Below are a selection of events for December 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.
| December | ||||||
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
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| 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.—F. W. Agae, Walham Green, Fulham, was still advertising his early and late tulips in 10, 20 or 25 varieties at 16s. per 100. Late mixtures 7s. 6d. per 100: the collection was one of the best in Europe. [wlo 1 Dec]
1.—The editorial noted that the Workhouse was full, the numbers of poor growing, and although the ratepayers would borrow money and build extensions (unlike Belgravia which sought to exclude the poor) the tend would continue. It identified the north-east corner of Kensington as the source of the poor: much of the rest was first class villas. [wlo 1 Dec]
3.—On a rainy day around 25,000 working class men assembled for another Reform Demonstration which passed off without riot or violence. One attendee was mobbed near the gates of Beaufort House, Hammersmith, by ruffians “of the Fulham type.” [wlo 8 Dec]
4.—By order of Daniel White, Brewer, Chelsea, the 40 year lease, goodwill in trade and possession of the Nell Gwynne, Stanley Bridge, King’s Road, Fulham, would be sold by auction together with a piece of ground adjoining suitable for the erection of a music hall. The whole faced the thriving station of Chelsea on the West London Extension railway. [cn 1 Dec]
6.—R. B. Starr would deliver a lecture explaining the principles of the Star Bowkett Building Society at the lecture hall, Gunter’s Grove, Fulham Road (near Brompton Cemetery). Rev. Charles Winter would chair, starting 8 p.m., admission free. [cn 24 Nov]
6.—George Lay, aged 11, was tried for stealing six sovereigns from Edward Byfield, they both living at 4 Maxwell Terrace, Fulham. When the robbery was discovered Lay absconded taking his friends to the Victoria Theatre and paying the expenses. When arrested, Lay showed the consultable where he had buried in money (2l. 11s.) in a field opposite the Gunter’s Arms, Brompton. Lay had also robbed his own father of half a sovereign. 14 days imprisonment followed by 5 years Wandsworth Boys Home, father to pay 3s. per week. [cn 8 Dec]
8.—Henry Long, Pharmaceutical Chemist, late of the Prescriptive Department, Apothecaries Hall, and Dispenser of Medicines in H.M. Army Hospital, India, had succeeded Mr. Scarle at 49 High Street, Notting Hill. Large stock of patent medicines and foreign mineral waters. [cn 8 Dec]
8.—Wilkins’ Cambridge Sauce, made at 55 Fulham Road, Brompton (near the Admiral Keppel) is acknowledged to be the best, purest, and most piquant sauce manufactured. It provokes appetite and digestion in invalids, and improves the relish of soups, hashes etc. [cn 8 Dec]
8.—Rev. A. D. Robinson endorsed an appeal for Eliza Grey, 8 Park Cottages, Latymer Road, who had lost her foot after an accident on the West London Railway. Eliza being poor could not afford the £16 for an artificial foot. The church had donated over £3. [wlo 8 Dec]
8.—Mr. Allaway, Earl’s Court Farm, Brompton, had for let a licensed cow shed capable of holding 16 cows. Included grain pit, loft over and small turn-out adjoining. [wlo 8 Dec]
9.—The Wesleyan Method Chapel, Warwick Gardens, Kensington would hold it’s anniversary with Rev. John Lomas preaching at 11 a.m. and Rev. John Codd preaching 6.30 p.m. Collections would be held in aid of the Trust Fund. [wlo 8 Dec]
10.—The Grenadier Guards (1st Battalion) Amateur Theatricals would again perform at Chelsea Barracks (as they had one the 8th Dec.) Truand Chief would be performed followed by Lottery Ticket, a farce by George Coleman the younger. Seats 6d. front, 5d. back, refreshments from bar. [cn 8 Dec]
11.—Lord Ranelagh, commander of the South Middlesex Volunteer Rifles, appeared at Hammersmith Police Court to support summonses against members for non-payment of their annual (1 guinea) subscription. The men wouldn’t pay as they thought they should have part of a £500 Government grant. Although unresolved it was agreed that there was no power to recover unpaid subscriptions more than 12 months old, which meant a £400 debt. Lord Ranelagh withdrew to consider. [cn 15 Dec]
12.—Kensington Vestry set the following rates: Kensington Garden Square 3½d. in the pound, Brompton Square debt 3½d., Norland Estate debt rate 2d., interest at 2d.; Norland Square Garden rate 4d.; Royal crescent Garden rate 6d.; Edward Square Garden Rate 11½d.; Edward Square debt rate 3d.; St. James’s Square Garden rate 5d. Board then adjourned for a month. Residents of Elden Road, Kensington, complained about “houses of a certain character.” Samuel Allaway, Manor House, Old Brompton, complained of the stench from the newly constructed sewer opposite his house. [cn 15 Dec]
13.—Madame Piedra, dancing, drill, music, French &c., would hold her Juvenile Ball at Ash Tree House, Turnham Green Road (opposite railway station). By ticket only. [wlo 8 Dec]
14.—About 130 workmen, principally navvies employed in the Main Drainage, were entertained at a social tea in the tastefully decorated school room of the Wesleyan Chapel at Battersea. Afterwards everyone was given a New Testament. [cn 22 Dec]
15.—Christmas presents and new year’s gifts could be had from E. Nicholas’s Fancy Warehouse, 82 Lupus Street, Pimlico (opposite Hanover Street). Brushes, Mats, and Turnery of every description. [cn 15 Dec]
15.—In the newspaper letters columns the debate on whether a rebuilt Kensington Parish Church should have pews available for rent continued. The Free Church Association advocated all seats free (and reliance on collections), whereas William Banting declare it the thin edge of ritualism. [wlo 15 Dec]
17.—John Dalton, a stoker at the Imperial Gas Company, Sand’s End, Fulham, appeared in court: on Saturday he turned up drunk, refused to work, seriously racially cursed two German foremen, attacked them, then attacked a policeman etc. Prosecution by company in wish to protect its hundreds of workers. Fine 21s. [wlo 22 Dec]
18?—“One day last week” the monument to Robert Coomber’s the well-known oarsman who was champion of the Thames 1846–53 was formerly uncovered at Brompton Cemetery. [cn 22 Dec]
19.—At the Chelsea Vestry hall Oxford House School, 185 King’s Road, Chelsea, principal Mr. C. Lake, held it’s annual re-union. First class entertainment was provided with many solos, comic songs, readings etc. provided by current and former pupils. [cn 22 Dec]
20.—James Parker, clerk to the Fulham Vestry, advertised for an assistant junior clerk, aged 16–21 with a salary of £1 a week. [wlo 22 Dec]
20.—“Luther” wrote to the newspaper with evidence that Mr. Cowan of St. John’s Church, Hammersmith, had the bodies of two ladies carried into the church at night, and also had with another funeral employed many “priests” and used great quantities of incense in the church. All against Church Law. [wlo 20 Dec]
21.—A male child was found dead in Pelham Crescent, Brompton, by John Gray of 8 Allason Terrace, Kensington, and the body was taken to Kensington Workhouse by the police. At the inquest (26th) the verdict was “wilful murder” again some person or persons unknown. [cn 29 Dec]
22.—Findlater & Co., wine spirit, stout, and ale merchants, 20 Sloane Street, Chelsea, were advertising their Christmas Hampers. For one guinea you got one bottle each of: Old Crusted Port, Fine Dry Sherry, Finesh Cognac, Old Whisky, Jamaica Rum and London Gin. [cn 22 Dec]
22.—The newspaper provided a selection of jokes for Christmas: Why are crows sensible birds?—because they never complain without caws; When does a man devour a musical instrument?—when he has a pianoforte (piano for tea); When is a sick man like a leg of pork?—when he is well cured. etc. [cn 22 Dec]
22.—The newspaper began a serial story set on Christmas Eve: The Chelsea Foundling or the Christmas Day Dream by R. Land, author of Scenes from the Drama of Life etc. It was snowing as the tired old man made his way by Chelsea riverside ... [cn 22 Dec]
24.—George Barber, a boy, was tried for playing pitch and toss with a number of other boys in Farm Street, Notting Hill. There had been complaints, people could not pass, and the police were sent for. Find 2s. 6d. and in default 3 days in prison. [wlo 29 Dec]
24.—A poor man with the apparence of an excavator, appeared before Mr. Dayman, Hammersmith Police court, saying he had four children, a sickly wife, and a dead child he couldn’t afford to bury: the relieving officer wouldn’t help. Neither would Mr. Dayman. [wlo 29 Dec]
25.—In accordance with usual custom the inmates of Kensington Workhouse sat down to a sumptuous dinner of roast beef, baked potatoes and plum pudding. Adults got ¼lb. beef, 1lb. plum pudding and one pint of Messrs. Barclay and Co.’s port. During dinner several inhabitants visited them and afterwards the adults were given tobacco and snuff with the children receiving oranges, apples, nuts and toys. 136 children at the Plashet school were also given nic-nacs through the kindness of W. Banting who also gave 6d. to 386 aged, infirm and sick inmates. [cn 29 Dec]
26.—A. P. Tarner delivered a very entertaining and instructive lecturer On the Chemical History of the Lucifer Match at the Boatman’s Chapel, Edgware Road. A long and enthusiastic write-up appeared in the newspaper. [wlo 5 Jan 1867]
27.—The great Snow Storm of Wednesday continued and the two days “were great days in the annals of King Frost”. The first day was more keenly felt than the second. The intensity of the frost, and the heaviness of the fall of snow had not been equalled for many years. [wlo 5 January 1867]
28.—Albert Lionel Woollard, aged 7, of Warwick Terrace, Kensington, appeared before Hammersmith Police Court charged by his mother with stealing 6d. from her whilst she was out. Mr. Dayman asked why she didn’t just beat him? She said she’d done so many times and he got worse. Discharged. [wlo 5 Jan 1867]
28.—A very splendidly dressed company assembled in Mr. Miller’s Show Rooms, King Street, Hammersmith, to assist the Omnibus Servants’ contribution to the funds of “The West London Hospital.” [wlo 5 January 1867]
29.—The West London Commercial Bank, 34 Sloane Square, Chelsea, in an expanded advertisement, reminded customers that they provided all business usually carried out by London bankers and that deposits of £10 and upwards paid 5%. Open 10–4 Monday to Friday, 10–3 Saturdays. [cn 29 Dec]
29.—Owing to the alteration of the premises Waters’s warehouse, 8 South Street, King’s Road, Chelsea, was selling off a large stock of toys at greatly reduced prices. [cn 29 Dec]
Footnotes
[1] Probably T. W. Nunn, surgeon to the Middlesex Hospital, who lived at 8 Stratford Place, W.