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Twickenham United Reformed Church

Local History: The Journal of Abraham Slade 1817-1903

Introduction and Prologue 1856-57 1858-59
1860-61 1862-67 1868-80 1881-86 1887-1903

- 1881 -

The great piramidal eventful year as foretold by Piazzia Smith, Royal Astronomer of Scotland. What will this year make, this being the 4 day of Jan... Trade very slack, many out of work - myself better, my wife ill, the rest well - all my houses let, rents coming in slowly - Christmas went off quiet, am glad it is over - just bought a Collard piano for 28 gu's... I am expecting great events this year - most likely the Jews will return to Palestine... Had letters from Arch'd in N.Zealand. He wishes himself home again.

Jan. 18th. A dreadful hurricane from the N.East. Snow drift in some places 14 ft deep. All traffic and railways suspended... A sheep was roasted on the Thames opposite the ait on the 21. Myself and my son T.Edward walked up as far as the end of the ait on the ice. It was quite a fair, and photographs &tc. &tc.;

24th. Proposed... at Church Meeting... that a new Chapel be built - only 21 presant out of 148 members - I protested against it and pointed out the great expense of keeping up two places, as Mr Brown proposes to make the old chapel into schoolrooms. He distinctly told those presant unless they built a new chapel or had a co pastor, that he should leave Twickenham and go to some obscure place and preach. I cannot help remarking that I find parsons, in general, a lot of opinionated upstarts... Brown is a good fellow, but bigoted to Baptist principles, which we cannot wonder at...

31st. ...The frost and snow all gone... A wonderful lot out of employ. we have given away soup and bread at the chapel school room for the last 12 days. ...

March. Went to Upton - sent for by telegraph. My poor sister Mary dangerously ill - stayed 3 days, left her a little better.

April 4th. Rode 8 miles before breakfast on my Tricycle - the same for several mornings; one morning rode 14 miles, felt but little fatigue...

Sat. May 28. Went to tricycle meet at Ealing - fine day and good meet. ...

June 18th. Mr Brown purchased a plot of ground at St Margarets to put up a Mission Hall to cost 600£ - the land cost £400 - 1 thous'd in all. The Church (some unwillingly, myself included) agreed to purchase the above for £600 when finished - we agreed to find a preacher help for Mr Brown at a salary of £105 a year...

21. ...Went to Chertsey bridge, Laleham, Hanworth & home after tea: horse, Tom, & village cart. Enjoyed the ride... Have purchased omnycicle. Went to Wokingham with horse cart & Tedd rode it home. Had a very hot day & dusty. ...

July 15. A remarkable day. The hottest that was known in England. Glass stood at 144 Fahrt. at 2 in the afternoon, over 130 in the shade... A terrible thunderstorm this evening. The haycrops are light, but very good.

16. Turned my horse out in Hanworth Park. Rode the tricycle with Tedd, found it very hot. Saw a baloon (very near) coming home.

17. Mr Brown has a tent erected in the field intended for the new chapel. Preaching to be nearly every night for a month.

22nd. Julia & self went to North Wales... The weather was very stormy nearly the whole of the 3 weeks while we were away. Came home just in time to join in the last service in Mr Brown's tent - this tent has been a success. Many herd the gospel for the 1st time. ...

[Aug] 22. Julia & self went to Huddersfield - staid 3 clear days - I like the place ...

28th. ...Rode the tricycle to Walton & Ersham, back over Moulsey bridge through Bushey Park. Time 3H. 2m. Took it very easy. ...

Oct. 11. Julia & G.P.Norton married this morning by E.H.Brown at the Baptist Chapel Twickenham...

12. Opening Mission Hall at Whitton well attended. Dr Leeson proprietor...

18. The Mission Hall at St Margarets fondation stone laid by Mr Denny and placed on it £50 cheque - tea and sermon by Arch'd Brown in the Town Hall. Had a good meeting... I have again been elected Deacon although I objected the Church would not hear it. J.N.Goatly also added to the Deaconite making 5 in all ...

[Dec] 27. Just rec'd the news of the decease of Sister Mary Tanner after a long and painful illness... on Christmas day in the evening aged 67 years...

- 1882

... Feb. 11th. Archie landed at Gravesend to day from N. Zealand, safe and sound.

14th. St Margarets Baptist Church opened by Arch'd Brown. Had a door fall on my right foot which prevented me hearing him preach.

17th. Went to Agricultural Hall to see the Tricycle Exhibition. Saw several new inventions - enjoyed it very much. 18th. ...Bought a piece of land at Chestnut Grove of Mr Rushton for 75 pounds.

March 21. ...Last Saturday Archie and I rode 18 miles on the two Tricycles. Sent my nephew Jacob Tanner a presant (wedding), teapot, cost 21/-. Last night herd Hindoo Missionary in Baptist chapel "very good"... Archie rep drains at Apsley Villas.

21st. March. Miss Draught has left Carnarvon Villas and behaved very bad... Have let the house to Revd Gliddon, Congregational Minister. Had it done up all through inside and out.

April 6. Went to Huddersfield from Kings Cross by G.N.R. 4` hours, distance 181 miles. Enjoyed the holiday... came home on 12th. Weather fine. June. Building two freehold cottages corner Chesnut Grove, i.e. Chesnut Terrace.

Aug. 3. Went to Huddersfield.

4. G.Norton & I left Huddersfield by Manchester for Liverpool, dined in the latter. Started at 4p.m. in the Princess Alice for the North. Arrived in Stromness on Monday about 11a.m... This is a very bleak place. Although in London the weather was hot, we could scarce keep warm in our overcoats. There are no hedges or trees, but a rough looking wild country...

8th. Started for Aberdeen - had a fine run by John O'Groats, with good company and fine ship.

9. Went to Balmoral, Breamer and returned in the evening... 9th. ...I went by rail to Inverness...

10th Down the Canal to Oban, staid there till Tuesday 13, went round Mull, Staffa, Iona by the boat...

15. Left Granton by boat for London. Got into town on the 22nd after a splendid trip... Arrived home to Twickenham... having lost my rhumatism - should recommend all person afflicted with it to take the same trip.

Sept. 29. Got the cottages up and both let - at corner Chesnut Grove.

Oct. 8th. Went by G.W. Rail to Upton. Took the tricycle safe & sound...

Dec. 25th. Christmas Day. Weather wet. Had to dinner all our family (except Mrs G.S. & Mrs Norton) - 17 including servants. Ike showed the children the magic lantern and we all enjoyed ourselves (no stimulants were used)... ...

- 1883

Jan. 1st. Watchnight services at all the Churches and Chapels. Mr Brown gave tea to about 30 old people at his own home. ...

Feb. 5th. Went to Agricultural Hall with Mrs Slade to see the Tricycle show... one or two inventions, but I don't think much of them for rough practice. ...

17th. Went for a ride with wife - the water was so high that we could not go along the road from Hampton to Sunbury - or from do. to the Green at Hampton Court. Had Bradbury gardening at Bute Villa cutting trees and planting etc... ...

[March] 5. ...Alfred Taylor is remooving into Kneller Villa from Bute Villa. ... 14. Began the rooms at Bute Villa. Weather fine. May 20. Began removing to Bute Villa. ...

June 1st. My garden is looking very fair considering the short time in my possession. Taylor gave up the house and part of the garden 10 days before the 25th March, but would not give up the shed and the whole of the premises till the 25th. ...

12th. Have the middle cottage empty, also a change of tenants at Burlington House, Kingston - having left after being in 5 months he gave Howard, the former tenant, £4.10.0, and sold it for £32.10 to the presant tenant, C.E.Pickard. ...

19. Went with Julia to Fish Exhibition at Kensington and enjoyed it very much. The exhibition is very fine - Boats, moddles, pictures, nets and everything belonging to the great deep to be seen.

July 19th. Went to Cowley Mission Hall in the evening. Herd the man from Wimbledon play on the concertina and sing. Several souls were seeking for salvation; some signed the pledge... ...

22. Got my house papered and varnished at last... ...

Oct. Went to Huddersfield. Saw the exhibition of weaving machinery... then to Grange and up Windermere lake to Ambelside, from there to Keswick... the coach ride, 18 miles, from Ambelside to Keswick is the finest imaginable. The large hotels are very expensive, but I try to avoid the stiff necked waiters and all this pompous show for something more humble and find people more moderate in their views. On the whole I got on very well and enjoyed the trip amazingly.

Oct. 12th. went down to Brighton from Tuesday to Sat... ...

- 1884

New Years Day. Tea party at Chapel before watch night service which was very good.

Jan. 2nd. Mr Brown our Minister is gone to Rouen for 3 months... ...

[Feb] 5th. Went to the Stanley Tricycle Show at the Floral Hall, Covent Garden. Bought myself a new machine £23 with 30%.[£16 has been crossed through so 30% may be the discount] ...

16th. My poor boy Ike is come home ill. I am afraid it is typhoid fever. 21. Ikey seems a trifle better, but still very ill... Myself laid up with rhumatism in my right knee for the last 9 days. I am now using an embrocation made of 1 part vinegar, 1 do. turpentine, 1 yolk of egg, 3d spirit of camphor made into ` pint and rub in once or twice a day. I find benefit in it and hope soon to be able to ride my new tricycle... Trade is bad and many out of employ. My shop in the Richmond Road is now closed...

May. Mrs S. went to Weymouth suffering from rhumatism and indigestion. I went to Bournemouth for a fortnight... ...

June 7th. Came home from do.[Weymouth]. Wife better but not quite well. Had a tricycle made at Brixton, cost £20 - but dont like it - goes very stiff. ...

July 27th. Went to Wincanton... Went to Upton Saturday, then to Weymouth... Came home on Aug 13th.

Sep. 3. Willie & self to Ramsgate... returned on Sat 6th... ...

Grey advert 1885 - 1885

... Feb. 2. Went to tricycle show at Thames embankment. Last week the Tower of London, Houses Parliament partly blown up by dynamite. 6th. My birthday once more. Had old Mrs Corp, E.H.Brown & wife to tea with us. Was again elected deacon with Messrs Corp, A.Deayton, F.Ayland, J.N.Goatly - i.e. all the old ones without opposition...

April 24th. Wife & self been to Weymouth for a fortnight. Had my tricycle down by train... Had one ride up to Hard's Monument, 9 miles from town... I think these rides in the country on the try-[cycle] are the most enjoyable of any thing I ever experianced. ...

Aug. 8th. Mrs & self to Ramsgate for 12 days...

17. Went to Burnham 5 days, saw the regatta - went over to Weston Supermare, saw the regatta - this was a very fine sight...

Nov. 14. Mrs & self went to Brighton. Stayed at 186 Western Rd, Mrs Mabeys... 17 days, only about 4 fine... Rode on the electric railway - saw the aquarium. Got a new hand gear for my tricycle by Grey, 290 Essex Road, Islington [see 1885 advert] - a great help to me. Have been obliged to lower all my rents to keep my tenants. Have 3 empty houses and things are very gloomy at presant.

[Dec] 7. Went to Isleworth Court. Was admitted to the ground purchased from Mrs Oliver's Executors for 310£ excluding expenses... Feel better since returning from Brighton... ...

[Dec.] 25th. Christmas day. Weather mild. Had 19 to dinner, all except Edwd and wife... ...

- 1886

... [Jan] 3rd. Julia and I went to the Albert Hall & herd the Messiah splendidly sung. ...

8th. Snow & frost still continues... Got 2 cottages and one shop empty - things are very bad, many out of employ and the weather sharp and cold...

13th. ...The times we live in are very eventful - thousands walking about crying for bread or work, still workmen are on strike and their children starving. I bless God for his mercies to me and mine... ...

16. Went to the tricycle show at the Aquarium enjoyed it much. We have just had a week of evangelical preaching every evening by Mrs Packer from London... I pray some may be born again and stand fast in the time of trouble when London has been convulsed by rioting - the roughs have had it all their own way for one day at least and very much damage has been done to property. The country all through is crying out by starving men & women out of work. What the end of these things will be nobody can tell... ...

May 10th. ...All my houses let at presant. No 2 Carlton Villas leaves at Midsummer - Isaac's shop now empty - my garden looking well. Bought a new Assigers folder for £12 a splendid machine but not good at hill work - have had some good rides on the old machine. Myself & wife going to Huddersfield to morrow. ...

June 5th. Mr Peake and I rode our mach's to Littleton, Laleham, by the side of the Thames to Chertsey Bridge & home by Shepperton, Sunbury and Hampton. Time 3` hours - In the evening of same day I rode down the Isleworth Rd to Hounslow Station and home by Whitton and cemetry road. Went to prayer meeting afterwards.. House letting is very bad at presant...

12. Went to Upton... by train to Westbury, Salisbury, Southampton then by boat to Isle Wight. Then to Southsea, saw over the dockyard, saw Maria & family and home the Saturday 19th.

July 3. Rode tricycle to Goshen after tea, 19 miles. The roads in some places were very loose & stoney - the main road at Esher excellent. Have let No 2 Carlton Villas to Mr C.H.Stoodley...

Sunday 4th July. Had a good day - had Mr C.Deayton, son & daughter [to] dinner & the young people to tea.

16. Started for North Wales... ... [Sept] 8th. Miss Corp leaves for China Mission - Miss Crab from Maiden Bradley have sent us some mushrooms.

Saturday 2nd Oct. Went to Teddington, took some pears for Gould. Came home, had a cup of tea and found I could not swallow. My throat was very sore and was obliged to send for Dr Leeson - For 3 weeks I was in agony by my throat and very bad cough.

Oct. 15th. Self & wife went to Bournemouth, had apartments at Julia Tanner's... I had 6 Turkish baths that quite got rid of the cough... ...

[Dec] 25th. Christmas Day. Weather very fine... Altogether 19 sat down to dinner so we had a good gathering and all went off well - plenty of singing, piano, violin and xmas cards innumerable - where they all come from I don't know... ...


Introduction and Prologue 1856-57 1858-59 1860-61 1862-67 1868-80 1881-86 1887-1903


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