Part 1

Transcribed from the 1810 C. Berry edition by David Price, email [email protected]. Many thanks to Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library, UK, for kindly supplying the images from which this transcription was made.

A CONCISE HISTORY AND DIRECTORY OF THE _CITY OF NORWICH_; For 1811:

Containing besides the LISTS,

A VARIETY OF LOCAL INFORMATION, _USEFUL and INTERESTING_ To RESIDENTS and STRANGERS.

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_Embellished with an engraved Plan of the City_. {0}

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* * * * *

Norwich: Printed by and for C. Berry, jun. Dove-Lane. 1810.

THE _Editor's Address to the Public_.

Nine years have expired since the publication of the last NORWICH DIRECTORY (which was out of print almost as soon as in); during which period, alterations have been constantly taking place in the residence of the inhabitants, independent of those which have been entirely removed by death or otherwise. It will be found of those which were inserted in the former, and are still to be found in this, not half of them remain in the same residence.--He was not aware of the difficulty of obtaining the address of so large a population, or he would have been deterred from the undertaking: he has used his utmost endeavors to render it as correct as possible, and hopes he has made no very flagrant errors or omissions.--The DIRECTORY contains several hundred names more than that before noticed--the historical part is entirely written and compiled for the present purpose--many charitable and public institutions are noticed which cannot be found elsewhere--and the lists are much augmented, and corrected to the present time.--The alphabetical order of the DIRECTORY, is corrected to the first vowel.

He cannot let this opportunity escape, without returning his thanks to several gentlemen who have rendered him information he could not otherwise have obtained.--He writes not for fame, but throws himself on an indulgent public; and should his feeble efforts prove in any degree useful, or meet the approbation of his fellow-citizens, his end is gained.

_NORWICH_, _October_ 19, 1810.

TABLE OF THE _POPULATION of the City and County of NORWICH_, In the Years 1801, 1786, 1752, & 1693.

PARISHES. Houses Persons Persons Persons Persons 1801 1801 1786 1752 1693 St. Peter 123 378 507 425 470 Southgate St. Etheldred 68 252 254 247 243 St. Julian 211 662 846 595 593 St. Peter 316 1350 1362 1408 1376 Permountergate St. John 312 1144 1114 1004 781 Sepulchre St. Michael at 402 1198 1442 1127 865 Thorn St. John 231 888 975 890 668 Timberhill All Saints 176 701 825 578 425 St. Stephen 541 2211 2360 2314 1769 St. Peter 460 2120 2299 2288 1953 Mancroft St. Giles 239 1076 1117 961 910 St. Benedict 227 830 900 715 652 St. Swithin 120 503 643 751 496 St. Margaret 173 662 859 856 664 St. Laurence 269 899 1018 952 668 St. Gregory 221 1057 1113 1202 772 St. John 160 1698 1571 1107 657 Maddermarket St. Andrew 235 1858 1773 1334 935 St. Michael at 77 446 502 482 479 Plea St. Peter 88 371 394 341 267 Hungate St. George 135 750 720 737 722 Tombland St. Simon and 83 333 443 420 362 Jude St. Martin at 253 936 1109 1083 819 Palace St. Helen 80 393 446 386 338 St. Michael 255 1031 1185 1046 1026 Coslany St. Mary 306 1018 1202 1178 949 St. Martin at 370 1747 2153 1698 1243 Oak St. Augustine 402 1232 1899 1226 850 St. George 283 1132 1272 1295 1154 Colegate St. Clement 146 853 800 816 593 St. Edmund 99 446 531 520 370 St. Saviour 225 984 593 810 701 St. Paul 378 1395 1681 1461 983 St. James 251 520 608 696 416 Pockthorp 241 979 1272 1116 732 Heigham 227 854 923 653 544 HAMLETS. Lakenham 89 428 486 165 221 Eaton 38 278 260 226 153 Earlham 12 95 66 68 50 Hellesdon 17 81 108 70 65 Thorpe 17 74 82 36 69 Trowse, Carrow, 89 353 348 386 258 and Bracon Precinct of the 118 616 700 650 Close Norwich Goal 22 Total 8763 36854 40051 36396 28911

A CONCISE _HISTORY OF NORWICH_.

In attempting a brief History of Norwich, it shall be endeavoured, so far as the limits of the design will admit, to consider its situation and extent, foundation and present state, former and present population, memorable events, antiquities, eminent or learned inhabitants, trade, manufactures, &c.

Norwich is situate in 1. 25. E. of London, and in 52. 40. N. latitude; it lies considerably eastward of the centre of the county of Norfolk, of which it is the capital, and indeed it may be considered as the principal city in the eastern district of the kingdom. It occupies the top and sides of a gentle hill, which runs parallel with the river Wensum on its western side; the river suddenly takes an almost western course, and runs through nearly the centre of the city. It is distinguished in the annals of Great Britain for its manufactures, the memorable events that have occurred, its antiquities, and for various other objects which shall be briefly touched upon.

Norwich, in its present state, is said to occupy more ground, comparatively with its population, than any city in the kingdom, being much interspersed with gardens, and it is frequently stiled, a city in an orchard; its shape is irregular, and may not unaptly be compared to a shoulder of mutton--it is full one mile and a half in length, and a mile and quarter broad. It contains thirty four churches and a number of chapels and meeting houses, besides the cathedral; it has five bridges over the river; it was formerly nearly surrounded with a wall, planted with forty two towers and had twelve gates, the former is dilapidated the latter, within a few years have been taken down.

The original foundation of Norwich is not easily asertained; however, it is certain, that the Romans, presently after their establishment in Britain, either erected fortresses near the British towns, or invited the natives to assemble round the Roman military stations; and most of our cities and chief towns occupy the site of such stations, or are in their immediate vicinity, which makes it probable, that Norwich orginated in the decay of (_Venta Icenorum_) Castor, and which the following old distich commemorates.

"Castor was a city when Norwich was none, "And Norwich was built of Castor stone.

Camden says, he had no where met with the name of Norwich previous to the Danish invasion; on the origin of the name, various opinions have been formed; however, there is very little doubt that it received its name from the Saxons, their word _Northwic_, signifying a northern station, castle, or town, and the word occurs on the Saxon coins of various reigns. Blomfield mentions several of these--one in the time of Alfred the Great, about the year 872; another in the early part of the reign of Athelstan about the year 925, and several others; besides three coins minted here of Ethelred, called the _Unready_, of which it seems, some are yet extant; and from which it appears, that Norwich was a place of note before the Danes were in possession of Britain.

The Saxons immediately took advantage of the Romans leaving Britain, to pour in their own troops, under pretence of protecting the natives; but they soon threw off the mask, and erecting fortresses to defend what they had seized, they shortly became possessed of the whole Island. At this period 'tis probable the former Castle of Norwich was first founded. Vulgar chronology makes it as old as Julius Caesar; but its gothic structure belied such conjecture--the elevated spot on which this castle stood, commanding a prospect over a large space of country, pointed it out as a proper place to fix an advanced post.

Uffa is considered the first Saxon monarch over this part of the kingdom, in the year 575; but it appears, notwithstanding, from undoubted authority, that Grecca, the father of Uffa, was the first sovereign of East Anglia.

The monarchy, therefore, was probably established between the years 530 and 540, and the castle erected about the same period. In the year 642 it is said to have been a fortified royal seat of Anna, the seventh king of the East Anglian line.

From this time till the reign of Alfred, we find little or no mention of the Castle: but during the incursions of the Danes, it was frequently possessed by them and the Saxons alternately; and it appears, that king Alfred in his time, finding the walls and ramparts of Norwich Castle insufficient to repel the attack of the Danes, caused others to be erected with the most durable materials.

Norwich Castle was evidently a military station in Alfred's time, as appears also by the coin struck here, about the year 872, before noticed; but in the reign of Etheldred the II. it is described to have been utterly destroyed by an army under Sweyne, king of Denmark, about the year 1004. In 1010 the Danes again settled in and fortified Norwich, and the Castle appears to have been rebuilt by Canute, about the year 1018; to have been first used as a prison in the early part of the 14th century, and from this period, its history merges into that of the city.

Mr. Wilkins says, Norwich castle is the best exterior of this kind of architecture extant. The area of the ancient castle, including its outer works, contained about 23 acres, the whole of which was surrounded by a wall; the principal entrance was by Bar, now Ber-street, through Golden-Ball-lane, by the Barbican Gate, which was flanked by two towers, and connected with the external vallum, by a wall; the extent of the outermost ditch reached on the west part to the edge of the present Market Pace, on the north to London-lane, which it included; and on the east almost to King-street; the southern part reached to the Golden-Ball-lane, where the grand gate stood.

According to Mr. Wilkins, the entrance into the Barbican was at the south end of Golden-Ball-Lane, and not at the north, as Blomfield has it; over each foss in this direction was a bridge, but only one of them remains; this extends across the inner ditch, and according to Mr. Wilkins, is formed of "the largest and most perfect arch of Saxon workmanship in the kingdom." This bridge is nearly 150 feet in extent, and the Castle stands just across it on the south west part of the hill; the extent of the Castle from east to west, including a small tower through which was the principal entrance, is 110 feet 3 inches, and from north to south, 92 feet 10 inches; and the height to the top of the battlements, 69 feet 6 inches; the height of the basement story is about 24 feet, which is faced with rough flint; the upper part is ornamented with small arches and decorated so as to appear something like Mosaic work; the small tower before-mentioned on the east side, was of a richer kind of architecture, called, Bigod's Tower, which is now chiefly inclosed, defaced or pulled down, as in the year 1793 the county thought it necessary to erect a new goal, and it was resolved to attach it to the eastern side of the old Castle. Mr. Wilkins expresses himself justly indignant at the addition, which he calls an heterogeneous and discordant mass.--This venerable pile has been a castle of defence to British, Saxon, and Norman kings; it has been the boast and pride of the province for ages past, yet by this recent change it is bereaved of its ancient beauty; but, surely, whatever alterations were necessary, they might have preserved the same character and apparent date of architecture with the mutilated parts of this stately pile. The interior is also now an unroofed area, although formerly covered and divided by floors. The entrance to the top of the Castle is on the west side, at the south corner by a flight of 99 steps.

The Castle precinct contains upwards of six acres, and the summit of the hill is in circumference 360 yards, the whole of which is enclosed with iron palisadoes, as is also the ditch around it; which, within the last 20 years, have been occupied for gardens, many of which are tastefully laid out; and the summit of the hill on all sides commands a most delightful view of the city and surrounding country. The Castle with the hill and ditch surrounding it, may be considered a _chef d'oeuvre_, and the prospect therefrom superior to any thing of the kind in England.

A panoramic view of the city and surrounding country has been lately published by Messrs. Stevenson, Matchett, and Stevenson, taken from several stations on the hill.

The shirehouse which joins the Castle, has lately undergone complete internal repair, and considerable alteration whereby the courts are enlarged and rendered much more commodious than heretofore; and here all county business is transacted, and the summer assizes held.

The town of _Nor_-_wic_ probably soon succeeded the building of the Castle, and became occupied by the Anglo-Romans, from Castor, at which time it appears to have been chiefly inhabited by fishermen and merchants. According to ancient manuscripts, a large arm of the sea flowed up to Norwich, till about the time of William the Conqueror. There exists positive evidence of Norwich being a fishing town in the reign of Canute, about the year 1020. In the time of Edward the Confessor, about the year 1050, it appears to have had 25 churches, and 1320 Burgesses; during the peaceable reign of Edward, and his successor, Harold, it continued to increase in wealth and population. In the year 1075, it experienced a serious decrease by siege; in about the year 1085, according to Doomsday book, a great number of houses were uninhabited, yet the churches were increased to 54, and the houses to 738, which, allowing six persons to each house, makes the population 4428. In the reign of William II. the bishop's see was removed from Thetford hither, which together with a great influx of Jews at that time, made a considerable increase to the population. In the reign of Henry I. the government of the city was separated from the castle jurisdiction and in the following reign licence was granted for Norwich to have coroners and bailiffs. In the time of Richard I. 1193, the inhabitants were called citizens.

The city wall was begun in 1294, and finished in 1320.

Previous to the plague in 1348, according to Blomfield, the population amounted to 70,000; but, surely, this account as applied to the city, must appear incredible from the extent of the walls, and from the increase of population since 1085, a term of 263 years, the population must have increased sixteen fold--a circumstance, I believe, unparalleled in the annals of History.

In 1336, a great influx of Flemings in consequence of religious persecution, settled in Norwich, and introduced the worsted manufactory.

Henry IV. in the year 1403, granted the city a charter, which made Norwich a county of itself; and from this time it was governed by a mayor instead of bailiffs; and in 1406, another charter was obtained for regulating the mode of choosing the mayor, sheriffs, &c.

This city has suffered greatly at various times by the plague and scarcity, and few places have sustained more damage by fire, which may be attributed, in some measure, to the custom of covering the houses with thatch.--Two desolating fires which happened in the latter part of Henry VII's reign, induced the corporation to make a law, that no new building should afterwards be covered with thatch.

Norwich was beginning to decline, but again revived in 1566, by the settling here of about 300 Dutch and Walloons, who had fled from the persecution of the Duke of Alva; and their number kept increasing very rapidly for several years. About this time, bombasines and some other valuable articles were invented here, and contributed much to the population of the city. In 1574, Norwich exhibited on its muster roll 2120 able men, towards the general defence against the invincible Armada. In 1578, queen Elizabeth took up her abode for several days in the city. In 1688, the charter was confirmed to its full extent, by virtue of which, the government is vested in a mayor, recorder, steward, two sheriffs, twenty-four aldermen, of which the mayor is one, sixty common councilmen, a town clerk, chamberlain, sword bearer and other officers.

In 1556, the extent of Norwich was ascertained, by which it appears to be 14 miles in circumference. Norwich first sent members to parliament in 1264. In 1403, four citizens were summoned to parliament, but as they were paid by the citizens 3 pounds for their attendance, they petitioned sending only two to save expence. The city at present sends two who are chosen by the freeholders and freemen, some of whom are so by inheritance, some by servitude, and others by purchase--the sheriffs for the time being, are the returning officers.

Till within a few years, the population of Norwich had been increasing, _viz._ from the year 1693 to 1786, as will appear by the annexed parochial list; but this is owing principally to strangers resorting to Norwich as a manufacturing place, for by comparing, the births with the deaths within that period, the latter have considerably exceeded the former. The decrease in the population observable in the table since 1786, is 3197; but 1786 was a year of peace; and in 1801, those serving in the army, navy, and militia, were not included; out of the number of houses in 1801, there were 747 unoccupied, and of the total number of persons, 21,044 were females, and 15,810 males, being nearly in proportion of 4 to 3.