Norfolk Annals
Chapter 175 : Mr. R. T. Gurdon was president.15.-The Norwich Artillery Volunteers paraded for the fi

Mr. R. T. Gurdon was president.

15.-The Norwich Artillery Volunteers paraded for the first time in their new uniform. The regulation scarlet facings and helmet of the Royal Artillery had been subst.i.tuted for the white facings and busby previously worn.

17.-The Prince of Wales visited Norwich, for the purpose of laying the foundation-stone of the new Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. The visit was of a semi-private character. His Royal Highness, who was received at Thorpe Station by the Mayor (Mr. Harry Bullard), the Sheriff (Mr. Donald Steward), the Earl of Leicester, Lord Suffield, and Lord Carrington, proceeded to the site of the new building, and having performed the ceremony, returned to the station and travelled by special train to Yarmouth. The cost of the new Hospital was originally estimated at 35,500, but the Board of Governors subsequently decided to purchase adjoining property, at an additional outlay of 5,000. The Board afterwards adopted a building design jointly prepared by Mr. T. H. Wyatt, of London, and Mr. Edward Boardman, of Norwich, and accepted the tender of Messrs. Lacey and Co. for the completion of the work. (_See_ June 30th, 1881.)

-The Prince of Wales arrived at Yarmouth, and on the 18th inspected the Prince of Wales' Own Norfolk Artillery. His Royal Highness left on the morning of the 19th. On both evenings of his stay in the town, the Prince attended performances given by the Gaiety Company at the Theatre Royal.

27.-At a special meeting of the Norwich Town Council, Mr. J. H. Tillett moved, "That this Council objects to the proposed schemes of the Charity Commissioners, particularly to those relating to the Boys' Hospital and the Girls' Hospital Schools, on the ground that educational and other funds given expressly and emphatically for the benefit of the poor are thereby diverted from their proper objects, and applied to the increase of the endowments in middle and upper schools, which schools, if in need, should be helped otherwise than at the expense of the poor." The motion was adopted, and the Parliamentary and Bylaw Committee were requested to prepare a pet.i.tion against the scheme. A Common Hall was held on July 16th, at which resolutions were adopted expressing dissatisfaction with the scheme; and at a meeting of the Town Council, on August 26th, the Parliamentary and Bylaws Committee, in a draft report upon the scheme, urged that to apply grants originally given for the maintenance, education, and advancement of the children of the poor, in aid of the Grammar and Commercial Schools, or either of them, would involve a misappropriation of the funds and a violation of the intentions of the founders. (_See_ October 24th, 1882.)

JULY.

3.-At the Norfolk county magistrates' meeting, a report was received from the Committee of Visitors that several serious cases of erysipelas, sore throat, and diarrhoea had occurred at Thorpe Asylum, "and it would appear that the very offensive smell which pervades the Asylum whenever the wind blows from the Sewage Farm on the opposite side of the river is the cause of the above-named epidemics."

4.-In the House of Commons, Mr. C. S. Read supported, in a long and able speech, Mr. Chaplin's motion, for a Royal Commission to enquire into the depressed condition of the agricultural interest.

6.-Died at the Vyne, Basingstoke, Mr. W. L. Wiggett Chute, aged 79, formerly of Pickenham Hall, near Swaffham. He was called to the Bar by the Middle Temple in 1827, in which year he a.s.sumed, by Royal licence, the additional name and arms of Chute, on inheriting the estates of that ancient family in Hamps.h.i.+re and Norfolk. He was elected with Sir William Bagge in the Conservative interest at the General Election of 1837, and held the seat until 1847, when he retired. In 1837 he married Martha, second daughter of Mr. Theophilus Russell Buckworth, of c.o.c.kley Cley.

9.-A "silver cradle," in the form of a ma.s.sive epergne, was presented by the Corporation to the Mayor of Norwich (Mr. Harry Bullard), "in commemoration of the birth of his daughter, Hilda May, on May 13th, 1879."

11.-Died at Kett's Castle Villa, Mousehold, Norwich, Mr. John Berney Ladbrooke. Born in 1803, he was a son of Robert Ladbrooke, painter and drawing master, and nephew of Old Crome, whose pupil he became after he had received rudimentary instruction from his father. "Crome's influence is traced in nearly all his pictures, although of late years in tone and colour they more closely resemble the best works of Henry Bright. He especially excelled in the representation of woodland scenery." As a drawing master Ladbrooke was much valued.

12.-Died at Norwich, Mr. John Withers Dowson. A son of Mr. Benjamin Dowson, merchant, of Geldeston, he was born in 1800. Educated at Norwich Grammar School, he was articled to a London firm of solicitors, and afterwards commenced practice in Norwich. The pursuit of professional emolument was, however, less an object with him than the furtherance of the education and the improvement of those around him, especially the poor, and probably no one in the city or county had in his time done more practical work in the cause of education.

14.-An inter-county bicycle race, between Norfolk and Suffolk cyclists, was ridden from Ipswich to Norwich. The compet.i.tors started from Ipswich at 3.5 p.m., and the race was won by Popplewell, of Ipswich, who arrived at the Boileau fountain, Norwich, at 6.5 p.m. Morgan, of Yarmouth, was second. The distance ridden was forty-three miles.

15.-An important question affecting the boundary of the city came before the Norwich Town Council. The Town Clerk reported that, in the preparation of the Ordnance Survey, a question had arisen as to whether two pieces of land, one containing about 38 acres, situate in the parish of Catton, and the other of about 45 acres, with 150 houses thereon, situate in the parish of Sprowston, should not be included within the Parliamentary and munic.i.p.al boundary of the city and county of the city of Norwich. On investigating the matter, it appeared that, by the charter of Philip and Mary, granted to the city in 1556, these two inclosures of land were clearly defined as being within the city boundary, and by several ancient ma.n.u.scripts and books, including Blomefield's "History of Norfolk," reference was also made to these lands as belonging to the city. It also appeared by the report of the Commissioners appointed to report on the boundaries of boroughs and corporate towns, by order of the House of Commons, on April 25th, 1837, that such lands were within the city jurisdiction, and a plan attached to such report corroborated the fact. The matter being important, and the Town Clerk having been requested to state whether the city authorities were willing in the new survey to allow such lands to be shown as forming part of the county of Norfolk, it was referred to the Parliamentary and Bylaws Committee, for further investigation and consideration. On August 26th, the Committee reported that they had consulted the Town Clerk and Major Jones, of the Ordnance Survey, had referred to extracts from charters and from Blomefield, and had resolved that sufficient evidence had not been produced to set forth where the boundary of the city of Norwich should be drawn, and that, therefore, they left Major Jones to define it as he might think best, without prejudice to the rights of any party.

19.-The 3rd and 4th Battalions of Norfolk Rifle Volunteers went into camp on Yarmouth South Denes. Colonel Bulwer, who had succeeded Colonel Duff, was in command of the 3rd Battalion, and Lieut.-Colonel Gurdon commanded the 4th Battalion.

20.-Owing to a heavy and continuous downpour of rain and a strong wind blowing from the north-west, the waters of the Yare were "backed up,"

overflowed the banks of the river, and submerged many thousand acres of marshes between Norwich and Yarmouth. Most of the hay crop in Norfolk was ruined by the wet weather.

23.-A silver epergne was presented to Mr. E. H. H. Combe, Mayor of Yarmouth, as a "silver cradle," to commemorate the birth of a daughter in his year of office.

26.-Particulars were published on this date of the establishment of the Norwich Steam Laundry and Public Baths, at North Heigham.

27.-A remarkable landslip occurred at Attleborough. As Mr. Gathergood, a farmer, whose land lay partly in Attleborough and Rockland, was crossing a turnip field, he was stunned by a loud report resembling the roar of a cannon, immediately followed by a rustling noise within a yard or two of him. On recovering his presence of mind, he discovered that a s.p.a.ce of land twenty-four yards in circ.u.mference had sunk out of sight, and water was rising in its stead. On the 28th the water subsided, and revealed a chasm from thirty-five to forty feet deep, with perfectly perpendicular sides. This strange phenomenon was attributed to the action of the heavy rainfall.

AUGUST.

2.-A terrible thunderstorm and hurricane commenced in the night and prevailed during the early hours of the morning of the 3rd (Sunday). It was accompanied by a deluge of rain and a heavy hailstorm. Great damage was done to property in city and county. But the greatest calamity was the destruction of Wells church, the tower of which was struck by lightning at 5.50 a.m. on the 3rd. The roof of the nave was soon in flames, and fell in with a crash, and by nine o'clock the whole church was reduced to a state of utter ruin. The fine peal of bells was totally destroyed, and the entire damage was estimated at from 10,000 to 15,000. (_See_ April 18th, 1883.)

4.-Died at Oxford Street, Unthank's Road, Norwich, Mr. Thomas William Bond, in his 76th year. Mr. Bond was some time subeditor, and afterwards publisher, of the "Norfolk News," and before removing to Norwich kept a school at Barton Mills, near Stoke Ferry. He was the compiler of a small book for children, known as "Bond's Catechism," which was published by Jarrold, and for many years extensively used in all parts of the country.

5.-Died at the residence of his son, Belmont House, Newport, Ess.e.x, Zachariah Buck, Mus. Doc. He was born at Norwich on September 19th, 1798, and at an early age attracted the attention of Dr. Beckwith, the then organist of the Cathedral, who took him into the choir. Dr.

Beckwith died in 1809, and was succeeded as organist by his son, Mr. John Beckwith, with whom young Buck continued, and to whom he was articled.

On the death of Beckwith, in 1819, Buck, at the early age of twenty-one, succeeded in obtaining the appointment of Cathedral organist, his chief compet.i.tor being Alfred Pettet, a fellow-pupil, who was appointed to St.

Peter Mancroft. Buck soon obtained a large and lucrative practice as a teacher, and established his reputation as a trainer of boys. For nearly forty years he continued to perform the active duties of organist and choirmaster, but during the last twenty years of his life he relinquished the organ to his subsequent a.s.sistant and partner, Dr. Bunnett. Besides instructing during his long career some 7,000 amateur pupils, Dr. Buck trained a very large number of professional students, most of whom were selected from his choir. He composed no great work, but was the author of a number of pleasing anthems, and of the hymn, "Come hither, angel tongues invite," which, it was understood, gained for him his Lambeth degree of Doctor of Music, conferred upon him by the Archbishop of Canterbury. He resigned, on June 5th, 1877, his appointment at the Cathedral, after seventy years' connection therewith. Dr. Buck was twice married-first to Miss Hansell, and secondly to Miss Holloway, and left three sons.

11.-The British, Archaeological a.s.sociation opened its congress at Yarmouth. Lord Waveney, as president, delivered an inaugural address.

The members of the Congress visited Norwich on the 18th.

26.-Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., having declined the invitation of the Government to become a member of the Royal Commission appointed to enquire into the depressed state of agriculture and its causes, and believing that he could serve farmers better another way, sailed on this date from Liverpool for America, in the City of Montreal liner, in company with Mr. Albert Pell, M.P. The object of the hon. gentlemen was to collect, in the United States, information conducive to the inquiry, and this duty they undertook as unpaid a.s.sistant commissioners. They made a tour through the Western agricultural regions of Manitoba, Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Kentucky, went south-west to Texas, and returned to Philadelphia on November 26th. They thoroughly examined the system of cultivation, transportation, and ocean s.h.i.+pment of provisions and grain; they travelled an average of 120 miles each day, besides making minute investigations; and in this work they were greatly a.s.sisted by the St.

Paul and Sioux City Railway, who gave them the use of a special train for a week. They examined the terminal and s.h.i.+pping facilities of the Pennsylvania railroad, the American steams.h.i.+p line at Philadelphia, and the Abbatoir Company's arrangements for the s.h.i.+pping of live and dead meat. After visiting Baltimore, Was.h.i.+ngton, and New York, Mr. Read and Mr. Pell sailed for home on December 10th. Mr. Read arrived in Norfolk on December 22nd, and was welcomed at Wymondham station by Mrs. Read and several personal friends.

26.-The Town Clerk reported, at a meeting of the Norwich Town Council, that the Norwich Improvement Act received the Royal a.s.sent on July 22nd.

Among the works which it enabled the city to undertake was to remove Foundry Bridge and construct a new one forty-five feet wide; to build a bridge across the Wensum at St. Martin-at-Oak, and to exercise increased powers in the sanitary administration and local government of the city.

30.-The death was announced, at Brussels, of Lord Gordon of Drumearn, who, when Lord Advocate for Scotland, in 1867, was returned as member of Parliament for the borough of Thetford.

SEPTEMBER.

16.-The Norwich Town Council adopted a resolution authorising the paving of the Provision Market with wood, at a cost not exceeding 1,100.

(_See_ August 31st, 1880.)

-The improvement of Chapel Field, Norwich, was, after many delays, ordered by the Town Council to be undertaken, at a sum not exceeding 1,000, the cost to be charged to the sanitary rate. On November 7th the Mayor and Mayoress (Mr. and Mrs. Bullard) and Mrs. Donald Steward planted the first of the new trees. (_See_ November 4th, 1880.)

OCTOBER.

6.-Died at Norwich, in his 70th year, the Rev. William Grigson, M.A., for thirty-three years rector of Whinburgh and Westfield. A son of Mr.

Edward Harvey Grigson, of Saham Toney, he was educated at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and married, in 1844, Margaret, third daughter of Mr.

James Hales, of Norwich. The first of his ancestors to settle in the county was the Rev. William Grigson, M.A., rector of Hardingham, in 1584, and since that period they have continued to reside in Norfolk, where they once held a large extent of landed property. Mr. Grigson's favourite studies were archaeology and genealogy. As an authority upon the latter, his a.s.sistance was sought from all parts of the kingdom, and his name will always be remembered in connection with the "Visitations of Norfolk," of which work he was a joint editor.

15.-Died at the Chantry, Norwich, in his 77th year, Mr. G. Pinson, formerly Governor of Norwich Castle.

28.-Died at Knapton House, Sir Henry Robinson, K.B., in his 76th year.

He was a son of Mr. George Robinson, and served for some years in her Majesty's Bodyguard of Gentlemen-at-Arms, of which he was appointed Standard-Bearer in 1840, and Lieutenant-Commanding in 1845. In 1842 he married Lucy, daughter of Mr. W. D. Cooper-Cooper, of Toddington Manor, Bedford.

NOVEMBER.

6.-The Norwich Diocesan Conference was opened at Noverre's Rooms, Norwich, under the presidency of the Lord Bishop. The proceedings were continued on the 7th.

10.-The Norwich Town Council, owing to political differences, were unable to elect a Mayor. Mr. Willis was nominated and declared elected, but refused to take office. Mr. Philip Back having been appointed Sheriff, the meeting was adjourned until the 22nd, when the Liberal party declining to nominate, Colonel Bignold proposed Mr. Samuel Newman, who refused to accept the position. Another adjournment was made to the 28th, when Mr. Harry Bullard declared his readiness, by accepting the office for another year, to relieve the city of the stigma cast upon it.

The meeting then adjourned until December 2nd, when Mr. Bullard was re-elected.

18.-Mr. Frank Buckland and Mr. Spencer Walpole, Inspectors of Fisheries, opened an inquiry at Cromer as to an application for an Order prohibiting either entirely or subject to such exceptions and restrictions as the Board of Trade might determine, the fis.h.i.+ng for and taking of small edible crabs and berried hen lobsters. A similar inquiry was held at Sheringham on the 19th.

20.-The Norwich Fat Cattle Show was opened at Chapel Field, and was continued on the 21st and 22nd.