Reference
X978/8
Title
Diary kept by Bruce J Stanbridge, Green End Farm, Kensworth & Church Farm, Studham 1920.
Date free text
1 Jan – 31 Dec 1920
Production date
From: 1920 To: 1920
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:
5 January 1921 I went to Dunstable and sold Mr Green my barley at 70/-.
11 January 1920 George & Leo came up rabbiting but we only got 6. I sent W Thorne 3 scores of faggots and 6 bundles of pea sticks.
17 January 1921 A wet rough day a little better in the afternoon. We have been hedging here [Studham] and clearing up at Kensworth. Joe found a man asleep under the rick cloth in the rick yard this morning.
18 January 1921 A very rough stormy day. We managed to do some hedging and have been clearing up at Kensworth. It blew a tree into the pond in the meadow this morning.
4 February 1921 I sold Mr Panter 14 pigs at a bad price £56.
10 February 1921 We have got 34 lambs now from 29 ewes.
21 February 1921 Fossey went to Marsworth and fetched a girl for us this morning.
2 March 1921 Dora went under chloroform to have her splint put on.
8 March1921 Uncle Ted, mother & myself went to look over Mr T Thornes farm at Woodside but the house was no use for mother.
10 March 1921 We had a ewe get on her back last night & die. I went to Kensworth. Mr Bailey has been thrashing his oats out. I bought a Gloucester Spot boar of him.
13 March 1921 Mr MacNeal took Monica for a ride this morning.
21 March 1921 I had a dog kill one of the Leicester lambs last night.
23 March 1921 The man at the Bell paid me £2 for the lamb his dog kill[ed].
5 April 1921 I went to Leighton market but very bad trade for everything.
30 April 1921 We had a cricket match with Gaddesden Row won by 7 runs.
6 May 1921 A fine day. Gladman has been cultivating. Others getting wood down. Tom took 1 load to Dunstable. Joe Fossey & Willie have started taking the wheat in 20 qrs today.
7 May 1921 We played Dagnall at cricket beat them by 70 runs.
13 May 1921 I gave Collier a weeks notice.
14 May 1921 Studham beat Whipsnade at cricket.
18 may 1921 We played Aston Abbots at cricket here and beat them by 1 innings and 31 runs.
19 May 1921 A fine day. Fossey & Joe brought two horses and carts and took the rest of the sheep tackle on to Stockings Hill. Gladman harrowed some bouts down and then bouted them up again. Tom took 2 loads of weed to Mr Sinfield.
21 May 1921 28 from Studham went to Greens Norton we were playing them at cricket and beat them by 66 runs.
26 May 1921 I sold Mr Panter 10 Leicester lambs at
65/- & 1 ewe 5/-/- and 2 lambs 5/-/-.
28 May 1921 We played Dagnall at cricket beat them by 7 runs.
11 June 1921 We played Flamstead at cricket and won by 3 runs.
16 June 1921 Another hot day. We have been picking Dell Field clover up, finished all but raking. I had Mr Merry come up to value for my income tax.
20 June 1921 Another dull cold day, a little rain. Fossey nitrate & the mangolds, and Gladman at horse hoe. Austin started setting the Swedes out on Fenmore Hill. Joe mowing round the meadows at Kensworth.
2 July 1921 I took Mrs Keen to a garden fete at Ivinghoe.
5 July 1921 Another very hot day. We have been to plough. Joe has been cutting the piece under the firs and Fossey thatching. We found Tom in one of the places with sunstroke about 5 o clock he must have been there five hours but think he will get over it.
9 July 1921 Another very hot day. We finished dung carting. We played Caddington at cricket and lost, I made the highest score of 6 runs. Studham Common was burning all the afternoon.
27 July 1921 Uncle George bought Nash Farm [Kensworth] this afternoon for mother.
29 July 1921 We had a little rain last night then a storm after diner stop harvest work for today…the most rain we have had since May.
15 August 1921 We have been putting wheat on rail at Kensworth. We fetched some more straw for thatch. Took D Rance 1 qr oats and Groom 4 scores of faggots and finished cutting our barley in the afternoon so have finished cutting for this year.
27 August 1921 We played Whipsnade at cricket won by 14 runs.
7 September 1921 Mr Horn came and started plough. The Doctors came and bent Dora’s leg this morning so she feel very bad.
6 October 1921 Another hot day. Austin fetched some of the wheat over here that they are thrashing at Kensworth; Gladman has been harrowing and ploughing headlands. Joe at plough at Kensworth. Tom took a load of wheat to Mr Tooley but he found fault with it.
10 November 1921 A nice day & frost. We are ploughing in the clover leys and at Kensworth. I met Mr Merry at Kensworth re the valuation of Nash Farm and Green End.
11 November 1921 We all went to a social this evening in the Reading Room.
19 November 1921 I went to a whist drive in the Reading Room.
21 November 1921 I bought 5 bullocks and 2 heifers of G Pratt.
24 November 1921 We have been rabbiting got 17. W Gribbard came up & S Horn.
26 November 1921 I went to the meet at Whipsnade.
10 December 1921 Dora & I went to a whist drive and dance this evening.
16 December 1921 Mr. Hillier & myself went down to Bedford to receive our special constable medals.
20 December 1921 A fine day the wind very rough. We have been to plough again. I took Monica over with me to Kensworth this morning. Mr Wallace sent 12 plum trees this morning.
27 December 1921 A fine day the men are at work here but not at Kensworth. We all went to a dance in the Reading Room and Monica went to a Christmas Tree there in the evening.
Archival history
Transferred from Luton Museum 10 January 2013. Luton Museum Acc.no. M712 & M713.
Level of description
item