Reference
X978/6
Title
Diary kept by Bruce J Stanbridge, Green End Farm, Kensworth 1915.
Date free text
1 Jan – 31 Dec 1915
Production date
From: 1915 To: 1915
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:
21 January 1915 I had a few friends up rabbiting, caught 10 and the dog killed a ferret.
4 February 1915 We have been thrashing & chaff cutting the Black Winter[oats]. We have been very short of men.
6 February 1915 I sent a horse captain to Mr G Pratts and bought a four year old mare off him.
11 February 1915 Mr George & myself went to Little Gaddesden coursing but we never killed one.
15 February 1915 Two teams went to plough until the soldiers came.
25 February 1915 I took Dora to a party at Little Gaddesden.
4 March 1915 A Thorne’s mills were burnt down last night.
17 March 1915 I sent 1 load of oats straw to the rummage sale for the Belgium Fund the sale came to about £135.
19 March 1915 A very rough day the roads blocked in places with snow, we could not get the machine down the lane until the snow was moved.
5 April 1915 I drove to see Dora this afternoon, Walter Green rode up for a little while this morning.
12 April 1915 I went to Luton and bought a trap to put my cob in.
13 April 1915 We heard tonight that Auntie Sarah had passed away on Sunday afternoon.
16 April 1915 Mamma, Auntie Pollie, Uncle Arthur & Uncle Ted have gone to Leigh for the funeral.
1 May 1915 I went to Aston Clinton & Dora came back with me for the weekend.
3 June 1915 Mr George & myself went to Lord Rothchilds Shorthorn sale one cow made nearly a thousand pounds.
16 June 1915 I sent 2 pigs and 2 lambs to market, I have been putting the oats on rail for Messrs Church & Son. I bought 2 horses off Mr Dolemore 6 years and 3 years old.
19 June 1915 Joe had to take the black mare back, we could not get her shod.
21 July 1915 I sent 4 lambs and 2 ewes to market, sold very well, I sent Mr George and Sidney Fossey to hay cart.
22 July 1915 I bought 8 pigs of Mr Twidell.
24 July 1915 Dora cycled over after tea for the weekend.
16 September 1915 A very warm day. Three teams went to plough in Green Way until 12 o clock the they came home and we finished harvest for this year, cleared the last piece of barley in 9 acres.
28 September 1915 I went with Uncle Ted to see Mr Merry about the Manor Farm.
2 October We put 35 quarters of winter oats up to go to LNW rail for E Dixon & Son. I sent 2 scores of faggots to the school & 1 quarter of oats to T Taylor and 1 qr of wheat to J Tomlin.
19 October 1915 Mr Hickman & myself had to go out on Special Constable duty tonight, our first night out.
22 October 1915 Uncle George came over to tea, he had been looking over the Whipsnade Farms.
1 November 1915 Another wet day. Men have been sawing wood etc. Harry & Arthur have not been, they say has gone to enlist. I went to Luton we went to the farm sale bid up to £3100 for Shortgrove but H Stanbridge bought it at £3120.
3 November 1915 Harry came back in his uniform.
19 November 1915 I shot a brace of pheasants and 1 hare.
25 November 1915 We have had a day rabbiting, killed 21. Horace, W Green & E Rollings have been.
4 December 1915 I had to go on special constable duty at 9 o clock on Whipsnade Heath.
5 December 1915 Mrs George had a baby boy this evening.
8 December 1915 G Fossey has gone to get attested today.
9 December 1915 A fine morning but a pouring wet afternoon. I went with George & W Green to get attested but could not get in so we came home the same as we went.
11 December 1915 I went with Horace tonight to get attested, we both passed.
13 December 1915 I went over to Luton on the 3.40 Xmas Fat Stock Show today the frost has made trade a little better.
15 December 1915 A wet day. Two teams went to plough but had to come home. It is Dunstable Fat Stock, the largest for 15 years Mr Allcorn told me.
22 December 1915 I went to Luton and got my armlet.
24 December 1915I went and met Dora at the station this evening.
27 December 1915 An awful rough day blew trees up, stripped nearly all the stacks. We had to cart a ewe home off the hill, got down and could not get up.
31 December 1915 A wretched day. They came pigeon shooting but we had a bad day got about 40. Two teams have been to plough but had to come home. We have got 4 lambs today.
Archival history
Transferred from Luton Museum 10 January 2013. Luton Museum Acc.no. M712 & M713.
Level of description
item