April 1846

Thursday 2nd April 1846

The new church lately erected in Chester Square, Pimlico, and named St Michael’s was this day (Thursday) consecrated by the Bishop of London.

Purchased an old print in Westminster, ‘The Portrait of John Milton the Poet at the age of 21 years’ in dark frame glazed.  Took pair of heavy boots to Discombe to be sewn, the sole half coming from the uppers.  He has took a small shop in Goodge Street, near John Street.  Had tea at Butler’s Coffee Shop, Tottenham Court Road.

Friday 3rd April 1846

Thomas Oliver, a British boxer of the old school, but better known by the name of Old Tom Oliver, has taken a shop at No 1 Little Ebury Street, Pimlico, to sell coals etc and had the first ton from our Wharf today to begin with, though I knew not who he was till informed by coalheavers.  He seems to be between 60 and 70 years of age and is now stakeholder and ring keeper in important battles.

Editor’s note:  Tom Oliver (1789-1864) is referred to in Miles’s ‘Pugilistica’ (1880) as a greengrocer of Pimlico and Chelsea.

Saturday 4th April 1846

This day coals sold only 29 tons and four cwt in consequence of having no best coals, the neglect of Robinson the lighterman, who instead of attending business got drunk, and which behaviour has caused his discharge, which I waited till half past 10 o’clock to give him, but which job I escaped for he came not.  Hair cut in Queen Street, Pimlico, and shaved in Elizabeth Street and washed, all while waiting.

Sunday 5th April 1846

Rose soon after 7 o’clock and dressed with intention of going to see Mrs Skirriker go from her residence to her chapel, but rain coming on prevented me, so instead thereof read part of news of week in coffee shop in Dean Street.  After breakfast went to New Tottenham Court Chapel in Grafton Street, Fitzroy Square.  Put into a seat alongside Miss Pitt, an old schoolfellow.  Mr Elton read not the prayers being indisposed.  Mr Lumley preached.  After dinner took walk alone to Whitechapel to see the remains of an old inn called White Hart near Somerset Street, which was built before the reign of Henry VIII.  Had very imperfect view - the house was partly razed to the ground and on its site is to be erected a more spacious building.  Made for own neighbourhood and had tea at coffee shop corner of Grafton and Sussex Streets, after which took Ann for walk about Hyde Park.  It may not be unworthy of remark that at the present time there is a little cherry tree growing on the City side of London Bridge, and a rookery in a tree corner of Wood Street and Cheapside.  Paid into bank 20s.  Total £18.

Wednesday 8th April 1846

Rare it busy day today, coals sold 92 tons 9 sacks, took nearly fifty pounds of silver.  So drove about; should not like every day to be like this.

Good Friday, 10th April 1846

Rose soon after 5 o’clock and took walk to Chelsea Bun House - great bustle.  From thence to Wharf till 10 o’clock.  Coals sold 21 tons 7 sacks.  Money taken £11 7s 0d.  Liberated at half past 10 and went and afterwards took walk till dinner time.  Had for dinner boiled beef and pancakes.  Granny Shepherd present after.  After ditto took walk with Ann through the City, Shoreditch, Kingsland, Stoke Newington, Stamford Hill to Tottenham and returned by the Western Road and ate some buns which she purchased, seating ourselves in a field near the four mile stone.  Had pint porter at public house in the road upon which is written the following: ‘Queen Victoria halted here 1843’.  Proceeded onward home down Maiden Lane, being none the fresher for my walk, my feet … me.

Editor’s note:  The Chelsea Bun House on Jews Row (now Pimlico Road) was mentioned by Swift in 1711.  It is said to have been closed down in 1839 having sold 24,000 buns on Good Friday.

Saturday 11th April 1846

William Filkins, carman at Eccleston Wharf, oversleeping himself and lying in bed after 7 o’clock when he ought to been in Marylebone shooting coals, was fetched by the coalheavers in a wheelbarrow tied down and wheeled to Wharf accompanied by the wharfingers, who with dung forks and lanterns formed his bodyguard, the whole presenting a singular scene, and for which procession he had to pay one gallon beer.  James Robinson reinstated in his situation as lighterman on promise of better behaviour.

Easter Sunday, 12th April 1846

Rose early and breakfasted at coffee shop in Cromer Street, Grays Inn Road.  From thence proceeded to Islington to see Mrs Sirriker come from her residence and go to chapel, but missed being too late, it being 20 minutes to 10 o’clock, so made way through Ballspond and Kingsland to King’s Head Court, Shoreditch, and went to the chapel therein where the old lady was already seated.  After service followed her across Old Street Road and through Hoxton in the direction of Islington where I left her and made fast home to dinner, whence I did not arrive till half past 2 o’clock.  After dinner took walk with Ann through Piccadilly, Knightsbridge, Brompton, Chelsea and Battersea to Wandsworth to see house in which Matthew Ward received his education.  It is an old white house at the corner of Garrett Lane and the High Street and directly facing the Ram Inn.  It is now a Ladies Seminary and is called Wandsworth House.  Had pint beer and biscuits at the Antelope and rested a while till half past 7 o’clock, after which proceeded homeward through Battersea fields (a heavy shower coming we narrowly escaped a drenching), Vauxhall, Lambeth, Westminster.  Home very tired and sore footed, having walked in all from 27 to 30 miles.  Wore breeches without the gaiters this day, blue worsted stockings.

Editor’s note:  Nathaniel’s usual spelling of John Bunyan’s descendant’s name is Skirricker.

Tuesday 14th April 1846

The foot way at Eccleston Wharf, leading from the front of gateway facing the street to the inner gate near the office for private trade, is now being paved with stone and not before it was wanted.

Wednesday 15th April 1846

Princess Alice Maud Mary, second daughter of Queen Victoria, completed her 3rd year.

Thursday 16th April 1846

Dragonetti, celebrated double-bass player at the Opera, died at Leicester Square.  He was a Venetian by birth and was born 1761 or 1762 and was aged upwards 84 years.

This day was sold by auction the houses forming the east side of Whittlebury Street for the enlargement of London and Birmingham Railway terminus, the present terminus being inadequate to the immense traffic on the above line.  The Company have also purchased the new houses in Birchmoor and Cardington Streets, likewise the ground between Upper Seymour Street and Hampstead Road.  An attempt made on the French King’s life by Lecomte, a woodranger, and which he narrowly escaped.

Friday 17th April 1846

Business of the day over early, left Wharf before 7o’clock (unusually early).  Called on Ann at Mrs Kennington’s.  She was laid up last Monday owing to the fatigue of the previous day’s walk.  Had tea at the Silver Lion Coffee Shop in Goodge Street, Tottenham Court Road, met with there John Coombs, a former companion of mine whom I have not seen before for the last year past.

Sunday 19th April 1846

Rose at 6 o’clock.  Breakfasted in coffee shop in Wardour Street, Soho.  After ditto went to Islington to see Mrs Skirriker leave her place of residence for that of worship, but was unsuccessful.  Went to the church of St Leonard Shoreditch.  Returning home through King’s Head Court, I fortunately met the old lady just coming out of chapel and followed her a short distance.  After dinner, weather looking uncertain, went to Smithfield to hear some preaching going forward, which there was to a great extent, one whereof was a real enthusiast and on whom there was a deal of arguing by some of the mob.  After he had done, we walked together a short distance, but was interrupted by two ladies who entered into conversation with him, after which I saw … .

Monday 20th April 1846

(From the Times newspaper) ‘Melancholy Event’.  Died on the 20th instant in her 31st year of rapid consumption, Ann, the beloved wife of Mr Henry Oliver Nodes of No 7 Chapel Street, Tottenham Court Road.  A former mistress of mine whose service I left about May 1842 owing to a misunderstanding arising between us, in which she called me a fool, to which I made answer ditto, hastily, but unmeaningly, and which insult she never forgave me, but had me discharged forthwith without notice but with a week’s wages instead.

Tuesday 21st April 1846

Received first information of Mr George Lea this afternoon of the death of Mrs Nodes.

Thursday 23rd April 1846

Died at the stables, Eccleston Wharf, after a strong fit of the gripes, the black horse last bought from a countryman near Oxfordshire about five months back.  It was taken very bad at Willesden, where we sent a load of coals.  It died seemingly in great agony.  George Palmer, weigher and horse keeper, absent from Wharf through illness accompanied by a swollen face.

Saturday 25th April 1846

Mary Duchess of Gloucester, daughter of George III, this day completes her 70th year.  Diabolical murder and apprehension of the assassin.  This evening, about 20 minutes to 9 o’clock, a murder was committed by a youth aged 16 by name John Graham on the body of Thomas Blewitt aged 36 by shooting him with a pistol in the open street by Morgan’s Cook Shop in Drury Lane, near Princes Street.  The bullet entered his right breast and came out through the shoulder bone.  No motive is yet known for the act.

Sunday 26th April 1846

Wet morning, went to Anchor Coffee House, Dean Street, and then to breakfast at home.  After ditto went strolling about to find church and could not.  Went in coffee shop, Snow Hill, and read news of the week.  After dinner took walk through Seven Dials, where I bought a small oil painting on wood in plain gilt frame which I suppose to be Shakespeare.  Had tea with Granny Shepard in Richmonds Buildings, afterwards went to 7 Chapel Street, Tottenham Court Road, to see the outside case to receive lead coffin which will contain the body of Mrs Ann Nodes, lately deceased, and which is of curious workmanship being one and a half inch oak, smoothed and polished with mouldings and plinth round the lid to fit, and four pairs of brass handles after the style of the Quakers.  From thence went to see Ann at Mrs Kennington in Stephen Street.  There regaled ourselves a little unlawfully …. and kitchen.  Supped there - bread, cheese and ale, and returned home afterward.

Monday 27th April 1846

The ‘Bet’ Barge sunk in the cut during the night laden with 42 tons Russell’s, Hetton, Wallsend, which with the late death of one horse, and lameness of another put us to … Mrs Nodes … .

Tuesday 28th April 1846

Mr Lea and Lloyd went to Barnet to see Mrs Lea.  Had tea with the maids, which saved me a penny (a penny saved is a penny gained).

Wednesday 29th April 1846

Received information from Mother of the Marshalls going to leave their lodgings in the second floor Richmonds Buildings, and the intention of Granny Shepard’s moving thence if terms can be agreed upon between the landlord and her, but at present it is only talked of.

Thursday 30th April 1846

Purchased five maps – parts of London and its suburbs – dated 1790 to 1800, in Peter Street, Westminster, corner of Great Smith Street.

I observed for the first time this month that there is a clock put up to the church of St Paul Knightsbridge (not before it needed).

Coals sold at Wharf this month: 1803 tons 2 sacks.

Weather this month cold with much rain, nay I think this has been the coldest month this year (though no frost).

There is now a great improvement being made in front of Chelsea College.  Formerly, when you got to the end of Hospital Row and wanted to get to Cheyne Walk, you passed through an iron gate into a narrow pathway with railings each side; in width it would not have admitted more than three persons abreast.  It is now thrown open wide and a foot and carriage way making; the former is already paved and the latter now making.  This will be a great convenience for the inhabitants thereabouts having horses and vehicles, for now they have to go round the garden fronting the Hospital nearly half a mile, whereas they will soon be able to go straight through, thereby saving time, horseflesh and carriage wear.  (This road with Hospital Row has since been named ‘Queen’s Road’).

It may not be unworthy of remark that the first house finished and let in New Oxford Street is a public house just east of Bedford Chapel, the sign of ‘The Crown’ – landlord’s name Smith.  The buildings hereabouts are growing up at a rapid rate.

The old fishmonger’s shop in the north side of the Strand, adjoining Temple Bar, which retained the ancient penthouse, one of the time before plate glass was in panes taking the whole front, when shopkeepers cried aloud to passers by ‘What do ye lack?’, has been taken down to give room for a modern erection.

Nathaniel Bryceson's adventures continue in May