Below are a selection of events for January 1866 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 1866 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.
| January | ||||||
| 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.—The fire brigades of Chelsea, Kensington etc. were transferred to the Metropolitan Board of Works and became the Metropolitan Fire Brigade. The plan was also to double it’s size. There would be 350 officers and men, 4 land steamers, 4 floating steamers, 37 large manual engines with horses, 27 small land steamers etc. Cost not to exceed £50,000 per annum. [cn 16 Dec 1865].
1.—The sixth Chelsea ratepayers’ association Christmas Party & Ball would take place at the Vestry hall. Efficient band engaged (J. Jackson, Grenadier Guards), tickets 3s. (single), 5s. (double). Dancing to start at 9 p.m. Refreshments on reasonable terms by Mr. Smith, 130 and 179 Brompton Road. [cn 16 Dec 1865]
1.—At the sherriff’s court, Red Lion Square, Cooke’s riding establishment, Brompton, claimed damages against the Metropolitan Railway Company (who would be taking their land). Cooke’s had started in 1862, had had more than 10,000 customers and in two years had made a profile of £1,200. The jury awarded £5,700. [cn 6 Jan]
2.—Chelsea Vestry would meet to consider tenders for the supply of 700 tons of broken New Blue Guernsey Granite (2½ inch gauge), free of dust and small particles, to be used upon the roads. Supplier would have to deliver to the depot, Alpha Place, Manor Place, Chelsea. [cn 23 Dec 1865]
3.—Madame Piedra, at the request of her pupils and friends, would hold a Grand Ball and Concert at Victoria Hall, Notting Hill. Concert 8.30 p.m., dancing 9.30 p.m. Double tickets 8s. [wlo 23 Dec 1865]
4.—John Hough, 57, hairdresser of King’s Row, Pimlico, committed suicide via oil of almonds. He was discovered by his son, taken to St. George’s Hospital, but efforts to save him were ineffective. [cn 6 Jan]
5.—Whilst a man employed at Messrs. Smith & Taylor’s saw mills, Commercial Road, Pimlico, was adjusting a wedge his hand slipped, went against the circular saw, and four fingers of his left hand, up to the second joint, were instantly cut off. He was conveyed to St. George’s Hospital. [cn 6 Jan]
6.—Higgins and Company thanked customers for the fifteen years they had patronized their Family Tea and Grocery Business in Broadway (but established over a 100 years ago) and informed them that because the Hammersmith and City Railway company were demolishing their premises, they were moving to 27 King Street West. [wlo 6 Jan]
8.— Two large panes of thick glass in the Misses Warren’s booksellers and stationers in Edwardes Terrace were destroyed about 3 p.m. by the furious gale. A large tree in Holland Park was blown down around the same time, destroying the roof of one of the lodges. [wlo 13 Jan]
9.—In the on-going debate on free Church pews in the newspaper columns, William Banting, Kensington, wrote saying he received a circular from Archdeacon Sinclair saying that whilst there were no vacant sittings for the 11:30 a.m. service, the three other services had vacancies. All pews and sittings were free. [wlo 13 Jan]
9.—The Hammersmith Soup Kitchen, 1866, hoped to start operations at their Old Premises in Brook Green Lane and were seeking subscribers in an advertisement, 30 December 1865. [wlo 30 Dec 1865]
11.—The Rev. Alexander McLaren, B.A., of Manchester, would preach at Onslow Chapel, Queen’s Elm, Brompton, at 7.30 p.m. A collection would be made in aid of the chapel debt extinction fund. [cn 6 Jan]
11.—A heavy snow fall caused a number of trees to collapse which in turn snapped telegraph wires: stopping communication with other parts of the country. [wlo 13 Jan]
13.—The Oporto, Cadis, and French Wine Company, 9 Rose Terrace, Brompton, was again advertising The Celebrated Royal Milk Punch, only available from them, and as drunk by Queen Victoria and the Prince of Wales. 1s. 6d. a pint, 2s. 6d. a quart (sold in bottles). [cn 13 Jan]
15.—Several M.P.’s would attend a public meeting at 8 p.m. in Chelsea Vestry Hall, to consider a reform bill for the enfranchisement of Chelsea and Kensington. [cn 13 Jan]
18.—Mrs. Macdonald and Miss Burrows would re-open their school, 6 Askew Road, Shepherd’s Bush. Terms for boarders and day boarders according to age. Music lessons given in pupil’s own residences. [wlo 6 Jan]
19.—In the evening a lady named Bowyer, residing in Thistle Grove, Brompton, was walking along Fulham Road when she was accosted by a well-dressed man who snatched her silk bag, containing a gold watch, purse etc. [cn 27 Jan]
20.—Amongst Chelsea schools advertising were Oxford-house School, 185 King’s Road (established approximately 50 years ago) and Chelsea Commercial School, Presbyterian Church, Lower George Street, Sloane Square, 12s. per quarter. [cn 20 Jan]
20.—H. S. Winter, stationer, bookseller etc., announced that the Metropolitan Railway Company having taken possession of his premises, he’d moved to 8 Lower Phillimore Place, Kensington. [wlo 20 Jan]
21.—Lady Blakeney, wife of Field Marshall Sir Edward Blackeney, governor of Chelsea Hospital, died at midnight at the hospital. The daughter of Col. Gardiner, she married Blakeney in 1814. [cn 27 Jan]
22.—The annual Tea Festival and Soiree of the Chelsea Working Mens’ Clubs took place in Chelsea Vestry Hall. There were painted scenes representing a Swiss lake, a Union Jack, and the clock was decorated with evergreens. 200 sat down to tea, and the hall was filled for the entertainment (songs with piano by Miss Kate Montgomery, recitals etc.) [cn 27 Jan]
24.—At Fulham Board of Works there was a long discussion on the proposed railway developments, including the West Brompton (Lillie Bridge, next to the Lillie Arms) to Kensington Station line. A request from Mr. Vincent, 13 Richmond Place, Lillie Road, Fulham, asking for better lighting and cleaning was passed to the sub-committee. [wlo 27 Jan]
24.—Kensington Vestry were delighted that the Metropolitan Board had agreed to purchase their fire engines at the prices asked (£169 18s. 6d. for the Kensington one, £169 12s. 6d. for the Notting Hill one). Mr. Dunford asked if there was an engine for Brompton, to which Mr. Brown replied that “he was happy to say there was not (laughter)”. [wlo 27 Jan]
27.—The inquest was held at Brompton on Eugene Perrot, aged 60, accoutrement maker. When descending from his workshop at the top of the house he missed his step and fell to the bottom of the stairs, breaking several limbs and dying in consequence. [cn 3 Feb]
27.—Mary Bowers of Wood Lane, Walham Green, Hammersmith, having put some quick lime into a barrel and held a shovel over the bung-hole in order to “keep in the effervescence”, was badly scolded in the resulting explosion. [cn 3 Feb]