Below are a selection of events for September 1860 showing what was happening around George Borrow and his family. The Borrows lived in 22 Hereford Square, Brompton, London, from September 1860 until George finally left in the second half of 1874.
The page for the 1860 gives a bit more background and links to pages explaining the sources and other months/years.
This is an on-going effort, and is expected to be updated. David would especially link to thank the wonderful staff at Kensington Local Studies for all of their help in researching this.
| September | ||||||
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
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| 2 | 3* | 4* | 5* | 6* | 7 | 8* |
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| 23 | 24 | 25* | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29* |
| 30 | ||||||
1.—Kensington Potteries’ Infant and Ragged Schools were appealing for £350 “to redeem the freehold of these most useful rooms”. They repeated the advert weekly, and by 22nd “the claim is urgent.” Meanwhile a Mr. A. Bird of King Street Hammersmith was advertising 3 acres of arable land to let, ideal for cow-keepers. At a meeting at St. Luke’s Chelsea “the alleged tampering of Roman Catholic Priests with the inmates of the workhouse” was considered — only the established church could do that.
Robert Wallace, a young man of St. Petersburg Place, Bayswater, was in court regarding a fracas outside St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Chapel, Westbourne: he’d gone there intending to “cast ridicule on either the congregation or the service” but ended up fighting. Case adjourned.
3.—Turnham Green Britannia Club and London Yard Club were due to play a cricket match on the front common at Turnham Green.
4.—Latymer Road residents held a meeting in the Britannia Tavern about the “disgraceful state of Latymer Road.” The “recent heavy rains had made the road almost impassable.” A committee was appointed.
5.—Kensington Vestry discussed the rating of Brompton Cemetery. The parish wanted £800 yearly, but an act of Parliament limited it to £400, and there were arrears from the time of purchase. Referred to Parliamentary Committee.
6.—Kensington Board of Guardians heard that there were 121 males and 156 females in the workhouse.
8.—J. J. Prince, Butterman and Poulterer, opposite Palace Gardens, Bayswater, was reminding customers that with the commencement of the game season he could supply “every description of Game and Poultry”. E.g. fine Surrey chickens from 4s. 6d. per couple. Mr Louis, Dentist, No. 8 the Terrace, Kensington, was advertising that he was available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. for any dentistry requirements.
10.—“A Friend to all dumb animals” wrote to the West London Observer about the number of lost and starving dogs seen on the streets of the metropolis and proposed a “Home for Lost Dogs”. The letter appeared in the 22nd September 1860 edition.
12.—The British Museum announced it had re-opened after it’s closure on 31st August: the collections had been re-arranged and new subjects added. The National Gallery was closed to the public until further notice: this usually meant a six weeks’ vacation.
15.—Ebenezer (Independent) Chapel, Albion Road, Hammersmith, invited “individuals who are not in the habit of attending any place of Worship” to their special Sunday evening sermon. The subject would be “The Best Wish; or The Minister’s Prayer.”
16.—A young woman, Jane Patterson of 2 Hornton News, Kensington was walking along Church Street when she collapsed in a fit. She was taken to the Coffee House where she expired. A post-mortem found her death to have been caused by a diseased brain.
18.—The Market Gardeners’ Association celebrated their 32nd Anniversary at the Crystal Palace. They had upwards of £1,300 funded property, a balance of £100 and were entirely free from debt. The West London Observer reminded its readers it wouldn’t publish reports of meetings unless it was formerly invited to attend.
19.—The Notting Hill and Shepherd’s Bush Sacred Harmonic Society gave their first concert at Norland School. Tickets ranged from 6d. to 2s. and the program included Judas Maccabeus and the Messiah.
20.—“A Hater of Parochial Tyranny”, Park Walk, Chelsea wrote to the West London Observer defending Cremorne (Gardens) against the Vestry’s attempts to close it down. The letter was published on 22nd September 1860. Cremorne was advertising in that edition admission 1s., table d’Hôte at six, 2s. 6d. etc. The editorial of 29th September says “Cremorne Gardens are without exception—we write nothing carelessly— the most perfect specimen of Public Gardens in the world.”
22.—Herr Jager, 29, Kensington Park Terrace North, Bayswater, was advertising pianoforte and German language tuition. Mr. Gawtrey, 3 Lowndes Terrace, Knightsbridge was still advertising his retirement sale of silks, robes, shawls and mantles at “enormous reduction from cost price.” The sale had been a “few remaining days” for the last two weeks.
The Metropolitan railway works were progressing well with the tunnelling at New Road, King’s Cross etc. The opening of the railway from Paddington to the City (Farringdon Street) was now looked forward to.
25.—High Water at Hammersmith bridge was to be 8.45 a.m. Full morning and evening times were regularly published.
25.—The Fulham Board of Guardians, having sufficient funds, planned to take the workhouse children on a trip to Crystal Palace on this day, and to give “an in-door treat” to the infirm inmates on the following day. The Crystal Palace, meanwhile, was advertising 1s. day tickets.
29.—There was a £2 reward for information on the identity of a 4 month old female child left deserted at 43 Edwardes Square, Kensington, on the 7th September.