Below are a selection of events for October 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.
| October | ||||||
| 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.—North End Philanthropic Society had a meeting and formed a committee to arrange a Lecture and Concert to be given in its aid.
2.—The Sewers’ Committee met to consider an application from Mr. Nutkins, 7 Gloucester Grove, south Kensington, to open a slaughter house on the premises—the Vestry didn’t feel called upon to oppose it.
3.—An evening concert was given at the Workhouse with around 300 people attending: “an observer” wrote to the West London Observer saying how much they enjoyed it and the letter appeared on the 6th October.
6.—S. Austin, postmaster of Hammersmith District Post Office, Broadway, was advertising that the mailbox closed at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 4.45 p.m., 9 p.m. and that the mail cart arrived at the Post Office for delivery at 8.19 a.m., 1.17 p.m., 4.17 p.m., 6.17 p.m., 8.47 p.m. Money orders were issued and paid between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
8.—Miss Jane Preston, of 25 Gloucester Villas was indecently assaulted at about 10.15 p.m. as she made her way home, in Notting Hill. She accused Christopher Garrard, pianoforte maker in the employ of Messrs. Erard, Kensington of being her assaliant. It was shown in court (the following day) that it was a case of mistaken identity.
9.—Chelsea Vestry, after considering a report from their solicitors, Messrs. Lee and Pemberton concerning the want to evidence to prove the alleged evils arising from late hours at Cremorne Gardens, dropped their opposition to Cremorne.
10.—The “Zetland Lodge”, No. 752 (freemasons) held their first meeting since the summer vacation in the evening at “The King’s Arms” Hotel, Kensington. After the business the 30 people present had an excellent banquet, the first put on by Mrs. Paton, the new lessee of the hotel.
10.—The Turnham Green Invincibles played the Chiswick Trademan’s Club at Turnham Green (cricket). The Invincibles won whilst the tradesmen “displayed musical abilities and charmed their opponents with the concord of sweet sounds.”
11.—A branch of St. Margaret’s, Crieff, was established at North End, Fulham, for the education of young ladies with Rev. A. Lendrum as principal. In a later advert in the West London Observer (10 November) the entrance fee was given as 3 guineas with the yearly fees being 120 guineas, payable in advance.
12.—Thomas Holt, a working man, discovered his small black and tan terrier dog (lost on the 9th) in the possession of Mr. George Mansfield, gentleman, of Gloucester Grove, Brompton. Mansfield refused to return the dog, asserting it was a dog he’d lost a few months previously. In the court case (on the 20th) the dog was produced and “created much amusement by his manœvres.” After considerable legal argument no decision could be made, and the dog remained with Mansfield.
13.—“The Raven,” New Road, Hammersmith had a good slate bagatelle table for sale, price not given.
13.—William Floyd’s poem “The Wise Men of Chelsea—A Legend” was published in the West London Observer. It was satirical.
14.—St. Stephen’s, Shepherd’s Bush opened a night school for adults starting on Monday 14th and continuing Monday to Thursday throughout the winter, at 4d. a week. The West London Observer “cannot too heartily recommend the advantages of these Schools to the notice of working men.”
15.—Charles J. Plumptre, Barrister-at-Law, gave public readings from Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice and Modern English Poets at the Working Men’s Association, Stormont House, Notting Hill.
16.—The committee of the Metropolitan Rifle Volunteers (Kensington, Hammersmith and Surrounding Districts) sit every Tuesday night 8 till 10 at the Workmen’s Institute, Grove House, Brown’s Buildings, Kensington, to receive new members. Uniforms etc. cost £2 15s. complete, subscriptions 10s. per annum. They were in the course of forming a cadet corps.
16.—Alfred Thomas Maxwell married Rosina Paxton at St. Marylebone church. Both being deaf and dumb the ceremony was performed in sign language by Rev. Samuel Smith. It was believed to the first time this had happened in England.
17.—Kensington Vestry made the rates (all in pence in the pound): poor rate 11d., lighting rate 2d., general rate 3d., main drainage rate 2d., general sewer rate 1½d., Counter’s Creek District sewer rate 1d. and Ranelagh District Sewer Rate 1d.
20.—W. Richards of the Albion Brewery, High Street, Kensington was advertising his home-brewed ales and porter, solely for the use of private families.
26.—At the Paving Committee it was decided to erect a gas lamp at the north end of Thomas Street, the Potteries. The committee also started a summons against Henry Skiffen, of 2 Rutland Terrace, Brompton, for wheeling a bath-chair on the public footpath in front of Brompton Row.
28.—John Halisworth, a Grenadier Guard, visited his wife at 39 Addison Road North, Kensington where she worked at a servant. He was taken ill after dinner, went to bed, and died half an hour afterwards.
29.—The Royal St. James’s Theatre, King Street, St. James’s Square, was due to re-open under the management of Alfred Wigan, with a new comedy of Indian Life by Tom Taylor: Up at the Hills. Alfred Wigan would take the part of Major Stonihurst. Tickets ranged from 6d, (gallery) to 2½ guineas.
31.—Michael Moran, an Irish labourer, was charged with assaulting Mrs. Simpson, the landlady of the beer-shop in Jennings Buildings, Kensington, a “notorious locality.” Found guilty and committed to one month hard labour.