Below are a selection of events for July 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.
| July | ||||||
| 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 Vestry it was decided that the Kensington Railway (and station) was to be rated at £3,000. [wlo 4 Jul]
3.—Sir Joshua Jebb, aged 70, The Elms, Parson’s Green, Fulham, died on an omnibus on his way to his offices in Parliament Street, Westminster. For many years a military man, he’d become surveyor general of civil prisons. [wlo 4 Jul]
4.—J. Ford’s select swimming and other baths were now open at 28½ High Street, Kensington. [wlo 4 Jul]
6.—Following a farewell service at St. John’s, Hammersmith, on the 4th, Bishop Twells left for his diocese of Orange River State, South Africa. [wlo 11 Jul]
7.—Clement Davis and Richard Villamer, school-boys, appeared at Hammersmith Police Court charged with picking gooseberries from Mr. Cook’s, market-gardener, Chiswick on Monday. School master to deal with them. [wlo 11 Jul]
7.—At Hammersmith Police Court 5 young men were charged with damaging the osiers on the banks at Fulham, property of Mr. Walden. All claimed to think the osiers were weeds. Mr. Selfe, magistrate, didn’t know much about osiers and fined one 2s. 6d. and 6d. value, discharging rest.
8.—At Hammersmith School Rooms a heavily attended meeting was held to consider steps to repair Hammersmith Church and provide additional seating. Many favoured building a new church, but eventually the meeting decided on repairs and subscriptions. [wlo 11 Jul]
9.—Baron Rothschild’s servants and friends played their annual cricket match in Gunnersbury Park with a “victualling department” resulting in the Baron’s health being drunk many times. [wlo 18 Jul]
11.—Charles Edwin Hurst, Royal Academy of Music, 21 Merton Road, Kensington, had returned from his Russian tour and was resuming piano lessons. The Commercial Day School, 14 Queen Street, Hammersmith, established 30 years, was also advertising—terms upon application. [wlo 11 Jul]
12.—At All Saints, Notting Hill, whilst Rev. John Light was preaching, Dr. Henry John Gauntlett, 23, Colville Road, Notting Hill, former organist, stood shaking his coat tails and conspicuously taking notes in order to annoy the Clergyman. This was one of many such instances and at Hammersmith Police Court, 31 July, Gauntlett had to give a written apology and desist. [wlo 8 Aug]
14.—The Annual Festival of St. Stephen’s Schools, Shepherd’s Bush, would be held in the grounds of William Berrall’s The Poplars, near the Green. Children to assemble for prayer at 2 p.m. then walk to The Poplars, with visitors admitted at 3 p.m. Military band, sale of work, refreshments (Mr. Green) etc. Admission 1s. [wlo 27 Jun + 25 Jul]
14.—Henry Barr, landlord of the Hand and Flower, Sand’s End, Fulham, was summoned at Hammersmith Police Court for allowing a circus to be held on ground he owned. The magistrate said illegal fairs should be prosecuted, to which Henry replied that Beaufort House, his next door neighbours, regularly held a fair exactly the same as his. Case dropped. [wlo 18 Jul]
15.—George Glasgow, whose yard backed onto the West London Extension Railway, walked onto the line and refused to leave when Charles Douger, plate layer, told him to. Glasgow said “he would go on the line when he liked.” Fined 10s. and costs. [wlo 18 Jul]
18.—A list of contributors to Chiswick Parish Church repair fund was published. Duke of Devonshire, £250, J. Frere, J.P., £50 and many others: the total stood at £677 15s. [wlo 18 Jul]
22.—Brompton Company, South Middlesex Volunteer Rifles, would have a prize shoot at Caterham: open to members who had passed 3rd firing. Train leaves London Bridge at 1.30 p.m. with prizes including a field glass and a riffle. [wlo 18 Jul]
22.—The Royal Humane Society’s £5 gold medal to encourage the art of swimming was contended at Hammersmith Bridge with a large crowd of onlookers. 35 entered, 25 completed, with Henry Gurr, aged 16, winning the medal. [wlo 25 Jul]
25.—The Editorial pointed out that on 1st July 1864 the toll-gates in Kensington, Notting Hill, Brompton, Fulham and Hammersmith (and the rest of London) would be removed due to the Turnpike Abolition Act. Whilst glad to see the “very unsightly obstructions” gone it would mean “increased taxation” to pay for the roads. [wlo 25 Jul]
26.—St. Peter’s Church, Hammersmith, would be re-opened on this day with a morning sermon by P. M. Holden, Rector of Upminster, and an evening one by W. G. Cookesley, Incumbent of St. Peter’s—both in aid of the repair fund. [wlo 18 Jul + 25 Jul]
28.—St. John the Evangelist celebrated their 4th anniversary starting with choral evensong and the church decorated with flowers. The following day the children from the National School and many local clergy took part in a service, followed by lunch. [wlo 1 Aug]
28.—Robert Chambers, champion of the Thames and Tyne, rowed a 1 mile race against Robert Cooper from High Level Bridge to Waterson’s Gate, in the presence of a large crowd of spectators. Cooper won the £200 prize by 3 boats’ length. [wlo 1 Aug]
29.—William Marriott, omnibus proprietor, was fined £5, at the behest of Kensington cab drivers, for working an unlicensed omnibus. Marriott ran a licensed omnibus from Notting Hill Gate to Addison Road (fare 3d.) which used to go to the Hand and Flower, opposite the railway station, but had been diverted because of the railway. Marriott provided a complementary omnibus from Addison Road to Kensington station. Appealed. [wlo 1 Aug]
30+31.—Boys under 14 years old could take Lord Ebury’s Exhibition examination at Godolphin School, the successful candidate then getting 3 years of schooling. School re-opens 4th August. [wlo 25 Jul]
30.—At Fulham Board of Guardians Mr. Weldon proposed opening a bakery (cost £150) in the workhouse to supply bread. Not only would the poor get pure and good bread, but a profit of £290 per annum was expected. Motion carried. [wlo 1 Aug]