GLASTONBURY John Cannon books near publication after 266 years JN
The first volume of John Cannon’s chronicles is scheduled to be published this month. Cannon (1684–1744) lived at Lydford and for a time worked in Glastonbury as scrivener and excise clerk. [See Newsletters 108, 110.]
Adrian Pearse, a member of the Conservation Society committee, takes a particular interest: “I’m his closest descendant.”
The 800-page work by “the poor man’s Pepys” is full of close observation about personalities, shops, meetings and local landmarks. In the first volume Cannon mentions bellringing at Baltonsborough, but we must await the second volume for his Glastonbury memoirs, from the 1730s until 1743.
Copies are expensive because of 18 years of scholarly work by Prof. John Money (at the University of Victoria in Canada) and the short print run — around £55 per volume — but the Antiquarian Society’s library will surely have a copy. Joint publishers are the British Academy and Oxford University Press.
Newsletter articles about the John Cannon chronicles
BBC researcher illuminates John Cannon’s Glastonbury Adrian Pearse … … 108.2
Excerpts from the Cannon memoirs: 1704 bellringing and courtship;
1707 he leaves home for Reading to train in Excise
Watercolours of the Abbey painted in Cannon’s time … … 108.1
John Cannon and the church (a talk by Prof. John Money) Adrian Pearse … … 110.2
John Cannon books near publication, 266 years on JN … … 131.4
The Chronicles of John Cannon: an abstract Professor John Money … … [on website only]
John Cannon’s Chronicles in print at last — a review Adrian Pearse … … 134.8
