Reference
X978/11
Title
Diary kept by Bruce J Stanbridge, Church Farm, Studham 1922
Date free text
1 Jan - 31 December 1922
Production date
From: 1922 To: 1922
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 January 1922 I went to Northampton again but did not do any business.
14 January 1922 Mr Hillier & myself started for Northampton but the roads were so bad we missed our train, we managed to get to Dunstable and got the police to stop a motor for us and we got there that way. Bought 12 cattle between us £13/5/-
4 February 1922 A very rough morning snowing up to dinnertime and very cold. We have been getting hay & mangolds, in, oiling harness etc. I walked to Kensworth after dinner. I shall be glad when I get on the land again.
7 February 1922 This is polling day G Morton & Dr Little county Council.
25 March 1922 A little rain last night but fine. We have been harrowing etc. I went to Kensworth & fetched 4 sacks of barley. Mr Bailey died suddenly this morning.
31 March 1922 I went to Mr Laird’s pig sale but they were too dear for me.
9 April 1922 I had to go to Kensworth this morning the mare foaled.
13 April 1922 Mr Blow came tonight and I let him have 2 acres for rearing pheasants at 10/-/-
20 April 1922 We have had our cattle sale today a big company but not a good trade.
6 May 1922 We played Boxmoor at cricket and lost by 10 runs I got hurt on the foot and could not play.
13 May 1922 We played Whipsnade at cricket and beat them by 25 runs.
19 May 1922 A fine day & drying. Gladman at plough, Austin dung cart. Tom crushing. Bandy dung spreading. Joe at plough at Kensworth. I went to a sale at Hemel and bought a grey mare 18/-/-
22 May 1922 Another hot day. Tom at plough the new mare works well. Bandy has been docking. Austin went in the garden.
They have been to plough at Kensworth. C Bates finished with his tractor tonight.
24 May 1922 Mr Morton had a horse die in the field with the heat.
12 June 1922 I sold four puppies 50/- each.
1 July 1922 We played Limbury at cricket and won by 31 & 56.
15 July 1922 Had a garden fete at Studham House went off very well but badly arranged.
20 July 1922 A fine day. We have been setting swedes out. Gladman fetched 5cwts toppings & 2 qrs crushed oats from B Bunker, then went to horse hoe. Austin barrowed some white turnips in Wood field. I took Mrs Keen, Monica and Mrs Hoar to Edlesborough Garden Fete. Finished ploughing at Kensworth before dinner.
23 August 1922 A fine day, wind very rough and no sun. We cut 12 acres of wheat today. Men shocking wheat cutting at Kensworth. I paid A Green my poor rate of £39/6/9 today.
28 August 1922 A wet morning. Gladman went to plough. Others went shocking when it cleared up a little. I went to Luton, but a very bad trade. G Church & Son paid me for the oats. Sold B Bunker 20 qrs 25/-
7 September 1922 A nice day. We have been to wheat cart all day about finished the wheat now. They started cutting the rivets at Kensworth. Dora came home today, Mother went to London to meet her and I fetched her from the Station about 6 o clock.
18 September 1922 A very nice day. We have been thrashing out of the field barley not any good. Went to Luton and sold it to G Church & Son 35/- and my wheat @ 38/-. I went to G Heady’s and bought 36 cheviot lambs 30/-
26 October 1922 A fine day. We have been to plough. Austin fetched 4 qrs what from Eaton Bray that I bought of J H Green. At plough at Kensworth. I went to [Hemel] Hempstead market with Mr Hillier.
25 November 1922 A fine day, a sharp frost. Gladman & Tom at plough. I sent some grinding to S Horns. I went to Dunstable & bought 1 sow & 8 pigs of G Pratt & sold him the black cob.
8 December 1922 A dull morning but cleared off. W have been to plough, I went over to Kensworth. Austin took the sow to G Heady. C Breed & S Horn came rabbiting, we got 24.
Archival history
Transferred from Luton Museum 10 January 2013. Luton Museum Acc.no. M712 & M713.
Level of description
item