Below are a selection of events for December 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.
| 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* |
1.—Kensington Volunteer Fire Brigade, Superintendent Palmer, was inaugurated and celebrated by taking the engine through Notting Hill, Hammersmith, Walham Green and Brompton to cries of hurrah. George Pummell provided and drove the two capital horses. [wlo 3 Dec]
3.—Families at Chiswick and Turnham Green, requiring Genuine milk, can be supplied with the same morning and evening by the cart from Chiswick Park Farm. [wlo 3 Dec]
5.—A two day sale would begin in the schoolroom at Zion House to dispose of articles remaining from the last Bazaar and to aid in dismissing the Idiot Inmates from the Asylum, the Commissioners of Lunacy having forced this. (see 23 May) [wlo 3 Dec]
7.—George Barnes and William Hackett (“Mosey”), youths, were seen by P.C. Seymour at 6 p.m. loitering in Elgin Road, Notting Hill. Both went into the garden of No. 49 and each removed a fir tree, valued at 2s. each. Fined 5s. each and cautioned. [wlo 10 Dec]
8.—The Kensington Board of Guardians were alarmed that outdoor relief for the previous week was £91, against £72 for the same week last year: their bank balance was negative and the treasurers had not paid in any money. Subsequently £1,000 was paid. [wlo 10 Dec]
10.—The House Surgeons of the West London Hospital were authorized to received articled pupils and had a vacancy for a young gentleman whose duties would include dispensing and attending doctors in the treatment of upto 500 people a week. 6 months out of 18 required by the Apothecaries’ Company recognised. [wlo 10 Dec]
11.—Sermons would be preached in Hammersmith Parish Church in aid of the Restoration and Enlargement fund. Bishop of London, Rev. James Connell and Rev. Henry Twells would take part. [wlo 3 Dec]
12.—Charles Lambert would give a dramatic reading of Pelham Hardwicke’s comic drama A Bachelor of Arts, at 8 p.m. Eagle House, Brook Green, in aid of the Benefit of Distressed Families. [wlo 10 Dec]
13.—The wind-up dinner of the Turnham Green Arlington Park Cricket Club would take place at the Club House, Mr. Goode’s, Duke of Sussex, Turnham Green. Tickets 2s. 6d. each. [wlo 10 Dec]
13.—The National Association for Promoting Freedom of Public Worship in the Church of England, Kensington Branch, held a meeting, the main aim being the abolition of the pew rent system to be replaced by weekly offerings. Yearly subscription 2s. 6d., contact Hon. Secretary H. T. Boodle, 4 Palace Gardens, Kensington. [wlo 24 Dec]
14.—Kensington Vestry debated proposed improvements to Kensington. All welcomed widening the High Street and Silver Street which were narrow, congested with frequent accidents. Most wanted something done about Jennings’ Building, e.g. demolition. [wlo 17 Dec]
15.—Many householders in Fulham met at the Britannia Tavern and formed a “Society for the mutual protection ... against mismanagement of the parochial affairs.” Examples of gross mismanagement given. Meetings to be held Thursday evenings at 8 p.m. [wlo 17 Dec]
16.—An amateur concert would be held in the school room, William Street, North End, in aid of St. Mary’s Alteration and Improvement Fund. Admission 1s. [wlo 10 Dec]
17.—“You should visit W. J. Brownridge,” 70 High Street, Notting Hill, for sweets, butter scotch, Banbury cakes etc. Magic lanterns available for hire. Woolmer & Company, 41 King Street, Hammersmith now had on sale Christmas fruits. G. Shepherd, Wine Stores, 1 Holland Place, Kensington, were offering a Christmas Hamper with 6 bottles of wines/spirits. [wlo 17 Dec]
18.—At an inquest was held on the death of a female infant, who had been left outside 12 Milman’s Road, Chelsea, in a bundle of handkerchiefs. Thomas Dickinson’s post-mortem had found the child had been born and “had breathed freely and for some time.” Death was caused by expose. Verdict: wilful murder by person(s) unknown. [wlo 24 Dec]
19.—South Kensington Museum would start a new exhibition of models of navel architecture since 1448 contributed by the Admiralty and private shipbuilders. Admission free on Mondays, Tuesdays and Saturdays, otherwise 6d. [wlo 17 Dec]
20.—An amateur drama performance would take place at Chiswick Hall to raise funds to provide a dinner to the poor at Christmas. Oxford’s Retained for the Defence, Morton’s Where’s there’s a Will there’s a Way and John Dobbs would be performed. Fanny Douglas of the Surrey Theatre would appear. [wlo 10 Dec]
21.—Henry Trelawny Boodle, 4 Palace Gardens Terrace, Kensington, wrote to the paper, pleading for improvements to Jennings’ Buildings, “a disgrace to a Christian Parish” with “pits of stagnant and pestilential filth, choked drains, defective water supplies, broken down dust bins and loathsome and horrible privies.” [wlo 24 Dec]
24.—J. Taylor, furnishing ironmongers, Westcroft Place, Hammersmith, was advertising Christmas Presents and, thoughtfully, New Year’s Gifts. Suggestions included tea tray, [wlo 24 Dec]
25.—Rev. D. C. Ingram would preach at 11 a.m. at Wesleyan Chapel, Warwick Gardens, Kensington, subject “The Day-Spring from on High.” In the evening Rev. W. Arthur would preach on “The Witness of the Spirit to the Believer’s Adoption.” [wlo 24 Dec]
28.—A Christmas Dinner was given to sixty poor people, aged sixty and upwards, at St. Stephen’s Infant Schoolroom, Shepherd’s Bush, which had been tastefully decorated. [wlo 24 Dec] [wlo 31 Dec]
31.—A public watchnight service would be held starting at 10 p.m. at the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Warwick Gardens, Kensington. Rev. D. C. Ingram and others would preach. [wlo 31 Dec]
31.—The final editorial of the year considered the Railway System. Week after week they had seen its destructive character, where schemes, real or visionary, cut up and divided this vast country, like a Christmas Turkey. Would property, person and public convenience to be sacrificed to that rapacious class of persons? [wlo 31 Dec]