Below are a selection of events for October 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.
| October | ||||||
| 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.—In Anglican churches across the country, the Freedom of Worship Association called clergymen to reflect on “the absence of the bulk of the English people from public worship, and to ask their people to consider how far ‘the alienation of the masses’ from religious associations is caused by the arrangements by which the ‘Poor Man’s Church’ is practically converted into an institution almost exclusively for the wealthier and more education minority of the nation.” [wlo 30 Sep]
2.—Two young men, Andrew Smith and John Carney, inmates of St. Margaret’s Workhouse, who had absconded with their inmate clothing on 25th August, appeared in Hammersmith Police Court, having returned as causal paupers (with the cloths minus hat and jacket). They said they had been hopping. 14 days each in prison. [wlo 7 Oct]
3?—The Rev. Charles Hobbs, late curate of St. Luke’s Chelsea, and late Chaplain to the Bethlehem Hospital, died at his residence, 1 Foulis Terrace, Brompton, after a few days illness, aged 45. He would be sorely missed by the parish. [cn 14 Oct]
4.—Fulham Board of Works heard that the police had approved a new cab stand for 4 cabs in Walham Green [which was subsequently opposed by the residents and delayed by sewer works.] Mr. Bean then pointed out that the new railway bridge across the Broadway would be “not so advantageously [carried out] as proposed.” A committee formed to keep an eye on the construction. [wlo 7 Oct, 21 Oct]
4.—George Bird, 11 years old, who lived with his parents in Calthorpe Place, Queen’s Road was run over by a passing vehicle at Victoria Station, Pimlico, and killed. His remains were buried in Brompton Cemetery on the 11th, and were followed to the grave by the children of the 1st class of St. Jude’s School, Turk’s Row. [cn 14 Oct]
6.—A young woman calling herself as Mary Brown appeared at Hammersmith Police Court charged with using a forged letter supposedly from Reuben Green, Chelsea Vestry clerk, to obtain money from charitable persons. Rueben appeared in court a pronounced his signature a forgery saying he knew nothing of the letter. John Fryer of the Mendicity Society appeared and said the prisoner had married a convicted begging letter imposter named Johnson, and both had been convicted and imprisoned many times. Rueben said the Vestry was aware of a vast increae in such begging letters in Chelsea and was thinking of issuing a reward for the capture of imposters. Remanded. [wlo 14 Oct.]
6.—In the list of bankrupts was John Smith Grimmer, of Carlton Colville, Oulton Suffolk, a journeyman miller. [The Borrows owned an estate at Oulton and William Grimmer was their tenant.] [wlo 14 Oct; Norfolk Chronicle, 14 Oct]
7.—It was reported that the recent change to the act (20th section of 28 and 29 Victoria, c 96) had been used by the Inland Revenue to impose a half-crown stamp on marriages by license. [Borrow’s step-daughter was married by license in June.] [wlo 7 Oct]
7.—The editorial hoped that although it had been unseasonable hot and there had been individual cases of Asiatic Cholera, the country might have escaped an epidemic. The medical man was helpless against it, but the sanitary reforms appeared to keep it at bay. [cn 7 Oct, cn 14 Oct]
7.—[Note newspaper incorrectly printed last week’s heading: 30 Sep.] Professor John Gamgee, principal of the Albert Veterinary College (Limited), Queen’s Road, Bayswater, advertised that advice is given gratis between 10 and 11 a.m. daily. [wlo 7 Oct]
8.—Archdeacon Sinclair (of St. Mary Abbots Parish Church Kensington) preached a sermon on the Cattle Plague. One of his hearers wrote to the paper encouraging him to publish it. [wlo 14 Oct]
9.—Royal Cremorne Gardens’ late fete of the season would be a benefit for Mr. Adams. Amusements included a vocal and instrumental concert, comic ballet, educated dogs, performing monkeys and sea bear, illuminations, fireworks and Buono Cose the Fire King in his newly erected Fire-proof House. Admission 1s. [wlo 7 Oct.]
10.—Persons intending to apply for Slaughter House licenses should have applied at least two weeks ago, on the proper forms, as a Special Sessions would meet in Chelsea Vestry Hall on this date to consider them. [cn 26 Aug]
10.—The underground pneumatic railway between Holborn and the Euston Square Station was opened with two trucks running the distance of over two miles in five minutes. [I.e. the Post Office underground railway.] [wlo 14 Oct]
12.—Mr. Bird the coroner held an inquest at the Prince of Wales, Chelsea, on the death of William Richardson, ostler, aged 43. William called on Sophia Richardson, his sister-law, of 22 Exeter Street, Chelsea last Tuesday and asked to lie down. He had a bottle of medicine from St. George’s Hospital. Twenty minutes late he expired. Verdict: decease of the heart. [wlo 14 Oct]
14.—W. B. T.’s letter appeared in the newspaper with a proposal to deal with the “unpleasant smell of sulphureous acid which pervades the whole of the underground portion of the Metropolitan railway”. He suggested an engine could discharge it’s steam in the tunnel on the way from Farringdon to Bishop’s Road. [wlo 14 Oct]
15.—James Hicken, a smith from Bermondsey who had been to dine with a friend in Chelsea at the Pier Hotel, in making his way home, rambled (intoxicated) into the fence on Cheyne Walk, which being in a disgraceful condition gave way, and Hicken fell into the river and was drowned. [cn 21 Oct]
17.—Alfred Davis, 28, of 85 Cirencester Street, Paddington, a porter at Paddington station, appeared before Marylebone Police Court charged with stealing 4 gold watches, 2 silver watches, 2 gold broaches, a gold seal, 2 gold lockets, a gold watch guard and other jewellery valued at £50. All stolen articles were found in Davis’ lodgings. Committed for trial. [wlo 21 Oct]
17.—The Foundation Stone of the West Brompton Congregational Church, Edith Grove, Fulham Road, would be laid at 4 p.m. when an address would be delivered by Rev. Robert Vaughan, D.D., followed by a social tea-meeting at Onslow Hall, Nevill’s Street, Queen’s Elms. [cn 14 Oct]
18.—“Septimus Muff” wrote to the paper denying rumours that two drivers of the London General Omnibus Company had been summoned for furious driving and that some passengers from Fulham Broadway had arrived at Cheapside is less than two hours. Since the Company’s “opposition” had been put down five years ago their omnibuses never arrived in under two hours. [wlo 21 Oct]
19.—Rev. R. Brindley, minister of Chelsea Congregational Church, Markham Square, died in the morning, after a long illness which had caused much anxiety to the congregation. He was the second minister after the church had been built to die at an “early age, probably under 40.” [cn 21 Oct]
21.—St. Stephen’s Schools, Shepherd’s Bush, started to advertise their forthcoming Christmas Bazaar (to be held 28–29th December). Contributions of work and other articles gratefully received. Information from the Churchwardens and W. Berrall, treasurer of schools. [wlo 21 Oct]
22.—After a long and painful illness, Henry Hackman, who for many years had been Vestry Clerk of Fulham, died in the presence of his family, aged 47. The internment in the family vault at the entrance to Fulham Old Churchyard took place on Friday and many of the shops were partly closed and a flag on the bridge was at half-mast. [wlo 28 Oct]
25.—John Bugby, secretary of the Brentford Gas Company announced a reduction in the price of their gas, supplied by meter, by 3d. per 1,000 cubit feet, effective from last June. From 31st December there would be a further 3d. per 1,000 cubit feet reduction. [wlo 28 Oct]
26.—William Ryder, a youth, appeared at Hammersmith Police Court charged with letting off fireworks in the public streets at Sand’s End and throwing them at shops. Fined 5s. but if repeated Mr. Dayman would “impose heavy penatlties.” [wlo 28 Oct]
27.—Barton Robert Hall, for many years Vestry Clerk and Clerk to the Burial Board of Kensington, died at his home, 5 Upper Phillimore Place. In 1859 he succeeded his father, who had held similar appointments for sixty years. The funeral procession on Friday included Parish Officials, two parish beadles with maces covered by crepe, hearse with 4 horses etc. [wlo 4 Nov]
28.—The West London Observer proudly announced that they had completed their tenth year in business and despite problems attributed their success to the same foundation as the Times and by concentrating on local news, such as Hammersmith Police Court, the Coroner’s reports etc. [wlo 28 Oct]
30.—Edward Hardy was re-examined at Hammersmith Police Court on the charge of stealing 12 quarterns of bread and 3 quarterns of flour a barrow belonging to Mr. W. Sinfield of West Brompton, while it was left at the corner of Gloucester Road. Hardy claimed he was helping someone who “looked like a baker”. Committed for trial. [wlo 4 Nov]
31.—At 2.05 p.m. Chelsea residents near the Royal Hospital felt an earthquake followed by tremendous explosion and an immense sheet of flame over the London Gas Works, Nine Elms. Gasometer No. 1, holding 1,000,000 cubit feet of gas had exploded and was now a smoking ruin; Gasometer No. 2 had caught light; brick buildings on the works had been flatted, 10 dead, and many in hospital. [cn 4 Nov]