Norfolk Annals
Chapter 172 : 18.-The Amateur Dramatic Club of the 5th Royal Irish Lancers commenced a series of per

18.-The Amateur Dramatic Club of the 5th Royal Irish Lancers commenced a series of performances at Norwich Theatre, with the production of "Ingomar." On succeeding evenings, "The Lady of Lyons," "Black-eyed Susan," and other pieces were performed. The proceeds were in aid of the new uniform fund of the Norwich Rifle Volunteers, and of the Soldiers'

Monument on Norwich Cemetery.

21.-Interesting experiments were made with the telephone in the counting-house of Messrs. J. and J. Colman, Carrow Works, under the direction of Mr. H. Sack, superintendent of the Great Eastern Railway telegraph department. Telephones were attached to Messrs. Colman's private wire to London, _via_ Ipswich, and to the railway company's wire _via_ Cambridge to Liverpool Street Station, a distance of about 120 miles. "Parties of ladies and gentlemen at both ends were able to converse freely with each other, the words being clearly understood and distinctly heard. This was considered to be a very successful experiment, although it does not appear that at present the telephone can be adapted to public use."

22.-Died at Heckingham, in her 100th year, Kezia, widow of Richard Haywood.

MARCH.

7.-Sir Wilfrid Lawson, M.P., addressed a meeting held at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, in furtherance of the Permissive Bill.

9.*-"The rules approved by the Secretary of State for the regulation of prisons in England and Wales under the Act of Parliament (the Prisons Act) pa.s.sed last year have been issued. From these it appears that upon an order being directed for the discontinuance of Norwich Gaol and Wymondham Bridewell, the prisoners therein will be transferred to the County Gaol, Norwich Castle." The prisoners were transferred from the Gaol to the Castle in the early part of May.

11.-Mr. H. M. Pitt's Comedy-Drama Company commenced an engagement at Norwich Theatre. The company re-appeared at the Theatre on November 25th, for a season of eighteen nights-its farewell visit.

15.-Died at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, from cancer on the tongue, Mr. John Joseph Cotman, aged 63. "As an artist he would have rivalled his father, John Sell Cotman, but unhappily his unquestionably great genius was marred by an eccentricity which at times verged on insanity, and ruined a career which should have been one of honour and renown to himself and of profit to his family."

-Died at Lewes, Suss.e.x, Mr. George P. Bacon, in his 71st year. He was the second son of Mr. Richard Mackenzie Bacon, proprietor and editor of the "Norwich Mercury." In 1843 he became proprietor of the "Suss.e.x Advertiser," which he conducted in a very spirited manner. Mr. Bacon joined his brother in forming the "Norwich Mercury" Company. He was also well-known as secretary to the a.s.sociation for the Repeal of the Hop Duty.

16.-A silver inkstand and a purse of 200 gs. were presented to Mr. H. J.

Martin, in recognition of his services as honorary secretary of the Norwich Central Conservative Club.

17.-Died at the Cathedral Close, Norwich, Mr. Henry Hansell, proctor, solicitor and notary public, and registrar of the Archdeaconry of Norfolk, aged 71. Mr. Hansell was a warm supporter of the local charities, and was for several years honorary secretary of the Jenny Lind Infirmary. His knowledge of ecclesiastical law and of the rules and practices of the courts was most profound. He was succeeded in his registrars.h.i.+p and other appointments by his son, Mr. Thomas William Hansell.

25.-The celebrated Vokes Family commenced an engagement at Norwich Theatre, in "Belles of the Kitchen," "The Wrong Man in the Right Place,"

&c.

28.-The 5th Royal Irish Lancers gave a mounted and dismounted a.s.sault-at-arms at the Circus building, Castle Meadow, Norwich, in aid of the local charities and other objects. The performance was repeated on the 30th. The regiment received from the Town Council the thanks of the city for its valuable services.

APRIL.

13.*-"The death is announced of Mr. Thomas Hoseason, of Lynn, at the age of 68. It is said that he was the last representative of one of the famous Dutch families who came over to England with William III., and took a foremost part in the settlement and cultivation of the country of Marshland, so much resembling their native land. The Hoseasons were for many years large landed proprietors, but their estates have changed hands, and the deceased had gradually fallen into a state of utter dest.i.tution, and for a long time past had been dependent upon the aid of friends, and lived in a secluded lodging in a back street in the town."

17.-A public meeting was held at Yarmouth, in opposition to the proposal of the Corporation to erect a new town hall, with courts and public offices, at the cost of 24,000. A resolution condemning the scheme, and a.s.serting that the outlay would be 36,000, and would involve an addition to the rates of 3d. in the pound for the next fifty years, was adopted.

The Town Council, on July 15th, approved the plans of Mr. J. B. Pearce, architect, Norwich. (_See_ May 31st, 1882.)

22.-Died at the Wilderness, Bracondale, the Rev. Joseph Crompton, rector of St. Lawrence', Norwich, in his 65th year. Mr. Crompton began his career in Norwich as a Nonconformist minister, in about 1848. For many years he was minister at the Octagon chapel; but his views underwent such a change that he relinquished the pastorate and established what was known as the Free Christian Church, which a.s.sembled at the Dutch church, Elm Hill. After a ministry of several years, Mr. Crompton, whose views had approximated to those of the Broad Church party, began to show strong sympathy with that section of the Establishment. He avowed himself "a Dissenter against his will," and stated that the Athanasian Creed was the last stumbling-block in his way to joining the Church of England. At his own request the Bishop shortly afterwards admitted him to Holy Orders, and he officiated as curate to the Rev. Charles Morse, both at St. Mary's and St. Michael-at-Plea. On the Rev. E. A. Hillyard leaving St.

Lawrence', Mr. Crompton was appointed rector of the parish. He took great interest in scientific pursuits, and his name was a.s.sociated with the Norfolk and Norwich Museum as a lecturer with Professors Lindley and Sedgwick, Thomas Brightwell, and the Rev. R. Lubbock. Mr. Crompton was a zealous supporter of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society, of which he was President in the first two years of its existence. In politics he was a decided Liberal. A window erected to his memory by public subscription was unveiled at St. Lawrence' church by Mr. Harry Bullard, Mayor of Norwich, on November 6th, 1879.

22.-The farcical comedy, "Pink Dominoes," was produced at Norwich Theatre by a company under the management of Mr. S. Genese. "It is a cla.s.s of piece which we are sorry to see introduced on the English stage.

Originating in France, it had better be kept in an atmosphere for which it may be specially adapted."

26.-Mr. Frank Buckland and Mr. Spencer Walpole, fishery commissioners, held a public inquiry at Lynn into the use of trawl and seine nets, and into the alleged destruction of the fry and sp.a.w.n of sea fish. A similar inquiry was held at Yarmouth.

MAY.

9.-At a meeting held at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, a branch of the Church of England Temperance Society was established. The Lord Bishop presided, and addresses were delivered by the Rev. Canon Ellison, the Rev. Canon Wilberforce, Mr. Cadge, and Dr. Eade.

12.-A fire occurred on premises on the South Denes Road and Exmouth Road, Yarmouth, by which damage was done to the amount of 3,000.

15.-Died at Norwich, Mr. Edward Press, in his 77th year. He was a son of the Rev. Edward Press, B.A., and was born at Barnham Broom. For many years he practised as a solicitor at Hingham, and held several local appointments of a public character. He was, however, more widely known as County Coroner, the duties of which office he discharged with marked ability for fifty years. In politics Mr. Press was a Liberal. He was succeeded as County Coroner by Mr. Robert Thomas Culley, who was elected unopposed on June 6th.

23.-The 5th Royal Irish Lancers' Christy Minstrel Troupe gave performances at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, in aid of the local charities.

JUNE.

1.-Died at his residence, Theatre Square, Norwich, Mr. Frank Noverre, aged 71. Mr. Noverre was descended from a French family long a.s.sociated with Norwich. His father was one of the original directors of the Norwich Union Life Insurance Society, and he was himself for many years a director of the same inst.i.tution. At one time he was honorary treasurer of the Norwich Choral Society, honorary secretary of the Norwich Philharmonic Society, and a member of the sub-committee of management of the Norfolk and Norwich Musical Festival.

10.-The celebration of the coming of age of Lord Hastings, on April 4th, commenced on this date, at Melton Constable. The festivities lasted five days.

19.-The Summer Show of the Norfolk Agricultural a.s.sociation was opened at North Walsham, and was continued on the 20th. Lord Suffield presided at the luncheon.

-At a meeting of the Governors of the Norwich Dispensary, it was agreed, on the motion of Mr. John Gurney, to adopt the provident system in the working of the inst.i.tution.

24.-Colonel Ma.s.sy and the officers of the 5th Royal Irish Lancers, on the occasion of the departure of the first detachment of the regiment from Norwich, were entertained at a civic luncheon, given at the Guildhall, under the presidency of the Mayor (Mr. J. D. Smith). The Mayor, on behalf of the citizens, presented to the officers a ma.s.sive silver-gilt cup, "in appreciation of the exemplary conduct of the regiment during its stay among them, and in grateful remembrance of the many benefits conferred by it upon the city and its inst.i.tutions." The remainder of the regiment marched on the 25th. The Town Council, on July 1st, pa.s.sed a special resolution, recording its high estimation of the regiment, and ordering the entry in the minutes of the fact that "no complaint has been made nor any collision taken place between the military and the citizens during the time the regiment has been quartered in the city." The Lancers were relieved by the 21st Hussars, commanded by Colonel Wake.

29.-Died at Constantinople, aged 32, Mr. Robert Pulvertoft Master, Commissioner of the Turkish Compa.s.sionate Fund. He was the second son of Mr. Alfred Master, of Norwich, and rendered great services in the cause of humanity during the Russo-Turkish War. Mr. Master was educated at Norwich Grammar School, and, after spending a year in Germany, and a like period in a commercial house in London, proceeded to Ceylon, where he became manager of a coffee estate, and married Amelia, second daughter of Sir Edward Creasy, Chief Justice of the island.

JULY.

4.-Died at Pottergate Street, Norwich, Mr. William Smith, veterinary surgeon, aged 61. Mr. Smith attained to considerable eminence in his profession. During the time of the Cattle Plague, he did good service to the county in his official capacity as inspector to the Central Committee, and at the meeting of the British a.s.sociation at Norwich read an able paper on the disease, its origin and treatment.

9.-Winterton church was re-opened by the Bishop of Norwich. It had been restored at the cost of 3,000.

13.-The 3rd and 4th Battalions of Norfolk Rifle Volunteers went into camp at Yarmouth, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Duff, M.P., and Lieut.-Colonel Gurdon.

15.-The Hemsby to Martham extension of the Yarmouth and Stalham Railway was opened on this date. Powers having been obtained for carrying the line to North Walsham, it was thereafter known as the North Norfolk Railway. (_See_ June 8th, 1881.)

20.-Died at Norwich, in his 93rd year, Commander Crane, R.N. He was the son of Mr. Edward Crane, Coroner of Norwich, and entered the Royal Navy as mids.h.i.+pman on board the Repulse, in 1798. During the summer of 1805 he accompanied Nelson in his pursuit to the West Indies of the combined French and Spanish fleets. After continuous service he joined the Reynard, 18 guns, as Acting Commander in the advance on Riga, and was the first to bring to the Admiral of the station lying off Carlscrona news of the great defeat of Napoleon at Moscow. He was in May, 1813, while in charge of a prize, driven by a gale into Frederickstadt, in Norway, where he was detained a prisoner for some months. In 1843 he received the rank of commander, and since 1848 had resided in Norwich.

AUGUST.

3.-At the Norfolk a.s.sizes, before Lord Justice Thesiger, Mr. W. G.

Loftus, of Bracon Lodge, brought an action against the Rev. T. T. Berney, rector of Braconash, for trespa.s.s. The defendant claimed the right, as lord of the manor, of shooting over thirty-four acres' of land around Bracon Lodge. This land was princ.i.p.ally garden ground. The plaintiff objected to defendant sporting in his kitchen garden, and wished to put an end to the nuisance. In the course of argument between Mr. Day, Q.C., for the plaintiff, and Sir Patrick Colquhoun, Q.C., for the defendant, reference was made to several "musty deeds" produced by Mr. Berney. The jury found for the plaintiff, damages 40s.

5.-A singular claim to the Stanfield Hall estate was made at the Norfolk a.s.sizes, before Lord Justice Thesiger. The action was brought by George Taylor, a railway guard, against Mr. Reginald Gwyn and the Rev. Henry H.

H. Lubbock, the owners of the estate, who pleaded that they had a possessory t.i.tle, and that plaintiff's t.i.tle and right of action were barred by the Statute of Limitations. The estate was originally in the possession of William Jermy, of Bayfield, who died in 1752, and plaintiff alleged that, as a lineal descendant of Robert Jermy, who died in 1758, he was heir-at-law. Mr. Bulwer, Q.C., after opening the case for the plaintiff, said he was not justified in occupying the time of the court and putting the parties to further trouble in the matter, when he knew perfectly well that he must be beaten in the end. The jury returned a verdict for the defendants, for whom his lords.h.i.+p gave judgment.