Norfolk Annals Volume I Part 1

Norfolk Annals.

by Charles Mackie.

VOL 1.

PREFACE.

The "Norfolk and Norwich Remembrancer and Vade Mec.u.m," upon the plan of which this work is compiled, was published in two editions. The first (undated) was issued in or about 1801. It appeared in pamphlet form (f'cap 8vo), and contained (1) a brief topographical description of the city and county; (2) a "Chronological Retrospect of the most remarkable events which have occurred in Norfolk and Norwich during the 18th century, with a list of Bishops, Deans, High Sheriffs, Mayors and Sheriffs of Norwich, and Mayors of Yarmouth and Lynn within that period"; (3) an Index Villaris, "including an accurate account of the population, &c., of every parish in the county, extracted from the official returns taken in 1801, with the measured and computed distance of each market town and village from the city of Norwich; also the returns of the population of Norwich, as taken in 1693, 1752, 1786, and 1801"; (4) a list of direct and cross roads from Yarmouth, Lynn, and Cromer; and (5) an alphabetical list of "n.o.blemen and gentlemen's seats and villas in the county, with their distance from Norwich." The work was printed and sold by Stevenson and Matchett, Market Place, Norwich, and was "to be had of the distributors of the NORFOLK CHRONICLE and of all booksellers."

The "Remembrancer" consisted of 80 pages, and was published at eighteenpence. Although the "Chronological Retrospect" extended over the period of one hundred years-from 1701 to 1800 inclusive, it was compressed into 43 pages. This, the most important section of the work, was reprinted from a local chronology published in the NORFOLK CHRONICLE, compiled partly from old Norwich histories and partly from the early files of the newspaper. "Omissions or errors which may have occurred in this work," says a footnote to the "advertis.e.m.e.nt" to the first edition, "shall be corrected in a future edition, and notice of such will be thankfully received by the Editors."

But many years elapsed before the publication of a second edition, and it was not until 1822 that the "Remembrancer" again made its appearance.

The modest pamphlet of 1801 had grown to a crown 8vo volume of 274 pages, bound in cloth, and issued at three shillings and sixpence. It was printed in bolder type, and contained additional information of a miscellaneous character, which, published at a time when few general directories and books of reference were in circulation, and local statistics difficult to obtain, was received with favour as one of the earliest attempts to supply the want now so fully met by local handbooks and year-books. In this, as in the first edition, the Chronology was by far the most important part of the book. The 18th century "Retrospect"

was revised and amplified, and the record, continued from January, 1801, to December, 1821, occupied 208 pages. The compiler of this edition, and probably of the former issue, although his name did not appear in connection therewith, was Mr. Jonathan Matchett, the senior proprietor of the NORFOLK CHRONICLE, who states in his preface: "The Chronology of Remarkable Events has been compiled princ.i.p.ally from the volumes of the NORFOLK CHRONICLE, of which, with the local occurrences of the last fifty years at least, the Retrospect may be considered an epitome. Such errors of omission or commission as may be discovered in this humble compilation shall, if pointed out, be corrected in a future edition, if ever a third should be called for." As no subsequent issue appeared, it may be a.s.sumed that the demand for the work was not such as to justify the expenditure of the time and labour necessary to its production. Mr.

Matchett died November 24th, 1844, and from that time until the present no effort had been made to continue the Chronology.

Little need be written by way of preface to this work. It was commenced as an index to the Nineteenth Century files of the NORFOLK CHRONICLE, and was not, as originally planned, intended for publication. The compiler, however, was advised to elaborate his scheme and to prepare, in place of a MS. index designed for private use, a work which would serve the twofold purpose of continuing the excellent Chronology begun by Mr.

Matchett, and of supplying a book of reference upon a variety of subjects pertaining to Norfolk and Norwich. In Volume I. of "Norfolk Annals" are recorded the events of the two decades included in the second edition of the "Remembrancer," but the matter has been entirely re-written, and the field of research considerably enlarged. With the lapse of time many things, too familiar and commonplace to be very fully noticed in the "Remembrancer,"-_e.g._, the coaching system, sports which are now obsolete, country celebrations and observances, &c.,-have acquired an interest which they did not present to a compiler of eighty or a hundred years ago. Some of the facts recorded in these pages may not in themselves be considered "remarkable," but collectively they ill.u.s.trate the manners and customs, the wisdom and follies, the labours and amus.e.m.e.nts, of Norfolk people in the century just closed, and, it is hoped, show to what extent the county and city have progressed morally and socially during the last hundred years. In one respect "Norfolk Annals" is less pretentious than its antecessor-it gives no topographical and statistical information of the kind published in the "Norfolk and Norwich Remembrancer"; in another sense it is more pretentious-it contains an index, which will add to its usefulness as a book of reference.

The writer is indebted to the Chairman (Sir Charles Gilman) and the Directors of the NORFOLK CHRONICLE CO., Limited, for permitting him to make use of the files of that newspaper, from which exclusively the following pages have been compiled.

CORRIGENDA. {0}

Page 128, last line, _for_ "present" _read_ "presented."

138, line 9, _for_ "Hawkes" _read_ "Hankes."

166, line 2, _for_ "Henry" _read_ "Hurry."

187, line 8, _for_ "Miller" _read_ "Milles."

216, first line of last paragraph _for_ "Norfolk" _read_ "Norwich."

NORFOLK ANNALS.

VOLUME I.

18011850.

[NOTE.-_Marginal dates distinguished by an asterisk are dates of publication_, _not of occurrence_.]

1801.

JANUARY.

1.-This day (Thursday) was observed as the first day of the Nineteenth Century. It was also the day upon which the legislative Union of Great Britain and Ireland was effected. At Norwich, the 13th Regiment of Light Dragoons and the East Ess.e.x Militia fired a _feu de joie_ in the Market Place, and the Union flag was displayed upon the tower of St. Peter Mancroft. At Yarmouth, there was a ceremonial parade of the Durham Militia, and the vessels in the Roads fired a royal salute and hoisted their new colours in honour of the Union. Rain fell heavily throughout the day.

3.-The Norwich Theatre was opened with the performance of "the last new comedy, 'Life,' and the farce, 'Curiosity.'" The manager, Mr. Hindes, delivered an address to a crowded and fashionable audience. The alterations in the house were executed after designs by Mr. William Wilkins, the patentee, and it was said to be one of the handsomest theatres in the provinces.

5.*-"The Duke of Grafton's hounds unkenneled a fox at Fakenham Wood, near Euston, and after a chase of upwards of 50 miles in 4 hours 5 minutes, killed him at New Buckenham."

27.*-"A match for ten guineas (two miles) was trotted on the turnpike road between Setch and Lynn, between Mr. Robson's pony Filch and Mr.

Scarfe's pony Fidler, which was won with great ease by the former, he having trotted over the ground at the rate of 18 miles an hour."

Great scarcity prevailed throughout this month. About 1,500 was subscribed for supplying the poor of Norwich with soup, and upwards of 247,000 quarts were distributed. At Norwich market wheat was quoted at the beginning of the month at 146s. per quarter, and rose at the end to 180s.; barley, 84s.; and oats, 50s. Various expedients were adopted to lessen the consumption of bread. "The officers of the West Norfolk Militia" it was stated, "have entirely left off the use of bread at their mess, and have forbid the use of puddings and pies, except the crust is made of rice or potatoes, which they eat in a variety of shapes as a subst.i.tute for bread." Nurses were advised to use linseed meal and water instead of bread and milk in making poultices.

FEBRUARY.

9.-Died at Postwick, aged 21, Edward West, who had served as midshipman under Lord Nelson at the battle of the Nile, and accompanied Capt. Sir Edward Berry in the Foudroyant. In the action with the Guillaume Tell "he received a most severe wound, which occasioned a decline."

11.-A General Fast was observed in Norwich.

14.*-"It is much to be regretted that although many large manufactures of hempen cloth are established in Norwich, all the spinning of the hemp is done in Suffolk, and a sufficient quant.i.ty is with difficulty obtained from thence. It is suggested to establish a spinning school for children, under the patronage of benevolent ladies."

17.-A company was formed at Norwich for the erection of a "public mill to be worked by steam for supplying the bakers and inhabitants with flour."

A capital of 12,500 was raised in transferable shares of 25, and the mill was erected upon a site near Blackfriars' Bridge.

24.-Mr. Charles Harvey, Steward of Norwich, elected Recorder, in place of Mr. Henry Partridge, resigned.

28.-The price of wheat at Norwich Market was 168s. per quarter.

MARCH.

6.-The Anacreontic Society, "which for many years has been established in Norwich, and to which the cause of music owes so much," closed its winter session. The Hon. Mr. Wodehouse, Sir William Jerningham, Sir Richard Bedingfeld, and Capt. Sir Edward Berry were present. The Society gave monthly concerts in the a.s.sembly Room from October to March. In the advertis.e.m.e.nt announcing the commencement of the next session, it was stated that the first concert would "begin precisely at 6; supper-rooms open at 9, and the President to quit the chair at 12 o'clock."

7.-Arrived in Yarmouth Roads, the St. George, of 98 guns, bearing the flag of Lord Nelson. The grand fleet of 47 ships of war (with 3,000 marines), sailed on the 12th, under the command of Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, in the London, of 98 guns, with Nelson as his Vice-Admiral. The fleet first "rendezvoused" in Leith Roods, where it was joined by seven sail of the line, and afterwards proceeded to Copenhagen.

10.-A mob a.s.sembled at Lynn and grossly a.s.saulted several millers and farmers by throwing at them stones and dirt. In the evening they broke the windows in the dining-room of the Duke's Head Inn. "One of the ringleaders was taken to gaol, and by the active exertions of the Rutland Militia tranquillity was restored without bloodshed."

11.*-"Mr. Kett, butcher, of Norwich, undertook to ride his horse 50 miles in four hours. He started from St. Stephen's Gates at 12 o'clock, reached the 25th milestone on the Thetford road in about 2 hours, and returned to the place whence he had set out one and a half minutes before the time allowed. Six to four was laid that the horse did not perform the journey."