Ryde Social Heritage Group research the social history of the citizens of Ryde, Isle of Wight. Documenting their lives, businesses and burial transcriptions.
RYDE SOCIAL HERITAGE GROUP
Based at Ryde Cemetery Heritage & Learning Centre. Preserving, documenting and promoting the social history of Ryde on the Isle of Wight.
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February 1860

Isle of Wight Observer

Feb 4th 1860: CARPENTERS – A deputation of carpenters, belonging to the firm of the Messrs. DASHWOOD, of High-street, waited on their employers on Thursday evening last, for an advance in wages; wishing to be paid the same as other establishments in the same line. As this is one of the head firms in the town, doubtless satisfactory arrangements will be concluded between the employees and the employed.

Feb 4th 1860: TEA MEETING – A social tea meeting took place at Swanmore Chapel on Monday last, which was well attended, after which, addresses were given relative to religious subjects.

Feb 4th 1860: ROYAL EAGLE HOTEL – Annual Harmonic Society reunions are all more hearty because of their rarity. Festoons of laurel, laureltimuses, and other evergreens gave relief and effect to the flags which were suspended from aloft. A novel method of lighting also added to the brilliancy of the scene. Mr. NEWMAN wielded the baton and commenced the convivial proceedings.

Feb 11th 1860: R.V.Y.C. LIFEBOAT – The subscriptions for this laudable purpose now reach £300 and only £50 more is required to complete the full amount necessary to fit out the boat, boathouse and carriage. The Commodore has pleasure in acquainting the members that Grange is the place selected for the Club boat, which is one of the two most eligible situations on the Island coast.

Feb 11th 1860: A HANDSOME LOAF – Let people say what they may ‘ there is something in the appearance of a loaf of bread.’ We like to see the loaf a crusty brown, like farm-house bread, and not as some of our bakers send it out, with all the appearance of having been boiled. Some handsome loaves have been exhibited in the shop window of Messrs. RIDDETT, of Pier-street, made entirely by machinery and have no yeast in their composition.

Feb 11th 1860: LETTER TO THE EDITOR – I visited the cemetery on Sunday afternoon and found an unusual assemblage of people collected in the road, with an “ought not to be” expression painfully depicted on their countenances. The majority had come, like myself, to visit the graves of their relations, and were refused admittance because there were going to be funerals; others more impetuous in temper were making their entry over the walls. At length a respectable tradesman came up and insisted on the doorkeepers that the waiting funerals and attendants be admitted to the chapels and the crowd admitted to the cemetery. The turbulence of the dissatisfaction should be conveyed to the powers that be…. yours respectfully.. A BYSTANDER.

Feb 11th 1860: NARROW ESCAPE FROM FIRE – The inmates of Buckingham Villa were thrown into a state of great excitement about 6 o’clock on Friday evening by the discovery that the floor timbers adjacent to the drawing room fireplace on the first floor were on fire. Fortunately, instead of making a great noise about it, the services of Mr. J. PURNELL, jun., (who thoroughly knows the construction of the house) were secured, in addition to those of the mason. PURNELL was much burnt, but nothing daunted, he persevered and by 7 o’clock everything was extinguished.

Feb 18th 1860: ICE ON THE SHORE – Our shores east and west of the Pier are inundated with small crisp flakes of ice from the depth of one to four feet, according as it is brought and left by the tide. It is formed during the recess of the sea, in the shallow water left in the hollows.

Feb 18th 1860: COAL CLUB – We are pleased to find that one of the really practical benefits for the working man–a coal club–is about to be again formed at the Wheatsheaf Inn, Nelson-street. Its attility is evinced by the fact of this being the fourth anniversary.

Feb 25th 1860: PHILOSOPHICAL & SCIENTIFIC MUSUEM – This society’s exhibition closed on Tuesday last after having been open five days. From what we have heard their collection of photographs and stereotypes was of a most interesting character, though not so numerous as that of last year.

Feb 25th 1860: THE SHORE – The shore east of the Pier is sensibly sinking from its former level, it cannot be denied, but that it is caused by the subscription of gravel and sand for road making and building is not so evident, for the quantity taken away cannot approach that of the surface extent and depth of the shore diminished.