Norfolk Annals
Chapter 37 : -A three days c.o.c.king match between the gentlemen of Norwich and the gentlemen of No

-A three days c.o.c.king match between the gentlemen of Norwich and the gentlemen of Norfolk commenced at the White Swan, St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich, for 10 guineas a battle and 100 guineas the odd. Norwich won by six battles.

17.-The old people in the Great Hospital, St. Helen's, Norwich, having been deprived of the dinner of roast goose on Michaelmas Day in consequence of the death of the benefactor who provided it, Mr. Robert Partridge on this date "signified to the Norwich Corporation his intention to give 100 as a benefaction that the Michaelmas dinner of goose may be revived and continued in future."

18.-Guild Day at Norwich. The Mayor (Mr. W. Hankes) entertained the members of the Corporation at luncheon at the Guildhall; and on the 19th "gave plenty of beer and plumb cake" to the poor of his own and of other parishes.

-The first anniversary of the battle of Waterloo was celebrated at the Cavalry Barracks, Norwich, by a dinner to the non-commissioned officers and privates of the 1st Royal Dragoons, to other soldiers quartered in Norwich, and to pensioners. The wives and children of the soldiers were also entertained. The cost was defrayed by public subscription, of which 10 was given by the Corporation.

29.*-"At Whaplode Drove feast last week Mr. John Goodger, aged 104 years, danced a hornpipe, sang a song, and played at four-corners, the latter being his favourite amus.e.m.e.nt, to the great gratification of the company present."

JULY.

1.-At Holkham Sheep Shearing, which commenced on this date, improved horse hoes were shown by Mr. Blaikie, Mr. c.o.ke's farm manager.

10.-George Wilson, the pedestrian, undertook to walk 50 miles in 12 hours at the Prussia Gardens, Norwich. He commenced at eight o'clock and finished the first mile in 11 minutes 35 seconds. His pace was afterwards a mile in from 12 to 13 minutes. He completed the distance at 7.45 p.m. with 15 minutes to spare. On the 22nd a man named Skipper, an ostler at the Barley Mow public-house, Norwich, backed himself to walk over the same course in the same time, and completed his task in 11 hours 10 minutes. On August 27th Wilson commenced a walk of 50 miles per day of 13 hours for five successive days on the bowling-green of the Crown public-house at South Lynn, and accomplished the task. "What is very remarkable he never perspired. On the third day he lost his great toe nail off the left foot, which he pulled out by the roots in the presence of numerous spectators."

17.-At the Norfolk Quarter Sessions four labourers were indicted for having riotously a.s.sembled with 100 other persons at Hockham, on May 19th, and destroyed a thras.h.i.+ng machine, the property of Mr. William Burlingham. Two of the prisoners were sentenced to twelve months', and two to three months' imprisonment, and all were required to find sureties for their future behaviour. (This was the first machine breaking case recorded in the county.)

18.-After a week's continuous rain, which greatly impeded the hay harvest, a severe thunderstorm occurred. On the 31st the crops were beaten down by heavy rains, acres of turnips were washed away, and in several villages the lanes were full of water. On August 12th there was another heavy rain, and on August 31st a hurricane blew, wrecking many colliers between Blakeney and Mundesley. The rains continued to the month of October, when, in consequence of the low lying lands being under water, all hopes were abandoned for the favourable termination of the harvest. Such wet weather had not been experienced since 1799, in which year there were only 166 fair days.

20.-A public announcement on this date stated that the following coaches started from the Angel Inn, Norwich:-The London Royal Mail, by way of Newmarket, every afternoon at 3.45; the London Royal Mail, _via_ Ipswich and Colchester, ditto; the Wells Prince of Orange Post coach (William Sizeland and T. S. Coldwell), Wednesday and Friday at 12.45 p.m., Sunday at 8.15 a.m.; Holt Duke of Wellington Post coach (T. Coldwell and J.

Love), _via_ Aylsham, every afternoon at 3.45. From the Rampant Horse Inn: The London Day coach (in 14 hours) every morning at six. From the Norfolk Hotel: The Telegraph London coach (in 13 hours) every morning at seven o'clock, _via_ Newmarket. The last two were opposition coaches.

The proprietors of the Day coach announced that, although the Telegraph had been started in opposition, they would "not risk the lives of their pa.s.sengers by racing against time," but would continue to perform the journey "with steadiness and regularity."

29.-One of the new steam packets plying between Norwich and Yarmouth got aground on Breydon. Mrs. Clifford and other members of the Norwich Company of Comedians were on board. "By their detention the performance at the theatre could not take place, and the expectant audience had their money returned."

30.-A two days c.o.c.king match commenced at Yarmouth, "in the large room adjoining the Feathers Inn," between the gentlemen of Norwich and the gentlemen of Yarmouth.

AUGUST.

10.-The annual exhibition of "The Norfolk and Norwich Society of Artists"

was advertised to open on this date at the "New Room," Theatre Plain, Norwich. It was announced that "this Society consists of the princ.i.p.al part of the original artists." On the same day was advertised "The 12th annual exhibition of the Norwich Original Society of Artists, established 1803." The exhibition was to take place during the a.s.size week, "in their great room, Sir Benjamin Wrenche's Court, c.o.c.key Lane." The NORFOLK CHRONICLE makes this comment:-"The schism which has taken place among the exhibiting artists appears to have been productive of increased exertions on the part of the respective members of both societies. Our sincere wish to promote their fame and prosperity, and to heal rather than to ferment their differences, induces us earnestly to recommend their performances to the attention and patronage of the public which they highly deserve."

12.-Mr. Kemble appeared in the part of Cato at Norwich Theatre. On succeeding evenings he took the characters of Penruddock ("Wheel of Fortune"), King Lear, Shylock, Sir Giles Overreach ("A New Way to Pay Old Debts"), and Macbeth.

18.-The Judges of a.s.size on leaving Norwich pa.s.sed through Attleborough, and attended service at the parish church. The Lord Chief Justice, Sir Vicary Gibbs, in walking through the nave, discovered a stone on which were his own crest and arms; the inscription thereon was to the memory of Capt. John Gibbs, who died October 22, 1695. "Mr. Le Neve," says Blomfield, "calls him the famous Capt Gibbs. He was a celebrated man on the turf in King Charles the Second's time. He laid a wager of 500 guineas that he drove his light chaise and four horses up and down the deepest place of the Devil's Ditch on Newmarket Heath, which he performed by making a very light chaise with a jointed perch, and without any pole, to the surprise of the spectators."

24.*-"Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte has graciously expressed her determination not only to wear but to introduce and recommend the coloured bombazins, manufactured in Norwich." Mr. William Williment was appointed manufacturer to her Royal Highness.

25.-A woman named Fox, 100 years old, walked from Norwich to Plumstead, a distance of nearly five miles. "She commenced her journey at eight o'clock in the morning, rested three hours at her friend's house, and walking home arrived at Norwich at seven o'clock in the evening."

31.*-"The stupendous undertaking of the tunnel of Tavistock ca.n.a.l, communicating the Tavy and the Tamar, was engineered by Mr. John Taylor, jun., of Norwich."

-Thomas Moy was executed on the Castle Hill, Norwich, for sheep stealing.

"He was 33 years of age, farmed 100 acres of land at Binham, and has left a wife and seven young children."

SEPTEMBER.

7.-Cromer Theatre was described as a place of entertainment "fas.h.i.+onably attended." "The house, or rather, barn, which is neatly fitted up, is under the management of Mr. Eldred."

11.-At a meeting held at the Guildhall, Norwich, "the situation of children employed in sweeping chimnies" was discussed, "and the means of superseding the necessity for such employment by mechanical means" were taken into consideration. A committee was appointed to promote the use of the sweeping apparatus, which, however, was but partially adopted.

16.-Intelligence was received at Norwich of the successful attack on Algiers by the British fleet, under the command of Admiral Lord Exmouth, on August 27th. The bells of St. Peter Mancroft were rung in celebration of the event.

23.-A silver cup and two drinking horns were rowed for by four-oared boats, the best two heats out of three, from Carrow Bridge to Thorpe and back, distance two and a quarter miles. Five boats competed. The cup was won by the Cytherea (Mr. Joseph Stannard), and the horns by the Friends (Mr. Garland).

OCTOBER.

4.-The third or "grand victory match" was played on Hempton Green, Fakenham, between the Holt and Aylsham cricket clubs. Aylsham won with seven wickets to spare.

14.-A public meeting was held at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, at which it was agreed to pet.i.tion the Legislature to effect a retrenchment of the public expenditure, and a reform of the House of Commons.

17.-The new Concert Room in St. George's Bridge Street, Norwich, purchased of the proprietors of the Steam Flour Mill, and fitted up by the members of the Hall Concert (a musical society which had existed 30 years) was opened. The room was capable of seating 300 persons.

23.-A pigeon shooting match took place on a field near the Town Close, Norwich, between Mr. Nicholas Bacon, and the Rev. Mr. Pitman, of Oulton.

"They fired 21 shots each, but it proved a drawn bet, for they each killed 14 birds. Mr. Pitman brought down his 15th bird, but as it fell two inches beyond the distance allowed, 100 yards, it could not be reckoned. There were many bets depending, which, of course, remained undecided." (This is the first recorded pigeon match in Norfolk.)

24.-Wheat was standing uncut in several parts of Norfolk, on the same farm where corn was sown for next year's crop.

28.-A salmon trout, 57 inches in length and weighing 16 pounds, was caught at the New Mills, Norwich. On the 31st another of 26 pounds weight was taken at the same place.

29.-At a special meeting of the Norwich Corporation an address was ordered to be presented to the Prince Regent, praying for "the utmost retrenchment of the public expenditure consistent with the welfare of the State."

NOVEMBER.

2.-Died at Narford Hall, the seat of Mr. Andrew Fountaine, his son-in-law, Mr. Thomas Penrice, of Great Yarmouth, to whom the eccentric Lord Chedworth left the bulk of his large property.

9.*-"The wealth of Mr. Watson Taylor, the purchaser of Houghton Hall, is immense. For that mansion, and a large track of land around, he gave the Marquis Cholmondeley 350,000. Mr. Taylor, by the will of an ancestor, is bound to spend 700,000 in landed estates, and besides the income which may arise from them he has 95,000 a year."

10.-Buxoo, a Bengalese, a native of Calcutta, was publicly baptised at Burnham Market church by the Rev. John Gla.s.se, by the names of John Henry Martin. He was brought over to this country in a s.h.i.+p commanded by Capt.

Gla.s.se.

14.-The Courier steam packet made its pa.s.sage from Foundry Bridge, Norwich, to Yarmouth in three hours twenty-five minutes.

28.-The Duke of Gloucester made his annual visit to Mr. T. W. c.o.ke, M.P., at Holkham Hall. During the week's shooting Mr. c.o.ke killed at Warham a female _Falco Lagopus_, or rough legged falcon, measuring nearly five feet across the wings, and two feet one inch in length. The male bird was afterwards caught in a trap at Wighton. Two of these birds were taken the following week at Wighton.

Died this month, Mrs. Tabitha Starling, of Brooke, aged 103.