Below are a selection of events for January 1863 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 1863 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.
| January | ||||||
| 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 Kensington Board of Guardians a letter was read from F. Davidson, Douglas, Isle of Man, the son of James Davidson, an old man and workhouse inmate. The son had taken legal advice, the Guardians having destroyed his business, and was claiming £10,000 damages. Board allowed father 5s. per week and started proceedings to get money from son. [wlo 3 Jan]
1.—At around 8 p.m. Police Superintendent Tarlton, Hammersmith Division, who had been confined in bed at his house in Bridge Street with a serious illness from which there were no hopes of recovery, cut this throat with a razor and despite medical aid died within an hour. Tarlton’s wife and daughter had recently died, and his favourite boy was seriously ill. [wlo 3 Jan]
3.—James Slack, Professor of Knowledge of the Skin and Hair, 185 Sloane Street, Lowndes Square, was advertising his skin pomade “for restoring the growth of hair, whiskers and eyebrows.” George Holt, Watchmaker and Jeweller, late 4 years in Church Street, had taken over Gaspere Guardnerio’s business and now sold watches, clocks and jewellery at 28 High Street Kensington. [wlo 3 Jan]
6.—A fire destroyed the premises of George Wilkie, eating house keeper, Upper Queen Street, Brompton: cause unknown, nobody injured and premises insured. [wlo 10 Jan]
6.—The Hammersmith Soup Kitchen would open on this day at the old premises, Brook Green Lane, but funds to complete the arrangements were urgently required. [wlo 3 Jan]
7.—John Higgs, a flying dustman, was tried at Hammersmith Police Court. He’d been seen removing dust from 6, Miles Place, Albion Road and putting it in his cart, (George Axton, brickmaker, was the Board’s official contractor). Higgs said he collected dust in winter as he had no work. Fined ½ crown or 4 days imprisonment. [wlo 10 Jan]
9.—Around 5 p.m. fire broke out in the stabling at the back of the Red Cow, Hammersmith. The Parish Engine soon arrived and for about 70 minutes worked with a water hand-pump. Stabling destroyed but horses and carriages removed and were safe. [wlo 10 Jan]
10.—Kensington Collegiate School, 39 Kensington Square, head master Frederick Nash (late principal of Neilgherry High School, South India) was advertising. Classical (Greek, Latin, Maths plus English Division) 4 guineas a term; English Division (English, French, Writing, Arithmetic, Book-keeping, Geography etc.) 3 guineas. [wlo 10 Jan]
10.—The West London Observer listed the many railway schemes promoted for the area and noted that opposition was mounting against some, whilst others “merely spring from the fertile brians of schemers and project brewers.” They hoped that Hammersmith would soon have railways, however. [wlo 10 Jan]
11.—Around 10 p.m. flames were seen at Mr. Pidd’s, 31 Bedford Place. Although unoccupied at the time, the engines were called and confined the fire to the room where it originated. Contents of room destroyed but insured. [wlo 17 Jan]
12.—About 9 p.m. Bryan Smith, Jennings’ Buildings, entered the Civet Cat, High Street Kensington, and fell down drunk. Arthur Atkinson, the young barman, managed to get Smith outside, but Smith returned 15 minutes later, abusing all, punching Atkinson and kicking the Police-Sergeant who arrested him. Fined 15s. or 14 days with hard labour. [wlo 17 Jan]
12.—The funeral service of Alfred Cloud was held at the Windsor Castle Hotel, Hammersmith, with the burial in Brompton Cemetery in a new grave, 13 ft. deep. The last 16 members of Ranelagh Lodge (Freemasons) who attended then threw sprigs of acacia in the grave. [wlo 17 Jan]
12.—South Middlesex Rifle Volunteers, No. 5 (Kensington) Company would resume Company drill at the Old Barracks at 8 a.m. [wlo 10 Jan]
14.—The Bishop of London opened St. James’s Notting Hill National School, Princes Road. Previously located in Kensington Potteries, the new site accommodated 450 children and cost £2,100, with £1,480 raised by voluntary subscriptions. [wlo 17 Jan]
17.—A letter from “a member of Established Church” condemned the way the “so-called clergy” were performing the Burial Service. Clergymen should visit Brompton Cemetery to see “services so wretchedly performed as to be inaudible to all present.” [wlo 17 Jan]
17.—A seven-roomed house with capital shop was to let in Warwick Road, Kensington (in the immediate vicinity of the proposed railway stations). For details apply to Mr. A. Chesterton, 21 Lower Phillimore Place, Kensington. [wlo 17 Jan]
19.—Pupils of Newton House School, Vicarage Place, Kensington, principal Mr. E. Williams, M.R.C.P., should re-assemble on this date. Efficient Resident and Visiting Masters, prospectus available. [wlo 3 Jan]
20.—Two rough-looking men, Joseph Brooks, 25 and Isaac Brooks, 23, brothers, appeared before Hammersmith Police Court, charged with the murder of PC William Davey on Monday. Davey had earlier in the day attempted to apprehend two men who appeared to be stealing wood, but they had escaped. He went home to Petherton Villa, Avenue Road, Acton, around 8 p.m. for supper. There was a knock at the door, his wife opened it, and William was shot dead. Court packed, the main topic of the newspapers for weeks after: brothers remanded pending evidence gathering. [wlo 24 Jan]
21.—A Grand Evening Court would be held in Chelsea Vestry Hall, King’s Road, in aid of the Lancashire Relief Fund. South Middlesex Volunteers’ Band, local Choir etc. [wlo 17 Jan]
23.—At Kensington Vestry Works Committee the Surveyor called attention to the very defective state of drainage in Bute Street, Brompton, and the want of proper drainage in Stratford Road, South Kensington. Special committee meeting to be held. [wlo 31 Jan]
24.—At 1 p.m. Mr. Lovett, Kensington Sanitary Inspector, entered James Croker’s shop, 16 Princes Road, Notting Hill, and sized a quantity of rotten beef which was being cut up for sausages. Later that day the Court windows had to be opened to disperse the smell. Meat ordered to be destroyed by Court, and in later case (31 Jan.) finded £5. [wlo 31 Jan, 7 Feb]
28.—Kensington Vestry debated what to do about pigs in the Potteries: either fine Mr. Squires (a cleaner place Mr. Dunford never saw) to intimidate the rest, or issue notices to pig-keepers to remove the swine. Urged by Rev. Bakewell and Mr. Sadler, it was decided to issue notices. [wlo 31 Jan]
31.—Madame Tussaud’s (established 27 years) advertised new additions: Caxton and Chaucer plus Catherine Wilson the Poisoner (in Chamber of Horrors). Open 11 till dusk, admission 1s., extra room 6d. [wlo 31 Jan]