Norfolk Annals
Chapter 80 : MARCH.19.-The barque Crawford Davison (George Sandford, master), from Hamburg to London

MARCH.

19.-The barque Crawford Davison (George Sandford, master), from Hamburg to London, with 40 horses, of the value of 2,000, on board, struck upon Happisburgh Sand and was lost. The captain and crew were saved. All the horses were drowned, and their carcases sold for 12.

-At a special general meeting of the subscribers to the Norfolk and Norwich Museum, plans and specifications prepared by Mr. J. Brown, architect, were adopted for the erection of a building "on an eligible site in Exchange Street, near the new Post Office," at the cost of 1,500, raised in shares of 50 each, to bear interest of 4 per cent.

"The front of the intended building will be similar to that of the Temple of Jupiter Ammon." The first stone was laid on May 27th.

-The commissions for the holding of the first Lent a.s.sizes at Norwich were opened by Mr. Baron Bolland.

21.-Selections from the oratorios of "The Creation" and "Samson" were performed at the Corn Exchange, Norwich, under the direction of Mr.

Mueller. "The most remarkable feature of the evening's performance was a violin concerto by Master David Fisher. With the exception of Paganini, Kieswelter, and Mori, no such violin-playing has been heard within our walls."

22.-At the Norfolk a.s.sizes, at Norwich, before Mr. Justice Bolland, Mary Wright, aged 28, was found guilty of the murder of her husband and of Richard Darby, by poisoning them at Wighton, and was sentenced to be hanged on March 25th. Pregnancy was pleaded, and a jury of matrons were empanelled, who returned a verdict adverse to the prisoner. By direction of the Court, she was examined by Messrs. Crosse, Scott, and Johnson, surgeons, upon whose certificate she was respited generally. The prisoner on July 11th gave birth to a female child, and sentence was afterwards commuted to transportation for life. The unfortunate woman died in Norwich Castle on November 1st.

28.-The 7th Hussars commenced their march from Norwich to Glasgow. The Court of Mayoralty on the 16th pa.s.sed a vote of thanks to the regiment for the ready aid they had given to preserve the public peace, and expressed their approbation of the conduct of the non-commissioned officers and privates towards the inhabitants. The Hussars were replaced by the 3rd Light Dragoons.

APRIL.

1.-The Right Hon. Horatio, Earl of Orford, was elected High Steward of Great Yarmouth, in place of Viscount Exmouth, deceased.

6.-A private still was discovered in a house in St. Faith's Lane, Norwich. Fifteen gallons of spirits recently worked off were seized.

The owners of the still were fined 30 each, and in default of payment were sentenced to three months' imprisonment.

9.-A new steam carriage of 2-horse power was exhibited on Foundry Bridge Road, Norwich. It is said to have answered the expectations of the inventor, Mr. Watts, of Rose Lane.

12.-Between 400 and 500 of the n.o.blemen, gentlemen, and yeomanry of Norfolk dined at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, in honour of Mr. c.o.ke, upon his retirement from the representation of the county. H.R.H. the Duke of Suss.e.x presided.

18.-A trotting match for 50 took place between Mr. Brunning's Queen of Diamonds and Mr. Mendham's Jack of Clubs, from Yarmouth Bridge, _via_ Beccles to Halesworth. "The mare was driven in harness by her owner, who weighs 16 st., and the horse was ridden by Mr. Mendham (11 st.). Two miles beyond Beccles the mare gave up. The 15 miles from Yarmouth to Beccles was done in 45 minutes, and the whole 25 miles in 1 hour 33 minutes, by Jack."

24.-Died at his house at Greenwich, aged 76, Mr. P. J. Knights, for many years a well-known shawl manufacturer at Norwich. He served the office of Sheriff in 1809.

27.-Fuller Pilch advertised himself as the proprietor of a public-house and pleasure gardens on Bracondale Hill, Norwich, and as the lessee of the Norwich Cricket Ground, in the management of which he was a.s.sisted by his brother, William Pilch.

-It was announced that the county justices had hired the house of Mr.

Hawkes, Bethel Street, Norwich, as lodgings for his Majesty's Judges of a.s.size.

-Mdlle. Celeste commenced a six nights' engagement at the Theatre Royal, Norwich. "For our lat.i.tude this lady exerts herself too much in the pirouette, considering the approximation of spectators in a provincial theatre to the stage."

MAY.

1.-Mr. Alderman Samuel Bignold was elected Mayor of Norwich.

6.-Mr. and Mrs. Wood commenced a four nights' engagement at Norwich Theatre, prior to their departure to America. They appeared in "The Barber of Seville" and the musical farce of "The Quaker."

7.-The horses of the Regulator coach, from Holt to London, started off at full speed from Guist Post Office, during the temporary absence of the coachman. A girl had the presence of mind to close the tollgate, which the horses attempted to leap, smashed it to atoms, and fell. The animals were severely injured, and the coach greatly damaged.

16.-Mr. Yates and Mrs. Waylett appeared at Norwich Theatre as Flutter and Let.i.tia Hardy ("The Belle's Stratagem"). They afterwards acted in "Clari" (opera), "Don Giovanni," "The Four Sisters," and "Midas'"

(burletta). Mr. Yates also gave his entertainments, "Portraits and Sketches" and "Views of Life."

JUNE.

1.-On this date was published the first of the series of remarkable accounts describing the ghostly visitations at Syderstone Parsonage, the residence of the Rev. Mr. Stewart, curate, and rector of Thwaite.

3.-Died, aged 101, Richard Smith, of Swanton Morley.

18.-The Guild Day festivities at Norwich, on the occasion of the swearing in as Mayor of Mr. Samuel Bignold, were attended by Viscount Stormont, M.P., and Sir James Scarlett, M.P., the latter of whom took his oath as an honorary freeman of the city. The Mayor entertained 1,100 guests at the Guild feast at St. Andrew's Hall, and upwards of 500 attended the ball at the a.s.sembly Rooms, where the dancing was opened by the Mayor and Miss Wodehouse, daughter of the Lord Lieutenant.

19.-Two orange and purple banners, designed by a member of the College of Arms, were presented by the Conservative ladies of Norwich to Viscount Stormont, M.P., and Sir James Scarlett, M.P. The ceremony took place at the Guildhall, where a large company was entertained by the Mayor.

20.-Upwards of 750 electors in the "Orange and Purple" interest were entertained at dinner at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich. A second contingent, numbering 1,000, dined there on the 21st. Mr. W. J. Utten Browne presided on both occasions, and Lord Stormont, M.P., was also present. The dinners were provided by public subscription.

JULY.

7.-During a severe thunderstorm "a fire-ball, apparently about the size of a man's head," fell upon the thatched roof of the Black Tower, b.u.t.ter Hills, Norwich. The middle and lower rooms, occupied by a person named Brooks, and the upper storey, where a society of artisans a.s.sembled for astronomical observations, were entirely consumed. The society's valuable apparatus were destroyed.

15.-The resuscitated race meeting at Holkham was attended by 10,000 spectators. The races were held on the sands. "By the time the hunters'

stakes had been decided the tide was fast approaching, and the leading people retired to a booth, where dinner was served, under the presidency of Mr. Brown, of Pudding Norton. The tide retiring, the company again occupied the sands."

17.-The Bishop of Lincoln, officiating for the Bishop of Norwich, confirmed 2,000 persons at East Dereham church. On the following day his lords.h.i.+p administered the rite to 2,068 persons at Norwich Cathedral; and on the 19th to 1,100 at Redenhall.

18.-A single wicket match between Fuller Pilch and T. Marsdon took place on the Norwich Cricket Ground. Pilch won, by 70 runs. The return match was played on Hyde Park Ground, Sheffield, on August 5th, when Pilch won by 128 runs.

20.-The Norwich Court of Mayoralty elected Mr. W. J. Utten Browne to the office of Sheriff.

-A duel was fought on the North Denes, Yarmouth. "The combatants were Mr. H. B--- and Mr. C. W---, the former seconded by Mr. J. B--- and the latter by Mr. W. C---, of the medical profession in N---. At the first shot Mr. W.'s pistol missed, and his antagonist fired in the air; at the second Mr. B. again fired in the air, and Mr. W. missed his aim. Another try took place, Mr. W. again missing and his antagonist firing as before.

At the fourth and last Mr. W.'s ball just grazed Mr. B.'s thumb, when the parties appeared to have been satisfied, for they shortly after left the ground. The cause of the meeting arose at Maxim's Marine Hotel on the beach."

AUGUST.

27.-Mr. Alderman Steward was elected freemen's Sheriff at Norwich.

29.-The Norwich Court of Guardians held a meeting to take into consideration the suggestions contained in a letter received from the Mayor (Mr. S. Bignold), for the establishment of a joint stock company for spinning yarn on a scale calculated to give extensive employment to the poor. The subject was further considered at a meeting convened by the Mayor at the Guildhall, on September 5th, when the Norwich Yarn Company was formed, and by October 1st a capital of 26,000 had been subscribed in shares of 100 each. (_See_ February 27th, 1834.)

31.-A severe gale, which caused great damage to s.h.i.+pping, and resulted in the loss of many lives, occurred on the Norfolk coast. The Leith smack Earl of Wemyss went ash.o.r.e at Brancaster; a heavy sea broke into the pa.s.sengers' cabin, and six ladies, a gentleman, and four children were drowned. Among the deceased were Miss Susan Roche, a young lady of great musical ability, and sister of Mr. A. D. Roche, the composer. (_See_ October 16th.)

SEPTEMBER.