Chronological Retrospect of the History of Yarmouth and Neighbourhood Part 34

Oct. 15th. Sarah Martin, the prison visitor, died; and in 1858 a memorial window to her memory was put in St. Nicholas' Church. She was born in 1791, at Caister, and left an orphan at an early age.

The Round Tower near the Hospital built; ascended by a flight of 42 stairs. It was built by the merchants and shipowners, as an observatory tower, at a cost of 150.

1844.

May 1st. Railway between Norwich and Yarmouth opened, and the event was marked with great festivity and rejoicing. Messrs. Grissell and Peto contracted for the work at 10,000 per mile. Previous to this, steam packets plied twice a day on the Yare, between Norwich and Yarmouth.

Oct. Fish Market erected and opened on the site of the old one, but removed to widen the road.

Nov. 18th. Mrs. Harriet Chandler murdered in her grocery shop in Howard Street by Samuel Yarham, who was tried at Norwich on Mar. 27th, 1845, and executed there on April 11th. The prosecution cost 542. (See Jan.

30th, 1882.)

Dec. 13th. Paget's Brewery, North Quay, pulled down.

Rev. Henry Mackenzie, inc.u.mbent of Bermondsey, appointed to the inc.u.mbency of St. Nicholas' Church, but resigned in July, 1848, having the vicarage of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, Westminster, conferred upon him. On the 15th of February, 1870, the Town Council voted an address of congratulation on his being appointed Suffragan Bishop of Nottingham.

This was the first appointment of a Suffragan Bishop in England for 200 years.

The Naval Hospital converted into a Lunatic Asylum. The building was re-modelled in 1868, and 37 new wards added, by Mr. G. Tyrrell. 80 inmates were received the same year (Sept.) from Haslar, making a total of 169. (See 1811.)

The Mackerel exported realised this year 14,500.

Gorleston Museum, containing many works of art, curiosities, antiquities, &c., established.

Her Majesty Queen Victoria pa.s.sed through the Roadstead, on her way from Scotland, within a short distance of the sh.o.r.e. The Beach was lined with spectators, and several pleasure boats went off close to the Royal yacht to testify their loyalty.

1845.

Jan. 20th. Schooner "John," of Jersey, stranded on the South Beach.

Jan. 26th. The yawl "Phnix" and seven lives lost. Meeting convened on the 29th to relieve the widows and orphans left dest.i.tute.

April 16th. First stone of Unitarian Chapel, Middlegate Street, laid.

Opened October 13th. Built on the site of the Old Meeting House.

May 2nd. Fall of the Suspension Bridge. 400 persons precipitated into the water, out of which number 79 were drowned. An immense crowd were attracted to the bridge and its precincts by a fete on the River Bure.

The bill announcing the entertainment for the evening was headed, "Is it to be a benefit or not?" and underneath it a clown pointing to the above words. Then follows an address by Mr. Nelson as "a candidate for public favour," who announces that "Friday night will be a grand banquet night,"

and adds, "The following extraordinary fete will most positively be achieved, Mr. Nelson, the celebrated clown and modern Yorick, will sail on the River Bure, starting from Yarmouth Bridge to Vauxhall Gardens, at 5 o'clock on the above day in a common washing tub, drawn by four real geese, elegantly harnessed and caparisoned." The tub was 18 inches deep.

The annexed verses were on either side of a wood cut of the clown:-

Dear public, you and I of late Have dealt so much in fun; I'll give you now a monstrous great Quadruplicated pun- Like a grate full of coals I'll burn A great full house to see; And if I am not grateful too A great fool I must be.

The following artistes were to appear at the Circus (a wooden structure on the Theatre Plain)-Master Barlow, the four sons of Siberia, Mr. Alfred Cooke, Signor Germani, Mr. Charles Adams, Mr. George Cooke, Madame Culine, and Mr. W. Cooke.

Sept. 24th. Mr. Henry Teasdel's warehouses destroyed by fire.

Gorleston Wesleyan Chapel re-built.

Yarmouth exported 327,000 quarters of corn; and in 1855, 258,000 quarters.

1846.

Sept. 2nd. Burgh Castle sold to Sir J. Boileau, Bart., of Ketteringham.

W. H. Palmer, W. Thurtell, J. Fenn, B. Jay, and W. H. Bessey, Esqs., were appointed Magistrates.

Lord Wodehouse, Lord Lieutenant of the County, died at Kimberley.

1847.

County Court first held at Yarmouth.

Steamer "Enterprise" seized for smuggling tobacco, and the engineer fined 100.

The Sea Wall in front of Britannia Terrace erected by C. Cory, Esq. Cost 2,000.

June 17th. The schooner "Ann and Jane" launched from Mr. King's yard.

July 29th. Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Lennox and O. Coope, Esq., returned to Parliament.

Aug. 31st. Jewish Synagogue, in Row 42, built and consecrated. It was built on the site of a former one.

Nov. 29th. Cart-load of hay burned on the Hall Quay.

Deaths: June 6th, Capt. H. Barrett, ballast-master.-Dec. 24th, Admiral Sir George Parker, K.C.B.

1848.

April 8th. The brig "Agenoria" wrecked on the North Beach.

May 17th. Address of Loyalty presented to her Majesty by the Mayor.

June 30th. A Bill brought into Parliament depriving the Freemen of Yarmouth of their votes. The number on the Register was 1,106. Only such householders as were on the Register allowed to vote at the ensuing election, when J. Saunders and C. E. Rumbold, Esqs., were returned to Parliament.

Aug. St. Nicholas' Church re-opened after restoration.