Norfolk Annals Volume I Part 82

APRIL.

12.-William Thirkettle, 27; William Pye, 32; and Gilpin Reynolds, 24, were executed on Castle Hill, Norwich, the first-named for the attempted murder of his wife, and the others for arson.

14.-The two troops of the King's Own Light Dragoons marched from Norwich for Hampton Court and Kensington Barracks.

25.-The Yarmouth Port and Haven Bill was considered by the House of Commons' Committee, presided over by Mr. William Windham. On the 28th the pet.i.tioners announced the abandonment of the Bill.

30.-The Bishop of Rochester, officiating for the Bishop of Norwich (who was then in his 90th year), confirmed 1,700 persons at North Walsham. On subsequent days 1,000 were confirmed at Holt, and 1,050 at Diss.

-Fifty-four convicts, sentenced at the County a.s.sizes and Sessions to transportation, were taken on board the Sarah (Capt. Moore), lying in Norwich river. "The hatchways were closed at twenty minutes after two in the morning, and this London trader sailed immediately for Lowestoft, which harbour was reached about eleven o'clock; in three hours the vessel was out of sight and on her way to Portsmouth. Their being sent off by sea (through the Norwich and Lowestoft Navigation) instead of by land conveyance will be a very considerable saving of expense to the county of Norfolk."

MAY.

1.-Mr. Charles Turner and Mr. William Moore were returned to the Court of Aldermen, who elected the former as Mayor of Norwich for the year ensuing.

-May Day was celebrated at Lynn with the usual display of garlands and devices emblematical of the season, by persons arrayed in fancy costumes.

5.-Two troops of the 2nd Queen's Dragoon Guards, under the command of Major Kearney, marched into Norwich Barracks from Nottingham, to relieve the 3rd Dragoons, who, on the same day, marched for Ipswich.

8.-The leading postmasters of Norwich announced that they had reduced the rate of posting to 1s. 4d. per mile.

13.-A pet.i.tion to Parliament against the proposed measure for separating religious instruction from the system of education hitherto prevailing at the Universities was unanimously adopted at a meeting summoned by requisition and held at the Guildhall, Norwich, under the presidency of the Mayor (Mr. Bignold).

16.-The dwelling-house, outbuildings, and corn stacks of Mr. Helsden Larner, at North Walsham, were destroyed by fire. A labourer named Jeremiah Cutting was buried beneath the falling roof of the stable and burned to death.

21.-The West Norfolk Agricultural a.s.sociation held its first annual meeting at Downham Market. A second division of the society was formed at Fakenham on June 19th.

26.-A new drama, ent.i.tled, "Sir Roger de Coverley, or the Old English Gentleman," written by Mr. G. Smith, second son of the manager, was produced for the first time at Norwich Theatre. It was described as "a composition which exhibited talent of no common order."

28.-The King's birthday was observed in Norwich with great festivity.

The first business at the special a.s.sembly of the Corporation was to pa.s.s an address of congratulation to his Majesty, "praying him not to sanction the proposed measure for admitting Dissenters to graduate in the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge." The Mayor and Corporation then went to service at the Cathedral, and at noon the Queen's Bays fired a _feu de joie_ in the Market Place. The officers were entertained at the Guildhall, the sum of 5 was distributed among the privates, and in the evening the Mayor (Mr. Bignold) gave a dinner at Chapel Field House.

29.-Died at Hingham, aged 93, the Right Hon. Lord Wodehouse. He was elevated from a baronetcy to a seat in the House of Lords in 1797, after having represented the county for many years. His lords.h.i.+p was succeeded in his t.i.tle and estates by Col. Wodehouse, Lord Lieutenant of the county. The remains of the deceased n.o.bleman were buried at Kimberley with great pomp on June 9th.

31.-At the close of the Norwich theatrical season, Mr. George Smith delivered an address, in which he lamented that "theatrical taste had of late years declined in the city, either from commercial depression or from the still more fatal growth of indifference."

JUNE.

13.-Died at Southampton, aged 65, Rear-Admiral Manby, of Northwold. He was one of the companions of Captain Vancouver, in his voyage round the world; was actively employed in conveying troops to Ireland at the time of the Rebellion; and during the war with France commanded the Bourdelais, Thalia, and Africaine frigates on various important services.

Admiral Manby was a native of Norfolk.

17.-Guild Day was observed in Norwich. "When the civic procession arrived at the west door of the Cathedral, the nine knocks were given according to immemorial usage, and the Corporation pa.s.sed in regular order through the rush-strewn nave." The Latin oration at the porch of the Free Grammar School was delivered by Fred Norgate, youngest son of Mr. T. S. Norgate, of Hethersett; Mr. Charles Turner was sworn in as Mayor at the Guildhall, and entertained 800 guests at the Guild feast held at St. Andrew's Hall. The festivities concluded with a ball at the a.s.sembly Rooms.

18.-The great cricket match, Yorks.h.i.+re _v._ Norfolk, for 100 gs. a side, commenced on the Norwich ground, and was continued on the 19th. Among the players were Marsden, Dearman, and the three Pilches. Norfolk: 1st innings, 216 (Fuller Pilch 87); 2nd innings, 91. Yorks.h.i.+re: 1st innings, 37; 2nd innings, 97. The return match was commenced on Hyde Park Ground, Sheffield, on July 21st, when Yorks.h.i.+re won by 123 runs. Yorks.h.i.+re: 1st innings, 191; 2nd innings, 296. Norfolk: 1st innings, 75; 2nd innings, 289. Norfolk abandoned the match in consequence of the rain. "Many thought that with three bats to go in and Fuller Pilch still standing, the game might have been won had there been the means of playing it out."

21.-A severe thunderstorm occurred. Many cattle were killed by lightning, and the tower of Redenhall church sustained considerable damage.

27.-Died at Yarmouth, aged 92, Mrs. Hannah Diboll, "the celebrated twisterer, who had been accustomed from childhood to rise every morning at four o'clock, and persevered in the practice till within two or three years of her death."

JULY.

12.-The public gaslamps in Norwich at this date numbered 423, and the lighting of the city cost upwards of 2,000 per annum.

18.-Mr. Richard Hanbury Gurney, formerly one of the Parliamentary representatives of Norwich, was presented with a ma.s.sive silver candelabrum, purchased with the subscriptions of 1,250 citizens, chiefly of the working cla.s.ses, "in testimony of their regard for his universal benevolence and sincerity in upholding the just rights of mankind, and of their admiration of his inflexible advocacy in the Senate to obtain for his country a salutary reform in the House of Commons."

19.*-"Died, a few days since, in his 62nd year, Mr. Philip Mallet Case, of Testerton House. On Sunday, July 13th, his remains were deposited in the family vault at Dunton. The procession from Testerton to the place of interment was respectably and numerously attended, and it is computed that there were no less than 3,000 persons present."

26.-Died in Clarges Street, London, aged 30, Lord James Henry FitzRoy, youngest son of the Duke of Grafton. His lords.h.i.+p was a captain in the 10th Hussars, and had represented Thetford since 1831.

-*"One of the attractions at Norwich Theatre during the a.s.size week was the unique and wonderful invention patented and exhibited by Mr. H.

Childe, called Dissolvent Views."

26.*-"Died, last week, in the 105th year of her age, Mary Wratham, widow, Downham Market."

27.-Died at Litcham, Captain Thomas Edward Hoste, R.N., aged 40. He was fifth son of the Rev. Dixon Hoste, rector of t.i.ttleshall and G.o.dwick, and commenced his career at the age of 13, on the Amphion, commanded by his distinguished brother, Sir William Hoste. In 1809 he joined the Spartan frigate, served in the Mediterranean, Ireland, and South America, was promoted Commander in 1825, and was for a short time employed in coastguard service.

31.-The great doors at the west entrance to Norwich Cathedral were taken down for restoration and repair. "They had maintained their honourable station upwards of 400 years, and had received nine times that number of knocks on the Guild Day for the admission of the Corporation to Divine service."

AUGUST.

1.-The termination of slavery in the British possessions on this day was celebrated by a "Negro Jubilee" _fete_, given at Sheringham by Mrs.

Upcher and her family, and by special services at the churches and chapels in Norwich.

8.-The Earl of Euston was elected, unopposed, representative of the borough of Thetford, in succession to Lord James FitzRoy, deceased.

-A case of great importance was tried by a special jury in the Sheriff's Court at Norwich. John Burrows, a butcher, had refused to pay the stallage charged by the Corporation for his meat stall in the Market Place, on the ground that the patent of his freedom exempted him from such charges. The Corporation, in an action against him, recovered the charges, which amounted to 16s. 4d., and defendant had suffered judgment to go by default. The special jury now found for the full amount claimed. Defendant resisted payment, and in the second week of September was arrested by virtue of a special writ, taken to London, and by Mr.

Baron Alderson was committed to the Fleet Prison. At a quarterly a.s.sembly of the Corporation, on Sept. 22nd, Mr. William Wilde moved that it be an instruction to the Market Committee not to collect stallage in future from freemen selling provisions. Burrows had acted on the advice of the Munic.i.p.al Commissioners in this matter, and these proceedings would probably be his ruin. The motion was negatived by 19 votes to 9.

9.*-"Workmen excavating at the lower part of the west side of Exchange Street have found a number of human skulls and bones. This was the site of the church of St. Crowche or St. Cross, and the public-house by the name of the Hole-in-the-Wall was built upon it. The church was demolished on October 14th, 1551, and the parish consolidated with St.

John Maddermarket."

18.-A meeting was held at the Guildhall, Norwich, at which Mr. Gibbs, C.E., explained the facilities and advantages of a projected railroad from London to Dunmow, and thence to Norwich, with a branch to Cambridge, and an ultimate extension to the North of England. The length of line from Whitechapel to Norwich would be 97 miles; the cost of construction and compensation for land 1,000,000, and of machinery, depots, &c., 600,000. On the motion of Mr. Samuel Bignold, a provisional committee was formed for the purpose of promoting the object. On August 30th notice was given that application would be made in the next Session of Parliament for the construction of "the grand Eastern Counties Railway"

from London to Norwich and Yarmouth, _via_ Romford, Chelmsford, Colchester, Ipswich, and Eye, at the estimated cost of 1,500,000, to be raised in 30,000 shares of 50 each. A meeting was held at the Guildhall on Sept. 13th, for the purpose of considering the expediency of forming a railway from London to Norwich _via_ Bishop's Stortford, Cambridge, and Bury, to join the trunk of the Grand Northern Railway from London to York, Leeds, and Hull. Mr. William Cundy, C.E., described the plans, stating that in less than 18 months the railway from London to Norwich would be completed; and said that the estimated cost was 1,600,000. A local committee was appointed to enquire into the merits of the respective schemes. A public meeting of the county gentry and representatives of the agricultural and commercial interests was held at the Guildhall on October 16th, at which the committee reported that the line proposed by Mr. Gibbs was best ent.i.tled to the support of the city and county.

26.-Mr. John Marshall was elected freemen's Sheriff at Norwich by 817 votes, as against 585 recorded for Mr. John Culley.

31.-A terrible panic took place at St. Margaret's church, Lynn, owing to the failure of the gas. A rush was made for the doors, and a lad who fell from the organ loft received dreadful injuries.

SEPTEMBER.