Below are a selection of events for February 1864 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 1864 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.
| February | ||||||
| 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* | |||||
2.—John Wellington (called Woodhouse), who was drunk and had violently assaulted a female in Campden Place, Notting Hill, appeared at Hammersmith Police Court where it was found he was also wanted for violently assaulting his wife. Six months hard labour. [wlo 6 Feb]
3.—Charles Pettingale, a young boy, George Street, Lisson Grove, was convicted of begging with Sarah Winter, an older girl. It turned out that Sarah Winter was living in a lodging house and being sent out to beg with other children by a prostitute who she called mother. Charles discharged, Sarah sent to reformatory. [wlo 6 Feb]
5.—The subscriptions for the restoration and enlargement of St. Paul’s (Parish Church), Hammersmith, came to around £600 by this date. Among the subscribers were Bishop of London £100, Rev. Henry Twells £21, Dr. Bennett £5 etc. [wlo 13 Feb]
6.—Mr. Young, 7 Allen Terrace, Kensington, was offering his assistance in Railway Compensation Claims and he also had clients wishing to purchase and rent houses. [wlo 6 Feb]
8.—Stephen Childs, coachman, appeared at Hammersmith Police Court charged with the manslaughter of Thomas Goodwin, potman of The George, Church Lane, Kensington. Goodwin had told a drunken Childs to be quiet, a fight ensued and the Goodwin died of injuries two days ago. Remanded. [wlo 13 Feb]
9.—Workmen excavating the new sewer in the Fulham Road discovered a skeleton of a young person in clayey soil, opposite the popular tree near The Greyhound Inn. There were two skulls near it. As it was a crossroads, they were assumed to be suicides. [wlo 13 Feb]
10.—Fulham Board of Works committee objected to the Kew, Turnham Green and Hammersmith Railway plans which would cut through Brook Green sewer and raise Shepherd’s Bush road by 7 ft., New Road 6 ft., and lower Victoria Road by 4 ft.[wlo 13 Feb]
10.—Kensington Vestry received a detailed report from James Broadbridge, surveyor, on the proposed railways (which is available at Project Gutenberg). [wlo 13 Feb]
12.—Thomas Hall, chimney-sweeper, appeared in Hammersmith Police Court charged with stealing hair from Henry Williams, lime and cement merchant, Lancaster Terrace, Hammersmith. 3 cwt. of hair had gone missing, and numerous witnesses testified that Hall was trying to sell 1 cwt. or more of it. Remanded. [wlo 20 Feb]
13.—Hammersmith Police Court took urgent action against William Laws, occupier of land in Acton. Laws had a heap of pig carcases, stale fish and offal near the public footpath and the stench was insufferable. Heap to be covered etc. and fined 40s. costs. [wlo 20 Feb]
14.—At Saint Paul’s Church, Hammersmith, two sermons would be preached in aid of funds for the West London Hospital: Rev. John Light, All Saints, Notting Hill in the morning; Rev. James Connell, Vicar of Hammersmith in the evening. [wlo 13 Feb]
16.—The annual meeting of Hammersmith and Chiswick Ragged Schools would be held in the Temperance Hall, Black’s Road, at 7 p.m. with S. Gurney, M.P. in the chair. Tea provided at 5 p.m. [wlo 13 Feb]
17.—Pig keeping @ HPC then Important to Pig Keepers @ HPC for this date [wlo 13 Feb for pre-trial, wlo 20 Feb]
18.—North End and West Kensington Philanthropic Society would hold their 9th anniversary dinner at Beaufort House, North End, Fulham, at 6 p.m. Tickets 5s. each. No collection for Waiters. [wlo 13 Feb + 20 Feb]
18.—“Junius the Little” wrote to the paper about Hammersmith Church Clock. “There is scarce a day but it is some minutes wrong”—it being 6 minutes out by Horse Guards or Big Ben on this day. “Who’s to blame?” was the question. [wlo 20 Feb]
18.—Dr. D. A. Moxey would give “Readings in Prose and Verse” from various authors at the Girls National School Room, opposite the church, Turnham Green, in behalf of the widow and orphans of George Hussey, who was run over an killed on the 10th. [wlo 13 Feb]
18.—At Hammersmith Police Court Thomas Bevan, North End Road, near the Seven Stars, was summoned for accumulating dung and filth. Bevan was a dust collector but was told the smell was terrible and it was a hazard to health. Ordered cleared away and not do it again. [wlo 20 Feb]
20.—S. J. Westerton’s Library, 12 Newland Terrace, Kensington in connection with the Knightsbridge branch, had 250,000 volumes in circulation. He also sold stationary, Bibles, Drawing Boards etc. Also pianos tuned and repaired. [wlo 20 Feb]
21.—Ellen Roberts, aged 15, Thistle Grove Lane, Brompton, awoke coughing around 8 a.m. Her sister, Frances, ran for their father, but a few minutes later Ellen died. Dr. Edward Tippets’ post-mortem found disease of the lungs. [wlo 27 Feb]
24.—Mr. Mansell and others attended Kensington Vestry to explain their plans for a new road between Belgravia and South Kensington, which would terminate at Cromwell Road, with gates at each end to prevent heavy traffic. Three sample houses on the new road would cost £40,000, indicating the high-class intended. [wlo 27 Feb]
25.—Kensington Board of Guardians heard the weekly update: balance £61, 134 in Plashet school, 7 in infirmary, 454 in workhouse, 84 tramps relieved in previous week. Harriet Marriot, 65, had died on the 23rd having been 36 years in the workhouse. She was deaf and impaired in intellect. [wlo 27 Feb]
26.—South Middlesex Rifle Volunteers would perform Tobin’s comedy The Honeymoon, and a farce at Beaufort House Theatre. Doors open 7.30 p.m., commences 8 p.m., carriages may be ordered at 11 p.m. [wlo 13 Feb]
27.—Mr. Pool’s improved artificial teeth (fitted without pain, detection impossible, last a lifetime) were available from £2 10s. at 19 Scarsdale Terrace, Kensington. [wlo 27 Feb]
28.—Joseph Hibbert sent a letter to the Coroner which was subsequently printed in the newspaper under “Where is the Schoolmaster?” It started: “Sir i have sent you the pearticklers ass far has i cain the boy Nash died before Cood arived the infant had no maidcail main ...” [wlo 5 Mar]
29.— Hammersmith Police Court heard a young woman, Ellen Cromer, a workhouse inmate since a child had attacked other inmates, tore the taskmaster’s coat and struck him and the porter. 8 days imprisonment with hard labour. Had been sentenced like this multiple times before. [wlo 5 Mar]