Norfolk Annals
Chapter 99 : 5.-Mr. William Bagge and Mr. W. Lyde Wiggett Chute, the former members, were nominated

5.-Mr. William Bagge and Mr. W. Lyde Wiggett Chute, the former members, were nominated and returned unopposed as members for West Norfolk. "The town of Swaffham was one blaze of pink and purple." The candidates were escorted to the s.h.i.+rehall by an imposing procession, and after the nomination the election dinner was held at the a.s.sembly Rooms, under the presidency of the Hon. Francis Baring.

10.-Mr. Edmond Wodehouse and Mr. Henry Negus Burroughes, the former Conservative members for East Norfolk, entered Norwich at the head of a great cavalcade of freeholders, and were nominated at the s.h.i.+rehall. Mr.

Palmer, Recorder of Yarmouth, and Mr. William Wilde, Coroner for Norwich, nominated and seconded Sir William J. H. B. ffolkes as the Whig candidate. The polling, on the 13th, was declared as follows:-Wodehouse, 3,498; Burroughes, 3,437; ffolkes, 1,379.

12.-Died at Denton, near Harleston, Sarah Witton, aged 100 years, "leaving twenty-nine great-grandchildren still living, they being the origin of one daughter." The deceased was "the daughter of John and Eleanor Middleton, who lived to attain to the great age of 105 years."

15.-Died in the Chantry, Norwich, Monsieur De Rouillon, "an eminent professor and teacher of French, and extensively known as the author of several grammatical and other useful literary works."

26.-At the Norwich a.s.sizes, before Mr. Justice Williams, a special jury tried the important action, Palmer and another _v._ Irving, chairman of the Alliance Insurance Company. The action was brought by the executors of a person of the name of Howes to recover from the company the sum of 1,503, the amount of a policy on the life of Howes. The defendant disputed the liability to pay, on the ground that Howes had suffered from consumption, was addicted to habits prejudicial to life, and that the policy had been obtained by fraud. After a long trial, an arrangement was arrived at, and a verdict given for the defendant, both sides to pay their own costs, and the policy to become void. Policies with other offices were similarly affected by the result of the trial.

28.-At the Norfolk a.s.sizes, before Mr. Justice Williams, John Self, aged 20, was charged with the murder of Jemima Stimpson, aged 15, at Wymondham, on July 17th. The prisoner killed the girl by striking her on the head with a spade, and afterwards threw the body into a pond. He was found guilty, sentenced to death, and on August 14th executed on the Castle Hill, Norwich.

AUGUST.

16.-The two troops of the 7th Dragoon Guards marched from the Cavalry Barracks, Norwich, _en route_ for Ireland. On the 25th a portion of the 13th Light Dragoons, recently returned from active service in India, marched in. The headquarters of the regiment were stationed at Ipswich.

The commanding officer was Lieut.-Col. Richard Brunton, youngest son of Mr. John Brunton, formerly manager of Norwich Theatre, and brother of the Dowager Countess Craven.

17.-Experiments were made on Yarmouth beach, in the presence of coastguard officers, with the view of testing the capabilities of Manby's mortar and Dennett's rocket in carrying out a line for effecting communication with stranded vessels. "The result of the experiments appears to be that each apparatus is possessed of qualities peculiar to itself. The rocket unquestionably carries the furthest, and flies with great precision. It is also more portable, but the unanimous opinion was that the rocket and mortar should go together, and so far from being considered rivals, they should be regarded as coadjutors in promoting the beneficent object which each must have in view."

26.-A four-oared match between London and Norwich crews, for 50 a side, took place from Coldham Hall to Thorpe Gardens, distance seven miles.

The crews were composed as follow: London-Lett (stroke), Moulton, Maynard, Perry, G. Maynard (c.o.x.). Norwich-William Gurling (stroke), Henry Gurling, Clarke, Tom Lefevre, W. b.u.t.tle (c.o.x.). The boats started at 4.30 p.m.; the Londoners rowed the distance in 53 minutes, and the Norwich men in 56 minutes. The London boat, the most perfect specimen of a four-oar ever seen in Norwich, weighed 124 lbs. In a second match, on August 28th, in Norwich-built boats, from Bramerton to Thorpe, the London crew won by 25 seconds. On the same day a match between London and Norwich amateurs (London: Messrs. Chinery and Thompson; Norwich: Messrs.

Clabburn and Russell), was rowed from Postwick to Thorpe (two miles), stakes 10. "The striking of the flags was nearly simultaneous, but the Londoners were declared the winners."

-A balloon ascent was made from Lynn Gasworks by Mr. Gypson, accompanied by Mr. Thomas Oxley and Mr. D. Nelson. A second ascent took place on September 9th. On September 18th Mr. Gypson ascended from Swaffham Gasworks.

SEPTEMBER.

6.-Mr. and Mrs. Wood commenced an operatic engagement at Norwich Theatre.

The productions included "La Somnambula," "Fra Diavolo," "Love in a Village," and "The Waterman."

14.-The Coltishall Brewery estate, consisting of a residence and cottages, 53 inns and public-houses, and about 260 acres of land, formerly the property of Mr. Robert Howes, deceased, was offered for sale by auction, at the Norfolk Hotel, Norwich, by Mr. W. W. Simpson, of London, and realised about 50,000.

OCTOBER.

13.-Van Amburgh, with his collection of trained animals, performed at Lynn. "The elephant arrived covered with a sort of coat _a la __Mackintosh_, and, to prevent injury to his feet, he had something on in the shape of boots." The show also visited Norwich, and was located in the Ranelagh Gardens. "As a menagerie it is inferior to Wombwell's; as a spectacle it is scarcely to be compared with Carter's."

19.-At the Norwich Quarter Sessions, before Mr. Isaac Jermy, Recorder, Jacob Macro, woollen draper, refused to take the oath as a member of the grand jury, "because Scripture said 'Swear not at all.' The Recorder: Then, sir, I think it right to fine you the sum of 50, to be paid to the use of her Majesty." The fine was subsequently reduced to 20.

NOVEMBER.

8.-An exceedingly rare fish, the maigre (_sciaena aquila_), was captured off Sheringham. It measured 5 ft. 2 in. in length, weighed 68 lbs., and was preserved by Mr. George Johnson, chemist, of Norwich.

9.-At a meeting of the Norwich Paving Commissioners, it was decided to try the experiment of paving Briggs' Street with wood. It was suggested that "pieces of fir 14 in. or 15 in. long, having been peeled, be put down as they grow, with gravel between each."

-Mr. John Marshall was elected Mayor of Norwich, and Mr. William Storey appointed Sheriff.

10.-On the arrival at Norwich of the intelligence of the birth of the Prince of Wales, the Union flag was hoisted on the towers of St. Peter Mancroft, St. Stephen, St. Giles, and of other parish churches, and the bells of St. Peter rang rejoicing peals. On Sunday, the 14th, a special form of thanksgiving was used at the church services; on November 16th and December 4th the Norwich Town Council and the county magistrates voted addresses of congratulation to the Queen and Prince Albert; and on December 7th the Bishop of Norwich gave a dinner to the inmates of the Workhouse. "The Queen graciously received the congratulations of the boys of Paston Grammar School, North Walsham, and requested that an additional week of holidays be granted to them at the ensuing Christmas vacation, in commemoration of the happy event."

13.-On this date was published the judgment given in the Consistory Court of Norwich, by Mr. Evans, in the suit, Loftus husband _v._ Loftus wife.

The suit was brought by the Rev. Arthur Loftus, of Fincham, against Mary Anna Ray Loftus, for rest.i.tution of the conjugal rights of marriage. The Court ruled that Mr. Loftus was fully ent.i.tled to judgment, and admonished Mrs. Loftus to return to her husband.

14.-Died at Blickling Hall, the seat of the Dowager Lady Suffield, John William Robert Kerr, Marquis and Earl of Lothian, aged 48. The funeral of the deceased n.o.bleman took place at Blickling church, on November 24th.

16.-Christ church, New Catton, was consecrated by the Bishop of Norwich, and the sermon was preached by the Hon. and Rev. J. T. Pelham, rector of Berghapton. "The Chartists marched in procession to the church and were refused admission, and then commenced every possible description of insult and injury. The Bishop and other gentlemen, on leaving the church, were scandalously a.s.sailed by the mob; near St. Clement's church some stones were thrown, and it was with difficulty that the crowd was kept off. The Right Rev. prelate was escorted to the Palace, and at the gate three cheers were given for his lords.h.i.+p." Eleven arrests were made, and several convictions were recorded during the two days' hearing at the Police Court. The ringleader, a man named Hewett, was committed for trial at the Quarter Sessions, and on January 4th, 1842, the Recorder (Mr. Isaac Jermy) sentenced him to two calendar months' imprisonment, ordered him to find two sureties and keep the peace for twelve months, and to remain in custody until such sureties were forthcoming.

17.-At the dinner of the Marham Hunt, held at the Crown Inn, Swaffham, Mr. Henry Villebois was presented with a silver candelabrum, weighing 200 oz., in recognition of "the liberal and sporting manner in which he had contributed to the general amus.e.m.e.nt" of the members of the Hunt.

19.-A meeting of landowners and others was held at Yarmouth, for the purpose of considering a scheme proposed by Mr. Robert Stephenson, for constructing a railway from Yarmouth to Norwich. Two other proposed railways were before the public, and in both cases it was proposed to construct bridges over the river. Mr. Stephenson's railway, first known as the Valley Line, pursued a route which obviated the necessity of crossing the river, but the scheme included a plan for diverting the course of the stream at Thorpe for a distance of about 50 chains. The scheme, which was estimated to cost 150,000, was adopted, and the line, the first to be opened in Norfolk, was called afterwards the Yarmouth and Norwich Railway.

24.-The celebrated Distin family gave the first of three concerts at the Theatre Royal, Norwich.

27.*-"The memorial statue of the late venerable Bishop Bathurst, by the far-famed hand of Chantrey, has been erected this week in Norwich Cathedral." This was the last work of Chantrey, who died in London shortly after his departure from Norwich. "The estimate for the monument of Bishop Bathurst was 2,500; Chantrey took it for 1,500; the block of Carrara marble alone must have cost him nearly 1,000."

-The Census returns were published on this date. The statistics affecting Norwich were as follow:-Houses, inhabited, 13,889; uninhabited, 805; building, 53; persons-males, 28,014; females, 33,832; total, 61,846.

The population of Norfolk, exclusive of Norwich, was 350,775.

DECEMBER.

7.-A flood occurred at Norwich, after twenty-four hours' rain. It was the sixth that had taken place since October 5th. "The waters were as high if not higher than on any former inundation of our marshes."

23.-The Phenomena coach, with its Christmas load, started from Norwich, drawn by a team of six greys, "which were all managed by Mr. Thomas Wiggins, in a style which would have done credit to a first-rate whip, and which was never before attempted by any coachman on the road."

24.*-"We have lately had exhibited in Norwich a new system of skaiting on the saloon in the Ranelagh Gardens and at the Corn Exchange. It is called Tachypos, and is a kind of skait each running on two iron wheels about six inches in diameter, and fastens on to the foot in a similar way to the common skait, with protection to the legs up to the knees. With these persons may travel at the rate of nine miles an hour upon the common road. The Tachypos is invented by Mr. J. Ayton, of this city, and differs considerably from the Tachypos lately exhibited at the princ.i.p.al theatres in London. There are at this moment boys exhibiting upon them, and are cutting round the corners and corn-stands with all imaginable ease and rapidity."

-Wombwell's Menagerie arrived at Norwich, and was exhibited on the Castle Hill. The collection included a pair of giraffes, one of which was killed by an accidental fall. "The elephant is a magnificent animal, but we think the walking exercise which Van Amburgh's elephant is obliged to take, instead of being drawn from place to place by some twelve horses, conduces to a clearer complexion and a better state of health." For the first time, Wombwell advertised that he had a keeper "who goes into the den of the trained lions and tigers."

1842.

JANUARY.

7.-At a meeting of the county magistrates, held at Norwich, the Earl of Orford presented a pet.i.tion signed by a very large number of occupiers of land, "praying for a considerable change, if not a total abrogation, of the police force, as the introduction of the force had not decreased either the number of robberies or cases of vagrancy, while the expenses of the county were much increased by the costs arising from the prosecution of persons apprehended by the police for offences of a very trivial nature." The Rev. J. C. Collyer presented a counter pet.i.tion from the clergy, landowners, and inhabitants of Reepham, "praying that no alteration take place in the county police, which had been found a most useful body in that part of the county." A resolution was unanimously adopted affirming that great benefits had been derived from the introduction of the police, and thanking Col. Oakes, the Chief Constable, for his exertions in the formation of the force.

8.-Deputations from the various agricultural societies in East Norfolk attended a meeting at the Norfolk Hotel, Norwich, at which the East Norfolk Agricultural a.s.sociation was formed, for the exhibition of stock and agricultural implements in Norwich or its vicinity. Lord Wodehouse was elected president, and Mr. E. C. Bailey secretary. The first show was held on Norwich Cricket Ground, on September 13th. There were twenty-four cla.s.ses of live stock, and four entries of implements; 800 persons were present, and the sum of 40 was taken at the gates. Lord Wodehouse presided at the dinner, held at the a.s.sembly Rooms.

14.-The Lynn mail coach, on its journey to London, overturned between Melbourne and Royston, and Simpson, the coachman, was killed.