Reference
X978/12
Title
Diary kept by Bruce J Stanbridge, Church Farm, Studham 1923.
Date free text
1 Jan 1923 – 19 Jan 1924
Production date
From: 1923 To: 1924
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:
1 January 1923 A fine day. We have been to plough. Austin fetched the heifer from Mr Hughes & then Fossey came over after dinner & took one over to Kensworth. I went to Luton I sold Panter the 4 fat pigs at Kensworth.
22 January 1923 A nice day. We have been hedging etc. They have been threshing at Kensworth. I went to Luton. Sold the oats at Kensworth 27/- and the barley 30/- to Church & Son.
25 January 1923 I had a sow have 11 pigs but only 10 alive.
2 February 1923 I gave a man a weeks notice at Kensworth nothing for him to do.
7 March 1923 We have had a lot more rain too wet for anything. We have been at odd jobs. Cannot get on cultivating at Kensworth. I went to Dunstable & it poured with rain all the way there. I bought 20 pigs of g Pratt & paid him 65/-/- for the 20 tegs.
8 March 1923 We went to the races at Billington.
29 Match 1923 I took Dora & Monica to Sangers Circus at Dunstable.
31 March 1923 I went hunting after dinner had a good run.
28 April 1923 A fine day. We have set 3 cwts of potatoes in Newton. We played our first cricket match at Whipsnade & lost.
30 April 1923 A fine day. We have been to plough in Newton & Harkers Hill also at Kensworth. I went round to get a paper signed by all farmers in Studham for reassessment for rates.
5 May 1923 A fine day & very hot. I had to give the sheep some water.
10 May 1923 I sold A Wood 21 pigs for £50.
15 June 1923 A fine day but no sun. We have been to plough & weeding. I went to Kensworth bouting there. We have had a letter from Dora [in hospital in London] going on as well as can be expected.
23 June 1923 A nice day & the hottest this year. Gladman has been cutting. Others weeding. Studham lost at cricket today I have not been able to play for bad hands.
19 July 1923 A fine morning but a wet afternoon. Gladman at plough, others at swedes. I went to the Leighton Show a poor day. No cattle owing to foot & mouth disease.
15 August 1923 A heavy thunderstorm in the night but a drying day. We cut Harkers Hill wheat this afternoon. I had the machine come ready for tomorrow. I went to Dunstable sold some wheat at 39/- & fetched it. Sent four lambs made 76/- 77/-.
6 September 1923 A fine day. We have been to cart, cleared up all but our barley. I went to Berkhampstead to the farm sale, they were not able to sell Studham Bury.
17 September 1923 Loose receipt from H A Burchmore, Forage Merchant, Highfields Farm, Flamstead.
6 October 1923 A fine day. Gladman at plough. Tom harrowing Mill Post over again. Willis came & fetched 4 qrs oats for Kensworth. We finished getting our potatoes home today.
20 October 1923 We all went to a concert in the reading room, Dora managed very well.
5 November 1923 A fine day. We have been to plough. I went to Luton and bought 4½qrs Dutch Pansey wheat of G Church & Son 52/6.
24 November 1923 A fine but frosty sunny day, very cold. We have been drawing a few loads of dung out. Mr Hillier & myself walked round and got a few rabbits. We all went down to the school to a whist drive & Sir John Hewett gave a lantern lecture.
6 December 1923 A frost again but able to plough. I went to Kensworth in the morning, took mother down to giver her vote, t is the General Election.
11 December 1923 A fine day I went to Leighton Fat Stock. Sold G Pratt 1 straw rick £11.
12 December 1923 I went to Dunstable Fat Stock a good show but bad trade.
25 December 1923 A real Christmas Day freezing all day and snow at night. We all went to Little Gaddesden to tea.
1 January 1924 A dull miserable day, a lot of rain last night. We were not able to finish our seed drawing and had only got 1 hours work. Tom took one load of straw to Dunstable and brought some coal back. I had a ewe have 3 lambs last night. I took Monica to a party at Kensworth.
Archival history
Transferred from Luton Museum 10 January 2013. Luton Museum Acc.no. M712 & M713.
Level of description
item