Reference
X978/2
Title
Diary kept by Bruce J Stanbridge, Green End Farm, Kensworth 1908-1909.
Date free text
3 Jan 1908 – 1 Aug 1909
Production date
From: 1908 To: 1909
Admin/biog history
Bruce John Stanbridge, son of William Barton Stanbridge and his wife Harriet was baptised at Kensworth 17th April 1891
1891 census
Green End Farm, Kensworth
William B Stanbridge, Head, Married, 26, Farmer, born Kensworth
Harriett Stanbridge, Wife, Married, 24, born Steppingley
Isle of Wight Farm, Kensworth
George J Stanbridge, Head, S, 28, Farmer, born Barton le Clay
Eliza A Stanbridge, Sister, Single, 35, Housekeeper, born Kensworth
Rose Austin, Servant, Single, 15, Domestic General Servant, born Kensworth
1901 Census
Church Farm, Little Gaddesden
George J Stanbridge
1901 Census:
Green End Farm, Kensworth
William Barton Stanbridge, Head, 36, Farmer, born Kensworth
Harriett Stanbridge, Wife, 34, born Steppingley
Bruce John Stanbridge, Son, 9, born Kensworth, Beds
Olive Mary Stanbridge, Dau, 8, born Kensworth
Susan Thorne, Servant, 16, General Servant Domestic, born Studham
1911 Census
Green End Farm, Kensworth
William Barton Stanbridge, Head, 46, married for 20 years, 2 children both living, Farmer, born Kensworth.
Harriett Stanbridge, Wife, 44, Born Steppingley
Bruce John Stanbridge, Son, 19, Single, Farmers Son, born Kensworth
Olive Mary Stanbridge, Dau, 18, Single, Dairy work & housework, born Kensworth.
•William Barton Stanbridge died 16 Feb 1912 and was buried at Kensworth 21 February 1912 aged 47.
•Harriett Stanbridge died 7th October 1954 aged 88 years and was buried at Kensworth
•Bruce John Stanbridge Married Dora J Keen [born Dec Quarter 1894 Aylesbury Registration District 3a 728] in the March Quarter of 1918 Aylesbury Registration District Vol.3a 1788.
•Their daughter Monica J Stanbridge was born December Quarter 1918 Luton District 3b page 490.
•Dora J Stanbridge died aged 71 Dec Quarter 1965 Luton Registration District 4a 168
•Bruce J Stanbridge died June Quarter 1971 4a 473.
Other people mentioned:
G Pratt = George Woodham Pratt, farmer, Park Farm, High Street North, Dunstable.
Fossey – William John Fossey – cowman on farm.
Uncle George = George J Stanbridge of Isle of Wight Farm.
Dad = William Barton Stanbridge
Mother = Harriett Stanbridge
Olive = Olive Stanbridge, sister of Bruce J Stanbridge.
Scope and Content
Daily entries include observations on the weather, family activities, church going, and jobs undertaken on the farm (ploughing, drilling, planting, chaff cutting), breeding & sale of livestock, (cattle, sheep including number of lambs born, pigs, chickens, horses) harvest of crops (barley, oats, parsnips, wheat, mangel wurzels, marrows, carrots, onions, corn, swede, lettuce, cauliflower, cabbages, turnips, potatoes), use of fertiliser etc . Also mentions Isle of Wight farm, Kensworth and visits to Little Gaddesden, Dunstable, Totternhoe, Luton, Markyate, Eaton Bray, etc Includes the following:
23 January 1908 We all went to church this morning and Mamma, Olive & myself went to hear the Bishop of St Albans at night.
3 March 1908 Fossey & myself have been felling two apple trees in the nut orchard.
9 March 1908 Jim & myself got a ton of nitrate ready for sowing,
18 march 1908 I went and played a draughts match against the Dunstable Liberal Club, I won 5 games out of 6 we beat them by about 11 games.
30 March 1908 Bob went and rolled the golf links.
9 April 1908 It has been a splendid day just right for the races. One of the race horses got away and broke a man’s thigh and killed a lady.
10 April 1908 Bates at Whipsnade found a dead man in his meadows this morning perfectly naked.
20 April 1908 I went to Luton Fair with Dada in the morning and played a cricket match in the afternoon but came out first ball.
20 May 1908 Some men came round and tested our weights and scales.
24 May 1908 Dada’s birthday
30 May 1908 I went and played in a cricket match at Dunstable against Houghton Works and got 17 runs.
29 June 1908 We have put a pigeon ring on a young cuckoo.
13 July 1908 John has been gathering walnuts.
1 August 1908 The Chapel Band of Hope have had their tea in the barn this afternoon.
17 November 1908 I fetched a rabbit out of a trap on Fenmore Hill.
19 November 1908 I went down to the allotments with Dad and measured some ground out. We had Mr Francis George up this morning.
5 December 1908 we have put 50 qrs of barley on GNR for Messrs Tomson & Son.
10 December 1908 I went up with Uncle Ted to London Cattle Show.
15 December 1908 Dad went to Leighton Show and got home about 3 o clock. Mr Scroggs took the prizes for sheep.
11 January 1909 We have been thrashing the barley out of the barn & killed 53 rats in it.
5 April 1909 Sonnie & myself went with Linda to Dunstable then came home & got ready for the election. We had four vehicles taking the voters to the poll there was Dad & Mr Morton contesting it. Sonnie & myself, Henry Woodham with Mr Bettles donkey. Mr Stanbridge with his horse & trap. Uncle Ted with his pony & trap. Dad’s poll was 64 & Mr Mortons 23.
26 April 1909 Dad went to his first Board of Guardians meeting.
14 May 1909 Dad says the old saying is right about the oak being out before the ash we shall have a dry summer. I will make a note in the Autumn of we do get one. At the present time the oaks are green and the ash as bare as winter.
6 June 1909 Walker at the Brickell cut his throat this morning but it is thought he will get over it.
13 June 1909 Ernest Timberlake came up and went round the fields.
14 June 1909 Walker has had his hearing and has come home.
16 June 1909 George Ward and Harry started hoeing this morning.
21 June 1909 Mr W Simmons returned 9 sacks through the Red Lion.
22 June 1909 We loaded the wool ready to go off in the morning.
17 July 1909 In the afternoon I went with Uncle George to Leigh on Sea to see the fleet.
19 July 1909 We got on a steamer and had a sail round the fleet & we started home by the 3.15 from Leigh on Sea and got to Dunstable by 6.30.26 July 1909 I have been down to Uncle Ted’s his cowman has to stop there all the while because of the fever in the village.
27 July 1909 Fossey & myself gathered the walnuts at the Isle of Wight [Farm].
30 July 1909 The men have been charlick [charlock] pulling.
Archival history
Transferred from Luton Museum 10 January 2013. Luton Museum Acc.no. M712 & M713.
Level of description
item