Below are a selection of events for December 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.
| 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 | |||
4.—At Fulham Board of Guardians the Fulham relieving officer required 506 loaves and £33; the Hammersmith relieving officer 480 loaves and £44; number of inmates in the workhouse: 394, with 12 admitted in last week, 11 discharged, 1 died. Out-door poor in Fulham 551. [wlo 6 Dec]
5.—A Concert under direction of John Day, Musician in Ordinary to the Queen, would take place in the School Room, Fulham, in aid of the Fulham Philanthropic Society. Tickets 1s. (reserved seats 2s. 6d.) from Mr. Wilson, Printer, High Street Fulham. [wlo 29 Nov]
6.—Mr. Spratt, M.R.C.V.S., Veterinary Surgeon, Albion Terrace, Newland Street, Kensington, was advertising his horse infirmary and shoeing forge. [wlo 6 Dec]
9.—In an important case at Kensington Petty Sessions, Mr. H. W. Nevill, the celebrated digestive bread baker, who made 20,000 loaves a day and sold them wholesale, was summoned for delivering bread from a 4 wheeled cart in Turnham Green, without being provided with scales. It was proved that Nevill’s bread was “fancy bread” and could be lawfully sold without scales. [wlo 13 Dec]
10.—Rev. Sunderland delivered an eloquent but unexciting lecture on total abstinence to the North End Temperance Movement, at Wild’s School Room. The audience was the largest of the present season. [wlo 13 Dec]
11.—The London and Baptist Missionary Societies would hold a meeting at Oakland’s Chapel, Shepherd’s Bush, with Rev. Charles Graham in the Chair. Former missionaries Rev. William Fairbrother (China) and Rev. R. Williams (Agra, N.W. India) would attend. [wlo 6 Dec]
13.—A letter by “One on the look out” appeared condemning those coughing in Church, and advocating they stayed away, or at least use a handkerchief to deaden the noise. [wlo 13 Dec]
14.—The Bishop of London opened the new Iron Church at Lancaster Road, Notting Hill, very near the Hammersmith and City Railway viaduct. Designed to hold 700–800 people, it was dedicated to St. Andrew and will cover the poorer districts (Potteries, Latymer Road etc.) Rev. A. D. Robinson, projector, would be the incumbent. [wlo 6+20 Dec]
16.—The great “Christmas Cattle Market” was held with a large supply of cattle of variable quality. The supply of sheep, although small, was adequate, for as the West London Observer editorial said, “who thinks of eating mutton for his Christmas dinner?” Prices were satisfactory to the breeders. [wlo 29 Dec]
17.—Mr. Carter’s Choral Classes, with various eminent artists kindly giving their services, would perform The Messiah at Chelsea Vestry Hall, Kings Road, with all proceeds to the Lancashire Operatives. Upwards of 100 performers would be involved. [wlo 13 Dec]
18.—A public meeting would be held at 8 p.m. in New Victoria Hall, Archer Street, Westbourne Grove, with Archdeacon Sinclair chairing, to discuss the Notting Hill Cotton District Relief Fund. [wlo 13 Dec]
19.—A meeting of 42 gentlemen at the Kensington Vestry Hall, Churchwarden Greenway in the chair, heard a long address from Matthew Fielde advocating the adoption of the 1855 Public Libraries Act. At the vote only two hands were raised in favour. [wlo 27 Dec]
20.—Gaspere Guarnerio, 28 High Street Kensington, was retiring from business due to ill health, and all his stock of watches, clocks, jewellery etc. had to be sold by this date, at greatly reduced prices, no reasonable offer refused: Ideal Christmas Presents. [wlo 13 Dec]
20.—A long list of Kensington subscribers to the Cotton District Relief Fund appeared in the paper, with £1,219 14s. 4d. having been raised so far (£1,467 the following week). Lady Holland had donated £50, Rev. Stopford A. Brooke £20, Mrs. Henderson’s servants, 1s. 6d. etc. [wlo 20+27 Dec]
22.—The body of Robert Hoare, 122 Gloucester Terrace, Tyburnia, was discovered in the Serpentine, Hyde Park. Six weeks previously, after purchasing a new hat, he’d walked back to Knightsbridge on a foggy night and hadn’t been seen since, although the hat was found in the Serpentine the following day. [wlo 27 Dec]
24.—Robert Parker, a little boy, previously in custody for stone-throwing, quarrelled with a boy called Collins, the toll collector at Portland Street corner, North End. They agreed to a “fair fight”, but on the way Parker struck Collins with his belt buckle, cutting open Collins’ head with much blood. Fined 10s. or 14 days imprisonment with the magistrate saying if Parker didn’t reform he’d murder someone. [wlo 27 Dec]
25.—[Christmas Day] At Hammersmith Police Court Messrs. Ayres, pawnbrokers, King Street, Hammersmith, were summoned for placing wares for sale on the footpath in front of their premises. After much legal argument the case was dismissed with Messrs. Ayres not to place goods more than 2 ft. from their premises. [wlo 27 Dec]
28.—Rev. J. Edgcombe Richards, Coverdale Chapel, Limehouse, would become Pastor of Ebenezer Chapel, Albion Road on this day. Lovers of Truth, unconnected with other Churches, affectionately invited. [wlo 13 Dec]