Part 33

The _Town-hall_, or _Guild-hall_, alias _Trinity-hall_, is an ancient building of stone and flint. It consists of divers apartments, the first of which is the _stone-hall_, where the county quarter sessions, as well as the town sessions are held. This hall, comprehending probably the principal part of the old Guild-hall, is 58 feet in length, by 27 wide, and proportionably lofty. There are in it the following _portraits_:—Full-length of _Sir Robert Walpole_, who is said to have been returned for this borough seventeen times; and so firmly was it attached to him, or so completely under his control, that even after he was expelled the House of Commons he still continued member for this place: Also half length of Sir _Thomas White_, the liberal benefactor to young tradesmen: Likewise a half length of _Sir __Benjamin Keene_, the memorable ambassador to the Spanish Court, who was a native of this town.—The adjoining _Ball-room_ is 60 feet long, 27 broad, and 22 feet high. The adjoining _Card-room_ is 27 feet by 27, and 22 feet in height. Some have pronounced these rooms ill contrived and have observed that, as they are upon a line, it would have given them an uncommon elegance had the openings from one into another been in three arches in the centre, supported by pillars, instead of the present _Glass-doors_, which have a mean appearance. The eye, it has been further observed, would then at once have commanded a suit of one hundred and forty-five feet, which, with handsome lustres properly disposed, would have rendered these rooms inferior to few in England. The position of the _music gallery_ has also been found fault with. But on these matters we will not enlarge: nor does it seem necessary to subjoin a particular description of the _Council-room_ and other apartments or offices connected with this building. {1174}

As Lynn has not been much distinguished for its literature or bookishness, it can be no great wonder that it should not abound with public libraries. Till of late years there was here nothing of the kind, except in the two churches of St. Nicholas and St. Margaret, each of which was furnished with a library. That of the former is now no more: it was removed some years ago to the other church, by way of addition to that collection. Both being thus consolidated or united, form what is called the _Church library_. It may be said to be, on the whole, a respectable collection, consisting of the donations of divers individuals, at different times; but it has never been supported with much spirit, nor has it received any great addition now for many years; owing, perhaps, to the unliterary or unbookish character of our corporation, and of most of our great and wealthy families. St. Nicholas’ Library, it seems, was founded in 1617, and that of St. Margaret’s about 14 years later. This was much augmented in 1714, by the will of _Dr. Thomas Thurlin_, master of St. John’s College, Cambridge, and rector of Gaywood, who bequeathed to it 179 folios, 178 octavos and duodecimo’s, and 84 quartos; in all 441 volumes, valued then at 160_l._ which it is presumed was the best single donation ever made to this Library. This bibliothecal collection is the property of the corporation, and is under the care of a librarian of their appointment, with an annual salary of 2_l._ It is not open to the public at large, and is not therefore, strictly speaking, a public library. It contains about 1700 volumes.

Before the year 1797, our reading and bookish people chiefly consisted of the members of a few _book-clubs_, which then existed in the town; together with the subscribers to those _circulating libraries_, (made up mostly of _novels_,) which our booksellers had formed, and which constituted, if it do not still constitute, a lucrative branch of their trade; for _novel-reading_ is carried on hereon a large scale, especially among the female part of our population; to which not a few of them probably owe all the polish, real or fictitious, which their manners have acquired.—But in the year 1797 a subscription Library was here founded, which has been hitherto in a thriving way, and it has at present upwards of a hundred members. The rules or orders of this society consist of about twenty, and are, on the whole, well expressed and adapted to the occasion. {1176} A general meeting of the society is held _annually_, on the _first Monday_ in _July_, (the anniversary of the establishment of the Library in 1797.) _Quarterly_ meetings are also held, on the _first Mondays_ in _October_, _January_, and _April_, every year. Each subscriber may propose what books he pleases for the Library, (except such as ape _merely professional_, _political pamphlets_, or _Novels_,) by entering their Titles and Prices in a book kept for that purpose. But they must be so entered a week at least before the general or quarterly meeting, otherwise they cannot lawfully be then balloted: nor must the same book be balloted for more than _twice_ in one year. A _librarian_, (who is also _treasurer_) and a _sub-librarian_, are annually chosen; the latter gives daily attendance at the library, from _eleven_ to _one_, and from _six_ to _eight_. The present number of different articles or _works_ in this library amounts to about 600, and the number of _volumes_ to near 1400; many of them very valuable and expensive. They are all new books.

Here in addition to what was before advanced, at pages 1164 and 1165, relating to our present population, it seems proper and necessary to say something further upon that subject, as _West Lynn_, or _Old Lynn_, and _Gaywood_, {1177} which may justly be denominated _out suburbs_, were not included in that reckoning. Now the population of these two places amounts to about 800, which added to 10,253, will make our whole population somewhat to exceed eleven thousand: and as this does not comprehend our _sea faring people_, who are very numerous, our whole or actual population may be very reasonably and safely supposed to be now no less than twelve thousand. Yet this is probably much below what it has been in former times.

In addition also to what was said of the _pictures_ in the town-hall, it may be proper here just to add, that the Ball-room there contains two whole lengths, the one of his present _Majesty_ in his coronation robes, and the other of the late _Lord Nelson_. The former a copy, from an original by Sir Joshua Reynolds, and the latter a copy, from an original by Hoppner—both done by _Mr. Lane_, son to our present collector, and said to do no small credit to the skill and talents of that young artist, who is supposed to be the very first native of Lynn that has ever promised to rise to eminence in that line.

* * * * *

_Lynn Benefactions_, _or Charities_.

Here it was intended to close the work, by a table or _summary of remarkable events_, chronologically arranged; but considering that our different _benefactions_ and _charities_ seemed to require to be more fully stated and particularized, it was thought proper to give first a cursory view of that subject—Among these charities the first place perhaps is due to the _endowment of the grammar-school_; which may probably be ascribed to one of the _Thorsbys_, sometime before the reformation, whose Will is noticed at page 1174, and who it is supposed was that same Thorsby mentioned before at p. 528, as founder of the _college_ in this town. It is likely he might fit up the place over the charnel-house for a school-room, settle on the master a house to dwell in, and an annual salary. He was contemporary with _Walter Coney_, and like him wealthy, and also ready to employ his wealth in acts of liberality and charity, which has made his memory truly respectable.

_Sir Thomas White_, citizen and alderman of London, who lived in queen Mary’s time, was another of our early benefactors. He gave during his life 2000_l._ to the city of _Bristol_ to purchase lands of the yearly value of 120_l._ for which it was agreed that the mayor and corporation of that city, in 1567 and the ten ensuing years, should pay the sum of 100_l._ which having for that time been allowed to accumulate, was to be thus expended: 800_l._ to be divided in loans without interest, among sixteen young Clothiers, freemen of that city, for ten years, upon sufficient security; at the aid of which time that sum to be lent to such other persons as the desire of the mayor, alderman, and four of the common council shall point out. The remaining 200 to be expended in the purchase of corn to be sold to the poor at prime cost. At the expiration of nine years at the feast of St. Bartholomew he directed that 104_l._ should be paid to the mayor and corporation of _York_, to be lent by them to four young freemen of that city, (clothiers always preferred.) The same sum the next year on the same conditions, to the city of _Canterbury_: the next to _Reading_, the next to the _Merchant Tailors’ company_; the next to _Gloucester_, and so on successively, to _Worcester_, _Exeter_, _Salisbury_, _Norwich_, _Southampton_, _Lincoln_, _Winchester_, _Hereford_, _Oxford_, _Cambridge_, _Shrewsbury_, _LYNN_, _Bath_, _Derby_, _Ipswich_, _Colchester_, _Newcastle_; and then to begin again at Bristol, and to proceed annually and regularly to the other places for ever.—Lynn first received this money (if we are not mistaken) in 1594; then in 1618, then in 1642; it next became due in 1666, but was put off for three years, till 1669, on account of the seat of the late rebellion (as it was said) having been where the estate lay. The rent was therefore lost for three years. The next payments was made in 1693. The next was received in 1724, the payment having been retarded because the corporations refused to allow taxes, which were unjustly insisted upon by the city of Bristol: at last however, rather than go to law, they agreed to allow those taxes. How many times Lynn has received this money since, we have not learnt; but suppose it has been paid pretty regularly; so that our corporation ought to have now in hand a large sum to lend to poor tradesmen. The present expence of _stamps_ is said to have in a great measure destroyed the benevolent intention and use of this benefaction.

But one of the principal charities belonging to this town is that which bears the name of Mr. _John Crane_, an apothecary of Cambridge, about the time of Charles the First and the Common Wealth. It consists of 147 acres and one rood of land, at Fleet in Lincolnshire, or rather arises out of the rental of that land, which now amounts to 395_l._ 10_s._ a year, which comes to Lynn by rotation every five years, as it belongs successively to the town of Cambridge, the university of Cambridge, the town of Ipswich, the town of Wisbeach, and the town of Lynn. The rental being originally only 62_l._ was appropriated to each of these places successively, till each of them should receive to the amount of 200_l._ From each payment the sum of 20_l._ a-piece was to be lent to _three_ young tradesmen, without interest, for 20 years. The odd forty shillings to be given to the minister who should be appointed to preach, at the place which received the money, a commemoration sermon to stir up others to the like charitable deeds. Afterwards the benefaction to continue to each place for ever, and supplied as follows; viz. to relieve honest old men and women in distress, and release from prison poor men confined there for debt. The testator changes those entrusted with the management of this concern (as they will answer it before God) to relieve the _most honest and most religious men and women_ in their several places, who had lived well, had a good report, and had been reduced by mere misfortune, or through no fault of their own: and he cautions them against applying any part of his benefaction to the relief of _dissembling hypocritical persons_. The chief part of this statement the author has drawn, with some abridgement, from a MS. account, once the property of a former alderman. He has not been able to learn how this charity is now applied by our corporation: only that it is at the disposal of the mayor and the four senior aldermen.

Other charities are as follow—15_l._ given by _Robert Boston_ alias _Tyler_, to be lent from year to year to deserving objects.—Also _John Strogers_ of Lynn, Cook, by will, 25 April, 1670, gave 45_l._ to the mayor and burgesses, that 20_s._ per annum might be paid to the minister of St. Margaret’s to preach a sermon the 1st. of January, and 14_s._ to 14 widowers and widows in Trinity-Hall ward, and 10_s._ to ten poor women in Stonegate ward upon the 20th. of December; and 10_l._ to the mayor and burgesses to buy a piece of plate.—Also _Edward Robinson_, born and educated in this town, by will, dated April 12, 1770, gave a capital tenement, in Lath Street, to the mayor and burgesses, and their successors forever, upon the trusts, and to the uses, intents, and purposes following—_viz._ To pay 1_l._ to the curate of St. Margaret’s church, to preach a sermon there every Good Friday for ever—and to pay to 12 poor decayed seamen, or other decayed aged men, that the mayor, aldermen, and common-council shall elect, for life, upon each Good Friday, ten shillings apiece:—and (after paying _one pound_ on St. Thomas’s day to the minister and church wardens of _Thornham_,) to distribute the remainder of the rents among such 12 poor men as shall be placed in the Broad Street Almshouse, above 60 years of age.—Also Mr. _John Horn_, the memorable master of the Grammar-school, by his Will dated 27 April 1731, after sundry Legacies given to his relations, directed the residue of his estate to be sold, and the produce to be paid to the mayor and aldermen, to be by them put out at interest, and that interest to be by them yearly for ever employed for binding out of poor children apprentices.—Moreover, of late years, _Mary Leake_, widow, of this town, bequeathed 200_l._ to the mayor, aldermen, and common-council, to be put out at interest, and the produce applied, as before, to bind poor children apprentices:—also her sister _Catherine Barwell_, bequeathed 300_l._ to the same trustees, the interest whereof to be laid out in purchasing coals, to be given away to such industrious poor women as receive no parish relief.—The last, but not the least of all our benefactions, is that of the late _Mr. Cook_ of London, who bequeathed 5000_l._ 3 per cent stock, in trust to the mayor and burgesses, the interest whereof to be applied for the benefit of the three almshouses in the town: viz. that of 2300_l._ to the _Bede-house_, that of 700_l._ to the _South-Lynn_ almshouse, and that of 2000_l._ to the almshouse in _Broad-Street_.

To those above enumerated may be added the following benefactions.—Viz. _Loneyson’s_ annuity of 10_l._ to St. James’ Hospital; from 75 acres of pasture land in the south marshes. (see p. 1134)—Also 30_s._ a year towards cloathing two poor widows, arising from a Legacy of 40_l._ bequeathed by _Joan Maye_ to the mayor and burgesses, about 1660.—Also 40_s._ a year, for 7 years, to a _poor scholar_, a native of Lynn, who shall go thence to the university of Cambridge; being a bequest of _Alex Hall_, merchant of this town, who died about 1597.—Also 16_s._ or 3_l._ 8_s._ 8_d._ a year for the term of _five years_, (out of Nottely tithes in North Runcton) to a _poor scholar_, chosen out of the poorest scholars of this Free-school, by the master and vicar master of Trinity College Cambridge, and the mayor of Lynn: being the gift, it seems, of _Richard Hopps_.—Also _John Pierson_, carpenter, left 6_l._ per annum by his Will dated 22. Oct. 1623, as follows; _viz._ 40_s._ a year to a _poor scholar_, who shall go out of the grammar school of this town to any college in Cambridge, to be continued during the first seven years of his abiding there; also the same sum of 40_s._ every Lent season to the poor people in the Lynn Almshouse, (the _Bedehouse_ we presume;) and another sum of 40_s._ to the poor people in _Stone gate-ward_, to be distributed also in the Lent season by the direction of the mayor for the time being, or the alderman of the said ward.—Beside these there is the _Token-money_, consisting of the sum of about 43_l._ annually laid out in _coals_, which are distributed in single mets, or some such small quantities among the poor in the different wards. When or whence this money originated the author cannot distinctly say, but he understands it to be of pretty long standing, and the gift of some well disposed person or persons, of other times. He also understands from good authority that _all the charities_, or _benefactions now in the gift of the corporation_, _amount to the annual sum of_ 498_l._ 16_s._ _exclusive of the endowments of the different Almshouses_. {1184}

☞ Since the above was sent to the press, the author got sight of a curious old book which belonged to a former town-chamberlain, (Jos. Cooper senr.) in which the following charities are recorded.

“_Mrs. Titloe_, about 1613, left a Legacy to the town, the interest whereof, amounting to 11_l._ annually, to be paid to Emanuel College Cambridge: 8_l._ of which to be paid to _two_ scholars that have gone from this Free-school thither: the remaining 3_l._ to the fellows towards the repairs of the chapel.—Also _Matthew Clarke_, alderman, gave 10_l._ the interest to be divided among 20 poor widows in the 10 wards, [interest then at 10 per cent.]—Also _Mrs. Jane Gurlin_, maid, gave 20_l._ to be lent out for three years gratis.—Also _Wm. Cleave_ Esq. of London, gave a house situated at the corner of Grass-Market, let at 13_l._ per annum, the rent to be distributed to the poor of St. Margaret’s parish, at the discretion of the minister, church-wardens, and overseen of the same.—Also _Gyles Bridgman_, alderman, (mayor in 1679) gave 100_l._ to the mayor and burgesses on trust, the interest to be paid for ever to the master and widows, or sisters in the almshouse (_Bedehouse_) by way of augmentation of their weekly pensions.—Also, Nov. 10, 1721, _Mrs. Margery Brock_, gave 20_l._ the interests to be laid out in coals, and given to 4 poor widows in St. Margaret’s parish for ever.”

In the same book also stand recorded the sources and amount of our Christmas _Coal-Charity_, thus expressed,

Here follows what is given to the poor in money and coals at Christmas.

_l._ _s._ _d._ _Mr. Graves_ and _Mr. Sendall_ gave 20 13 6 8 nobles each _Mr. Clarke_ the interest of 20_l._ to 20 1 0 0 widows of the ten wards. _Mr. Strogers_ to three wards 1 14 0 _Mr. Peirson_ to Stonegate ward 2 0 0 _Alderman Holly_ interest of 100_l._ 6 0 0 _Alderman Auborne_ to the ten wards 9 10 0 Likewise is Coals 9 10 0 _Total_ £43 0 8

Then it is added,—

And on New Year’s day among the poor children 1 0 0 in the Work-house And near Easter Sunday to the poor 3 0 0 (pensioners) in St Mary Magdalen’s Hospital. And to those in Framingham’s Hospital. 3 0 0 And to those in St James’s Hospital 3 0 0 (Bedehouse) And for a Sermon on Midsummer-day 1 0 0 £11 0 0

Then it is also added, that Alderman Auborne’s Charity was first disposed of at Christmas 1741.

But it must not be here forgotten that this same old book also discovers the origin and founder of the Lynn _Grammar School_, which had we obtained a sight of in time, would have saved us those useless conjectures at pages 1140, 1160, 1178. The passage alluded to is as follows—

“_Mr. Thos. Thorisby_, alderman, and sometimes mayor, built a chapple adjoining to the south side of the church of St. Margarets, and gave to the master of the Charnell House, (now the _Free_ School,) certain lands in Gaywood, to the value, of 8_l._ per annum, for teaching Grammar and Songs, and also for singing durges, (dirges,) dayly in the said chapple: which land became forfeited to the crowne, and invented in the Corporation by Charter of Edward VI.”

Thus is the origin of our grammar-school at last sufficiently cleared up, which seems to have been founded in the reign of Edward IV, or that of Henry VII, when Thorsby flourished and was thrice mayor of this town.—see more of him at p. 528.

* * * * *

TABLE OF EVENTS.

A TABLE _of memorable_, _or somewhat remarkable events_, _relating to this town_, _from the Conquest to the present time_; _including what is most worthy of preservation in Mackerell_, _and divers private MSS. belonging to certain of our most curious townsmen_: _the whole chronologically arranged and brought down to the present year_—1812.

A.D. 1066. This year the French conquered England, and their commander, the Norman Bastard, seated himself on the English throne, which was also possessed by his descendants for many generations: Lynn of course felt the effects of this revolution and readily acceded to the new order of things. _Stigand_, archbishop of Canterbury, and his brother _Ailmar_, bishop of Elmham, were before the great men that bore sway here; but they were now ousted, and their power and possessions transferred by the Conqueror to two of his French adherents, _Odo_ bishop of Baieux, in Normandy, his half brother, and _Herfast_, one of his own chaplains. Frenchmen then got possession of almost all the land in the kingdom, and they were the progenitors of most of our present noble families; so that our House of Lords is now in a great measure made up of their descendants.

1100. About this time St. Margaret’s church was built by bishop Herbert, who granted long indulgences to the people to commit all manner of sin, by way of encouragement or inducement to contribute towards the completion of the sacred edifice; as if he thought that to give people their full swing in all manner of iniquity, was the surest way to make them pious and liberal.

About the same time was also built the Benedictine Priory, on the south side of the church.

1144. A Priory at Gaywood was founded in honour of Mary Magdalen, whence it is still called _St. Mary Magdalen’s Hospital_. The priory has long disappeared, and has been succeeded by the present Hospital. The founder’s name was _Petrus Capellanus_, who died in 1174.—see p. 530, &c.

1190. A terrible riot and commotion here, and in many other parts of the kingdom, excited, it seems, for the purpose of plundering and massacring the poor _Jews_, who were then settled in great numbers here and in many of our great towns. Of what then occurred here see vol. I. page 391 of this work.

1204. This town was constituted a Borough by royal charter, and its chief magistrate was at the same time, or soon after, denominated _Mayor_, see page 393. These honours were the royal gifts of king _John_, who repeatedly visited this town. His last visit was in the autumn of 1216. He soon after died at Newark, and was interred at Worcester, where his remains were discovered in 1797 in a state of remarkable preservation, considering that they had lain in the ground near 600 years.

1233. King Henry 3. granted his first charter to this town, in confirmation of that of his father, 28 years before.

1268. The same sovereign granted our corporation a second charter with more ample privileges, in consideration of _the faithful and laudable service_, and valiant _assistance_ which our burgesses had rendered him in the late troubles of his kingdom.