Part 17

Aug. 27th. Tenders opened for erecting the new Municipal Buildings. Thirteen were sent in, viz.:—Messrs. Durrant and Evans, £31,300; T. Howes, £28,572; B. Springall, £28,208; Hubbard and Co., £27,995; Cornish and Gaymer, £27,740; I. S. Cooper, £27,650; Bardwell and Bros., £27,600; E. Howes and Cooper, £27,590; P. H. Dawes, £27,417; G. E. Howes, £26,900; Jones and Co., £26,533; H. Everett and Son, £26,000; and Lacey and Co. (Norwich), £26,200, the latter being accepted. For building the new Police Station, residence for chief constable, &c., in Middlegate Street, Mr. Bray’s tender of £1,447 was accepted.

Aug. 29th. R. F. Kemp saved a man from drowning near the beach, his bravery being afterwards recognised by the Royal Humane Society.

Aug. 29th. The opening of the Yare-side Iron Works at Southtown celebrated by a dinner to the work people of Messrs. Alexander and Wright.

Sept. 6th. A rate collector charged with embezzling £362 18s. 9½d., and afterwards imprisoned for 15 months. Another collector absconded in Nov., and was arrested by Inspector Dann at Liverpool, on the 21st.

Sep. 14th. A pike, 43 in. long and 20 in. in girth, weighing 27 lbs., caught at Cantley.

Sept. 24th and 25th. The seventh annual East of England Horse Show held at Southtown. This was the second time Yarmouth had been chosen.

Sept. 30th. Tom Massingham, of Newcastle, better known as “Steeple Jack,” removed the weather-cock off St. Nicholas’ spire for regilding. This wind-indicator is 141 years old, stands 2 ft. 8 in, in height, and is 4 ft. long. It had not been gilded for 39 years before. The act was a daring one, as the steeple is 168 feet high. The steeple is covered with tinned sheet copper.

Sept. 30th. Mr. S. Aldred sold by auction the old Town Hall, Police Station, &c., to be pulled down by purchasers, which realised a total of £535. The fixtures were sold previously. The Corporation “reserved to themselves” the foundation or memorial stone, _with its contents_, but this was “conspicuous by its absence.”

Oct. 1st. The Yarmouth ringers rang 1,008 grandsire trebles on the Parish Church bells, to celebrate the 84th birthday of Thomas Gooch, he himself taking the treble. Gooch was born at Richmond in 1795, and died at Yarmouth in 1883. His late father was steward to George III.

Oct. The hull of the “Iron Duke,” wrecked on the beach on Nov. 18th, 1841, discovered under the sand opposite the Aquarium, in a direct line with the third bay from the south end.

Oct. 4th. Fire on Mr. Robert George’s premises at Southtown. Damage, £1,150.

Oct. 9th. Gorleston Cemetery consecrated by the Lord Bishop of Norwich.

Oct. 19th. The Bishop of British Columbia preached at the Parish Church. (See Nov., 1858.) It is reported that he has now (1884) resigned the Bishopric.

Nov. 2nd. Loss of the smack “Florence and Johanna,” and five hands, the vessel being run down on the fishing grounds. Six other hands were drowned this day in a gale.

Nov. 1st. The _Graphic_ published a sketch of the original Peggotty’s Hut in Yarmouth, which was then about to be demolished.

The poor rate for the year was 3s. 4d.; in 1869 it was 5s. 2d.; in 1873, 4s. 4d.; and in 1877, 3s. 6d.

Nov. 5th. The “Jetty Mills,” St. George’s Road, purchased by Mr. F. Carpenter for £1,170, and pulled down.

Nov. 23rd. Mr. Charles Samuel Dale Steward, Parish Churchwarden from 1848 till 1873, died, aged 77 years. A memorial window is placed in the Parish Church to his and the late Mr. Churchwarden Aldred’s memory. Subscriptions for this amounted to £151 12s. 6d.

Nov. 28th. Elizabeth, widow of Thomas Warren, a mail-coach driver, died in Row 21, at the advanced age of 104 years and 8 months.

Nov. 29th. Fire at Mr. W. S. Wigg’s, jeweller, Regent Street.

Dec. 11th. Rev. Joseph Tongue, Primitive Methodist Minister, received his B.A. degree at Cambridge University.

Dec. 27th. Miss Jermy, daughter of the late Recorder of Norwich, died, and was interred in the vault at Wymondham Churchyard, with the bodies of Isaac Jenny and his son, who were murdered by Rush. (See Nov. 6th, 1848.)

One hundred and five vessels imported timber here in the year; 112 in 1878; and 104 in 1877.

Marriages: Feb. 20th, Mr. J. Percival Smith, son of J. C. Smith, Esq., to Miss Eliza Jane Branch.—Aug. 20th, Rev. A. Aldred, rector of Worlingham, to Miss M. O. Clowes.—Sept. 2nd, H. Harvey-George, Esq., to Jessie, second daughter of Robert Hewett, Esq.

Deaths: Feb. 27th, Lieut.-Col. FitzRoy, J.P.—March 22nd, T. W. Gooda, Esq., T.C., aged 72.—April 6th, Sir Thomas B. Beevor, Bart., aged 81.—April 23rd, William Wright, Esq., architect and builder, aged 69.—May 5th, Captain J. Emerson, harbour master, aged 62.—May 26th, Philip Pullen, Esq., J.P., aged 87.—June 10th, Mr. W. H. Hunt, aged 72.—June 25th, Mr. James Burman, bell ringer and late parish clerk, aged 64.—July 20th, Mary, mother of Mr. J. H. Harrison, aged 87.

Launches: April 24th, smacks “Magpie” and “Greyhound.”—May 27th, Mr. Morgan’s yacht “Gnat.”—Sept. 8th, smack “Leonard.”—Sept. 16th, fishing boat “Promise.”

1880.

Jan. The Bure Preservation Society established.

Jan. 3rd. Schooner “Kate,” of Yarmouth, wrecked.

Jan. 13th. Fire at Mr. Pond’s shop, King Street; and on Jan. 30th a fire on the fishing premises of Mr. Joseph Ellis, Middle Market Road.

Feb. 21st. Major James Henry Orde, 2nd N.R.V., of Hopton Hall, Suffolk, son of the late General and Lady Elizabeth Orde, died, aged 49.

March 18th. A sad accident happened in the Market Place. Mr. Johnson’s horses, in a mourning coach, ran away, and overtaking a walking funeral (Mrs. Thompson’s), came in contact with the bearers, one of whom was knocked over and the coffin thrown to the ground. Damage was also done to some of the shops in the Butchery by the runaways.

March 20th. Fire on board the smack “Young Harry” whilst at sea, and several fishermen injured.

April 7th. The Parliamentary Election for East Suffolk, which includes Gorleston and Southtown, took place, and resulted as follows:—Lord Rendlesham (C.), 4,239 votes; Colonel F. S. N. Barne (C.), 3,620; Mr. R. L. Everett (L.), 3,502. The two first-named were re-elected. This election cost the two Conservative candidates £1,921 6s. each, and Mr. Everett, £1,230 13s. 2d.

April. The first dissolution of Parliament since March 5th, 1874. Although Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart., and E. Birkbeck, Esq., were returned to Parliament for North Norfolk without opposition, their expenses were £325 16s. 5d., including £87 for agency.

April 8th. Mr. T. P. George presented with a massive marble timepiece by the teachers of St. Nicholas’ Sunday School.

April 20th. The principal corner-stone (3 tons in weight), of the new Town Hall and Municipal Buildings was laid by the Mayor (C. C. Aldred, Esq.), in the presence of the Corporation and a large number of ladies and gentlemen. The Mayor was presented with a richly-chased silver trowel appropriately inscribed. In the cavity of the stone was deposited in two stone bottles, “Crisp’s Chronological History of Yarmouth” (A.D. 46 to 1879 inclusive); _Times_, April 20th; _Yarmouth Independent and Gazette_, April 17th; _Builder_, Feb. 22nd, 1879; _Building News_, Sept. 27th, 1878; a sequence of coin, from a sovereign to a farthing (exclusive of a crown and fourpenny-piece); photograph of Old Town Hall; Council’s Committee Book and statement of date of laying the principal stone, with the names of the Building Committee. (See May 31st, 1882.)

April 27th. Mr. William Smith, 20 years sick steward of the Good Samaritan Lodge (M.U.O.O.), presented with a silver watch and gold Albert chain and appendages by the brotherhood as a memento of esteem; and on June 15th Bro. R. Ladbroke, eight years treasurer to the Marquis of Lorne Lodge, presented with a marble timepiece.

May. R. Martins and S. Nightingale, jun., Esqs., appointed Borough Magistrates by the Lord Chancellor.

May 4th. Marriage of Mr. W. Teasdel with Alice, second daughter of J. E. Barnby, Esq.; June 3rd, F. J. Irwin with Kate, third daughter of Mr. Barnby; and on Oct. 12th Mr. Edgar Barnby with Edith Mary, third daughter of the late J. W. Bunn, Esq.

May 8th. The Mayor (C. C. Aldred, Esq.) and Dr. Mayo thrown out of a dog cart on Regent Road, caused by a runaway horse.

May 19th to 21st. Visit to Yarmouth of the Duke of Edinburgh, as Admiral Superintendent of the Naval Reserve, and considerable _éclat_ was given to the occasion. The Duke also paid a flying visit to this town by the North Norfolk Railway on Nov. 24th.

May 22nd. St. Nicholas’ Church broken into by thieves.

May 25th. St. Nicholas’ change bell ringers rang, in 1 hr. 20 min., on the eight large Parish Church bells (the tenor 31 cwt.), 1,880 changes of Bob major, composed and conducted by William Lee.

May 26th. A Royal sturgeon, six feet long and weighing eleven stone, brought in by the cutter “British Lion.”

June. The Steward memorial drinking fountain removed to the Marine Parade.

June 15th. Mr. S. Sparrow, 14 years hon. treasurer to Court Star of West (A.I.O.F.), presented by the brotherhood with a silver watch, suitably inscribed.

June 17th. Opening of the new Congregational School Room and Lecture Hall, South Howard Street. Cost, with fittings, £3,000.

June 29th. A handsome brass-bound family Bible presented to Bro. Spanton, 10 years auditor to the St. Nicholas’ Lodge (N.O.O.), as a memento of esteem.

June 31st. J. Worlledge, Esq., resigned his position as County Court Judge. On Nov. 6th he was presented with an illuminated address, with 153 signatures. He died on July 19th, 1881. T. B. Bristowe, Esq., Q.C., was appointed Judge on July 28th.

July 1st. Captain Giles, A Company, 2nd N.R.V., presented with a testimonial in commemoration of his marriage by his brother officers and privates.

July 16th. The new Drill Hall, for the 1st Norfolk Artillery Volunteers, opened. The hall is 73 ft. by 40 ft., with orderly and committee rooms attached, each 17 by 13 ft.

July 20th. The first Gorleston Marine Regatta held in the South Ham and Roadstead.

July. On the retirement of Mr. S. Swarbrick from the office of General Manager of the Great Eastern Railway, Mr. William Birt, many years Goods Manager, succeeded to the post. Mr. Swarbrick was presented with a service of silver plate, value 250 guineas, by the heads of the department.

Aug. 14th. The _Yarmouth Independent_ permanently enlarged. (See July 28th, 1855.)

Aug. 20th. Fire at Messrs. R. and A. Brown’s fishing premises, Friar’s Lane.

Sept. Mr. E. Hawkins resigned the management of the Southtown Tramway, and was succeeded by Mr. George Wright.

Sept. 3rd. The mail steamer “Grantully Castle” passed outside the sands on a voyage from Leith to Gravesend, having on board the Hon. William E. Gladstone and family. About 50 Yarmouth gentlemen went out in the tug “Meteor” to present him with an address of congratulation upon his convalescence.

Sept. Part of the original MSS. of “Swinden’s History of Yarmouth” and “Manship’s History” purchased by T. P. Burroughs, Esq., F.S.A. (See 1772).

Sept. 18th. The old wooden Grand Stand on the South Denes totally destroyed by fire.

Oct. 2nd. The three-masted schooner “Curlew,” with her captain and four of the crew, lost off Yarmouth, the result of a collision.

Oct. 4th. Heavy gale and loss of the lugger “Ebenezer” on the South Beach. About £400 worth of damage done to South Pier. On the 29th there was another gale, and many men injured and drowned at sea as well as great destruction of fishing property. The Yarmouth schooners “John Snell” and “Isis” lost. The smacks “Expert,” “Luna,” “Mystery,” “Harry,” and “Defiance” each lost six hands. The Swedish barque “Systers,” which came into port after the gale in a wretched state of dilapidation, was the best criterion of what she had encountered. The “Systers” was valued at £927 14s. 1d., and salvors were awarded £384. She was sold in London on Feb. 1st, for £295.

Oct. 7th. The wine and spirit stores and building site of Messrs. S. Grimmer and Co., at the south-east corner of Regent Street, sold by auction, and realized £5,300, but was afterwards re-sold to Mr. Bayfield by private contract.

Oct. 15th. The resident Inspector at the Vauxhall Station (Mr. Reeve) run over by a train and killed.

Oct. 18th. The Rev. R. Nicholson, founder of the Boys’ and Girls’ Homes, presented with a public subscription (£61) prior to leaving the town.

Oct. 18th. A petty juryman fined £5 for refusing to appear at the Quarter Sessions when summoned.

Oct. 24th. Great communion at the Parish Church, and 1,102 persons partook of the Sacrament this day.

Oct. 30th. A lad named Charles Meffin (15) fell from the inner scaffolding at the new Town Hall (26 ft.), and died from injuries received.

Oct. Cornelius Harley Christmas, a native of this town, whose property was sworn under £60,000, willed £15,800 to the poor of Great Yarmouth _for ever_, the yearly interest of which was upwards of £770, which sum was to be divided and spent every year, the week before Christmas, in coal, bread, and money. The £770 was reduced by other expenses to £696, viz., £199 for bread, £398 for coal, and £99 in money, to be distributed in wards, namely, North and South Wards each £100 coal, £50 bread, and £24 in money; Market, Regent, and St. George’s each £66 coal, £33 bread, and £17 in money. Not more than 2 cwt. of coal, 1s. in bread, and 1s. to 2s. in money, to be given to one house. But “if difficulties arose through litigation, the property to be realised, and the money to be distributed among the poor of Yarmouth, not more than £20 to occupier of each house.” This year nearly 8,000 cwts. of coal, 16,000 loaves, and more than £100 in money was distributed among 6,000 families, but Mr. Christmas’ death occurring afterwards (see Feb. 4th, 1881) the gift was passed into Chancery, and the poor will have to wait its resuscitation before they get further aid. Other charities were to be benefited. (See Feb. 4th, 1881).

Nov. 4th. Several uproarious meetings of the Board of Guardians commenced, relative to the election of a registrar of births and deaths for the South District.

Nov. 8th. First burial in Yarmouth under the New Burial Law; and on Dec. 27th, the first Nonconformist was buried in the churchyard without the rite of the Church of England.

Nov. 6th. Mr. B. Press elected as an Alderman in place of Mr. P. Case, resigned.

Nov. The beautifully-carved pulpit (designed by the Vicar) in the Parish Church finished. It cost £579 14s., and was 3½ years in making.

Nov. 25th. Mr. Waters presented with a marble timepiece by the senior members of St. James’ choir.

Dec. 23rd. That “a cat has nine lives” was partly verified by the fact that a feline was accidentally nailed under the floor at 47, South Quay, for three weeks without food, and was taken out alive.

Dec. 25th. The dead body of a woman named Harriet Parsons (60), of Norwich, found on Yarmouth Beach. Her husband left her for 27 years, and she, believing him dead, in the interval married again; and her first husband’s return home is supposed to have caused her to commit suicide.

Dec. 26th. Mr. H. T. Stonex ordained by the Bishop of Bath and Wells, and licensed to a curacy at Taunton.

Launches: Jan., smack “Nellie”; Jan. 28th, smack “Silver Dart”; May 3rd, smacks “Busy Bee” and “Edith Mary”; May 10th, smack “Greenheys”; Sept. 27th, smack “Francis”; Nov. 6th, fish carrier “Bessie”; Nov. 22nd, cutter “Phœnix.”

Marriages: March 31st, Rev. G. Merriman, of Martham, to Miss E. S. Steward; May 20th, Mr. G. W. Giles to Miss A. E. L. Blake; June 8th, R. E. Pinhey, Esq., to Emily Gertrude, eldest daughter of F. Palmer, Esq., J.P.; Oct. 21st, Mr. E. H. Morgan to Miss E. K. Press, of Southtown.

Deaths: Feb. 5th, Mr. Marcus John Grimmer, aged 63; Feb. 23rd, Mr. Thos. Todd, boatowner, aged 52; March 11th, Mr. Walter J. Lincoln, Town Hall keeper, aged 48; March 13th, Mr. Geo. Hastings, boat builder; May 28th, Wm. Danby Palmer, Esq., of Southtown, aged 46, June, Daniel Gurney, Esq., at North Runcton, aged 89; July 1st, Arthur G. W. Neale, B.A., aged 23; Aug. 27th. Hezekiah Martin, Esq., aged 86; Sept. 22nd, Mr. Wm. Hewke, many years head master at the Hospital School, aged 68; Oct. 19th, John Wilton Shelly, J.P., aged 70; Oct. 21st, Dr. J. Baily, aged 74; Dec., Frank Buckland, Esq., H.M’s. Inspector of Fisheries, aged 54.

1881.

Jan. 6th. Mr. W. H. Willis, boat owner of Gorleston, presented with a handsome timepiece by the Pilot Lodge (M.U.O.O.), of which he was hon. sec.

Jan. The Local Government Board consented to lend the Corporation £2,000 for wood and concrete pavements, the money spent in wood to be refunded in 15 years, and that for concreting in 20 years.

Jan. New Coastguard House on Gorleston Pier erected.

Jan. 7th. Mr. Robert Warner’s sail and net stores at Gorleston destroyed by fire; damage about £3,500; and on Jan. 26th a large fire at Mr. C. Seiver’s net chamber, at Gorleston. March 28th, one occurred at Mr. T. Gallant’s, “William the IV.” public house, Gorleston.

Jan. 11th. The North End Mission Room opened.

Jan. 11th. A large gallery in the north-west aisle of St. Nicholas’ Church removed.

Jan. 17th. Mr. C. H. Wiltshire elected an Alderman in the place of the late Mr. R. S. Watling.

Jan. 18th. One of the worst gales experienced in the present generation, when six out of a crew of nine brave beachmen and a volunteer lost their lives by the upsetting of the surf lifeboat “Abraham Thomas” whilst trying to rescue the mate of the schooner “Guiding Star” (Thomas Jones), whose vessel was stranded on the South Beach, opposite the Asylum. Jones was also lost out of the lifeboat. Highway traffic and the Great Eastern Railway was blocked for 24 hours. About 50 lives were lost off this coast. Besides the “Guiding Star,” the schooners “Rhoda,” and “Sarah Jane,” the French ketch “Manne du Ciel,” and the brig “Battle of Corunna” were driven ashore, and from the last-named, in the South Ham, seven hands, including a woman, were drowned. The names of the men in the lifeboat who were drowned were J. Ditcham (30), H. Masterson (15), J. Sherwood (44), Robert Symonds (37), Charles Henry Beckett (21), and William Green (whose body was not recovered), leaving 4 widows and 22 children. On the day of the interment (24th) thousands of people filled the Parish Church, and lined the route to the New Cemetery. At the funeral service the organ played the “Dead March” in _Samson_, and the Mayoress (Mrs. T. B. Steward) placed a beautiful floral wreath upon each of the coffins before they entered the church. The funeral _cortège_ comprised five separate hearses, and thirteen mourning coaches with the relatives. The subscriptions raised for the relief of the widows and orphans reached over £3,000. The four survivors among the lifeboat men were W. Haylett, coxswain, W. Davey, R. Brown, and W. P. Smith.

Jan. Mr. W. G. Poll, of Yarmouth, and Mr. A. E. Richmond, of Southtown, passed their preliminary examinations of the Pharmaceutical Society.

Feb. 4th. Mr. C. H. Christmas died at Yarmouth, aged 86 years. (See Oct., 1880.)

Feb. Mr. W. H. Cowl, solicitor, awarded the special prizes of the “Timphron Martin” and “John Atkinson” gold medals for 1880.

Feb. 11th. The stoker on board the steam tug “Victoria,” Robert Jackman (46), accidentally killed after towing the Norwegian steamer “Norma” (652 tons register) on to Gorleston beach the day before, where she became a total wreck.

Feb. 11th. School Board Election. The following candidates were returned:—Messrs. Palgrave, Peaton, Moxon, Johnson, Dowson, Waters, Worlledge, Leach (Mrs.), Bately, Splain, and Tomkins. (See Feb., 1875.)

Feb. 12th. Marriage of the Baroness Burdett-Coutts, with W. Ashmead Bartlett, Esq., in London.

March. A fine shark, 7 ft. long, brought to the Fishwharf.

March 5th. Total loss of the Yarmouth schooner “Princess Royal” and all hands.

March 14th. Charles Crawshaw Wilkinson, inventor of the perforated stamp sheets, died at Yarmouth, aged 79 years. (See 1850.)

April. Lieut.-Col. Sir E. Lacon resigned his commission in the 2nd East Norfolk Militia, but retains the rank of hon. colonel.

April 18th to May 7th. The first National Fisheries Exhibition at Norwich, and many contributions were sent from Yarmouth.

April. The census of Yarmouth and Gorleston taken by 22 enumerators. Population of the Borough, 44,782, including 8,903 in Gorleston and Southtown, viz., 24,447 females and 20,335 males (many men at sea not included). Number of houses and buildings, 10,098. The increase on the past ten years was 7,009.

April 19th. The intelligence of the death this day of Earl Beaconsfield, in his 76th year, was received here with manifestations of sorrow. The very first flag hoisted on the New Town Hall, was half-mast, and that in respect to the memory of the deceased. This day is now known as “Primrose Day,” when the primrose is extensively used as a button-hole throughout the nation.

April 19th. The Rev. Bowyer Vaux, M.A., presented with a massive chased silver tea tray, together with an address on vellum, by the congregation of St. Peter’s Church, as a token of esteem, he having been minister there for 35 years.

April 28th. Opening of the New Organ at the Temple. It was built by Mr. W. C. Mack, of this town.

May 1st. Boat accident on Breydon, when William Hawkins. John McPhee, and Louis Feekins lost their lives by being drowned.

May 5th. Inspector Brogden elected Chief Constable for the Borough on the resignation of Mr. Joseph Ogden.

May 7th. Col.-Sergt. Fenton, E.N.M., presented with a silver cup by his late Captain, Major Lacon, for efficient services.

May 11th. The new Northgate Board Schools, in Ramp Row, opened. The site is 195 ft. by 150 ft., and the buildings, of red brick, set in dark mortar joints, are of a Gothic character. They cost, with fittings, legal expenses, &c., £5,660, and will accommodate 610 children.

May. On the removal of Mr. J. W. Keogh, collector of Customs at this port, Mr. J. Robertson was promoted to Yarmouth.

June 8th. The magnificent three-mast steam yacht “Northumbria,” 456 tons, belonging to Lord Lonsdale, came into harbour, and was inspected by the Prince of Wales. Her crew comprised 25 hands.

June 9th to 11th. The third visit to Yarmouth of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, who was joined here by H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge, K.G., and other distinguished visitors. (See June 6th, 1882.)

June 10th. The Rev. E. C. Kemp, M.A., Incumbent of St. George’s Chapel, died at Yarmouth, aged 87. Dr. J. J. Raven, head master of the Grammar School, succeeded him as minister.

June 18th. W. Brewer’s Spanish bitch had a litter of 11 pups, and the previous Nov. she had 12, making 28 in 8 months.

June 18th. E. A. Ducket and F. H. S. Raven took their B.A. degrees at Cambridge.

June. The Lord Chancellor of England appointed Francis Roxburgh, Esq., Q.C., to be the Judge of the County Courts of the district, in place of S. B. Bristowe, Esq., Q.C., transferred.

June 18th. The smack “Excellent” lost on the Dutch coast.

June 27th. Isaac Hill, T. Saul, L. Blake, and A. Palmer, Esqs., took the oath as Borough Magistrates.

July. Mr. C. J. Wiltshire, son of C. H. Wiltshire, Esq., passed the intermediate examination of the Law Society.

July 9th. Review of nearly 60,000 Volunteers in Windsor Park by the Queen and other members of the Royal Family. Eleven officers and 309 men of the Yarmouth Corps attended. The Duke of Cambridge, Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar, Sir Garnet Wolseley, and others rode down the lines.

July 12th. New Grand Stand, South Denes, first opened. (See Sept. 18th, 1880.)