Norfolk Annals Volume I Part 109

MAY.

8.-The Norfolk Yeomanry Cavalry commenced eight days' permanent duty at Cromer.

9.*-"During the last week as many as 18 seaborne vessels, _via_ Lowestoft, many of them of considerable burden, have been lying at Foundry Bridge, Norwich, laden with c.o.ke, coals, and other materials, for delivery at the railway station. This proves how excellent and how practical was the plan of our late fellow-citizen, Mr. Crisp Brown, and must cause universal regret that it then failed."

18.-An inquest was opened at Happisburgh by Mr. Pilgrim, one of the County Coroners, upon the bodies of Jonathan b.a.l.l.s, his wife, and four grandchildren, who were believed to have been poisoned. The bodies had been exhumed, and were placed in a tent erected in the churchyard; peace officers were sworn to prevent the incensed villagers from rus.h.i.+ng into the tent. Several other bodies were disinterred, and in nearly every instance traces of a.r.s.enic were found. At the adjourned inquiry some curious facts were elicited. Suspicion pointed to b.a.l.l.s as having destroyed his wife and grandchildren, and then poisoned himself. His conduct years previously had been suspicious, children having died suddenly while at his house. What number of persons had been thus destroyed it was impossible to ascertain. The jury found that, in the majority of the cases, death resulted from the effects of poison, but how it was administered there was no evidence to show.

26.-The bells of St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich, were rung on the reception of the news of the birth, on the previous day, of a Princess (Princess Helena Augusta Victoria).

31.-Died at Kimberley Hall, in his 76th year, the Right Hon. John Baron Wodehouse. He was born January 11th, 1771, and married November 18th, 1796, Charlotte Laura, only child and heiress of Mr. John Norris, of Witton Park. He succeeded to the peerage on the death of his father in 1834. He was made Lord Lieutenant of the county and Vice-Admiral of the coast in the room of Lord Suffield in 1821, and he had also served as Colonel of the East Norfolk Militia, and was Steward of Norwich Cathedral. His lords.h.i.+p was succeeded in his t.i.tle and estates by his grandson, John Gurdon Wodehouse, son of Henry Wodehouse and of Anne, only daughter of Mr. T. T. Gurdon. The deceased n.o.bleman was a staunch Conservative. "He was of commanding appearance, both in personal figure and dignity of deportment. During the contest for the representation of Norfolk in 1806 it was remarked with perfect truth that three finer men or more perfect gentlemen than Mr. Windham, Mr. c.o.ke, and Col. Wodehouse never presented themselves together as candidates for the electoral suffrages of a great county."

JUNE.

5.-A fire occurred at St. James's Factory, Norwich. Upwards of one thousand persons were, in consequence, thrown out of employment.

25.-The first meeting of a new archery society, known as the West Norfolk Bowmen, of which Sir William B. ffolkes was "Prime Warden," and Lady ffolkes "Lady Patroness," was held at Reffley Wood, near King's Lynn.

27.-The first excursion train from London arrived at Norwich. It conveyed 800 pa.s.sengers, who left Sh.o.r.editch at one p.m., and reached Norwich at eight p.m. The first excursion train from Yarmouth to London was run on June 29th. "There were 1,500 persons when it left Trowse Station at a quarter to nine, in 37 carriages. The pa.s.sengers had increased to 2,000, and the carriages to 52, before it reached London, at 5.15 p.m." The return fare was 7s. 6d. On June 30th 6,000 pa.s.sengers were conveyed by two special cheap trains to Yarmouth and back. Hundreds of Nonconformist Sunday School children were taken at threepence a head, and the return fare for ordinary pa.s.sengers was one s.h.i.+lling. Ten thousand persons a.s.sembled at Thorpe Station to witness the return of the excursionists.

JULY.

3.-A cricket match was played on the Norwich Ground, between eleven resident members of the Norwich Club and the Messrs. Colman (eleven brothers). In the first innings the club headed their opponents by five runs only, and in the second innings had 50 runs to get. At eight o'clock, when the wickets were drawn, they had obtained 22 runs for four wickets. Scores: The Messrs. Colman, 87-54; the Club, 92-22. Game unfinished. The following were the Colmans:-Samuel, Joseph, William, Barnard, Thomas, Jeremiah, Henry, Edward, James, Robert, and John.

4.-The great heat on this day so affected the iron Swing Bridge at Trowse as to prevent its being opened for the accommodation of the river traffic. At the magisterial proceedings which followed, it was urged in defence that the heat caused the ironwork to expand.

9.-The first direct communication from Norwich to London was made through the medium of the electric telegraph.

-An experimental trip from London to Rotterdam was made by the railway company, _via_ Norwich and Yarmouth. The railway journey was performed in 3 hrs. 35 mins. 15 secs., and was more successful than the trip by the steamer known as the Norfolk. On the return voyage the crew were under the influence of drink, bad weather was experienced, and the vessel got out of her course. The boiler of the engine of the return train to London burst when a mile and a half from Ely, and the excursionists alighted from the carriages and walked to that city. The Norfolk afterwards plied regularly between Yarmouth and Rotterdam.

12.-Died, Charlotte Elizabeth, wife of Mr. Lewis Tonna and only daughter of the Rev. Michael Browne, Minor Canon of Norwich Cathedral. She edited "The Christian Ladies' Magazine," and was the author of "Letters from Ireland," and of many religious works.

20.-Norwich Theatre was opened, under the management of Mr. Davenport, who had become lessee of the circuit, in place of Mr. Abington. He announced that "he would be able to avail himself of the occasional services of his daughter, the eminent actress." The company included Mr.

L. Melville, Mr. Henry Loraine, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Cranfield, and Mr. J.

Clarence. It was said to be better than Mr. Abington's company, but inferior to that of Mr. George Smith.

27.-A match between the Norfolk Cricket Club and Marylebone commenced at Lord's, and finished on the 28th. Marylebone, 117-122; Norfolk, 119-32.

The return match was played at Swaffham on August 10th, 11th, and 12th.

Marylebone, 52-149; Norfolk, 86-82.

28.-Died, aged 49, Mr. John Hill, nearly 20 years chorus-master of the Norfolk and Norwich Musical Festival.

-Died at Bath, aged 58, Lieut.-Col. Richard Brunton, youngest son of Mr.

John Brunton, manager of Norwich Theatre, and brother of the Dowager Countess Craven. He entered the Army young, and went through the Peninsula War. He was several times wounded, and had his lip shot away.

"He was in the same battle in which several Norwich men were wounded in the leg, one of whom was Mr. R. Blake. He was also wounded at Waterloo, in defending the baggage from an attack by the enemy. He joined his regiment (the 13th Light Dragoons) in India in 1819, and brought it home, having the command of it, about five or six years since. Whilst lying in Norwich with the regiment, in 1841 and 1842, he was universally beloved by both officers and men." Col. Brunton married the widow of Col.

Wallace, but left no family.

AUGUST.

1.-The first consignment of foreign beasts were sold on Norwich Hill by Mr. Stephen Fromow. Dutch bullocks made 13 10s. each, and Dutch lambs from 9s. to 20s. each. "No doubt a regular trade will be ultimately established here in foreign stock, but whether to the advantage of any party except the foreign importer time must show."

4.-Lord George Bentinck, M.P., was entertained at dinner at Lynn by "the friends of agricultural protection, as a testimony of their esteem for the public integrity and perseverance displayed by him in the House of Commons during the recent discussion on the Corn Law Importation Bill."

The Earl of Orford, High Steward of Lynn, presided, and one of the princ.i.p.al speakers was Mr. Disraeli, M.P., who had a most enthusiastic reception.

19.-The Provincial Medical and Surgical a.s.sociation held its anniversary meeting at Norwich. Mr. J. G. Crosse was President for the year.

-Died at Ormesby, Capt. Richard Gla.s.spoole. He was President of the Norfolk and Norwich Museum in 184445, and a large contributor to the zoological department of that inst.i.tution.

26.-Died at Norwich Castle, in his 90th year, Mr. William Cole, formerly an attorney at Loddon. "He was committed to prison for debt in January, 1830, and remained there till the time of his death, never having been out of the walls of the prison 16 years and 8 months."

SEPTEMBER.

2.-Burgh Castle, the ancient _Garianonum_, was offered for sale by auction at the Bear Hotel, Yarmouth, by Mr. Pettingill, and was purchased for 1,500 by Sir John P. Boileau, Bart., President of the Norfolk and Norwich Archaeological Society.

OCTOBER.

17.-A meeting of tenant-farmers was held at the Norfolk Hotel, Norwich, presided over by Mr. Leamon, of Whitwell. After addresses by a deputation from the "Total Repeal Malt Tax a.s.sociation," a committee was appointed to form a district branch of the society in Norfolk.

26.-The railways from Lynn to Downham and from Lynn to Narborough were opened on this date.

NOVEMBER.

9.-Mr. Jeremiah Colman was elected Mayor, and Mr. Charles Winter appointed Sheriff of Norwich.

13.-The London markets were, for the first time, "expressed by electric telegraph" in the NORFOLK CHRONICLE. Discussing the possibilities of "this wonderful medium of communication," that journal observed: "A division in the House of Commons after any important debate may be communicated at all stations from London to Yarmouth in a few minutes."

16.-The first recorded canary show in Norwich was held on this date, at the Greyhound Inn, Ber Street, when 300 specimens belonging to a canary club were exhibited.

24.-A trout, weighing 9 lbs., was captured in a net near the New Mills, Norwich.

27.-The Norwich Corporation delegated their powers to the Watch Committee "to appoint a fire brigade of six men, whose business it will be to attend all fires in Norwich with the Corporation engine, which is to be managed by the brigade exclusively. The men in the daytime are to act as common policemen, and to sleep near the station house, where the engine is kept, each night, that they may be ready in case of alarm."

DECEMBER.