Below are a selection of events for April 1866 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 1866 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.
| April | ||||||
| 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.—Tickets to the Zoological Gardens had been sold at 1d. each, promising a “procession of animals.” Hundreds of people turned up and demanded admissions and the police were called to restore order. It latter transpired that the sons of Mrs. Marks, Mansion House, had printed the tickets as an “April Fool” hoax. [wlo 7 Apr]
2.—Ann Johnson, servant to Abraham Leak, merchant of 10 Hereford Square, Brompton, was given leave to go out for three or four hours, but did not return. A few days later she came back for her cloths and was refused and created a disturbance, kicking Leak. At the trial Johnson produced witnesses that Leak shook her etc. and both parties were declared in the wrong. [wlo 14 Apr]
4.—Walter Stales, a youth, appeared at Hammersmith Police Court charged with being in unlawful possession of a piece of bacon. Stales was caught with the bacon under his coat in the High Street, Notting Hill, on the previous night and refused to account for it. Remanded. [wlo 7 Apr]
5.—Daniel Elmore, aged 38, of 8 Bridge Terrace Kensal Green, appeared at Marylebone Police Court charged with the wilful murder of his wife, Mary, in Harrow Road. Mary had been to the Prince of Wales, Harrow road, drunk, leaving her 7 children at home. John Rose assisted her home and they were met by Daniel who punched her knocking her down, then kicked her, and she died in a pool of blood. Verdict: manslaughter [wlo 7 Apr]
6.—Being Good Friday there were no postal deliveries. The Chelsea News apologised that in consequence they had not received the article from their special correspondent, and instead printed a story which didn’t make it to the previous week’s issue. [cn 7 Apr]
7.—E. Reddin, dealer in horses, Holland Park Road, Kensington, advertised fresh horses always for sale. His riding school, under the command of M. Cornand, was open to gentlemen from 8–10 a.m. and ladies from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. [wlo 7 Apr]
8.—Richard Darling, a butler in service at Palace Gate, Hyde Park, Kensington, who had for some time complained of pain through rheumatic gout, was found dead with his throat cut. At the inquest on the 11th the jury returned “suicide while in a state of unsound mind.” [cn 14 Apr]
9.—The Misses Summers would resume their classes with first class masters providing Languages, Music, Drawing etc. Prospectus from 3 Alexandra Villas, Acton Vale. [wlo 7 Apr]
10.—A well-attended literary and musical entertainment took placed in the Tabernacle School-Rooms, Saint James’s Square, Notting Hill with proceeds to Mr. H. V. Lewis, Professor of Music for services rendered. [wlo 14 Apr]
11.—A concert would be given at Girl’s School Room, St. John’s School, Hammersmith with profits to St. John’s School. Artists included Miss Adela Woollams, Miss Rose Lawrence, Mr. Lawrence, Mr. Woollams, Miss Annie Smith (aged 9) and the St. John’s Tonic Sol-Fa Singing class. [cn 7 Apr]
12.—Chiswick Chapel would re-open with a service at 3 p.m. in which Rev. C. H. Spurgeon would preach. A 9d. ticket tea would be provided at 5 p.m. in the School Room, with an evening service at 7 p.m. [wlo 7 Apr]
13.—“A Third Class Passenger” of Hammersmith wrote to the newspaper complaining that the Hammersmith and City Railway had removed one of the two lights in each third class compartment: making half too dark to read a newspaper or book. [wlo 14 Apr]
14.—The 1st Middlesex Engineer Volunteers, head quarters, 67 College Street, Brompton, whose spacious head quarters had recently been erected by the Offices of this scientific corps, would have drill on Monday and Wednesday at 7.30 p.m., recruit drill Saturday 7 p.m., battalion drill Saturday 8 pm. etc. Recruits were required for 8th company. [cn 14 Apr]
14.—Charles Lahee, Chelsea Vestry Clerk, announced that suggestions were being sought on how to spend the £10,000 received from the Metropolitan District Railway Company. Communications to be received by 8th May. [cn 14 Apr]
15.—William Musser, a labourer living at Walham Green, was at Sand’s End Fair, Fulham, when he felt a tug and looking down saw his watch, broken from it’s guard chain, in the hands of Charles Bryant. Bryant offered Musser 1s. not to say anything. Six months’ imprisonment. [wlo 21 Apr]
16.—The National Portrait Exhibition at South Kensington Museum opened: admission on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays 1s. each person; Tuesday 2s. 6d. Open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. [wlo 14 Apr]
17.—Between 1 and 2 a.m. a fire broke out at Mr. R. Hooke’s, bootmaker, 3 King Street, Kensington. The Kensington Volunteer Brigade arrived and got the fire under control, Mr. and Mrs. Hooke jumped from the window, but unfortunately their grandchild, Robert Jeffries, 6½ didn’t escape and perished, despite efforts by the fireman and Mr. Tucker’s employees to rescue him. [wlo 21 Apr]
18.—The Brompton and Chelsea Volunteer Fire Brigade would give their admired entertainment The White Lilies of the Prairie at the Chelsea Vestry Hall, King’s road, in aid of Brigade funds. Stall (dress) 3s., reserved seats 2s., balcony 1s. [cn 31 Mar]
18.—“A Brompton Man” wrote to the newspaper pointing out that in 1862 a sum of money to improve Brompton Road (for the International Exhibition) was found but whilst some improvement took place currently it’s ruined by a jumble of costermongers etc. opposite Knightsbridge Green. Highly rated shopkeepers want to know when the improvements will be delivered. [wlo 21 Apr]
18.—At Keinsgton Vestry Dr. O’Bryen moved that the sanitary law should be put into motion so the Jenning’s Buildings had an adequate water supply. Currently 907 persons shared 3 gallons a day, and none on Sunday. William Banting seconded it but everyone else was against and the motion was defeated 29 to 3. [wlo 21 Apr]
19.—Mary Ann Read, a poor looking woman, was charged before Mr. Dayman of stealing ornamental shells from Brompton Cemetery, having been caught taking shells from graves the previous day. She claimed she found them in the road and was putting them on graves. There had been numerous complaints of shell theft from the cemetery. 10s. or 7 days imprisonment. [wlo 21 Apr]
21.—Mrs. Baggalley, carpenter, builder, and undertaker, 46 Bridge Road, Hammersmith (widow of the late J. Baggelley) informed the public that she was continuing her husband’s business in order to provide support for her three children. She also stated the nephew of her late husband has nothing to do with the business. [wlo 21 Apr]
22.—The Rev. Francis Pigou, B.A., who had been appointed afternoon preacher of St. Paul’s, Campden Hill, Kensington, would enter into his duties. Previously he’d be incumbent of St. Philip’s, Regent Street, and was known, mainly by reputation, to the St. Paul’s congregration. [wlo 24 Mar]
25.—The dinner of the Hammersmith churchwardens took place with the Vicar in the chair supported by Mr. Morison and Mr. Ainsworth. Of the dinner the writer could not “urge much in its favour”: undercooked fish and cold plates were noted. It was the first time the hotel [unnamed] had catered. There were many speeches, toasts and songs sung. [wlo 5 May]
28.—The number of visitors to the Patent Office Museum, South Kensington, for the week ending 28 April was 1,475. The total since the museum opened free daily was 1,028,854. [cn 5 May]