Below are a selection of events for January 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.
| 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 | ||
2.—A bazaar was to be held in the school-room of West End Chapel, Hammersmith where a Christmas Tree, beautifully adorned, was to be exhibited. Proceeds towards liquidating the Chapel debt. Price adults 1s., children 6d.
5.—The Hammersmith Junction Railway was advertising shares in their scheme (10s. deposit, £10 per share) to raise capital. The proposed line would start near the existing Hammersmith station, pass over New Road, run to Broadway then via Brook-green to join the West London Railway to the north of Kensington Bridge station.
7.—Mr. Henderson’s son, 3 Church Street, Kensington, was summoned before Mr. Ingham for throwing a snowball at William Henry Blackwell (son of the Master of Kensington Workhouse). Mr. Henderson ended up paying £1 costs, 1s. fine and handed £3 to the poor-box (£1 from each of his two sons with £1 from himself.)
7.—Around 8 a.m. three lions at Astley’s Royal Amphitheatre, Westminster-road, escaped, one of which attacked a Mr. Jarvey “running about with the unfortunate man Jarvey in his mouth.” The lion ran off but upon medical aid being summoned Jarvey was found to be dead. The lions were eventually recaptured in the grounds.
8.—M. Nouvra will give another interesting and amusing lecturer at St. James’s Hall, exposing “spirit rapping”. The previous lecture was packed, lasted over 2 hours and featured a “burlesque medium”.
11.—St. Stephen’s (Shepherd’s Bush) gave their annual school children’s Christmas treat. 270 children saw tricks, had a talk on “Clairvoyance” and a dance by Fantoccini Figures. There was great applause and cheering.
13.—The North End District Visiting Society launched an urgent appeal in consequence of “the inclemency of the season” (it had been very cold, heavy snow etc. - see December 1860). Donations could be handed to the Incumbent, 3 Edith Villas. The West London Observer’s editorial sarcastically spoke of all the drinking fountains in Kensington being clad to prevent the water turning to ice.
15.—William Gibson, a coachman, was charged with being drunk and incapable and was taken into custardy after the carriage he was driving knocked down a lamppost in the Fulham Road. Fined 5s.
19.—The weekly advert by G. Borwick (21, Little Moorfields) reminded readers of the West London Observer that every year consumption caused 60,000 deaths in England and Wales alone. His Ozonized Cod Liver Oil “has been proved to be the nearest approach to a specific yet found for this fatal disease.”
21.—Acton Literary Institution celebrated it’s 5th anniversary at the National School Rooms, under the presidency of Rev. E. Parry, Rector. The association had 125 members. After a tea several ladies gave brilliant performances on the piano, S. Hedger read a paper on Coins and Medals, and the Choral Society ended the evening with a concert.
22.—Captain J. Norton wrote to the West London Observer enclosing a letter from Jamaica showing that his “submarine shells” had been “effectively employed in blowing up sharks”. The shell used was similar to the one the captain had used some months previously to blow up the fish in the pond at Beaufort House.
24.—Following extensive advertising in “the future Borough of Chelsea” a Grand Evening Concert took place in the New Vestry Hall, but was poorly attended as only one “name”, Miss Poole, was listed.
26.—The Chiswick soup kitchens reported they had given 405 meat dinners to children “last week”, and a similar quantity “this week”, besides soup to the poor. Turnham Green soup kitchen was relieving 2850 labourers and their families a week.
29.—Charles Leatherham, a “little gypsy boy about 13 years of age”, orphan, was brought before Hammersmith Police Court charged with stealing brass escutcheons from houses around Providence Terrace, Kensington. When aged around 6 Charles’ family, who were Kent hopping, were killed when Hartlake Bridge, Tunbridge, collapsed. Discharged with caution.
29.—John Smith, The Grange, wrote to Fulham Board of Works complaining that the Electric Telegraph Company had put up posts and wires at Shepherds Bush which “if allowed to remain ... will be a great injury to the property in the neighbourhood.” Previous installations had the wires underground.