Reference
X978/10
Title
Diary kept by Dora Stanbridge of Church Farm, Studham 1921-1923.
Includes many details of the medical treatment she was receiving for a problem with her leg. Includes details about visits to family & friends and the following:
Date free text
6 December 1921 – 11 Feb 1923
Production date
From: 1921 To: 1923
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
12 December 1921 Took Monica to see father Xmas at Woolworths saw Olive Stanbridge for a few mins. Took Monica to see camel at Gibbons but she wouldn’t ride on it or on the donkey.
21 December 1921 11am Mrs Webber came with bath chair and pushed me to the Club Room to practice our songs for the social , also Charlie Reynolds there to play for duet.
24 December 1921 Leg very bad again, busy helping Nelly til 10 o’clock then Nelly pushed me in bath chair & Doris Austin helped with Monica and all of us went down to just below the chapel to see the Hertfordshire Hounds meet at the clock. In afternoon made macaroons and mince pies. 2.30pm Norah Hoare and Phyllis Walters came down, Norah bringing a chocolate Father Xmas from Dennis for Monica.
27 December 1921 Bruce pushed me to the Club Room in bath chair, 6 others came down too, to a Social at 8pm. I wore my rose silk jumper with fringe on Bruce gave me for Xmas present. Mr Webber & I sang a duet On the Bonny Bonny Banks of Loch Lomond and encored. Later I sang Sussex by the Sea & The Road that leads to You’ for encore. All of us stayed to 1 am to end of dancing.
5 January 1922 Mrs Webber came at 2 o clock to see if Monica could go to tea at Vicarage with Pamela. Mrs Cecily Scudamore came.
6 January 1922 Let Nelly & Doris Austin go to Dunstable. Mr [George ] Allen from Red Lion came up for corn. Dennis Hoar called. Molly Hillyer came at 6.50pm.
12 January 1922 Ernie Rollings & Billy Andrews, Dunstable had motorbike accident at about 11.15pm at Half Moon Hill, Dunstable, skidded into a motor lorry & Ernie received fatal injuries….Ernie 7 Billy came here Oct 27 1921 shooting.
17 January 1922 Ernie Rollings buried. Roads too bad for Bruce to attend funeral.18 February 1922 Mother, Bruce, Monica & I all went at 7pm to a concert in Club Room. Nelly went with Austins, Charlie Austin carried Monica down and Bruce pushed me in bath chair. Mrs Scott & Mrs McNeil with Jean & Jack there and also Sid Horn. The Jazz Band very good, rather noisy, gave most of us headaches.
25 February 1922 Lovely Spring Day, Monica very interested in threshing machine. Freddy Foskett left his work here and took her up road to see children and himself catch mice. At 3pm Nelly & Norah Hoare came to tea. Walter Green called from Leagrave, been hunting.
2 March 1922 Had [Concert] Committee meeting here to save me going out to School. Mr McNeil, Brown & Den Hoare came, also Millie Walters & Mrs Bailey, Sid Horne.
7 March 1922 Mr Morton got in at election.
14 March 1922 George Heady called from Stanbridge, Bruce drove to Leighton with Mr Thomas to go to meeting about Ashridge putting rents down.
25 March 1922 Old Mr George Bailey died who used to live at Church Farm, Studham.
28 March 1922 Funeral of George Bailey.
8 April 1922 Nelly pushed me down to institute at 7.30pm to a concert. I sang one song & encored twice but only returned once.
14 April 1922 Good Friday. Lovely sunny day. Had people after daffys [daffodils] all day
20 April 1922 Farmers & dealers commenced at 12.30pm (stock sale being held at Church Farm, Studham] had about 26 to tea in dining room. At 5pm Mr Cogswell of Leighton Buzzard took me for a drive in his 2 seater car to Dunstable, Markyate, Gaddesden Row & home.
23 April 1922 Doctor came at 4.10pm to see me about going to Margate. Collected 30/-- from the daffodils and all village people in free.
27 April 1922 Mr Hillyers servant Vic Green married at Dunstable & had breakfast at Dagnall.
30th April 1922 Olive Beasley & Elsie Leverton came on motorbikes from Luton, got daffs & primroses in wood.
3 May 1922 Mrs Cleaver from Australia spent evening with us as staying with her mother Mrs Allen in Studham.
23 May 1922 Four years I believe, since leg first bad.
2 June 1922 Leo & George Lee came at 7.30pm in George’s new car at 8.15pm to Dagnall, the Traveller’s Rest & the Plough and through Dagnall.
12 June 1922 Stanley Scott & Tom Smith came from Whipsnade with a case for me from Mrs Scott.
15 June 1922 Lovely hot sunny day. At 10.30am Bruce drove mother & I to the clock in village and we met all the mothers from Studham & Whipsnade and went in 2 motor wagons and Ford car through Gaddesden Row to St Albans. There were 4,800 mothers there that day, At 3.15 pm we went to cathedral for service.
20 June 1922 had letter to say go to hospital June 27th.
22 June 1922 Arthur Wood from Totternhoe came at 6 o clock to take puppy to Dick Wood.
[Gap in entries until 11 Oct 1922 ‘following on from small black book’ – not deposited]
13 October 1922 Nelly Gregory didn’t return as had a tooth out,
17 October 1922Got to Dunstable just in time to get to Surgery at 3pm. Saw Br Blount and had long chat about going to London to see specialist,
27 October 1922 Bruce, Mother & I motored to London. Bruce came into room where I was when I was examined by specialist. He was greatly surprised to think I had lived and doubtful if leg had been tubercular. At 1.154 pm we drove in car to find Harley Street and I had an appointment Mr Stone was the specialist there. Had to wait until 4pm before he put me under X-Ray. Specialists name in Portland Place was Mr Elmslie he said he could operate on leg when I had X-ray for him to see if leg had been TB.
4 November 1922 Saw Winnie Lomas in afternoon and her mother engaged her to come here to work as no sign of Nelly returning.
7 November 1922 Had letter to say Nelly Gregory was coming back, she came but I sent her home again.
13 November 1922 Bruce & Mr Hillier had to go to Dunstable Police Station after tea to be sworn in for Special Constable Duty on Polling Day.
15 November 1922 Polling Day. Sir John Hewitt got in for Parliament.
23 November 1922 I made Christmas cake in new Valor-Perfection Stove & Oven which came previous Friday.
2 December 1922 Had the Herts Hounds & fox through meadow. Monica very frightened to see them.
25 December 1922 [Full entry]: Xmas Day. Monica very excited. She came into bed before 7 am & brought stocking she had and mother carried in pillow case. She undid all her things in bed. Nelly Hoare came at 10.30 and brought Monica a book from herself and silver bracelet from Norah, also Rose Gladman bought a few sweets, a tiny Father Xmas and a few odd picture 2d papers. Bruce gave Monica a pair black patent shoes & a Noah’s Ark; I gave her ; box of bon-bons, some cream sweets, sweet mice, & chocs to fill her Father Xmas, a pink taffeta silk dress, 3 handkerchiefs, a green coat, a box of shortbread, a book from both of us, a donkey case of sweets; Mother gave her a big box of chocolates, and running snake; Auntie Evans some chocolate animals etc. & a book. Nanny Stanbridge & Olive 2 handkerchiefs, a coloured windmill, and a game of football; Aunty Polly, L. Gaddesden a book; Molly Hillier a book of nursery rhymes set to music; Mrs Elkins a book; Aunt Mary a feeder painted with dogs & chocolate; Mrs Atkins pair of socks; Irene Lee 2/-; Jean McNeil box of chocolates; & Nell Ward a pair of reins & Winnie some sweets.
Very rough day windy & cold. Bruce drove us at 12 o/c to Kensworth to dinner, rained part of way there. Mr & Mrs Atkins there to dinner. Mother gave me a nice wine coloured velveteen dress which came at dinnertime to Kensworth, so I wore it. At 4 o/c Mr & Mrs lee & family and also Grace & Will Brinkler came, also Sonny, Alban & Linda from L Gaddesden. We left at 11pm after supper.
9 January 1923 Winnie wanted a rise in wages.
10 January 1923 Mr Barton came from Kensworth at 11 o clock and took us to Luton (Mother, Monica & I) and we bought a new Turkey carpet at Blundells. Saw Mrs Beasley there and she came with us to buy it.
15 January 1923 Gave Winnie a rise in wages. She was ill at tea time so I sent her home.
29 January 1923 Clem Breed was coming shooting but didn’t turn up so Bruce went to Sid Horns shooting for afternoon.
3 February 1923 George & Leo Lee came up shooting also Will Brinkler for the day. Had Mr & Mrs Heath Stanbridge just at tea time call Mr Hillier after tea. Will motored Monica & I down to Club Room to a concert at 7.30pm & Bruce & mother walked down and brought the bath chair for me.
Archival history
Transferred from Luton Museum 10 January 2013. Luton Museum Acc.no. M712 & M713.
Level of description
item