Below are a selection of events for February 1865 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 1865 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 | ||||
2.—Mr. F. H. Hearn, Devonshire Street, Hammersmith Road, was summoned for getting into a 2nd class carriage to Farringdon (labelled “Kensington”), when possessing a 3rd class ticket. Apparently such customers should travel 3rd class to Notting Hill and would then be allowed to travel 2nd class to Kensington. [wlo 4 Feb]
4.—William Kidd wrote to the newspaper to complain about the alarming state of the 500 yard footway from New Road, Hammersmith, to Shepherd’s Bush station. After every shower the footpath was “an American swamp” and after two hours it beat Bunyan’s “Slough of Despond.” It was really grievous that the “fair creatures [i.e. females] were driven into the carriage road to pick their way of large and rough stones.” [wlo 4 Feb]
6.—Under a headline of “Fire! Fire!! Fire!!!” T. J. Howell & Co., West London Wheel Works, announced that they would resume business on this day and hoped for a continuance of previous patronage. [wlo 11 Feb]
7.—The New West London Fancy Rabbit Club would hold their half-yearly show at Mr. Hewett’s, Pembroke Arms, Pembroke Square, Kensington. Mr. Palmer would take the chair at 8.30 p.m. [wlo 4 Feb]
8.—Fulham Board of Works heard from the General Purposes Committee on the proposed Fulham Railway: “That the report of the surveyor, stating that from manner of that line crossing the roads generally, and of Crown Road and the Broadway especially, the said line is most objectionable, the Board be recommended to oppose the same.” [wlo 11 Feb]
9.—W. H. Browne lectured on The Chemistry of Explosive Bodies, and their Application to Modern Warfare,” at Newton House School, Vicarage Place, Kensington. Experiments were performed and the lecture “was listened to with marked attention by the juveniles present.” [wlo 18 Feb]
10.—The Rev. W. G. Cookeasley would read from The Merchant of Venice and give a talk on Shakespeare at St. Peter’s Boys School. Proceeds St. Peter’s Church. [wlo 4 Feb]
11.—John Shepherd, 10 Lower Phillimore Place, Kensington, advertised in the paper that after this date he would not be answerable for any debts of his wife, Emma Shepherd, may incur. [wlo 14 Jan]
11.—The Metropolitan District Railway advertised shares to raise capital for the new line which would form part of the “inner circle.” Proposed stations were: Richmond Road [West London Extension], Kensington, Gloucester Road (South Kensington), Cromwell Road (Brompton), Sloane Square, Victoria Station, Westminster Bridge, Charing Cross, Norfolk Street (Strand), Bridge Street (Blackfriars) and Cannon Street. [wlo 11 Feb]
13.—Mr. R. B. Starr, of the Starr Bowkett Building Society, would deliver a free explanatory lecture at the British Schools, Hornton Street, Kensington, at 8 p.m. The Society now had over 25,000 members and advanced £250 or £300 to members without interest, repayable by weekly, monthly or quarterly instalments. [wlo 11 Feb]
16.—Edwin Avery, clerk to Fulham Union (workhouse), invited applications for Male and Female Superintendents of the Vagrant or Tramp Wards. Salary 14s. a week (for the two) with rations, lodging, washing &c. A married couple without children would be preferred. [wlo 18 Feb]
17.—Around 10 p.m. fire broke out at Mr. Stainsby’s, greengrocer and fruiterer, 8 Young Street, Kensington. After an hour the flames were extinguished by Mr. Palmer and the volunteers with the Kensington engine, but premises destroyed. Insured. [wlo 25 Feb]
18.—A letter (“another female correspondent”) appeared in the paper: “Sir, I always said, says I, my sister being onedcated, but fond of medlin with what sint her bisness, will get into trouble sum de, and sure enuft shes dun it. Now I beleives that the purpose rate man is iley spectable, and that it is a trumpt up story about that goods and chattels bisness at a late our at nite. ...” [wlo 18 Feb]
21.—James Brown was travelling in a 3rd class carriage at Notting Hill station and presented the return part of his ticket with the date scratched out to collector Atkinson, a youth. The ticket was later shown to have been issued on the 18th at Kensington (i.e. not valid). At the trial Mr. Ivey, Masboro’ Road, Hammersmith, who had purchased Brown’s ticket as well as his own, proved it was issued on the 21st. Case dismissed with warning passengers must be careful about tickets. [wlo 4 Mar]
22.—The Victoria Railway bridge over the Thames at Pimlico (then two lines only), had become insufficient and various companies had banded together to widen the it. Lord Harris, London, Chatham and Dover Company, laid the first stone on this day, watched by many, including Sir Morton Peto. [wlo 25 Feb]
22.—Mr. Green (Kensington Vestry) had written to the Commissioners of Woods and Forests about the footway from Church Street on the side of the barracks. Mr. Banting said if the tree at the end of the footway were cut down the lamp would show. Mr. Green suggested another lamp. Subject dropped. [wlo 28 Feb]
23.—Four boys, John Woodsow, John Clark, Charles Wilcox and Thomas Mumford, were charged with throwing stones and breaking public lamps in Fulham Road. Adjourned as identity of boys disputed. [wlo 25 Feb]
24.—Several householders in Kensington were summoned at Hammersmith Police Court for not sweeping the snow off the footways in front of their premises. Almost all fined 1s. “as a warning to be more careful next winter.” [wlo 4 Mar]
25.—The English and Foreign Library Company had appointed various agents in the district. Kensington: Mr. Brassington, 2 High Street; Mr. Rist, 1 Edwardes Terrace; Knightsbridge: Mr. Bolton, 39 St. George’s Place; Sloane Street: Mr. Mowels, 142 Sloane Street, etc. [wlo 25 Feb]
26.—Thomas Fielder, an elderly man, followed three little girls who had come out of Sunday school, offered them oranges, and behaved “in a very disgusting manner.” Observed by John Bingham, 28 Pembridge Crescent, Notting Hill, he was arrested and later remanded and refused bail. Three months hard labour. [wlo 4 Mar, wlo 11 Mar]