Reference
X978/13
Title
Diary kept by Bruce J Stanbridge, Church Farm, Studham & Maylords Farm, Kensworth. 1924
Date free text
21 January 1924 – 31 Dec1924
Production date
From: 1924 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:
30 January 1924 A nice day we have been to plough. I went to Dunstable, I engaged a motor to take Dora [to hospital] to London on Friday.
7 February 1924 A fine day,. Tom at plough, Gladman clearing up and getting ready for harrowing the meadows. H Gurney came and attended to the lambs done 31 I paid him 5/- he done one calf at Kensworth.
20 February 1924 A rather cold day. We have been hedging etc. I bought 4 pigs of Rogers and sent them to Kensworth & then sent him his 12 little pigs down. We are closed up this afternoon for foot & mouth disease. I went to E Cooper’s sale, I bought a few tree tops of C Thorne.
16 March 1924 A fine day. We finished lambing today 62 lambs from 44 ewes.
21 March 1924A fine day. We have been cultivating Harkers Hill and roll on wheat. Gladman left tonight. Mr Bramble has fitted a wireless set up for us.
14 April 1924 A better day but everywhere very wet, sheep in an awful state. We have been at odd jobs. Bonny had her colt this afternoon.
2 May 1924 A fine day, Fossey came over. Dora went to London again. I went to look at a farm at Stratford on Avon with Uncle Ted & George thought it worth trying for.
19 May 1924 Uncle Ted & Geo & myself went to Stratford to look at the farm again and got wet through.
20 May 1924 A fine morning but a wet afternoon & a very heavy thunderstorm in the evening it washed hedges and gates down and the Studham road is all wash up not safe for a horse to be on the worst storm for 46 years they say.
2 July 1924 A fine day. I had another man start this morning. I sent three lambs to market made 65/-.
27 July 1924 I took Dora and Mrs Keen to see Auntie Pollie who is very ill.
10 August 1924 Mr S Horn came over in the evening and said Mr Garret died yesterday.
13 August 1924 Auntie Pollie died about 5 o clock this afternoon.
Newspaper cutting from ‘The Farmer & Stockbreeder’ includes a photograph of a binder cutting winter oats in West Herts.
8 September 1924 A better day than yesterday, corn getting a little dry but looks like rain again. I went to Luton. Sold G Church & Son 50qrs of wheat 50 qrs of barley wheat at 54/- barley 60/-.
1 October 1924 A dull day after a lot of rain. We have been moving a few things over to Kensworth. I started on my milk job this morning. I sent 12 store pigs to market.
22 October 1924 A better day but not able to go to drill so have been to plough. We started giving the cows mangolds. They have started doing our house up today.
8 November 1924 A fine day. We have moved into Maylords [Farm, Kensworth] today but the workmen are not out yet.
9 November 1924 A fine day. We all had our dinner at Nash Farm because we were not straight.
10 November 1924 A fine day we have been to plough and drilling in Wood Field. We went to Studham and fetched another load of furniture. Mr Merry came and done the valuation.
25 December 1924 A dull miserable day. I had plenty of work all day. We went to Mothers for tea. Auntie Evans staying, Olive gone to Little Gaddesden because they are very poorly.
31 December 1924 This ends one of the wettest years on record I hope I shall [never] see another like it.
Archival history
Transferred from Luton Museum 10 January 2013. Luton Museum Acc.no. M712 & M713.
Level of description
item