Below are a selection of events for November 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.
| November | ||||||
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| 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* | ||
1.—The Royal School of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering, South Kensington, would commence it’s section session. Students should attend the Principal’s Office before noon, or previously, to get their admission papers signed. For information write to the Secretary of the Science and Art Department, South Kensington. [wlo 14 Oct]
1.—In accordance with the Act of Parliament all turnpikes on the Surrey side of the Thames (i.e. south), 61 in number, were abolished and from this day were free from all tolls. [wlo 4 Nov]
4.—H. Lawrence, dispensing chemist, 49 High Street, Kensington, was advertising his Sedative Cough Lozenges, which were approved and recommended by several medical practitioners and were especially suitable for elderly and consumptive person. [wlo 4 Nov]
4.—Henry C. Fowlers, purveyor of meet, advertised that he’s moved from Hammersmith to 52 High Street, Kensington (opposite the Vestry Hall and previously John Walker’s shop), families waited upon. [I.e. he was by Mr. Tucker’s candle factory, oh dear.] [wlo 4 Nov]
5.—The Iron Church on the Moore Park Estate, St. John’s, Fulham would open with Rev. W. E. Batty, Incumbent of St. John’s, preaching at the 11 a.m. service, Rev. W. H. Denny, Minister of the Iron Church, at the 6.30 p.m. service. Collections at both services. [wlo 4 Nov, 18 Nov]
6.—The Committee of Management of the West London Hospital held their meeting: since 1st April 1865 £796 had been received in donations, £724 spent, there had been 13,641 new cases, 279 medical and 349 surgical cases dealt with, and 1,777 out patients. [wlo 11 Nov]
6.— It had been a “disagreeable” autumn and the bitterly cold wind continued, as did the rain. The patients of the Brompton Consumption Hospital were, however, as an experiment, to be sent to Madeira, with a full article in the paper describing the hospital and experiments. [wlo 11 Nov]
7.—The Young Men’s Association, Spring Vale Lecture Hall, Blythe Lane, Hammersmith, would see the commencement of their free Winter lectures, starting with the Rev. J. H. Blake on Arabs of the City, or, London Scenes and London Life, illustrated by dissolving views. [wlo 4 Nov]
7.—At the Kensington Petty Sessions the following licenses were transferred: Chelsea Pensioner, Queen’s Road, Chelsea to Selina Hawes, The Montpelier, Montpelier Street, Brompton to Sarah Fletcher, late manager of a hotel, the Civet Cat, High Street, Kensington, to Andrew Reid Wale, late of Milton Street, Marylebone, a victualler. [wlo 11 Nov]
8.—Mr. Gibbons, master of Chelsea Workhouse, reported that there were 537 inmates in the workhouse, (up from 488 last year); 37 admitted, 1 born, 24 discharged, 2 died (previous week). Vagrants relived were: 93 men, 100 women, 30 children. There were 18 idiots in the workhouse and 128 lunatics in the asylums. [cn 18 Nov]
9.—John Coppin, [1] a boy, appeared at Hammersmith Police Court charged with unlawfully walking across the West London Railway. Inspector Morris pointed to many notices forbidding crossing. Fined 10s. and 2s. costs, told it was very dangereous and must be stopped, and that the maximum penalty was £10. [wlo 11 Nov]
10.—The Rev. W. G. Cookesley would commence a series of weekly readings from Shakespeare, starting with Henry IV part 1. All readings start at 7 p.m. in the National School Room, St. Peter’s, Hammersmith with proceeds going towards building a house for the master of the National School. Reserved seats 1s., unreserved 6d. [wlo 4 Nov]
11.—A small black and tan Skye Terrier puppy had been lost on 7th October, and whoever found it and brought it to 13 Earl’s Court Terrace, Pembroke Square, Kensington, would receive a £1 reward. [wlo 11 Nov]
11.—A special jury under the presidency of Mr. Humphreys the coroner, assessed the compnesation for some property in Brompton required for the construction of the Metropolitan Extension Railway (i.e. via Gloucester Road). A Mr. Blackborne was awarded £5,450 and a Mr. Dear £1,658. [wlo 11 Nov]
15.—Samuel Cornell, clerk to the guardian of Kensington Workhouse, advertised for a workhouse porter, £25 per annum with lodging, washing and rations and livery suit. No candidate under 25 or over 35 or married would be appointed. [wlo 11 Nov]
16.—Joseph Smith, 2 Lime Tree Place, Acton Green, advertised that after this date he would no longer be liable for the debts of his wife, Caroline Smith. He had allowed her “a sufficient sum for her separate maintenance.” [wlo 18 Nov]
17.—George Addison, General Manager of the London and South-Western Bank, Limited, announced that they had opened a new branch at 24 King’s Road, Chelsea. The opening was the subject of the editorial on the 2nd December. [cn 2 Dec]
18.—A bronze statue of Sir J. M‘Grigor (1771–1858) was unveiled in the garden of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, with ladies, gentlemen, medical officers of the British Army and general public watching. The cost was born by a subscription. [cn 25 Nov]
18.—The Chelsea News had a feature describing the planned Albert Bridge, which could connect Chelsea, Brompton etc. with Battersea etc. Unlike previous bridges it would be a suspension bridge, the centre being 500 feet in the clear and the width of the roadway 27 ft. 6 inches on each side of which the footpath would be 7 ft. wide. [cn 18 Nov]
20.—Two “foreign boys selling ornaments” in Cadogan Street, Chelsea, were pelted with stones by the boys of the school. A young man employed at the baker’s interfered to stop them, but was also stoned and suffered cuts to the face and head. Police were called and were searching for the offenders. [cn 25 Nov]
21.—Chelsea Vestry discussed (and disapproved of) Sunday trading. Local examples mentioned were a green-grocers open all Sunday and a farmer making hay (case had been dismissed). Vestry would write to police. [cn 25 Nov]
22.— Walham Green inhabitants thought the previous night’s meteor had frightened their church clock. At 6 a.m. it struck 37 times, at 7 a.m. it had calmed down struck 8, at 9 a.m. it struck 10, and at 10 a.m. it struck nearly 50. “Horologi” asked if there was a clock hospital in the neighbourhood. [wlo 28 Nov]
22.—Mr. Bickley, solicitor acting for Emily Lewis of Cromwell Lodge, West Brompton, was prepared to accept the Metropolitan Railway’s previous £200 compensation offer, which he’d before rejected. Mr. Burchell for the company refused to renew the rejected offer. After trial Mr. Ingham award £196. [wlo 28 Nov]
23.—At Hammersmith station a James Price arrived on the 6:30 train and handed to ticket collector Sidney Scott a ticket which was valid only from Farringdon Street to Bishop’s Road Station. The threepence fair was demanded and refused, and later Price gave a false address. Fined 10s. and 2s. 3d. costs, or 14 days imprisonment. [wlo 9 Dec]
23.—Following the death of Mr. Hall the Kensington Vestry held a meeting to appoint his successor. Reuben Green was unanimously elected at a salary of £200 a year. In thanking the committee Reuben said that since the amalgamation of the Vestry Clerk and Clerk of the Vestry offices six years ago, he’d been performing the job and “was not a novice to the duties he had to perform.” [wlo 25 Nov]
24.—Jane Ellis, 13, had left her mother’s home in 33 Cambridge Terrace, Pimlico, to look for a position and not returned. Six sovereigns had gone missing and Jane was found lodging in the Jennings Building, “a notorious localility in the High Street of Kensington,” with new hat, feathers, cloak etc., but not with the money. Imprisoned for two weeks, then sent for five years to Hampstead reformatory, mother to pay 1s. a week for maintenance. Mother could not pay etc. [wlo 2 Dec]
25.—Mr. and Mrs. Wood, 16 Moreton Place, Pimlico, having left their three children at home whilst they went to market, returned to find the house alight. Mr. Wood grabbed the youngest child, 3, failed to get the others out. The bodies of John Wood, 7, and Albert Wood, 5, were recovered when the fire was put out. [cn 28 Nov]
25.—J. H. Cocks, West London Funeral Establishment, 71 Manor Street, Chelsea, was offering adults’ carriage funeral, with polished coffin, mourners and fitters complete at £2 2s.; child (ditto) 18s. 6d. Monuments, tablets and tomb stones erected. [cn 25 Nov]
27.—At the Court of the Queen’s Bench, Mrs. Brand [formerly Mrs. Piper?], of Cumberland House, Shepherd’s Bush, next to the railway bridge on the Uxbridge road, claimed compensation against the Hammersmith and City Railway: £863 for obstruction of light, £33 for damage to garden, £272 for vibrations. Legal judgement decided she could not claim for vibrations. [wlo 2 Dec]
28.—At Chelsea Vestry a handsome Silver Tea Service was presented by the Vestry to William Hall in recognition of his 40 years valuable service to the parish. The money had come from parishioners, organised by Henry Larner, 280 King’s Road. [cn 2 Dec]
29.—At 1 p.m. Mr. Clark, Brompton Auction Rooms, would sell a quantity of household furniture, a bay mare and poney, two spring vans and a strong cart. [cn 25 Nov]
29.—At Clerkenwell Sessions Benjamin Ware and his wife were indited for keeping a house of ill-fame, 2 White Lion Street, Chelsea, under the guise of a coffee shop. Local tradesmen and police gave evidence against them. Benjamin 9 months hard labour, his wife 4 months. Defence witness taken into custody for perjury. [cn 2 Dec]
30.—Kensington Guardians of the Poor would meet at the Workhouse to appoint a workhouse porter, salary £25 per annum with lodging, washing, rations and uniform. Candidates must be single, be 25–35, should write their own application, provide testimonials, and attend the meeting. [cn 18 nov]