Reference
X978/5
Title
Diary kept by Bruce J Stanbridge, Green End Farm, Kensworth 1914.
Date free text
1 Jan – 31 Dec 1914
Production date
From: 1914 To: 1914
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. This diary includes notes of many visits to Aston Clinton, where his future wife Dora was living. Includes the following:
Memorandum: Our labour for this year works out @7/5 per acre on 189 acres.
7 January 1914 Dunstable market is the first market to be opening after the close of the foot & mouth disease.
14 January 1914 Fossey has been hedging.
23 January 1914 Olive went to a whist drive at Slapton got 2nd prize.
6 February 1914 Mr George had a horse overthrow a cart in the pond and drown itself.
8 February 1914 I sold Mr W Twidell of Totternhoe a calf 35/-
14 February 1914 To Dunstable bought 9 pigs of Mr Mooring senior.
17 February 1914 Sold D Sharman 2 pigs.
23 February 1914 I sent G Pratt 6 Bullocks down.
19 May 1914 We put 40 quarters of oats on rail for Messrs Brantom & Co.
25 May 1914 Mamma went to Mrs Mortons funeral.
27 May 1914 1½ scores of pea sticks to Dunstable for John Andrews.
2 June 1914 Mr George & myself went to the bottom of the downs to see the Herts Yeomanry shooting.
6 June 1914 Mr Timberlakes funeral at Dunstable Cemetery.
14 June 1914 I went to Aston Clinton after dinner.
18 June 1914 Mr & Mrs Cook came from Wootton Pillinge for the day.
20 June 1914 Mr George & myself went on the Downs to see the flying machines but only saw one.
1 July 1914 it was 95 degrees in the shade today.
15 July 1914 I went to Salisbury sheep fair left here at 2.30 got there at 8.10 and got back to Dunstable at 5.30 in the evening.
25 July 1914 Dora & myself went the flying, went off well.
28 July 1914 We dipped the sheep at Studham today. Coming home Mr George had his pony down round Whipsnade Lane, broke the shaft off but never hurt the pony. I was with him & two men in the cart.
4 August 1914 The war has almost started it will be one of the largest known.
5 August 1914 War started at 3 o’clock this morning in the North Sea. The Dunstable yeomanry are all called up. Oats are 30/- per quarter wheat 42/- already today.
7 August 1914 The war is still very serious the Germans are faring the worse at present.
8 August 1914 There are 7 nations at war.
14 August 1914 We have had an order to put as many horses and soldiers up as we can.
21 August 1914 H Henley had an accident in his motor I had to take him home.
24 August 1914 Jack Cheshire has started thatching.
29 September 1914 We have had notice to quit Green End Farm today, a very great surprise.
9 October 1914 Mr Thorne & Daisy Underwood came for the evening.
17 November 1914 Our horses at Isle of Wight [Farm] have very bad colds caught off the soldiers horses.
20 November 1914 We have got 3 horses very bad now and the pigs have started dying so have had to send for the police, another bad job.
21 November 1914 Mr Jones the vet from Luton came and killed all the pigs. We are closed now until we hear further reports. We had to bury them 6ft deep.
22 November 1914 Dora came up in the afternoon.
25 November 1914 We are closed for swine fever.
10 December 1914 I have been to London Fat Stock Show had a very good day.
16 December 1914 The Germans shelled our coast this morning over 100 killed 200 wounded.
25 December 1914 Uncle Arthur arrived here at 2 o clock this morning instead of 9.30 last night, trains all late.
Archival history
Transferred from Luton Museum 10 January 2013. Luton Museum Acc.no. M712 & M713.
Level of description
item