishes. It must, we know, be a great trial to Mr. Stanhope and yourself to thus leave your happy home at Cannon Hall and all the interests around it. The cheerful happiness you have always shown in coming among us; your kindly sympathy with the sick and troubled; your goodness to the poor, and your constant interest in the welfare of the Parish will, we assure you, be affectionately remembered, and will make your absence more deeply and universally regretted by us. We, who have signed our names below, or have desired them to be signed for us, are only making known to you the anxious prayers and wishes of the whole Parish, when we express our most earnest hope that God may indeed comfort, strengthen, and bless you in your sickness, as He alone is able, and that He may in His mercy grant you (if it be His gracious will) to recover your bodily health. With all kind sympathy with yourself, Mr. Stanhope, and all those dear to you, believe us, dear Madam, your friends and neighbours"
(signed by 239 of the female heads of houses of Cawthorne).
