Below are a selection of events for November 1864 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 1864 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.
| November | ||||||
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
| 1* | 2* | 3* | 4 | 5* | ||
| 6 | 7* | 8* | 9 | 10* | 11* | 12* |
| 13 | 14 | 15* | 16* | 17* | 18 | 19 |
| 20* | 21* | 22* | 23* | 24* | 25* | 26* |
| 27* | 28 | 29* | 30* | |||
1.—Rev. A. Hannay would deliver the first lecture (on Oliver Cromwell) at the Broadway Chapel Young Men’s Association, tickets 6d. The editorial praised the lectures which would take place every two weeks until March. [wlo 29 Oct]
2.—The Fulham Board of Works heard a letter from C. I. C. Bailey of Fulham Pottery, who had been in discussions with the Board about improvements in front of the Pottery. He was looking for £500 for giving up the land adjoining the King’s Road and Church Street, or £50 less if the Board would defray legal expenses. [wlo 5 Nov]
3.—Joseph Higgins obtained a summons against Lord Ranelagh for keeping more than 50 lbs. of gunpowder in a shed at Beaufort House, North End, Fulham, 29 yards from Higgins’ house. Later Lord Ranelagh assured everyone that it was safe. Case dismissed. [wlo 5 Nov, wlo 12 Nov]
3.—William Banting, Kensington, author of the world’s first pamphlet on Corpulence, wrote to the paper. He’d sold 50,000 copies, made a profit of £171, which he’d given, as promised, to the Printer’s Pension Society (£50), British Home for Incurables (£50), Royal Hospital for Incurables (£50) and National Orthopœdic Hospital (£10 10s.) The balance and future profits destined for further charities. [wlo 5 Nov]
5.—Alfred A. Bird, bottled beer & family wine stores, Cambridge Road, Hammersmith, was again advertising: Invalids’ Port, Bird’s Dessert Sherry and Mixing Gin, all 2s. a bottle. Bird’s One Pound Christmas Hampers now ready. [wlo 5 Nov]
7.—George Collins, a young man, was charged with letting off fireworks (squibs) at Parson’s Green. Fined 1s. Thomas Skipps, a boy, was fined 2s. 6d. for letting off fireworks in the Uxbridge Road, Shepherd’s Bush. [wlo 12 Nov]
8.—William Holly, 5, Great George Street, Hammersmith, was charged with smoking in a Hammersmith and City Railway carriage from Edgware Road to Hammersmith. Holly did not stop when requested and gave a false name and address. Fined full penalty of 40s. and costs. [wlo 12 Nov]
10.—William Spules, 13, was re-examined on a charge of stealing a potato, value ½d. from Charles Taylor, greengrocer, Arundal Terrace, Kensington. William had been convicted twice before, the last time with 8 strokes, which his mother said had improved him. Mother’s recognisance for son’s good behaviour. @ HPC
11.—The body of John Leech, artist, was taken from his home in the Crescent, Kensington Road, to be buried at Kensal Green. Among the mourners were Charles Eaton, John Tenniel, Charles Dickens, Horace Mayhew, Tom Taylor and Mark Lemon. He leaves father, widow, two young children, a son and daughter. [wlo 12 Nov]
12.—Each week the West London Observer carried a short poem, often by a local resident. In this week’s edition it went for an old fashioned rhyme:
THE BETTER HALF.
Heaven bless the wives, they fill our hives
With little Bees and Honey!
They ease life’s shocks, they mend our socks,
But — don’t they spend our money?
When we are sick, they heal us quick,
That is, if they do love us,
If not, we die, and yet they cry,
And raise tombstones above us. [wlo 12 Nov]
15.—A Grand Vocal Concert, in aid of St. John’s National Schools, would be given at the school, Bradmore Grove, King Street, Hammersmith. Songs, duets, glees and instrumental sections under the patronage of the Rev. J. G. Cowan, Incumbent. [wlo 5 Nov]
15.—George Reynolds, an unemployed pipe maker, aged 22, was charged with cutting and dangerously wounding his stepfather, William Fulcher, 17 Norland Road, Shepherd’s Bush, with a ginger beer bottle. Money etc. had gone missing, arguments occurred and then incident. Six weeks hard labour. [wlo 19 Nov]
16.—Mr. Green, Vestry Clerk, was suffering from diphtheria and unable to attend the Vestry, so Mr. Harding, one of his clerks did. Mr. Green did write to say Mr. Austin’s summons had been adjusted to later, and Mr. Broadbridge said Mr. Austin would pull down his conservatory. [wlo 19 Nov]
17.—Kensington Board of Guardians received a letter from the master shoemaker of the Workhouse, asking for an increase in his present wages of 10s. per week. He’d been employed 10 years, did all the repairing and received nothing apart from wages and a half pint of porter daily. No shoemaker had been an inmate of the house for the last 12 years. Wages increased to 12s. per week. [wlo 19 Nov]
20.—At the Wesleyan Chapel, Warwick Gardens, Kensington, Rev. J. Maunder would preach on “The Unbounded love of Christ”, and Rev. D. C. Ingram on “Naaman the Leper.” At Curzon Chapel, Mayfair, Rev. E. Meyrick Goulburn, Chaplain ordinary to the Queen, would preach in aid of St. James’s Home for female Penitents, Hammersmith. [wlo 19 Nov]
21.—The Hammersmith Soup Kitchen reviewed the previous operations (January to March) and found £144 had been donated and spent, with increased portions for the poor being provided. Mr. Keys was thanked for managing the kitchen. Subscriptions etc. for the coming year solicited. [wlo 3 Dec]
22.—An concert would be given at 8 p.m. at Eagle House, Brook Green, for the Benefit of some Distressed Families. Artists included Madame Henrie, Mr. Trelawny Cobham. [wlo 19 Nov]
22.—Alfred Gurnell, John Price and Frederick Males were summoned for obstructing the public footpath. On the 12th, between 10 p.m. and 1.00 a.m. they sat on chairs on the footway in Kensington Square, keeping a broker’s man in a garden company and protecting him from ill-usage. Fined 1s. each, paid by broker. [wlo 26 Nov]
23.—Unfavourable weather resulted in a disappointing attendance at the Army Scripture Readers Society meeting in St. Peter’s Boys’ school room, Hammersmith Road. Rev. W. G. Cookesley said soldiers needed religion and Colonel Pitcairn read a letter from a captain of the 52nd who said between 1803 and 1814 his regiment not once attended Divine Service. [wlo 26 Nov]
24.—Harriet Benson, a married women, was charged with knocking the door of Mrs. Jeremiah Gurr, Montpelier Terrace, Portland Road, without lawful excuse. Benson had been a troublesome lodger and hadn’t quit when asked to. After legal advice Gurr locked her out and the incident ensued. Fined 5s. [wlo 26 Nov]
25.—Robert Barnes, cowkeeper, Portobello Road, Notting Hill, was summoned for keeping cows without a license. The Justices met only once a year and Barnes had missed the opportunity. Mr. Dayman, magistrate, said that was unfair and the Justices should meet quarterly. Fined 5s. and 2s. costs, i.e. cost of a license. [wlo 3 Dec]
26.—Alfred A. Bird, Bottled Beer & Family Wine etc., Cambridge Road, Hammersmith, was again listing his Christmas hampers, this time listing the contents (all one bottle): old port, fine pale sherry, whisky or Hollands, Jamaica Rum, pale Brandy and Bird’s noted Old Tom. Last year 300 hampers sold. [wlo 26 Nov]
27.—The Right Rev. Monsignor Manning, D.D., would preach at Holy Trinity Church, Brook Green, Hammersmith, in aid of funds for the West London Hospital. High Mass starts 11 a.m. [wlo 19 Nov]
27.—A dog damaged the crops in the Horticultural Frames at Earl’s Court Farm. Mr. Allaway then advertised in the paper that unless the owner fetched him within 7 days, he would be sold and legal proceedings take for the damage done. [wlo 3 Dec]
29.—Rev. I. de Kewer Williams would deliver a lecture on the subject “I.” at Broadway Chapel Young Men’s Association, Hammersmith, tickets 6d., to be had at the Booksellers. [wlo 26 Nov]
29.—Mary Johnson, heavily pregnant, passed by Mr. Webb’s, cheesemonger, High Street, Kensington, and took a piece of bacon under her shawl. Her husband was a respectable man, Mr. Webb didn’t want to pursue, but remanded for one week, crying. Subsequently discharged. [wlo 3 Dec, wlo 10 Dec]
30.—Alfred Stripland, 16, was seen by Elizabeth Eldridge, Walham Green, stealing a lemon from her brother’s shop. Remanded for 6 days. At next appearance Stripland turned out to have been imprisoned before for steeling walnuts and apples. Remanded again. [wlo 3 Dec, wlo 10 Dec]