Below are a selection of events for December 1865 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 1865 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.
| December | ||||||
| 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* |
| 31* | ||||||
1.—At midnight Mr. Barlett, the cricketer, ran the length of Westminster Bridge for a bet: that he could do it between the Victoria clock chiming the four quarter hours and striking the midnight hour. Betting was six and seven to four on. He passed the winning post on the tenth stroke of the hour. [cn 9 Dec]
2.—Henry Nodes, coffin maker and proprietor of funeral carriages, 40 Robert Street, King’s Road, Chelsea, was offering Adults and Carriage Funerals commencing at £2, children’s (ditto) 17s. 6d.
2.—A letter from J. Dickson Claxton, Incumbent of St. Philip’s, Kensington, appeared. The churches were asked to pray for preservation against Cholera, but Earl’s Court, “isolated somewhat from the rest of the Parish by extensive market gardens” and in the wealthy part of the parish was devoid of sewerage. Cesspools were continually overflowing, landlords and owners do nothing and the Medical Officers don’t interfere. [wlo 2 Dec]
3.—In the afternoon Mrs. Lucy An Norton, 52, the wife of Rev. E. L. Norton of Besborough Street, Pimlico, fell down in the street in a epileptic fit and died two hours later. [cn 9 Dec]
4.—Capt. Fowke, R.E., the architect of the South Kensington Museum, Museum of Scotland, National Gallery of Dublin and the 1862 International Exhibition in Kensington, died at his official resident in South Kensington of a burst blood vessel. He’d been in declining health for some months. [cn 9 Dec]
5.—The Royal Horticultural Society fruit florist committees met in the South Kensington Gardens. Messrs. Lucumbe, Pince & Co. exhibited a new fern, polystichum augulare parvissimum, which excited considerable attention; Lady Dorothy showed rare monstera deliciosa and there were submissions from every part of the globe. [cn 9 Dec]
7.—At the Fulham Board of Guardians Mr. Smith proposed a two month trial of fitting and using Clarke’s Patent Gas Regulators which “were productive of great economy.” Seconded by Dr. Ree, it was carried nem. con. [wlo 9 Dec]
9.—The local newspapers carried each amusing stories of doubtful origin. This week an schoolmaster send a pupil to fetch another and threatened to beat the child if he spoken ungrammatically. The child therefore addressed his fellow pupil: “There is a common substantive, of the masculine gender, singular number, nominative case, and in an angry mood, that sits perched upon the eminence at the other end of the room, wishes to articulate a few sentences to you in the present case.” [wlo 9 Dec]
9.—F. Clark, optician, 13 Park Side, Knightsbridge, advertised Christmas Amusements with Roars of Laugher with his Magic Lanterns (available for loan). Schools and parties attended. [cn 9 Dec]
10.—The annual sermons at Northend Church Missionary Association would see Rev. T. Y. Darling, missionary from Central India preaching in the morning, and Rev. W. Norval, M.A. in the evenings. The annual meeting would be held in the School rooms, William Street, on the 13th at 7 p.m. [wlo 9 Dec]
12.—Thieves, letting themselves in by a skeleton key, extensively robbed Mrs. Barrington, 16 Walton Villas, Brompton. Suspicion later fell on a Henry Pettis, a single man logding at 33 Cumberland Street. Confronted by his landlady Mrs. Perry he confessed and committed suicide with a razor. His confession implicated Harry Swyer, Palace Road, Lambeth who was later apprehended. [cn 23 Dec]
13.—Kensington Vestry received a complaint about the smell of Mr. Tucker and Smith’s candle factory. Past facts were recalled by the Vestry, Mr. Banting thought the Nuisance Removal Act might apply, Mr. Freeman advocated taking the matter to court, Dr. O’Bryen recommended charcoal to mask the smell, Mr. Cocks wanted to know who would pay if the case went to law. Passed to Law and Parliamentary Committee. [cn 16 Dec]
14.—An Amateur Dramatic Performance would take place in Chiswick Hall to raise funds for the annual Christmas Dinner for the aged poor. Tom Taylor’s domestic drama Helping Hands would be followed by the farce A Duchess or Nothing. Stalls 3s. 6d., back seats 1s. etc. Tickets from members of the company. [wlo 9 Dec]
15.—In the evening, at Mr. William Jones’, firework dealer, Leader Street, Chelsea, the window being decorated for Christmas, some of the decorations caught fire, and the fire soon reached the fire-work area. The resulting explosion decimated the window and fragments were found in Regent Street. Fire engines arrived but the shop was totally destroyed. Mr. Jones was not insured. [cn 23 Dec]
16.—The newspaper’s editorial spoke passionately against the “railway system” saying “we promoted, petted, and encouraged Railways and their Extensions until we are literally over-ridden and trampled upon by their iron hoofs. They have become our Masters, aye, and most tyrannical Masters too!” No man’s property was safe, compensation was inadequate and no less than nine new railway lines were planned in Fulham and Hammersmith. [wlo 16 Dec]
18.—Professor Berlyn would lecture on The Future of the Jewish People at 8 p.m. at the Vestry Hall, Chelsea. Friends of Israel affectionately invited to attend. Tickets 6d. and 1s. available from the libraries. [cn 16 Dec]
18.—Joseph Alexander Leslie, 23, carpenter, and his wife Elizabeth were turned out of their lodging in 10 St. George’s terrace [Paddington?] as they could not pay the rent, Joseph having been out of work for four months. She went to stay at her aunt’s. Joseph’s body was found in Regent’s canal, Paddington, on 22nd December, his throat cut. His suicide note said “I die like a dog”. [cn 6 January 1866]
19.—In the afternoon Capt. F. C. Symonds, Bengal Artillery, aged 56, who had become insane at Mooltan due to sun-stroke and had returned to England in 1852, walked to the tree in the centre of Brook Green, Hammersmith, put a double-barrelled pistol to his mouth, and blew his brains out. [cn 30 Dec]
20.—At Westminster Police Court a very complex robbery and suicide in Brompton were tried. Mrs. Barrington, 16 Watson Villas, Brompton was robbed and suspicion fell on a lodger at 83 Cumberland Street called Pettis. Pettis was confronted, confessed and implicated others, then cut his throat with a razor. This led to police to trace one Harry Swyer of Lambeth, who resisted arrest and was found with the skelton key used in the robbery. John James Lloyd, 28, assistant librarian at Muddie’s library, was associated with Swyer and stood trial, but a character reference from Muddie’s said he was highly respectable married man, etc. and he was bailed. [wlo 23 Dec]
21.—At St. Barnabas and St. Philip’s, Earl Street, Kensington, Mr. Brinley Richards would give a pianoforte recital and St. Philip’s Choir and Choral Association would sing a new Christmas Part Song written by him, What Bells are those? There would be a selection of vocal music accompanied by Mrs. J. S. Higgins. Tickets 2s. 6d., doors open 7.30 p.m. for 8 p.m. and proceeds to parish charities. [wlo 16 Dec]
22.—Former pupils of Oxford House School held their annual re-union at Chelsea Vestry Hall. A full music programme was performed, readings given, comic monologues etc. The whole was a credit to the young gentlemen, their teachers and Mr. Lake, the Principal of the School. [cn 23 Dec]
23.—Among those advertising were W. Jannaway, General House Furnisher, 154 Brompton Road who was noted for superior second-hand furniture; J. Miller, 15 & 16 Shaftesbury Terrace, Pimlico (carpets) who were having a closing down sale as they were to be demolished by the Metropolitan Railway; Waud & Co., Queen’s Elm, Brompton who were offering Sacred Song for Christmas (by the Rev. Dr. Faber). [cn 23 Dec]
24.—The alter piece in Chiswick Church, painted and presented by Reuben Sayers, was uncovered and shown to the congregation, together with the improvements made in the Chancel. The picture was discussed in detail in the editorial. [wlo 30 Dec]
25.—Inmates of Chelsea Workhouse forwarded by the Master, John Gibbons, their grateful thanks Guardians. Mr. Gibbons reported: “I am also gratified to add that their conduct throughout the day was most satisfactory—not a single instance of impropriety of conduct on the part of anyone having occurred.” [cn 30 Dec]
25—Inmates of Kensington Workhouse had ¾lb. roast beef, potatoes, bread, 1lb. pudding; 1 pint of Barclay’s porter; children had fruit etc. The Beef and mutton cost 8s. 6d. per stone, bread 10s. 6d. per cwt.; a rise of around 10% from last year. Mr. Blackwell (workhouse master) and Mr. Banting (Vestryman) bought treats, toys, fruit etc. out of their own money. [cn 30 Dec]
26.—J. Hunt and Company, Hammersmith House, Broadway, advised that they would be closed for their Christmas Hallowday [sic]. [wlo 23 Dec]
27.—A public meeting would be held at the Swan Tavern, Broadway, Hammersmith at 7 p.m. to discuss the new rate assessment. Ratepayers and inhabitants earnestly requested to attend to decide on further proceedings. [wlo 23 Dec]
28.—S. Maurice Henri Berlyn, 250 King’s Road, Chelsea, wrote to the Chelsea News complaining about the high fees the Vestry charged for use of the Vestry Hall. Whilst the ratepayers had paid for it, and the Literary Institution enjoyed a special rate (250 days for per year at £100 total); it was little used as few could afford to hire it for a few hours. [cn 30 Dec]
29.—Matthew Feilde would hold a meeting at 10 a.m. at Kensington Vestry Hall urging them to vote for Mr. Ewart’s Act. Matthew’s “spirited address to the ratepayers of Kensington” was now available, published by H. Hellewell, price 1d. [wlo 23 Dec]
30.—Another advert appeared on behalf of Chelsea Vestry offering 6d. per load of dry, hard material deposited at Lots Ground, Poole’s Lane, King’s Road. A few weeks earlier the Chelsea Surveyor had complained he hadn’t material to repair the roads. This was in addition to the 700 ton contract. [cn 30 Dec]
31.—Shortly after midnight a violent storm of wind and rain hit London, with a great gust of wind around 2 a.m. which brought down chimney pots, unroofed houses and brought down trees. Camberwell was especially affected but the Crystal Palace relived “not the slightest injury.” [cn 6 January 1866]
Footnotes
[1] The 1871 census has a John Coppin, unmarried, aged 20 and born in Hammersmith, lodger, living at 55 Clifford Street, Hammersmith, so if the same person he’d be aged 14 at the time of the trespass. In the 1861 census he was living with his mother, Betsy Seabrook Coppin housekeeper to John P. Sharp, Warwick House, Kensington.