Reference
X978/14
Title
Diary kept by Bruce J Stanbridge, Maylords Farm, Kensworth, & Nash Farm, Kensworth. 1926
Date free text
9 Jan 1926 - 31 Dec 1926
Production date
From: 1926 To: 1926
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
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;
15 January 1926 A real winters day freezing & snowing all day. We have been getting mangolds & hay home & looking after sheep & cattle.
23 January 1926 A better day but dull and a little rain. Joe & Will Hart have been to plough this morning. I have paid J Edmonds for 14 tons of hay out of Mr Dixons rick.
2 February 1926. A fine day. We finished threshing at Nash Farm for this season, a bad lot I hope I never have another as bad.
16 February 1926 I took Dora & her mother to Aylesbury Hospital to see Miss Chapman, and then Mrs Keen stopped over there.
16 March 1926 A fine day. Joe at roll, Fossey sowing, Sulp on the Downs top piece of wheat. I lost two ewes tonight had to go down to Mr Brooks I think they [have] got hold of poisonous weeds.
31 March 1926 A fine day. March has been a very dry month. I sent 6 lambs to market but only sold 3.
15 May 1926 A fine day but very cold. I went to Biscot to play cricket for Studham we won by 103 to 20.
5 June 1926 L Rance finished shearing the sheep. We drilled some swedes today for the first time. I bought 10 lambs off Sinfield.
13 June 1926 I went to London to see Dora took Mr Cook with me, a nice day.
25 June 1926 I fetched Dora home from hospital.
3 July 1926 A dull morning but a very nice afternoon. We have been in the mangolds, got no hay work ready. Austin took the wool in. We all went over to Studham Fete.
14 July 1926 The hottest day of the year. We have been picking the clover up on Wick. Tomlin has been doing some ploughing for me in the Grove.
1 September 1926 A real wet day this has stopped all harvest work, otherwise the last month has been fairly good for the harvest.
Very sparse entries for remainder of year.
Archival history
Transferred from Luton Museum 10 January 2013. Luton Museum Acc.no. M712 & M713.
Level of description
item