Below are a selection of events for March 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.
| March | ||||||
| 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* | ||||
2.—Mary Smith, a respectable-looking woman, was charged at Hammersmith Police Court with stealing a pig’s head from Edward Curtis’s shop, 4 Clarendon Place, Notting Hill. Smith claimed to be drunk; “but not so drunk as to mistake a pig’s head for a saveloy” said Mr. Ingham, Magistrate, as he gave her 3 months with hard labour. [wlo 7 Mar]
2.—The West London Extension Railway was very successfully opened. The newspaper said trains now run from Kensington [just south of today’s Olympia] station to Brighton, Exeter, Scotland etc. [It was actually a short 4 mile section which extended the existing Wilsden-Kensington railway south through West Brompton, Chelsea/Fulham, over the Thames to a new station, Clapham Junction.] [wlo 7 Mar]
3.—At Kensington Sessions, Vestry Hall, the magistrates spent several hours on license renewals. The number of licensed premises were: Chelsea 91, Hammersmith 67, Fulham 34, Kensington 102. Not a single police objection, all licenses renewed. [wlo 7 Mar]
4.—Among various similar cases at Hammersmith Police Court, Benjamin Hardy, butcher, Grove Terrace, Brompton, was fined 40s. and costs for hanging ¾ beef and two pigs outside his shop so obstructing the public footpath. [wlo 7 Mar]
5.—The quarterly court of governors of the Hospital for Consumption and Diseases of the Chest was held. Extra beds had been provided in the larger wards and the doctor’s room converted to a ward to cope with demand. Governors of the charity hoped for continuing public support to continue the work. [wlo 7 Mar]
7.—The Royal Blue Boot (established 20 years, cheapest house in West London), 66 High Street, Notting Hill, was adverting Gentlemen’s Wellington Boots £12, Pumps £5, Slippers, £1 3s., goloshes £1 6d. etc. (all prices from). [wlo 7 Mar]
8.—Two sermons would be preached in aid of the West London Hospital and Dispensary at St. Paul’s Hammersmith: morning service Rev. R. G. Baker, prebendary of St. Paul’s, London; evening service Rev. J. Connell, M.A., vicar of Hammersmith. [wlo 21 Feb]
10.—The London General Omnibus Company (Ltd) would supply (on application to Company Depots) Omnibuses for parties wanting to view the Royal Marriage Illuminations. [wlo 28 Feb]
10.—The Hammersmith Parishes proposed holding a special service to the National Schools children of the parish (around 900) at St. John’s, after which all children would be given a substantial dinner. I.e. to mark marriage of H.R.H. Prince of Wales. [wlo 14 Feb, 7 Mar]
10.—Upwards of 700 children belonging to Kensington Church schools were given a roast beef and plum pudding dinner after which there was fruit and wine for each child. Toasts included “those who donated” and all sang the new song, God Bless the Prince of Wales. (Celebration of marriage) [wlo 14 Mar]
12.—Kensington Board of Guardians considered applications for Workhouse Porter: William Butcher, 44, too old; Abraham Quilter, 35, former insane attendant and last employed International Exhibition; Thomas Pickard, 30, 5 years prison officer; F. G. Herring, 26, 11 years at sea. Herring appointed. [wlo 14 Mar]
14.—A subscription for the widow of the murdered policeman William Davey (see Jan. 20) was started and advertised in the paper. [wlo 14 Mar]
16.—Around 2.45 a.m. a policeman seeing smoke in the Plasterers’ Arms beer-shop (corner of Mall, High Street, Notting Hill), raised the alarm and rushed Mr. and Mrs. Martin out just in time. Their lodger, Stocken, safely jumped from the first floor window—none had time to put on clothes. Two hours to put fire out, property insured, adjoining properties not. [wlo 21 Mar]
17.—The inquest was held by Dr. Lankester at the Bank of England, near St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, on Thomas Jull, 35, a city mercantile clerk, who shot himself in head with a pocket pistol in Kensington Guardens on Saturday 14th. Jull was about to loose his job. “Temporary Insanity.” [wlo 21 Mar]
21.—The Cotton Districts Relief Fund again published a list of donations. So far £1,963 15s. 10d. had been raised, with £1,050 remitted to Manchester etc. The highest donation this week (£5 3s.) was from some members of the South Middlesex Volunteers from their concert on 6th January. [wlo 21 Mar]
25.—A special jury met at the Great Western Hotel, Paddington to consider the contested Hammersmith and City Railway compensation claims. Henry Goodsell claimed £600 for 16 Silchester Road, Notting Hill, company offered just over £400, awarded £550. James Goodsell claimed £600 for 17 Silchester Road, company offered upto £400, awarded £540. [wlo 28 Mar]
26.—Kensington Vestry advertised that they needed a Depot in the parish for stone and other materials, about ¼–½ acre. Tenders to James Broadbridge, Vestry’s Surveyor by 10 April. [wlo 28 Mar]
27.— South Middlesex Rifle Volunteers would perform their 3rd Amateur Theatrical at Beaufort House Theatre, Walham Green, under the patronage of Lord Viscount Ranelagh, Hon. E. C. Curzon etc. Douglas Jerrold’s Black Eyed Susan and Charles Selby’s Fearful Tragedy in the Seven Dials would be performed. Stalls 3s., reserved 2s., body of hall, 1s. [wlo 21 Mar]
28.—A genuine Straduarius, property of a Nobleman, was for sale. Make appointment to view at Mr. Schallehn’s, Professor of Music, 17 Cambridge Terrace, Holland Road, Kensington. Price 200 guineas. [wlo 28 Mar + 11 Apr]
30.—The annual meeting of the Turnham Green Arlington Park Cricket Club was held at Mr. Thompson’s John Bull Tavern, Brentford Road. A great many members and their friends saw W. Carter elected president, Mr. Thompson elected treasurer, and C. Stock Junr. again elected Hon. Secretary (for the tenth time). [wlo 4 Apr]
31.—At Hammersmith Police Court Michael O‘Brian, who claimed to be a discharged soldier, was charged with begging on Monday at 6.15 p.m. in Gloucester Road, Kensington, a P.C. have watched and overhead him. Remanded for a week. [wlo 4 Apr]