Below are a selection of events for December 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.
| 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 | ||
2.— Fulham Board of Works heard the Surveyor’s Report on gas lights: 1 moved from Captain Harwood’s Estate entrance 6ft north, 3 new lights for Maxwell Road, 1 new light in King’s Road (near Maxwell Road), 1 new light for New Road. [wlo 5 Dec]
3.—Kensington Board of Guardians discussed the death of John Ensworth, 66, an inmate of the workhouse, who had died earlier that day. Ensworth was formerly a van proprietor in Brompton, in respectable circumstances, and Mr. Wilkins said all regretted that such a man had been compelled into the house. [wlo 5 Dec]
5.—Mrs. Towsey (late Hambridge), 73 King Street, Hammersmith, had received a large case of German Toys and Fancy Goods, suitable for Christmas Presents, which she offered at “prices equal to any other House.” [wlo 5 Dec]
5.— Messrs. Tyerman and Swaine, Gloucester Road, South Kensington, advised that on 15th December they would offer complete railway plans for inspection. They also handled valuation and railway compensation claims. [wlo 5 Dec]
7.—The West London Hospital committee met under Chair Rev. R. G. Baker (Vicar of Fulham) and heard of dontations: £29 from Hammersmith Institute, £52 from Mr. Clough, Ranelagh House, £10 from Messrs. Radford, Kensington etc. [wlo 12 Dec]
8.—Knightsbridge Music Hall provided their usual Monday-Saturday performance: Mrs. Anderson and H. Coveney, serio-comics, Little Bob the Wonder, Mr. Newman and Miss Mortimer, Australian Comic Duettists, Negro Melodists etc. [wlo 12 Dec]
9.—P.C. McQueen on duty in York Road, Fulham, saw a gypsy boy, Weston Lee, with two others, go to various houses and sing a Christmas Carol. Weston said he sang outside the windows, but would ring the bell if there was one. The following day Hammersmith Police Court told him not to go near houses. Discharged. [wlo 12 Dec]
10.—Around 5.30 p.m. Captain Edmund Dennis, 4 Tranquilla Terrace, Hammersmith, was discovered by his servant on the floor in flames. Medical assistance was called but the Captain expired around 9 p.m. It was supposed he had a fit and his clothes caught fire. [wlo 12 Dec]
12.—At Hammersmith Police Court, Casey, charged with causing the death of an old woman in Jennings’ Buildings, provided a witness to prove he’s accidently thrown the old woman down. An inquest had returned a verdict of death from bronchitis, accelerated by the fall. Discharged. [wlo 19 Dec]
14.—At Hammersmith Police Court John Mahon was charged with assaulting W. H. Johnson, landlord of the White Hart, Hammersmith. Mahon had entered intoxicated, was refused service, and violently assaulted Johnson. He’d done it twice before. Fined 20s. or 14 days hard labour. [wlo 19 Dec]
15.—The Hammersmith and City Railway would hold a meeting at noon at the Windsor Castle Inn, King Street, Hammersmith, where those affected by the compulsory purchase of land could treat for compensation. [wlo 28 Nov]
17.—At 6 p.m. Sergeant Taylor caught William Smith, aged 18, 15 Abingdon Villas, Kensington, firing a catapult at a chimney-pot in Vicarage Place, Kensington. There had been many complaints about catapults. Fined 40s. and locked up for a while until his friends found the fine. [wlo 19 Dec]
17.—At Chiswick Hall an amateur Dramatic Performance (2 farces and a petite drama) would take place for the relief of the poor at Christmas. Ellen Terry had agreed to act in two of the plays. Tickets 3s. with limited numbers at 2s. and 1s. [wlo 5 Dec]
18.—The 2nd South Middlesex Rifle Volunteers would perform two plays at Beaufort House Theatre, Walham Green with proceeds to regiment’s prize fund. Tickets 3s., 2s. and 1s. [wlo 12 Dec]
19.—Balfern Brothers, French Dyers, Finishers, Hot-Pressers etc., 184 King Street, Hammersmith, and 3 Winchester Place, Westbourne Grove were advertising their services. The works were at Spring Vale, Blythe Lane, Hammersmith. [wlo 19 Dec]
19.—Garotting, Its Causes and Cure by David Jones, was being advertised at 1s. 6d. Jones had also written A Parochial Scheme for Training the Millions in the Principles of the Established Church. [wlo 19 Dec]
22.—At Hammersmith Police Court four boys, James Head, Silvester and John Shain, and Thomas Anderson were charged with stealing the caps of the choir boys of All Saint’s, Notting Hill. The Shain’s father became surety for them, the others were remanded for their parent’s attendance. [wlo 26 Dec]
23.—At 7.30 p.m. Sheridan’s play The Hunchback and a farce Delicate Ground would be performed at Beaufort House Theatre under the patronage of the South Middlesex Volunteers. Tickets 5s., 3s., 2s. and 1s., carriages may be ordered at 10.45 p.m. [wlo 19 Dec]
24.—William Makepeace Thackeray, author, died in the morning, aged 52, at his house in Kensington. [wlo 26 Dec]
25.—Fulham Union (workhouse) was decorated with wreaths of evergreens, artificial roses and fancy paper and the inmates had a sermon by Rev. William Norval. A joint was then sent to every ward where inmates had a snug Christmas party. Snuff and tobacco with sweats for the children were provided. J. C. Swail sent hampers for the children and imbeciles, oranges for the sick. [wlo 2 Jan 1864]
26.—John Thompson, Broadway, Hammersmith, publisher of the West London Observer, now in it’s 8th year, advertised that it had 14,000 readers, “chiefly among the Gentry of the South Western Division of Middlesex”. Success was due to its Liberal and Independent course. [wlo 26 Dec]
28.— At Hammersmith Police Court James Farley was charged with being drunk in a cab, and refusing to pay his fare in Portobello Lane. P.C. Harris persuaded him to pay and Farley then attacked Harris, with Alexander Walker and Thomas Pearton attempting to rescue Farley, and P.C. Churchhouse assisting Harris. Farley fined 30s. etc. — there were several other “Christmas Festivity” cases. [wlo 2 Jan 1864]
28.—At Oaklands Chapel, Shepherd’s Bush, Thomas Cooper, author of Purgatory of Suicides, would commence a course of 4 lectures on the Evidences of Christianity as part of the anniversary services. [wlo 26 Dec]
28.—A considerable number of parishioners and friends gathered at St. Barnabas’ and St. Philip’s Schoolroom, Earl Street, Kensington, to present a silver ink-stand and 100 guineas to Rev. Charles Sutherland on his leaving his curacy at St. Philips. [wlo 2 Jan 1864]
30.—On a bright sunny day the funeral procession for William Makepeace Thackeray left his Kensington home at 11 a.m. and arrived at Kensal Green Cemetery at noon. Among the 1,000 mourners were Charles Dickens, Tom Taylor, Mark Lemon, John Leech, Robert Browning, George Cruikshank etc. [wlo 2 Jan 1864]