Reference
X978/3
Title
Diary kept by Bruce J Stanbridge, Green End Farm, Kensworth 1909- 1910.
Date free text
3 Aug 1909 – 11 October 1910
Production date
From: 1909 To: 1910
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:
7 August 1909 We had a cousin Alfred Stanbridge who has been out at Salt lake for 20 years come to see us.
7 September 1909 Fossey & Harry have been thatching.
4 October 1909 Dad went to Luton & sold the barley to Mr Church for 31/6 and the wheat to Mr Dixon at 34/-.
16 October 1909 Dad bought 10 pigs of Dan Sharman.
25 November 1909 This is the wedding day of Miss C E Jones.
31 December 1909 Account of the year: It has been a wet dull year but very little sunshine. We had a very bad hay time…and a wretched harvest….the ground is in such a wet state that we have had to have 4 horses on a single plough and do ½ an acre a day & nearly killed the horses. We took first prize at Leighton with three Tat Tegs which weighted 6 cwts 24lbs, when they were sold only made 65/- each, the sheep trade is very bad. The pig trade is very good and the beef trade is very good. The root crop is a very poor one.
1910
12 January 1910 Olive has been to London with the Old Girls of Moreton House School. John & Jim have been hedging.
20 February 1910 One of the roughest days we have had for a good many years, tops of trees blown off, telegraph wires blown down and fearful hailstorms in the afternoon.
22 February 1910 We have all been down to Mrs Timberlakes this evening.
26 February 1910 John Whinnett left us tonight and Dad set Edgar Cheshire on in his place.
14 March 1910 It was the Parish Council election tonight. The members elected were E Hickman, G Morton, E Timberlake , G Fossey, G Woodman & Dr Little.
7 April 1910 I biked to St Albans with Ernest Timberlake to see the Point to Point races at London Colney.
18 April 1910 We have been to Luton Fair and bought 6 store cattle and 1 colt 2 years old.
7 May 1910 King Edward VII died at midnight last night & Miss Jones tolled the bell this morning.
22 May 1910 Olive & myself went on to the Downs to see the comet but did not see it.
5 July 1910 We have had the fire brigade up here to practice.
17 September 1910 Bert took Duke & Blossom down to the blacksmith.
Archival history
Transferred from Luton Museum 10 January 2013. Luton Museum Acc.no. M712 & M713.
Level of description
item