Portrait of George Borrow
This page is in draft and not yet finished

George Borrow’s Brompton, February 1862

Below are a selection of events for February 1862 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 1862 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.

February
SMTWTFS
1*
23*4567*8*
910*1112*13*14*15*
161718*19*20*2122*
23*242526*2728

1.—Mr. W. L. Goome, Civil Engineer and Surveyor, King Street, Hammersmith, was offering his services to landowners etc. needing valuations for compensation from the Hammersmith, Paddington, and City Junction Railway, whose contractors were about to start work.

3.—At noon, P.C. Harrison was on duty in Jennings Buildings, Kensington, when he saw Vincent Simpson, “a rough looking little urchin” throw a stone at his brother, which missed.  At the trial later that day Harrison said there had been many complaints of stone-throwing, on which Vincent said “there are not many gentlemen who go down the Buildings for stones to hit.”  Fined 2s. 6d. or 4 days.

7.—Putney Musical Amateur Society gave its second concert at the Iron Room, Upper Richmond Road, with works from Handel, Mendelssohn, Mozart &c., which were “so ably performed” that the Society “bids fare to become ... most prosperous and lasting.”

8.—A second notice for subscriptions for the bereaved sufferers of the Hartley Colliery Accident appeared in the West London Observer.  Donations to Edward Ball, 26–27 High Street, Kensington; Mr. Wright Maydwell, 1 Alexander Place, Brompton; Robert Harvey, High Street, Notting Hill.  On 29 Jan. the draymen of the London Department of the Romford Brewery had raised a sum of £5 5s.

10.—Two boys, Patrick Callaghan and John Discroll, absconded from the Brook Green Roman Catholic Reformatory.  At the trial (latter that day) they claimed to have been repeatedly flogged and showed the marks.  Both claimed the Brother Superior had told them “the Devil was in the house and they should run away.”  Remanded for the attendance of the Brother Superior.

12.—At Fulham Board of Works Mr. Stevens objected to the Metropolis at large having to pay for the “proposed road through Hyde Park.”  Resolve to ask the Government to raise the money through Coal Dues.

13.—The preachership of Lincoln-Inns field having become vacant a distinguished list of candidates was published and included Rev. Dr. Irons, Vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton.  [DN, 10 Feb.]

14.—The problems of the inadequate approach roads to the forthcoming Great Exhibition, in particular Brompton Road, Kensington Road and the narrow portion of Park Lane at the junction with Piccadilly were raised in the House of Commons.  Improving them was the responsibility of the parishes, not the Government.  However, the Government would fund the proposed road through Hyde Park out of Coal Dues.

15.—W. H. Timms, Wine Merchant, 2 Grove Terrace, Notting Hill, advertised in the West London Observer that he purchased old wine bottles in large or small quantities.

15.—George Blandford, 9 Holland Street, Kensington, was in the Hereford Arms, South Kensington when Eliza Gibson, a tall well dressed woman, entered and tore off his hat, throwing it in the fire and then proceeded to pull his hair and smack his face.  Gibson fined 2s. 6d. without costs.

18.—The Lord Mayor wrote to Queen Victoria asking for her feelings on the erection of a National Memorial Monument to Prince Albert.  The Queen wished to avoid controversy but was deeply touched.

19.— Thomas Jarvis entered the shop of Mr. Derry, a draper, 3 The Terrace, Kensington, purchased goods of 23s. and tendered a £10 note.  After being given change he drove off in a hansom, and the note was found to be forged. [wlo 12 Apr]

20.—Kensington Board of Guardians considered the case of the poor Indian woman, now in the workhouse, fretting about her children in India, who needed £25 for the passage back to Calcutta.  The daughter of Sir Edward Ryan, and Mrs. Paynter were running a subscription in Brompton and the Board would write to the Secretary for India.

22.—The offices of the Commissioners of the 1862 Exhibition, previously located on the Strand, would move to the Exhibition buildings, which were still being erected.  The Daily News noted this would result in “much profit” for Brompton omnibuses but that no progress had been made on widening the approaches, except for Chelsea Vestry, which had widened Eaton-Square to Sloane-Square. [DN, 20 Feb.]

23.—Rev. E. Madeley of Birmingham would preach at the New Jerusalem Church, Black Lion Lane, Hammersmith at 11 a.m. and 6.30 p.m.  No collections.

26.—At Fulham Board of Works Mr. Lovely reported that the Government had abandoned their intention of making a sunk road across Hyde Park.  A letter from Mr. Shaw, Furnival’s Inn, claimed the new railway works were interfering with the sewers in new Richmond Road, North End.  Referred to sewer’s committee.

?.—On 1 March the West London Observer announced the death of Matthew Truman, a member of the Kensington Vestry, 40 Norland Square, Notting Hill, aged fifty-six.  He’d become an M.D. in Naples, a member of the Royal College in 1828 and wrote Food and its Influence on Health and Disease.