Brompton area Events in the 1860’s - 1860

Below are a sample of events from September to December 1860 in Brompton, Kensington etc. that were happening around George Borrow and his family. For an overview and further information please see the Brompton in the 1860’s page (on links to the left).

George Borrow and his family moved to 22 Hereford Square in 25th September 1860, so we start there:

September

1.—Kensington Potteries’ Infant and Ragged Schools were appealing for £350 “to redeem the freehold of these most useful rooms”.  They repeated the advert weekly, and by 22nd “the claim is urgent.”  Meanwhile a Mr. A. Bird of King Street Hammersmith was advertising 3 acres of arable land to let, ideal for cow-keepers.  At a meeting at St. Luke’s Chelsea “the alleged tampering of Roman Catholic Priests with the inmates of the workhouse” was considered — only the established church could do that.

Robert Wallace, a young man of St. Petersburg Place, Bayswater, was in court regarding a fracas outside St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Chapel, Westbourne: he’d gone there intending to “cast ridicule on either the congregation or the service” but ended up fighting.  Case adjourned.

3.—Turnham Green Britannia Club and London Yard Club were due to play a cricket match on the front common at Turnham Green.

4.—Latymer Road residents held a meeting in the Britannia Tavern about the “disgraceful state of Latymer Road.”  The “recent heavy rains had made the road almost impassable.”  A committee was appointed.

5.—Kensington Vestry discussed the rating of Brompton Cemetery.  The parish wanted £800 yearly, but an act of Parliament limited it to £400, and there were arrears from the time of purchase.  Referred to Parliamentary Committee.

6.—Kensington Board of Guardians heard that there were 121 males and 156 females in the workhouse.

8.—J. J. Prince, Butterman and Poulterer, opposite Palace Gardens, Bayswater, was reminding customers that with the commencement of the game season he could supply “every description of Game and Poultry”.  E.g. fine Surrey chickens from 4s. 6d. per couple.  Mr Louis, Dentist, No. 8 the Terrace, Kensington, was advertising that he was available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. for any dentistry requirements.

10.—“A Friend to all dumb animals” wrote to the West London Observer about the number of lost and starving dogs seen on the streets of the metropolis and proposed a “Home for Lost Dogs”.  The letter appeared in the 22nd September 1860 edition.

12.—The British Museum announced it had re-opened after it’s closure on 31st August: the collections had been re-arranged and new subjects added.  The National Gallery was closed to the public until further notice: this usually meant a six weeks’ vacation.

15.—Ebenezer (Independent) Chapel, Albion Road, Hammersmith, invited “individuals who are not in the habit of attending any place of Worship” to their special Sunday evening sermon.  The subject would be “The Best Wish; or The Minister’s Prayer.”

16.—A young woman, Jane Patterson of 2 Hornton News, Kensington was walking along Church Street when she collapsed in a fit.  She was taken to the Coffee House where she expired.  A post-mortem found her death to have been caused by a diseased brain.

18.—The Market Gardeners’ Association celebrated their 32nd Anniversary at the Crystal Palace.  They had upwards of £1,300 funded property, a balance of £100 and were entirely free from debt.  The West London Observer reminded its readers it wouldn’t publish reports of meetings unless it was formerly invited to attend.

19.—The Notting Hill and Shepherd’s Bush Sacred Harmonic Society gave their first concert at Norland School.  Tickets ranged from 6d. to 2s. and the program included Judas Maccabeus and the Messiah.

20.—“A Hater of Parochial Tyranny”, Park Walk, Chelsea wrote to the West London Observer defending Cremorne (Gardens) against the Vestry’s attempts to close it down.  The letter was published on 22nd September 1860.  Cremorne was advertising in that edition admission 1s., table d’Hôte at six, 2s. 6d. etc.  The editorial of 29th September says “Cremorne Gardens are without exception—we write nothing carelessly— the most perfect specimen of Public Gardens in the world.”

22.—Herr Jager, 29, Kensington Park Terrace North, Bayswater, was advertising pianoforte and German language tuition.  Mr. Gawtrey, 3 Lowndes Terrace, Knightsbridge was still advertising his retirement sale of silks, robes, shawls and mantles at “enormous reduction from cost price.”  The sale had been a “few remaining days” for the last two weeks.

The Metropolitan railway works were progressing well with the tunnelling at New Road, King’s Cross etc.  The opening of the railway from Paddington to the City (Farringdon Street) was now looked forward to.

25.—High Water at Hammersmith bridge was to be 8.45 a.m.  Full morning and evening times were regularly published.

25.—The Fulham Board of Guardians, having sufficient funds, planned to take the workhouse children on a trip to Crystal Palace on this day, and to give “an in-door treat” to the infirm inmates on the following day.  The Crystal Palace, meanwhile, was advertising 1s. day tickets.

29.—There was a £2 reward for information on the identity of a 4 month old female child left deserted at 43 Edwardes Square, Kensington, on the 7th September.

October

1.—North End Philanthropic Society had a meeting and formed a committee to arrange a Lecture and Concert to be given in its aid.

2.—The Sewers’ Committee met to consider an application from Mr. Nutkins, 7 Gloucester Grove, south Kensington, to open a slaughter house on the premises—the Vestry didn’t feel called upon to oppose it.

3.—An evening concert was given at the Workhouse with around 300 people attending: “an observer” wrote to the West London Observer saying how much they enjoyed it and the letter appeared on the 6th October.

6.—S. Austin, postmaster of Hammersmith District Post Office, Broadway, was advertising that the mailbox closed at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 4.45 p.m., 9 p.m. and that the mail cart arrived at the Post Office for delivery at 8.19 a.m., 1.17 p.m., 4.17 p.m., 6.17 p.m., 8.47 p.m.  Money orders were issued and paid between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.

8.—Miss Jane Preston, of 25 Gloucester Villas was indecently assaulted at about 10.15 p.m. as she made her way home, in Notting Hill.  She accused Christopher Garrard, pianoforte maker in the employ of Messrs. Erard, Kensington of being her assaliant.  It was shown in court (the following day) that it was a case of mistaken identity.

9.—Chelsea Vestry, after considering a report from their solicitors, Messrs. Lee and Pemberton concerning the want to evidence to prove the alleged evils arising from late hours at Cremorne Gardens, dropped their opposition to Cremorne.

10.—The “Zetland Lodge”, No. 752 (freemasons) held their first meeting since the summer vacation in the evening at “The King’s Arms” Hotel, Kensington.  After the business the 30 people present had an excellent banquet, the first put on by Mrs. Paton, the new lessee of the hotel.

10.—The Turnham Green Invincibles played the Chiswick Trademan’s Club at Turnham Green (cricket).  The Invincibles won whilst the tradesmen “displayed musical abilities and charmed their opponents with the concord of sweet sounds.”

11.—A branch of St. Margaret’s, Crieff, was established at North End, Fulham, for the education of young ladies with Rev. A. Lendrum as principal.  In a later advert in the West London Observer (10 November) the entrance fee was given as 3 guineas with the yearly fees being 120 guineas, payable in advance.

12.—Thomas Holt, a working man, discovered his small black and tan terrier dog (lost on the 9th) in the possession of Mr. George Mansfield, gentleman, of Gloucester Grove, Brompton.  Mansfield refused to return the dog, asserting it was a dog he’d lost a few months previously.  In the court case (on the 20th) the dog was produced and “created much amusement by his manœvres.”  After considerable legal argument no decision could be made, and the dog remained with Mansfield.

13.—“The Raven,” New Road, Hammersmith had a good slate bagatelle table for sale, price not given.

13.—William Floyd’s poem “The Wise Men of Chelsea—A Legend” was published in the West London Observer.  It was satirical.

14.—St. Stephen’s, Shepherd’s Bush opened a night school for adults starting on Monday 14th and continuing Monday to Thursday throughout the winter, at 4d. a week.  The West London Observer “cannot too heartily recommend the advantages of these Schools to the notice of working men.”

15.—Charles J. Plumptre, Barrister-at-Law, gave public readings from Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice and Modern English Poets at the Working Men’s Association, Stormont House, Notting Hill.

16.—The committee of the Metropolitan Rifle Volunteers (Kensington, Hammersmith and Surrounding Districts) sit every Tuesday night 8 till 10 at the Workmen’s Institute, Grove House, Brown’s Buildings, Kensington, to receive new members.  Uniforms etc. cost £2 15s. complete, subscriptions 10s. per annum.  They were in the course of forming a cadet corps.

16.—Alfred Thomas Maxwell married Rosina Paxton at St. Marylebone church.  Both being deaf and dumb the ceremony was performed in sign language by Rev. Samuel Smith.  It was believed to the first time this had happened in England.

17.—Kensington Vestry made the rates (all in pence in the pound): poor rate 11d., lighting rate 2d., general rate 3d., main drainage rate 2d., general sewer rate 1½d., Counter’s Creek District sewer rate 1d. and Ranelagh District Sewer Rate 1d.

20.—W. Richards of the Albion Brewery, High Street, Kensington was advertising his home-brewed ales and porter, solely for the use of private families.

26.—At the Paving Committee it was decided to erect a gas lamp at the north end of Thomas Street, the Potteries.  The committee also started a summons against Henry Skiffen, of 2 Rutland Terrace, Brompton, for wheeling a bath-chair on the public footpath in front of Brompton Row.

28.—John Halisworth, a Grenadier Guard, visited his wife at 39 Addison Road North, Kensington where she worked at a servant.  He was taken ill after dinner, went to bed, and died half an hour afterwards.

29.—The Royal St. James’s Theatre, King Street, St. James’s Square, was due to re-open under the management of Alfred Wigan, with a new comedy of Indian Life by Tom Taylor: Up at the Hills.  Alfred Wigan would take the part of Major Stonihurst.  Tickets ranged from 6d, (gallery) to 2½ guineas.

31.—Michael Moran, an Irish labourer, was charged with assaulting Mrs. Simpson, the landlady of the beer-shop in Jennings Buildings, Kensington, a “notorious locality.”  Found guilty and committed to one month hard labour.

November

1.—Arthur Ballard, aged 11, appeared before the Kensington board of Guardians, charged with running away from Plashet School at 1.30 p.m. on 29 October.  He was running away to his aunt, but didn’t know where she lived so went to his brother at 3, James’s Place.  He was sent back to school with a good trashing.

3.—John Cordy Smith, 5, Devonshire Terrace, Notting Hill was advertising a large elegant assortment of watches etc. under a headline of “Wedding, Birth-Day and Christmas Presents” in the West London Observer.  The first Christmas advertisement of the year.

6.—The Acton Choral Society gave a concert in the National School-Room.  Mr. Martin’s comic songs “drew down much applause”.  Mr. Lawrence, conductor, “equalled himself.”

8.—The Fulham meteorological report for the week ending 8 December, found the temperature to range from 38.9 to 53.6, with 0.48 inches of rain, falling 6 days out of 7.  The West London Observer carried a detailed weekly meteorological report.

9.—George Wheeler, a gentleman’s coachman of Alfred Mews, Brompton appeared at Hammersmith Police Court charged with brutal treatment to a child (his son, George Wheeler) in an attack.  The child’s face was dreadfully disfigured, there was a large cut down one cheek, one black eye etc.  Sent to House of Correction for 14 days.

10.—A committee of residents was to be formed to clean up Shepherd’s Bush Common.  “The effuvia arising from a large number of open ditches, coupled with the presence of a large number of diseased horses and other cattle ... deteriorate the atmosphere.”

10.—T. Caught, opposite the church, Turnham Green, started to make his celebrated Pork and Beef Sausages from a recipe used at Windsor Castle.  Pork Sausages 10d., beef, 6d. per lb.  Fine pickled tongues were always available.

13.—At the Kensington Vestry Sewers’ Committee there were applications for leave to drain premises being built on west side of Kensington Park Road, 6 houses on west side of “The Boltons”, 11 houses on the east side of Argyle Road, one on south side of Upper Phillimore Gardens.  All approved.  A new gully was to be constructed in Addison Road, Kensington.

14.—A sculler’s match in outriggers for £100, between George Hammerton of Teddington and George Drewett of Chelsea, both around 24 years old, was held from Putney to Mortlake.  It was won by Hammerton in 24½ minutes.

17.—Henry Skiffen, who belongs to the fraternity of “Bath Chair-men” pleaded guilty to unlawfully drawing a Bath chair on the pavement.  The parish has spent 9 years trying to put down the “bath chair nuisance.”  Fined 20s. plus 2s. costs.

19.—Rev. P. M. Holden’s lecturer at Chiswick Hall on “The Rifle Movement,” yielded a profit of £22 which went to the Chiswick Company.  (Reported 15 December).

20.—Notting Hill Baths, 146 High Street, held their regular Tuesdays and Fridays Ladies’ Baths for “first class only” at 1s., between the hours of ten and four.

24.—“Several charitable Ladies gave completely furnished beds to the accident wards of the West of London Hospital ... ” says the editorial.  It was meant to have been reported in the previous week’s paper, but has not been found so far.

24.—Alfred Bird, Cambridge Road, Hammersmith was advertising a variety of Christmas presents.  Hampers (one bottle of: port, sherry, rum, whiskey, old Tom and pale brandy) for £1.  Cash on delivery.

25.—Lance-Corporal William Price of the South Middlesex Rifles, having been twice drunk within a month (second occasion when in uniform), was discharged.  Lord Viscount Ranelagh of Musgrove House, Fulham, was the regiment’s Lieut.-Colonel.  The regiment’s headquarters were Beaufort House, North End Road, Fulham.

26.—A little boy, Martin Connolly, an inmate of St. Philip’s Orphanage, Fulham Road, West Brompton, was found guilty of stealing 1s. 5d. from another boy and at the suggestion of a Roman Catholic Clergyman, was sent to Hammersmith Reformatory for five years.  “The prisoner was then locked up, crying.”

27.—Christopher Shepherd, Campden Place, Kensington lost a case under the Nuisances Removal Act, for keeping swine upon his premises.  He had been defended by his wife.

28.—Kensington Vestry received a letter from Matthew Field, 12 Queen’s Road, proposing the adoption of a free library in the parish.  Mr. Field “essayed to address the Vestry from the public part of the Hall, but the Chairman told him they could not hear him.”  On 8th December Mr. Field had a letter on the subject published in the West London Observer.

29.—At the Kensington Board of Guardians the Rev. Swift, Roman Catholic Priest residing in Addison Terrace, “in a very excited state” complained he had be “baulked, as usual” when trying to visit inmates, and claimed “a system of proselyting” was going on.  In a heated discussion Rev. Swift observed “however wicked the Irish people were, they would not change their religion.”  It ended with the Chairman declaring no cause for complaint, and the Rev. Swift leaving.

29.—No. 2 Company (Fulham) of the South Middlesex Rifle Volunteers had a banquet at the head-quarters, Beaufort House, Captain Hammersley in the chair, supported by Viscount Ranelagh.

30.—The Bishop of London consecrated the newly-built chancel added to St. Barnabas Church, Kensington, with upwards of fifty of the neighbouring clergy present.  Afterwards there was a collation in the schoolroom, where lay parishioners could met the bishop.

December

1.—Kensington Potteries Infant and Ragged Schools continued their advert appealing for £350 “wanted immediately,” and listed current dontations—they had raised just under £40 so far.

3.—A “humorous lecture” was due to be delivered in the Temperance Hall, Black’s Road, Hammersmith by Mr. W. J. Auvache upon “The Manners and Customs of the East.”  Admission 6d., reserved seats 1s.

5.—Fulham Board of Works heard that Dawes Lane footway from Parsonage to St. John’s Church was “very bad,” “ankle deep in mud.”  Mr. Weaver then complained that when the roads were scraped the mud was allowed to lie in heaps without being removed.  It was noted that many areas had been “broken up for laying down gas pipes.”  Referred to the General Purposes’ Committee.

6.—Mrs. Thomas, landlady of 12, Trevor Square, Knightsbridge, was summed for assaulting Louisa Williams (“a tall, flashy-looking young woman”) of 4, Monpelier Terrace on 24 November.  A bonnet had been torn and a face scratched.  After “a long statement” etc. the case was dismissed.

6.—The foundation stone of St. Peter’s National School was laid by the Bishop of London.  A long report appeared in the West London Observer.

7.—The British Electric Telegraph Company informed Fulham Board of Works that it intended at 8 p.m. to “open and break up the road ... called Shepherds Bush Green and Lane, and Brook Green and Lane ... to construct ... Electric or other Telegraph.”  The West London Observer heralded it as “The Telegraph Coming to Hammersmith.”

8.—Hetherington and Dennis, 3 Lownes Terrace Knightsbridge were advertising their new Autumn stock of silks, shawls, droguets etc.  The New Royal Rep Skirt was 7s. 11s., reduced from the usual 12s. 9d.

15.—The West London Observer editorial waxed lyrical on reports that the railway was coming to Hammersmith: “We may fairly expect not only one line but several ... picture ... the removal of the block of buildings forming the North Side of the Broadway, with a splended and commodious station on the site, with lines running to the four points of the compass.”

19.—Margaret Nagle, a “strong and stout-looking Irishwoman, who carried a child in her arms” was tried for fraudulently obtaining a blanket from a charitable society.  She had claimed to live at 14 New Street, Notting Hill, but in fact lived in Jennings’s Buildings, Kensington.  Sentenced to three months with hard labour.

19.—The Brentford Gas Company had written to Fulham Board of Works seeking payment of the latest quarterly bill by the following day.  The bill was for £500, the Board had only £300 in hand.  Referred to the Finance Committee.

22.— The Hammersmith Parochial Soup Kitchen advertised for donations; Elliott’s, 16 King Street, Hammersmith, advertised wholesale potatoes (13s. per sack of 168 lbs.); and a strong boy was required to turn the Mangle and make himself useful in a Laundry, apply 6 Bramley Terrace, Kensington Park.—All West London Observer.

25.—A seasonable present of a case of currants (48lbs.) had been presented by Mr. Pezzali to be eaten on Christmas Day.  The Hammersmith Annual Christmas Dinner for the poor of Hammersmith, chiefly aged, took place at St. Paul’s School Rooms.  227 persons sat down to 565lbs. of meat, 520lbs. of plum pudding, 60 loaves, 36 gallons of ale, beside potatoes.

26.—The South Middlesex Volunteer Rifles would muster at Victoria Station at 9.50 a.m. and would proceed by rail to Caterham Junction and thence march to Caterham, visit the site of the proposed Volunteer Encampment.  Each man should have ten rounds of blank ammunition.  Return trips 6d. each, return train would leave Croydon at either 6 or 7 p.m.

28.—The annual Christmas Dinner for the distressed and deserving poor was due to be given at the National School Room adjoining St. Paul’s Church.  An advert on 22 December in West London Observer solicited donations.

29.—Mr. Day, Sadler &c. had a well-bred mottle grey horse for sale, about 15 hands 2 inches high.  £20 for the horse, £5 for a harness, £35 for accompanying carriage, the owner having no further use of them.  The Necropolis Company also advertised its services, as they did every week.

29.—Coldest point (12.1 F) reached in the week.  The whole week (25–29) had been very cold, with a heavy fall of snow on the evening of the 27th.

31.—The annual tea meeting of the Mothers’ Society would be held at the Norland and Kensington Potteries’ Ragged School room, St. James’s Place, Norland Square, S. Gurney Esq. in the chair.  The Rescue Society would have their New Year’s Tea meeting at the same place on the 1 January 1861, followed by the Girls’ Ragged School tea meeting on the 3rd and the Boys’ Ragged School tea meeting on the 4th.