Below are a selection of events for December 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.
| December | ||||||
| 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* | ||||
4.—A poor woman of Latymer Road applied to Hammersmith Police Court for help in burying the body of Elizabeth Martindale, her lodger, no relation. The Parish Officers refused burial as Martindale was not of Hammersmith parish, but only died there. During a similar case in the summer the corpse had putrefied whilst different parishes squabbled on who should bury. Fulham Union agreed to consider the matter but the court could not compel burial.
7.—The West London Observer’s editorial noted the “superabundance of educated women” in the district and also Miss Rye’s book on the subject. Recently 810 educated women had applied for one situation of £15 per annum. Emigration was seen as the solution.
7.—Charles Ellwood Ashton, 19, a medical student, died of the effects of chloroform, administered by himself, at the Dispensary, Portland Road, Notting Hill, where he resided. At the inquest evidence of poverty and debt was presented, but the verdict was that there was no suicidal intention. [Also see WLO 30 Dec. Correspondence.]
9.—Blondin would start performing on a platform erected in front of the Great Orchestra at the Crystal Palace with performances lasting through Christmas. The Smithfield Club Cattle Show would also be held during the week.
11.—The friends and subscribers to the Hammersmith Soup Kitchen would meet at the Institute, King Street, at 7 p.m., with the vicar, Rev. James Connell in the chair. Suitable premises had been obtained in the Broadway: donations etc. thankfully received.
12.—At Hammersmith Police Court two young men, George Golder and Richard Oliver were charged with robbing hay from Stephen Harman, cowkeeper, Earl Street, Kensington. Golder, who worked for Harman, had been caught by P.C. Woolhouse passing hay to Oliver who worked for Mr. Butcher, a carman who occupied stables in the same yard. 3 months’ imprisonment with hard labour.
14.—T. Jordan, Broadway, Hammersmith, and agent to the Brentford Gas Company, was advertising Creoggan’s Asphalted Felt at patentee’s prices. Mrs. Browne, 16 Church Street, Kensington, a purchaser of wardrobes, reminded ladies that she waited upon them at their residences.
18.—“Tom Tiddler”, Notting Hill, wrote to the West London Observer about the proposed developments. The removal of the “deplorable looking Turnpike” at the top of Gloucester Road was of more interest to inhabitants than the widening of the neck of Brompton Road or the “unearthy means of communications from Paddington to Belgravia” (see 26 Nov.)
19.—Kensington Vestry had a special meeting to affix the Vestry’s seal to a condolence to the Queen on the death of Prince Albert. It mentioned the many connections of the family with Kensington: the Queen had been born and educated there, Albert’s promotion of the 1851 Great Exhibition in Kensington etc.
21.— John Thompson, Hammersmith Broadway, published a tribute to Prince Albert, price 3d. or four stamps. The entire edition of the West London Observer carried thick black lines between the columns, a poem on Prince Albert etc.
21.—An amateur pedestrian race between Mr. P. and Mr. E. took place at the West London Cricket Ground, Brompton. Considerable betting had taken place with Mr. P. being 5 to 4. The result was a dead heat with the 120 yards being covered in 13 seconds.
22.—The Rev. John Stoughton would preach a sermon suggested by the death of Prince Albert at Kensington Chapel, Phillimore Terrace, at 6.30.
23.—Mr. Ingham, magistrate of Hammersmith Police Court, announced the Mercers’ Company had made a seasonal gift of £20: it would be divided equally between the poor-box of each court.
25.—Only the first Post Office delivery was made this day, it being a part holiday. The 539 Inmates of St. Luke’s Workhouse, Chelsea, each had 8 oz. roast beef (free from bone), 8 oz. potatoes, 12 oz. plumb pudding, 5 oz. bread, 1 pint of Barclay’s porter; tea and bread and butter in the evening.
28.—William Herbert, Confectioner, High Street, Kensington was advertising for a 14 year old boy.
30.—A public meeting would be held at the National School Room, Hammersmith, to adopt an address of condolence to the Queen upon the death of Prince Albert. Rev. James Connell, Vicar, in the chair.
31.—John Smith, the “Regent Street Pet,” formerly a pedestrian celebrity and now landlord of the Norland Arms, Fulham Fields, appeared before Hammersmith Police Court for selling beer before 1 p.m. on Sunday 15th December. Sergeant Standish had counted upwards of 40 men enter the premises between 8 a.m. and noon. Fined 20s. and 2s. costs, paid immediately.