Norfolk Annals
Chapter 184 : 20.-Miss Maude Brans...o...b.. and her London company appeared at Norwich Theatre in t

20.-Miss Maude Brans...o...b.. and her London company appeared at Norwich Theatre in the comedy, "Masks and Dominoes," and the burlesque, "Undine, or ye Nymph, ye Knight, and ye Awful Fright."

-The Norfolk acid Norwich Hospital was opened by the Duke and d.u.c.h.ess of Connaught upon its completion. The actual expenditure to this date had been 51,179, of which about 39,118 had been obtained by subscription, 10,192 was withdrawn from invested capital, and 2,569 was advanced to the treasurer by Messrs. Gurney and Co. To wholly clear the new building from debt about 5,000 was required. The Duke and d.u.c.h.ess were received at Thorpe Station by the Mayor (Mr. C. R. Gilman), the Sheriff (Mr. S.

Newman), the Deputy-Mayor (Mr. W. Hunter), the Earl of Leicester, and other representatives of the Hospital. His Royal Highness, after replying to an address read by the Town Clerk, drove with the d.u.c.h.ess through the gaily decorated streets of the city to the Hospital, where Prince Albert Victor had arrived some time previously from Horstead Hall in company with Mr. Edward Birkbeck, M.P. After the formal opening of the building their Royal Highnesses visited the various departments, and attended a grand bazaar held in the grounds; and later in the afternoon proceeded to Cotton Hall as the guests of Mr. S. Gurney Buxton and Miss Buxton. On the morning of the 21st their Royal Highnesses visited the Cathedral, and left for London at 2.55 p.m. The Hospital bazaar, which remained open until the 25th, produced net receipts amounting to 5,779 5s. 3d.

28.-At a meeting of the Norwich Town Council, Mr. J. Wilson Gilbert was elected Clerk of the Peace by 27 votes, against 25 recorded for Mr.

George Alden Stevens.

SEPTEMBER.

3.-Died, at Norwich, Mr. Alfred Master, F.R.C.S., aged 67. He was a son of Colonel Harcourt Master, and was born at Catton. A pupil of Mr. P. N.

Scott, and afterwards of Mr. J. G.o.dwin Johnson, with whom he became a.s.sociated in practice, Mr. Master was for many years surgeon of the County Gaol. He was a magistrate of the city and a prominent member of the committee of the Norfolk and Norwich Musical Festival.

7.-Knapton church was re-opened by the Bishop of Norwich. It had been restored at the cost of about 2,000.

10.-Mr. J. C. Buckmaster, of the Science and Art Department, South Kensington, delivered a lecture at Cromer on "Science Teaching in Agriculture." Mr. Buckmaster also lectured at North Walsham, Coltishall, Aylsham, Wymondham, and Norwich.

-Mr. Sheil Barry made his first appearance on the Norwich stage in his famous impersonation of Gaspard in "Les Cloches de Corneville."

14.-Died, in his 83rd year, the Rev. John Methold, vicar of Wighton. He was educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge, and was appointed to his living in 1839. "It is a singular fact that the last three vicars of Wighton, Mr. Charles, Mr. Tickell, and Mr. Methold, held the vicarage for no less than 143 years." Mr. Methold played for Harrow in the first cricket match which that school won against Eton.

15.-Died, at his residence, Ber Street House, Norwich, Mr. John May Robberds, of the firm of Fosters, Burroughes, and Robberds, solicitors, aged 74. A son of John Warden Robberds, who in his day was a geologist of some note, and contributed the historical and geological notes to "Stark's River Scenery," Mr. Robberds had lived in comparative retirement for upwards of half a century. He was unrivalled as an authority upon conveyancing law.

OCTOBER.

1.-At Norwich Police Court, Mr. William Sidney, proprietor of the Theatre Royal, made application for a licence for the performance of stage plays in that building. He stated that it was fifty years since he first performed at the Theatre, when, under the management of Mr. Davenport, it was open all the year round, and was understood to be a patent theatre.

It was afterwards purchased by a company of which Sir William Foster and Mr. Robberds were the chairmen. He (Mr. Sidney) became lessee and afterwards proprietor, and purchased the shares and freehold land. The understanding during all those years was that it was a patent theatre and required no licence from the magistrates. The Town Clerk had requested him to produce the patent, but neither he nor his solicitors (Messrs.

Rackham) were able to do so. Eventually a patent was found, but to their great surprise it was granted to one Thomas Ivory for seven months in the year only, commencing November 1st. The Town Clerk explained to the magistrates that the attention of the Executive Committee of the Corporation having been called to the necessity of certain structural alterations at the Theatre, Mr. Sidney was requested to have them carried out, and in consequence of his non-compliance the Lord Chamberlain was communicated with, and then it appeared that no patent had been granted to a theatre in Norwich since 1768. The magistrates, before granting the licence, required Mr. Sidney to comply with the demands of the Corporation, and on the 19th, it being reported that the work was completed, his application was acceded to.

15.-The coming of age of Mr. John Cator, eldest son of Mr. Albemarle Cator, was celebrated at Woodbastwick by a village _fete_.

18.-The Duke of Portland laid the last stone of a new dock at Lynn.

30.-The Norwich Diocesan Conference was opened at the Victoria Hall, Norwich, under the presidency of the Lord Bishop. The proceedings concluded on the 31st.

NOVEMBER.

9.-Dr. Eade was elected Mayor and Mr. J. Farrar Ranson appointed Sheriff of Norwich.

12.-Col. Boileau, at the annual distribution of prizes to the 1st Volunteer Battalion Norfolk Regiment, announced his impending retirement from the command of the corps. He was succeeded by Lieut.-Colonel Mansel.

23.-The headquarters of the 4th (Queen's Own) Hussars arrived at the Cavalry Barracks, Norwich.

24.-A fire occurred on the premises of Mr. Ilott, Bridewell Alley, Norwich, and caused damage to the amount of between 1,200 and 1,500.

DECEMBER.

3.-Mr. David James commenced a six nights' engagement at Norwich Theatre in the character of Perkyn Middlewick ("Our Boys").

18.-At a meeting of the Norwich Town Council an important letter was read from Mr. John Gurney, of Sprowston Hall, referring to the opportunity then afforded to acquire Norwich Castle and the surrounding grounds for the use and recreation of the citizens. (_See_ February 19th, 1884.)

26.-The holiday attraction at Norwich Theatre was the production of the Drury Lane drama, "Youth," by Messrs. Holt and Wilmot's company.

28.-The Mayor and Mayoress of Norwich (Dr. and Mrs. Eade) entertained 820 aged men and women at St. Andrew's Hall.

1884.

JANUARY.

5.-A great meeting of Norfolk farmers was held at the Agricultural Hall, Norwich, at which was pa.s.sed a series of resolutions affirming that they viewed with alarm the serious loss imposed upon the nation by the importation of live stock from countries where foot and mouth disease was known to exist, and calling upon the Government to order the withdrawal of existing restrictions on the removal of stock in England. On the 29th a similar meeting, presided over by Lord Walsingham, was held at Lynn, and a third meeting took place at Fakenham on the 31st. Deputations from the Corporations of Norwich and Lynn waited upon the local authority at Norwich on February 23rd to discuss what steps should be taken to effect the re-opening of the cattle markets in the city and borough, and it was decided to send a deputation to the Privy Council. This deputation, consisting of representatives of the county authority, and of the Corporations of Norwich and Lynn, waited upon Lord Carlingford on February 28th, and asked for the immediate opening of the markets and the removal or modification of other restrictions. At the quarterly meeting of the county magistrates on April 10th, Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., reported that the sum of 2,586 had been expended during the three months for inspection and expenses in carrying out the provisions of the Act. The Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act Amendment Bill was read a second time on March 21st and a third time on May 3rd, and on May 19th it received the Royal a.s.sent and became law.

20.-Died, at King's Lynn, Mr. James Fiddaman. He began life in very humble circ.u.mstances and without the advantages afforded by education.

The son of a tailor in a small way of business, he first acted as an a.s.sistant to his uncle, who was ostler at a tavern in Lynn. He was afterwards ostler or "boots" at inns and hotels in neighbouring towns; subsequently he tramped the country for a time, visiting London, Brighton, and other places in quest of a good situation. Eventually he returned to Lynn, took a public-house known as the Wheatsheaf, in Norfolk Street, and made it the local centre of the sporting interest in West Norfolk. After a time he bought the house, converted it into an hotel and wine vaults, and rapidly made a fortune. Mr. Fiddaman was a munificent donor to many benevolent inst.i.tutions, and his private acts of charity were numerous. An enormous concourse of persons attended his funeral.

30.-Died, at his residence, Thorpe St. Andrew, Mr. Richard Noverre Bacon, aged 85, probably the oldest journalist in the kingdom. At an early age he was engaged in newspaper work under his father, Richard Mackenzie Bacon, whom in 1845 he succeeded as proprietor and editor of the "Norwich Mercury." A Whig of the old school, Mr. Bacon in his editors.h.i.+p of the "Mercury" was tenacious in the maintenance of his opinions, and held them with a firmness which did not always please the more advanced section of the Liberal party-hence the establishment of the "Norfolk News" as the representative organ of Liberal Nonconformity in county and city. Mr.

Bacon served his fellow-citizens in the Town Council, on the Hospital board, and in other capacities, and a.s.sisted in founding the Jenny Lind Infirmary for Sick Children. As a journalist he was decidedly inferior to his distinguished father, and his only literary work was his "Essay on Norfolk Agriculture," written in 1844, which won for him the prize offered by the Royal Agricultural Society, besides bringing him prominently forward among the agriculturists of the county, a connection he was a.s.siduous in maintaining to the close of his career.

FEBRUARY.

19.-A deputation of Norfolk magistrates and members of the Norwich Town Council waited upon the Home Secretary (Sir William Harcourt) on the subject of the proposed provision of a new prison site at Norwich. Lord Walsingham explained the objects of the deputation. The county prison at Norwich, with the Castle and a portion of the ground on which it stands, having been offered under Section 34 of the Prisons Act, 1877, for re-purchase by the original prison authority, _i.e._, the county of Norfolk, at the statutory price fixed by the Act (amounting in this case to 10,569), a committee was appointed by the Court of Quarter Sessions for the county, and another committee by the Town Council of Norwich.

The county authority would not consent to take money out of the pockets of the heavily-burdened ratepayers for the repurchase of property which they had been compelled by law to part with for nothing; but they asked that this ancient and interesting piece of county property should be restored to its original owners "that it might be by them preserved to the best advantage in all its imposing dignity and grandeur." The Mayor of Norwich (Dr. Eade) stated that Mr. John Gurney had gone so far as to offer, free of cost, another site for a prison. The Home Secretary replied that the Prison Commissioners would not abandon the site, but would continue to occupy it, unless an offer were made which they could accept. If it was desired that they should go elsewhere, it should be made worth their while to do so. At a meeting of the Norwich Town Council on April 10th it was reported that the Home Secretary was willing to accept 5,000 for the Castle, and that a still further reduction was probable. On June 17th the Mayor announced to the Corporation that the Government had agreed to sell to the city the Castle and its environments for 4,000; and it was resolved to purchase the property for that sum.

(_See_ October 19th, 1886.)

20.-Mr. C. S. Read was returned unopposed to fill the vacancy in the representation of the Western Division of the county, caused by the resignation of Mr. Bentinck, M.P. Mr. Read took his seat in the House of Commons on the 21st, and had a very cordial reception. "The Premier shook his hand when he came to the table, and a score of members behind the chair greeted him as heartily."

MARCH.

15.-On this date were published the names of Norfolk men, and of those connected with the county, who had distinguished themselves at the battle of Teb, on March 13th. The list included Colonel Sir Redvers Buller, of Castle Rising; Commander Rolfe, of Heacham; Major Haggard, son of Mr.

Haggard, of East Bradenham; Lieutenant Probyn (killed), nephew of Sir Dighton Probyn; and Captain Wilson, R.N., of the Hecla, son of Mr.

Knyvett Wilson, of Swaffham. Captain Wilson afterwards received the Victoria Cross.

20.-Mr. Oscar Wilde lectured before a large audience in the a.s.sembly Room, Agricultural Hall, Norwich, on the subject of "The House Beautiful."

22.-The Spring Show of the Norfolk Agricultural a.s.sociation was held for the first time at the Agricultural Hall, Norwich. Since this date the show has been held annually in the same building in the month of March.