Below are a selection of events for March 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.
| March | ||||||
| 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* |
3.—The West London Commercial Bank Limited, temporary office 179 Sloane Street, Chelsea, having now been fully incorporated (and having 25,000 shares of £10 each), had secured permanent premises at 34 Sloane Square which would be opened as soon as alterations were complete. [cn 3 March]
3.—David Jones, M.D. would lecture in Onslow Hall, Brompton on Homœpathy, Hydropathy, and Allopathy, “The Old System of Medicine, fairly represented.” [cn 24 Mar]
4.—At Holy Trinity Church, Brook Green, a mission or spiritual retreat would commence at 11 a.m. with exercises conducted by Rev. Father Rodolph Suffield, Friar Preacher of the Order of St. Dominic. There would be daily discourses at 9.30 a.m. Monday to Friday until 18th March. [wlo 3 March]
6.—The Kensington Auxiliary Bible Society would hold a meeting in the Vestry Hall. Mr. Gray had asked the Vestry for the use of the Hall, and they had granted it, without charge. [wlo 24 Feb]
7.—At Kensington Vestry Mr. Cocks said St. Pancras Vestry were planning to manufacture their own gas, and could not Kensington co-operate? He then complained of Mr. Smith’s tallow manufactory opposite [where Marks and Spencer now is]: the stench that night was dreadful. Dr O’Bryen said Mr. Smith made arrangements to prevent noxious effluvia, to which Mr. Cocks said such arrangement had clearly failed that night. [cn 10 Mar]
9.—At 8 p.m. in the Vestry Hall, Chelsea, the committee for the Refranchisement of Kensington and Chelsea would meet and would be happy to receive names of gentlemen willing to help. A petition was available to sign throughout the parishes. B. W. Jones was chairman, J. Delany secretary. [wlo 3 Mar]
10.—A groom called Cain was exercising a high-spirited horse in Knightsbridge Road when it dashed off at a furious pace, partially unseating him, and causing his head to collide with a lamp-post. His skull was fractured and he died the following day. [cn 17 Mar]
13.—At Chelsea Vestry meeting a letter was read from the Metropolitan District Railway’s solicitors offering them £10,000 as compensation for the railway works that were taking place [cf. Circle line South Kensington to Victoria]. This was the sum previously agreed. [cn 17 Mar]
14.—An inquest was held at St. George’s hospital on Frederick Baker, aged 15, who was working on laying down a floor at 3 Queensgate Place, Kensington, on 10th March, when he fell 40 feet down a well-staircase, and was picked up dead. [cn 17 Mar]
16.—Henry and Alfred Atwood, market gardeners, Gloucester Road, Old Brompton, announced their dividend in the Court of Bankrupcy as 2s. 10d. [wlo 17 Mar]
17.—A black and tan terrier dog, one year and seven months old, weight 4½ pounds, was for sale at 3 Duke Street, Chelsea, price £3 10s. [cn 17 Mar]
19.—Mr. E. Avery, clerk to the guardians, gave a talk Two Hours in America to the children and inmates of Fulham Workhouse. Although never having been to America, he’d read about it and illustrated his talk by beautiful dissolving views (by Mr. Wood of Cheapside), humorous quotations from the best authors, and musical interludes by his sister and the workhouse children. Messrs. Blachford and Keys presented every child a bun and orange. The following day 100 buns were distributed among the old and infirm. [wlo 31 Mar]
20.—At 11 p.m. a fire broke out at Mr. Ward’s (dealer in unredeemed pledges), 349 King’s Road, Chelsea. The Britten Street engine arrived first and put the fire out with just the shop front damaged. Mr. Ward was insured, as was Mr. King, Clock House, King’s Road, the owner of the building. [cn 24 Mar]
20.—A sailing barge belonging to Messrs. Furness and Co. (the Thames Embankment Contractors) got caught under the cross beams of the works between Hungerford and Westminster bridges, near Scotland Yard, and went down. The master, his wife and son, a lad of 12, were all drowned. [cn 24 Mar]
20.—At Kensington Petty Sessions George Nutkins, occupier of the former beer-house on Brompton Road, applied for a license. The beer-house had been opened for the late Exhibition but was next to Dr. Iron’s church [Holy Trinity, Brompton]. License refused as public decency and propriety would not permit it. [wlo 24 Mar]
20.—At Kensington Petty Sessions William Corbett and Alexander M‘Clymont of 1 Finborough Terrace, Fulham Road, West Brompton, applied for a license (for the Finsborough Arms), which objected to by Mr. Child on behalf of the landlord of the Gunter’s Arms as “there was no neighbourhood to justify” it. License granted. [wlo 24 Mar]
21.—Garret Nagle, who lodged in the beer-shop, Jennings’ Buildings, Kensington, prosecuted two men named Sharman and Arnold for robbing him of 8s. 6d. around Christmas time (they’d sat near him in the beer shop and he’d later missed his money). His wife admitted to taking 4s. off him that day whilst he was drunk, and Arnold said Nagle had been very drunk and spending money most of the day. Case dismissed. [wlo 24 Mar]
22.—James Bird, coronor, held an inquest at Mr. Thurlby’s The Lord Clyde Hotel, St. Mark’s Road, Notting Hill on the body of Henry Button, 22, late ticket collector at Notting Hill station. At about quarter past midnight on 20th an empty train approached the station, Henry and another porter ran out of their office, and it appears Henry tripped whilst crossing the line and was run over. [wlo 24 Mar]
23.—At the Assembly Rooms, King’s Arms Hotel, High Street, Kensington, the original A. C. M. Christy Minstrels would perform starting at 8 p.m. Stalls 3s., reserved seats 2s., body of the hall 1s. Carriages may be ordered for 10.15 p.m. [wlo 17 Mar]
23.—Sidney Brown, 21, third son of George Brown, Brompton Road, was drowned in the wreck of the Spirit of the Ocean off the coast of North Devon in the terrific storm. [wlo 31 Mar]
24.—Messrs. Kirke & Son, auctioneers, house agents, appraisers and undertakers, were relocating from 114 to 186 Brompton Road. Office hours were 9 to 5. [wlo 24 Mar]
25.—Kensington Chapel would hold the 57th anniversary of their Sunday School with Rev. Henry Allon preaching a morning sermon, and Rev. John Stoughton and even one. [wlo 24 Mar]
26.—Henry Erle, carpenter, appeared in court charged with assaulting John Connell, who was performing as “Punch” in an Ethiopian Entertainment [the newspaper also used the term “nigger” in quotes] on Sunday night at a public-house in Warwick Road, Kensington. Samuel Willingdale (whom Erle attacked with a banjo) confirmed Erle attacked them. George Hunt of the Pembroke Arms confirmed the above. Fined 20s. plus 20s. costs, or 1 month’s imprisonment. [wlo 31 Mar]
27.—David Jones, M.D., would deliver the first of three lectures weekly at Onslow Hall, Queen’s Elm, Brompton. The first would be on Physiological Chemistry (with experiments), the second would be on Homœpathy, Hydropathy and Allopathy (plus the old system of medicine) and the final one, on 10th April, would be on Hydropathy and Symptomology. Admission 1s. single lecture, 2s. 6d. for all three. [cn 24 Mar]
27.—Gerald Blunt, who would not be able to attend Chelsea Vestry that week, wrote to his fellow members in favour of giving a £50 per annum pay increase to Charles Lahee, Vestry Clerk. At the meeting Mr. Lahee was lavishly praised and the rise was unanimously approved. [cn 31 Mar]
27.—Mr. Fourness Rolfe would give a grand concert in Chelsea Vestry Hall with artists including Henri Drayton, Alfred Rayner, Charles Ernest etc. Discount for members of the Literary Institution. [cn 24 Mar]
29.—The Kensington Vestry had a letter from John Baker, Grove Yard, Brompton, requesting them to make up the roadway of Lloyd’s Place, Brompton. Resolved: surveyor be instructed to do it. Also, C. J. Freake, 2 Onslow Gardens, informed them that Cromwell Place, South Kensington, was now paved etc. Vestry to view it. [wlo 7 Apr]
31.—Mr. Macrow, house and estate agent, valuer etc., 80 Marlborough Road, Brompton, was selling two six-roomed houses in Chelsea: ground rent £2 10s. each, currently let to good tenents, 96 year lease, price for the two £300. [cn 31 Mar]
31.—J. Durrant, The Spotted Dog, Starch Green, ale and stout stores, advertised that he served coffee from 6 a.m., hot dinners from 12 p.m. to 2 pm. and cold joints all day. Cabs could be had in the yard if previously ordered. [wlo 31 Mar]