27/10/2025
📜 On This Day in West Middlesex 📜
27th October 1859 - Runaway Apprentice in Brentford 🍞
An apprentice baker from the Brentford Union ran away from his master’s bakery, fleeing as far as Kingston while out on errands. He later claimed he had been ill-treated by his master, Mr William PHIPPS of Brentford High Street. Mr Phipps brought charges against the boy stating that he had been very negligent, and stayed out with ‘bad connections’
When the case came before Brentford Petty Sessions in January 1860, the boy alleged frequent mistreatment. Mr Phipps denied this, though he admitted he had once kicked the boy “on the bottom” after the lad lost his temper and ruined a batch of bread, costing the bakery a customer. He had not meant to hurt him, and admitted that the description of the act was accurate.
Mr Brown, master of the Union, spoke up for the boy’s good character — but the bench sided with Mr Phipps. They told the boy that if he had been chastised, it was because he bought it on himself in consequence of his bad behaviour. They ordered the apprentice back to his master, and if he did not treat him properly he should make a complaint to the Guardians at the Union. He was warned that if he did this again, he stood a fair chance of being sent to prison.
So far, the identity of the boy is unknown.
William Phipps remained a fixture on Brentford High Street for the next 20 years, until his death in 1886. He had seven children, including three that became bakers. His wife Sarah Ann took over the bakery business with her children until she passed away in 1898.
