George Borrow’s Brompton, July 1861

Below are a selection of events for July 1861 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 1861 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.

July
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 the West London Observer, 10 August, Captain Henry Langley of No. 5 Company, 29th Middlesex Volunteers, reminded the company that the annual subscriptions were due on 1st July.

2.—James Molton, a “bath chair man” was charged with wheeling his carriage 300 yards on the pavement in Brompton Road.  Henry Wagstaff was charged with wheeling his bath chair a distance of 80 yards in Kensington High Street and Hornton Street.  Both fined 5s. plus 2s. costs.

4.—The London Female Preventive and Reformatory Institution was due to hold a public meeting in aid of West Branch Home at the Vestry Hall, Kensington.  The Duke of Argyle would chair the meeting which would start at 7 p.m.  Heads of families were “especially invited”.  In 1860 254 young women were admitted and provided for.

6.—The West London Observer editorial complained of the narrow entrance to Kensington, when coming from London.  The broad part of the High Street (Mr. Slater’s to Waterloo House) was part of Westminster, but Young Street to the church was too narrow and “serious accidents have taken place in this dangerous spot.”  The late fire (20 June) had raised the possibility of redevelopment.

8.—The St. Paul’s and St. Peter’s Ragged Schools held their annual meeting at 7 p.m. in the Upper School Room, Rev. E. Twells in chair.  Insufficient subscribers meant the schools could no longer carry on as ragged schools, and the schools would now apply to become National Schools.

10.—Kensington Vestry considered the Westminster Street Railway Company’s application to lay rails along Brompton Road from Knightsbridge to the Exhibition.  Mr. Cocks pointed out the Bayswater tramways were a nuisance and Mr. Train (their owner) had been ordered to remove them by October.  Referred to Works Committee.

13.—The distribution of the £361 13s. 5d. collected for sufferers of the Kensington fire (20 June) was published:

			£	s.
William Satchell	Baker, Dallis China Warehouse	33 High Street	65	5
James Morton	Butler, Fox’s leather cutter	23 Young Street	55	5
William Card	Cab Propprietor	33 High Street	20	0
John Fox	Leather Cutter	23 Young Street	70	0
Dallis Family	Dallis China Warehouse	33 High Street	60	0
William Warwick	Chaff-cutter		2	10
Mr Jarvis’s 5 servants			30	0
Mr. Steven’s 3 servants	Shoe Warehouse	32 High Street	19	0
William Finning	Photographer	33 High Street	5	0
John Evans	Finning’s assistant		1	0
George Bendall	Bath chair man (lost bath chair)		20	0
Mrs. Street	Widow	23 Young Street	2	0

16.—The closing date for applications for the Schoolmaster of Fulham Union (workhouse).  Salary £35 per Annum with rations and furnished apartments.  Applications should be “in the handwriting of the Candidates”.  Election would take place on 18th, at 1 p.m. when candidates would need to be present.  Applicants must be single men and travelling expenses would not be paid.

16.—Richard Cook, 73, an inmate of Kensington workhouse was charged with indecently assaulting Charles Barrett, “half an idiot,” also an inmate.  Cook claimed Barrett had be “tutored” to make the allegation.  Fined £5 or two months imprisonment.

17.—John Turrell, a married man, a lodger at 20 Victoria Terrace, Richmond Road, Bayswater, was charged with sexually assaulting Minie Gardener, 8 years old, the adopted daughter of the lodging keeper.  The magistrate thought the charge of rape hadn’t been made, but the assault was certain and was of a most aggravated character.  6 months’ imprisonment with hard labour.

18.—Wrottesley Pemberton, son Rev. Pemberton of Kensal Green, was charged with indecently bathing in the Grand Junction Canal, to the annoyance of passengers.  There had been numerous complains about indecent bathing in the canal.  Charles Rogers, secretary of the Grand Junction Canal Company said whilst the towing path was the Company’s property they didn’t want to prevent bathing, except when barges were passing by.  Case dismissed and notices would be put up.

20.—The employees of the Griffin Brewery (Messrs. Fuller, Smith and Turner) had their annual treat.  72 people in four vans, accompanied by a band, left Chiswick at 9 a.m. for Hounslow where Mr. Townsend of the Cross Lancers Inn provided lunch.  Then on to Hillingdon for sports, “Aunt Sally” etc.  At 3 p.m. Mrs. Reid of the Red Lion provided a sumptuous dinner.  Leaving at 7.30 p.m. they arrived back in Chiswick at 11 p.m. “heartily cheering their kind employers.”

22.—At around 5 p.m. Caroline King and Harriet Purdey approached the drinking fountain in Kensington Crescent, which had two drinking cups.  After having drunk and left, police constable Rowe found only one cup remained.  They were stopped in William Street but denied theft.  The cup was found in the garden of 12 Vale Place (on the way).  There had been a series of such cup thefts, worth 6–7s. a week, and the police had a plain clothes officer watching.  Purdey found guilty, fined 20s., could not pay, imprisoned for 14 days.

24.—Kensington Vestry heard that Royal Assent had been given the London and City Wine and Coal dues, the Thames Embankment and the Hammersmith and City Junction Railway bills.  They also discovered that no steps had been taken to remove the Electric Telegraph wires in Norland Square.

24.—In heavy rain the Bishop of London laid the foundation stone to the new school room for boys in the High Street, Fulham, the costs of which had already been met by subscriptions.  Rev. R. G. Baker, the vicar, had given £50 and the Bishop of London £150.

27.—J. Ford, 28½ High Street, Kensington, advertised his swimming and other baths were now open.  A Fruiterer’s and Greengrocer’s Business in an “improving part of the Main Road, Kensington” was for let after the death of the owner’s wife: apply 10 The Terrace, Kensington.

29.—Mr. Ingham, Hammersmith Police Court, was occupied all afternoon in dealing with cases of assault at the Jennings Buildings, a “hotbed of ruffianism and disorder” (Kensington).  Margaret Mara, a young girl, was fined £3 for biting off part of the lip of Bridget Lane which was afterwards found on the floor.

30.—The Kensington Dramatic Club, in aid of the Widow and Orphan Fund, performed “The Lady of Lyons” by Bulwer Lytton at Campden House, Kensington, followed by a farce, Grimshaw, Bagshaw & Bradshaw.  Dress circle 4s., stalls 3s., balcony 2s.  It was poorly attended but the audience was “very high class.”