Norfolk Annals
Chapter 161 : The name of Mr. Kett-Tompson stood first upon the list of gentlemen to fill the office

The name of Mr. Kett-Tompson stood first upon the list of gentlemen to fill the office of High Sheriff of Norfolk in 1873.

19.-Died, Elizabeth Harvey, widow of James Harvey, of Rollesby, in her 102nd year.

20.-A heavy gale occurred. Several vessels were lost off Yarmouth, and a s.h.i.+p wrecked at Wells.

21.-A grand fancy dress ball, attended by representatives of the princ.i.p.al families in Norfolk, was held at Hillington Hall, in celebration of the twenty-fifth birthday of Sir William ffolkes, Bart.

24.-Died at his residence, Heigham Grove, Norwich, aged 73, Major-General Burton Daveney, formerly of the Royal Scots Regiment. He was born at Colton, in December, 1799, and obtained his commission as ensign in the 57th Regiment. In 1825 he went to Australia as lieutenant in command of a detachment which had charge of nearly 200 convicts. On the voyage small-pox broke out, and the vessel was placed in quarantine. The young lieutenant throughout a period of the greatest difficulty discharged his duties with conspicuous success. In 1830 he exchanged into the 1st Royals (afterwards the Royal Scots), and served in one or other of the battalions of that regiment for thirty-one years. He pa.s.sed through the Canadian Rebellion in 1837, was present at the affairs of St. Charles and St. Eustache, and returned to England in 1841. In the Crimea, as commandant at Balaclava, his duties were so arduous that when he left, completely broken down in health, in January, 1855, the work was divided among three officers. In the absence of the colonel he brought the regiment to Aldershot, and afterwards had the honour of dining with her Majesty, to whom he was presented by the Prince Consort. He next sailed to India, and a.s.sisted in quelling the Mutiny, and returned in 1862, when he retired on full pay, with the rank of Major-General. He had seen forty-one years of active service without pa.s.sing a single day on half-pay. General Daveney was the possessor of three clasps for the Crimea, the Order of the Medjidie, and several other decorations presented by the Sultan to British officers who had served in the war against Russia.

DECEMBER.

8.-A fearful storm swept over East Anglia. At Norwich and other towns in the county great damage was done to buildings; in the country trees were uprooted and stacks overturned; and on the coast there were many s.h.i.+pping casualties.

21.-Mr. James Bacon was elected secretary of the Norfolk Agricultural a.s.sociation, in place of Mr. Cross, resigned. Mr. E. C. Bailey resigned the office of honorary director.

-A conference was held at the Guildhall, Norwich, at which representatives of the sanitary authorities in city and county discussed the best method of carrying out the provisions of the new Public Health Act, more particularly as to the appointment of medical-officers of health and inspectors of nuisances. It was suggested that the county be divided into seven districts, exclusive of the city of Norwich; that a medical-officer of health be appointed to each district, the election to be made by representatives of the sanitary authorities; and that a similar course be adopted in regard to inspectors of nuisances. Mr. T.

W. Crosse, on January 23rd, 1873, resigned his seat in the Norwich Town Council as a representative of the First Ward, and was appointed Medical-Officer of Health for the city, at the salary of 200 per annum.

26.-A pantomime (t.i.tled not stated) was produced at Norwich Theatre by Mr. G. H. Chaplin. "The transformation scene," it was stated, "has not been surpa.s.sed for gorgeous beauty on our stage." Edmonds' (late Wombwell's) Menagerie was exhibited on the Castle Meadow.

30.-The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived at Holkham, on a visit to the Earl of Leicester.

31.-Colonel Peyton and officers of the 7th Dragoon Guards gave a grand invitation ball at the Crown Bank building, Norwich. It was attended by many of the leading families of the county.

1873.

JANUARY.

2.-Died at his residence, Thorpe Hamlet, Norwich, Mr. Claude L. Nursey, artist, the painter of the well-known pictures ill.u.s.trating scenes in the early days of the local Volunteer movement. He was a son of Mr. Perry Nursey, of Little Bealings, Suffolk, and was in his 54th year.

15.-The Norwich Town Council received a letter from Whitehall, intimating that as Mr. Secretary Bruce had received no information that any steps had been taken by the Corporation for erecting a pauper lunatic asylum, he had instructed the Solicitor to the Treasury to proceed in the matter of the _mandamus_. (_See_ July 21st, 1874.)

21.-The resignation of Mr. A. W. Morant, City Engineer, and the author of the first sewerage scheme, was received by the Norwich Town Council, on his appointment as engineer to the borough of Leeds. On March 25th Mr.

Christopher Thwaites, C.E., of London, was appointed to the vacant post.

27.-Died at Trinity College, Cambridge, the Rev. Adam Sedgwick, LL.D., aged 87, Woodwardian Professor of Geology. He came of a North country family, and was born at Dent, in Yorks.h.i.+re. In due course he entered at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he took his Bachelor's degree in 1808, as fifth wrangler. In 1810 he was elected to a Fellows.h.i.+p in his College, of which at his death he was the senior member. He succeeded, in 1818, Professor Hailstone in the chair of Geology, founded at Cambridge by the celebrated Dr. John Woodward. Professor Sedgwick had been a Canon of Norwich Cathedral since 1834.

FEBRUARY.

11.-A Local Government Board inquiry was held at the Guildhall, Norwich, by Mr. R. Morgan, C.E., as to an application made by the Town Council to borrow the sum of 32,500, for the purchase of a portion of the Crown Point estate, for sewerage and irrigation purposes. The amount required for the purchase of the land was 27,500, for legal and other charges, 500, and the remainder was for erecting buildings, &c. The application was opposed by the Norwich Ratepayers' Protection League. Another phase of the sewerage question occupied the attention of the Town Council at a special meeting on May 13th, when the City Engineer presented a report stating that serious defects existed in the low-level sewer, and part of the works had given way. It was resolved to borrow 20,000, at four per cent., on mortgage of the sewerage farm, as a permanent loan for ten years. On August 19th the City Engineer submitted to the Council three alternative plans for dealing with the difficulty-(1) By plating the sewer, at a cost of not less than 17,178; (2) by reconstruction, at a minimum cost of 25,000; and (3) of providing a new lining at not less than 33,000. Up to that time the total expenditure on the works amounted to 113,000. On October 21st the Council decided to consult Messrs. Hawkesley and Bazalgette, who, on December 16th, presented a report suggesting that certain remedial works be carried out at an approximate cost of 34,000. (_See_ January 20th, 1874.)

20.-In consequence of the demand by agricultural labourers for increased wages, an important meeting of employers resident in the district of the Wayland Agricultural a.s.sociation was held at Watton, under the presidency of Lord Walsingham, when resolutions were adopted whereby the meeting pledged itself to decline to recognise the system of compulsion exercised by the Labourers' Union, and to refuse any demand for higher wages made by those who were members of the Union, "although willing to give favourable consideration to any request made in a proper manner whenever circ.u.mstances might be found to justify it." It was further decided to invite co-operation from a larger area, and to form a society to be called the Wayland Farmers' Defensive a.s.sociation. Similar action was taken by employers in the North Walsham district, at Swaffham, and in the Blofield and Taverham Hundreds. (_See_ March 14th, 1874.)

MARCH.

25.-The Sheriff of Norwich (Dr. Bateman) and the Mayor (Sir Samuel Bignold) attended at the s.h.i.+rehall, on the conclusion of the Norfolk a.s.sizes, when the former, addressing Mr. Baron Martin, presented his lords.h.i.+p with a pair of white kid gloves, in commemoration of the fact that for the first time in forty-three years the city of Norwich had had a maiden a.s.size. The Mayor corroborated the statement, and said that in that year, 1830, he happened to be Sheriff of the city. His lords.h.i.+p remarked it was extremely creditable that a city of 80,000 inhabitants should have no cases for trial at the a.s.sizes.

29.-Two meetings were held at Norwich, in furtherance of an effort to secure a visit of the Royal Agricultural Society to the city in 1874.

The Norfolk Agricultural a.s.sociation agreed to suspend its own show, and to vote 500 to the funds of the Royal; and a gathering of county and city gentlemen promised subscriptions to the amount of 1,100. The Mayor authorised the secretaries to guarantee the full amount required-2,000.

29.-A fire occurred at Mr. Darken's music warehouse, Norwich, and damage was done to the amount of 1,500.

APRIL.

2.-The Docking Union a.s.sociation, founded in 1839 for the purpose of promoting habits of industry and frugality and of rewarding good conduct amongst labourers, was dissolved, and the balance of 87 paid to the funds of hospitals in the county.

4.-Died at Southtown, Great Yarmouth, aged 82, Commander George Jenner, R.N. He entered the Navy in 1806, and served on board the Milan; in 1810 he joined the Desire, was at the taking of San Sebastian, and was awarded the medal for gallant service.

12.-At the All England Champion Athletic meeting, held at Lillie Bridge Grounds, London, A. R. Upcher won the quarter-mile and H. K. Upcher the 120 yards hurdle race. "This makes seven champions.h.i.+ps won by Norfolk men, namely, the walking, in 1868, by W. Rye; the four miles, in 1870, by H. C. Riches; the quarter-mile, in 18707173, by A. R. Upcher; the pole jump, in 1872, by H. C. Fellowes; and the hurdle-race, in 1873, by H. K.

Upcher."

14.-The foundation-stone of the Norfolk County School was laid by the Prince of Wales. His Royal Highness, with whom was the Princess of Wales, left Wolferton station by special train, and was accompanied by the Bishop of Norwich, Lord and Lady Suffield, and Viscount Newry. At Holkham the Royal party was joined by the Earl of Leicester and Lady Anne c.o.ke, and other members of the family. At Elmham station the Prince and Princess were received by Lord and Lady Sondes. A detachment of picked men of the 3rd Norfolk Rifle Volunteers, under the command of Captain Bulwer, formed a guard of honour at the entrance to the enclosure on the school site. After an address had been read to their Royal Highnesses by Prebendary Brereton, chairman of the Board of Directors, the Prince laid the stone, inscribed, "Albert. Edward, Prince of Wales, April 14, 1873."

The Lord Bishop offered prayer, and a hymn was sung, after which a large and distinguished company, presided over by the Earl of Leicester, partook of luncheon in a marquee. Their Royal Highnesses, after taking tea with Lord and Lady Sondes, at Elmham Hall, returned to Wolferton by special train. The school was opened on September 16th, 1874, when an inaugural luncheon was held, and an address delivered by the Right Hon.

Earl Fortesque.

-Mr. Henry Leslie's Opera Bouffe Company commenced an engagement at Norwich Theatre. The pieces produced included "Lischen and Fritzchen,"

"Genevieve de Brabant," "The Princess of Trebizonde," and "The Brigands."

28.-The headquarters of the 7th Dragoon Guards marched from Norwich for Manchester. On the regiment reaching the Market Place, the officers adjourned to the Royal Hotel, where the Mayor, on behalf of the traders of the city, presented to Colonel Peyton and the officers a ma.s.sive silver cup and an illuminated address. The cup was filled with champagne, and the officers drank "Health end Prosperity to the City of Norwich." At Costessey Park the regiment was entertained by Lord Stafford.

MAY.

6.-The depot of the 51st Regiment, from Yarmouth, arrived at Norwich and took over the Cavalry Barracks.

24.-The Queen's birthday was observed at Norwich with the customary festivities. The event was further marked by the presentation to the Mayor and Sheriff of a set of official robes, purchased by public subscription.

26.-A specially-organized company, under the management of Mr. Craven Robertson, performed the comedy of "Caste" at Norwich Theatre. "School"

was also produced during the six nights' engagement. On this occasion the favourite actress, Miss f.a.n.n.y Addison, made her first appearance in Norwich, and Mr. J. F. Young was a member of the company.

30.-A detachment of the Honourable Artillery Company, numbering 64 officers and men, arrived at Yarmouth by train, and on the 31st marched for Norwich. At Blofield the detachment was met by the band of the Norwich Artillery Volunteers, and at Brundall the men boarded the Alexandra steamer, by which they performed the remainder of the journey to Norwich. Headquarters were established at the Royal Hotel. On Sunday, June 1st, the Honourable Artillery Company and the Norwich Artillery Volunteers attended service at the Cathedral, and on June 2nd the Norwich corps accompanied the London men on their march to Wymondham.

The London corps proceeded to Attleborough, where they took train for London.

JUNE.