Chronological Retrospect of the History of Yarmouth and Neighbourhood Part 69

Oct. The Town Council discussed the advisability of raising 30,000 by shares for carrying out a new dock scheme.

Oct. 31st. The Royal Aquarium put up to public auction, but withdrawn.

It was subsequently purchased for 5,000 by Messrs. F. Carpenter, William Barnard, S. Gunton, and O. Diver. (See July 2nd, 1883.)

Nov. 11th. The s.s. "Fairy," plying between this port and the Tyne, sunk off Flamborough Head, the result of a collision.

Nov. A challenge trophy provided for the 1st N.A.V. It is an excellent model, value 50 guineas, representing a 64-pounder M.L.R. gun on a temporary sleigh. (See Challenge cup, 1883.)

Nov. A mackerel, 20 in. long, 10 in. girth, and weighing 2 lbs., and another 17 inches long, brought in from sea.

Dec. 10th. Fire on board the fishing boat "Eureka" at the Fish Wharf, causing the death of one of the crew.

Dec. The wife of Police-constable Allc.o.c.k gave birth to triplets.

Dec. 29th. Edward Killington, formerly of this town, died in London, and bequeathed 1,000 to St. John's Church, 500 to Sailors' Home, 300 to Yarmouth Hospital, and 100 to National Lifeboat Inst.i.tution.

The Great Eastern Railway conveyed in 1881 more fish inland than any other line, viz., 60,314 tons, and this town, among the ports it serves, provided the largest supply. By rail from Yarmouth, 32,696 tons; in 1879, 28,263; and in 1880, 31,238. In 1881, Lowestoft sent 23,019 tons.

Launches: Jan. 4th, smack "Serapis;" March 14th, the fishing boats "Young Florence" and the "William;" Aug. 2nd, the cutter "Gorleston;" Sept. 5th, smack "Success."

Marriages: July 13th, James Hurry, son of the late Nathaniel Palmer, Esq., to Miss Ellen Boardman, of Stratford.-July 19th, Rev. D. W. Evans to Miss Alice Graham Lacon.-Oct. 4th, Edward P., son of P. E. Back, Esq., to Miss Ellen R. Shales.

Deaths: Jan. 5th, R. S. Watling, Esq., J.P., aged 70.-March 16th, Herr A.

S. Dorla, bandmaster of the P.W.O. Artillery Militia, aged 61.-April 15th, Charles Venables, brother of the Vicar of Yarmouth, at Taplow, aged 61.-April 17th, Eliza, wife of K. Harvey, Esq., and daughter of the late Sir Edward K. Lacon, Bart., M.P., at Bath, aged 75.-April 19th, Judith, wife of James Hurry Palmer, Esq., aged 62.-Oct. 10th, Harriet, widow of the late Graham Lacon, Esq.-Nov. 12th, Mr. H. Hunt, watchmaker, Broad Row, aged 87.

1882.

Jan. 2nd. Mr. Henry H. Baker, town surveyor for nearly 20 years, died, aged 52 years. He succeeded Mr. Morant on his resignation in Nov., 1864.

On Feb. 14th, Mr. J. W. c.o.c.krill was appointed town surveyor.

Jan. 9th. First annual tea given to 600 aged poor people at the Drill Hall, inaugurated by Mr. T. C. Foreman.

Jan. 30th. James Hall, better known as "Jigger" Hall, died in the workhouse. He was one put upon his trial with Mapes and Royal for the murder of Mrs. Chandler, and acquitted. Hall was the last survivor of the accused. (See Nov. 18th, 1844.)

Jan. 31st. Silver wedding day of Mr. C. Woolverton celebrated by a dinner to his workpeople.

Feb. 18th. Rev. G. Venables, S.C.L., vicar of Yarmouth, was collated and inst.i.tuted by the Bishop of Norwich to the office or place of an Honorary Canon in the Cathedral Church at Norwich, vacant by the death of the Rev.

W. F. Patteson.

Feb. 28th. Loss of the steamer "Livadia" (1,447 tons) on the Middle Cross Sands, and 24 of her crew drowned, the boatman (Thomas Sewell, brother of the captain of the local tug "United Service") being the only survivor, who was bravely rescued by the Gorleston Volunteer Lifeboat "Revenge." A subscription was made for the 14 lifeboatmen by Mrs.

Bowler, who gave them each one guinea, and the National Inst.i.tution awarded 20. On March 12th, a lifeboat, marked "Livadia," was picked up in the North Sea with three dead bodies in it.

March 2nd. Hannah Sarah, relict of the late T. Brightwen, Esq., died at Fritton, aged 73 years. Deceased's personal estate was sworn under 50,000. She bequeathed 6,000 to the perpetual endowments of St.

Andrew's and St. James' Churches; 500 to the Yarmouth Hospital, and numerous legacies to friends and dependants.

March. A leather bag, containing cheques and doc.u.ments, value 6,000, dredged up at sea by the smack "Nelson," of this port. The bag was lost out of the steamer "Annie Arbib," which foundered in the North Sea in Nov., 1881.

March 6th. A "scene" in the Police Court over the appeals against the Poor-rate. Six magistrates left the Bench, and a "warm discussion"

ensued.

March. E. W. Worlledge, Esq., appointed by the Lord Chancellor to be a Commissioner to administer oaths in the Supreme Court of Judicature.

March. Mr. F. E. Bowler presented with a handsome timepiece and an illuminated address by the a.s.sistants in Messrs. Chamberlins and Co.'s establishment, as a token of esteem on his 50th birthday.

March 31st. The Rev. A. R. Abbott, B.A., inst.i.tuted to the vicarage and parish church of Gorleston and Southtown, on his own pet.i.tion.

April 3rd. Fire in Mr. S. Randell's stock room, Market Row. Damage about 30.

April 29th. Heavy gale, which played sad havoc among the fishing craft, those entirely lost with all hands including the "Jester," "Phnix," and "Olive Leaf."

April. Mr. A. Linder, of this town, chosen pier-master at Skegness, out of 76 candidates. On May 5th he was presented with a purse of 18 13s., as a mark of respect by the patrons of the Wellington Pier.

May 9th. The Town Council moved addresses of congratulation to the Duke and d.u.c.h.ess of Albany on their marriage on April 27th; and congratulation to the Queen.

May 18th. The Wellington Pier sold by auction to Mr. Chappell for 890, but through some discrepancy in the transfer the bid was withdrawn.

May 18th. Launch at Southtown of a new iron paddle boat, 100 ft. long, breadth 14 ft. 2 in., depth 7 ft., and owned by Mr. R. J. Blyth. It was built by Mr. H. E. Wright, Yare-side Iron Works, and Miss Wright christened it "Jumbo."

May 30th. H.R.H. the Prince of Wales paid a fourth visit to this town, and left on June 2nd.

May 31st. Opening of the New Town Hall and Munic.i.p.al Buildings by the Prince of Wales, the ceremony being on a very grand scale. Three hundred and fifty guests were invited to the _dejeuner_, including the Mayor of Yarmouth and the Lord Mayor of London, Lords Aylesford, Suffield, Rendlesham, and Carpington; Sir H. Clifford, Sir E. Lacon, Sir H.

Bedingfield, Sir R. J. Buxton, Sir T. Boileau, Sir T. Beevor, Admiral Sir H. Keppel, Colonel Teesdale, E. Birkbeck, Esq., &c. In the evening there a grand display of fireworks on the Britannia Pier. The Hall was designed by J. B. Pearce, Esq., and the contractors Messrs. J. W. Lacey, of Norwich. The total cost was 35,764, as follows:-Building contract, 26,200; extras on building, new works, and fittings, 4,442 11s. 1d.; architect's commission, 1,705 10s. 9d.; Clerk of Works, 417 5s.; Norman and Son, furniture and fittings, 1,177 7s. 9d.; Mr. Finch, ditto, 592 1s. 5d.; Chamberlins and Co., linoleum, 351 9s.; Aldred and Son, clock, 361 15s.; Mr. Keable, blinds, 26 15s. 3d.; Ellis and Son, mats, 22 15s. 10d.; decorations, opening ceremony, 28; premiums on designs for Town Hall, 70; foundation stone and the laying, 46 5s. 1d.; expenses of opening ceremony, 38 9s. 4d.; travelling expenses to inspect other Town Halls, 29 5s. 4d.; solicitor to H.M.'s Treasury, 17 6s. 10d.; miscellaneous charges and expenses, 239 14s. 6d. (See April 20th, 1880.)

May 31st. John Mooring, captain of the maintop of H.M.S. "Thunderer," at the Battle of Trafalgar, died at the Yarmouth Naval Hospital, aged 102 years.

May. The Union Railway, from the Beach Station to the North Quay, completed.

May. Surgeon-Major C. C. Aldred resigned after 29 years his commission in the 2nd Brigade (E.D.) Royal Artillery. On April 24th, 1883, Mr.

Aldred was presented with a pair of silver cups, on which was inscribed:-"Presented to Surgeon-Major Aldred, on his retirement from the regiment, by H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, K.G., and the officers who have served and are serving in the P.W.O. Norfolk Artillery Militia." (See June 28th, 1884.)

May. Capt. Combe, promoted to the rank of Major in the 2nd Norfolk Rifle Corps.

May. Count Bismarck, son of Prince Bismarck, visited Yarmouth.

June 7th. Thos. George Wooden (15) died through being crashed by the buffer of a railway carriage at the Southtown Station.

July 17th. Mr. S. J. B. Batchelder, hon. sec. of Court Star of West (A.O.F.), presented with a marble clock and an illuminated list of subscribers for several years good service.

July 25th. Mr. J. T. Waters, ten years choir master of St. James'

Church, presented with a handsome silver keyless chronometer.

July 27th. Sham fight between 2,000 men belonging to the Royal Naval Reserves, 1st Norfolk Artillery, and 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Norfolk Rifles on the North Denes, in the presence of 2,000 or 3,000 people.

Aug. 18th. John Bracey, Esq., J.P., T.C., whilst out celebrating his 52nd birthday, with his family, at Fritton, died suddenly. On Dec. 13th, the mother of the above, and wife of J. T. Bracey, Esq., died, aged 68.

(See April 19th, 1859.)