Norfolk Annals Volume Ii Part 100

1.-A ball was given at Drayton House in celebration of the silver wedding of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Walter, who were the recipients of many presents and congratulations. On the 3rd the workmen employed at the Taverham and Bawburgh mills and the labourers on the estate were entertained to dinner.

6.-Barnum and Bailey's great show visited Norwich, and was located upon a piece of land on Unthank Road. The performances were repeated on the 7th. Upwards of 42,000 persons visited the show. (_See_ July 29th, 1899.)

13.-Died at Earlham Road, Norwich, Mr. John William Sparrow, solicitor, for many years Registrar of the Guildhall Court of Record.

-The coming of age of Mr. Robert Hamilton Kemp, eldest son of Sir Kenneth Kemp, Bart., was celebrated at Gissing Old Hall.

18.-Died at the Clyffe, Corton, Mr. Jeremiah James Colman, of Carrow House, Norwich, aged 68. Mr. Colman came of an old family of Norfolk yeomen. One of his ancestors, Jeremiah Colman, who was born in 1777, established a flour mill at Bawburgh, and afterwards carried on business at Norwich, whence he removed to Stoke Holy Cross, where was formed the nucleus of the great commercial undertaking now existing at Carrow. The subject of this notice was the son of James Colman, and was born in 1830.

In 1856 he married Caroline, daughter of Mr. W. H. Cozens-Hardy, of Letheringsett. Mr. Colman was interested in agricultural pursuits and the breeding of stock, and his famous herd of red-polls, and equally well-known flock of Southdowns were for years represented at all the great shows. Art and literature obtained his attention, and he collected an unrivalled library of local works at Carrow Abbey. Mr. Colman embarked largely in commercial enterprises connected with the Press.

With Mr. Jacob Henry Tillett he was instrumental in founding the "Norfolk News" and other newspapers published by that company, and was largely interested in the "Star," the "Morning Leader" and the "East Anglian Daily Times." In 1862 Mr. Colman was appointed Sheriff of Norwich, and in 1867 was elected Mayor. He was first nominated for Parliamentary honours upon the unseating on pet.i.tion of Mr. Tillett in 1871. His Conservative opponent was Sir Charles Legard, whom he defeated by 1,200 votes. This was the last election contested by open voting, in Norwich.

At the General Election of 1874 Mr. Tillett, freed of his disabilities, was nominated as colleague of Mr. Colman; the Conservative candidates were Mr. Huddleston, Q.C., and Sir Henry Stracey, Bart. Mr. Colman and Mr. Huddleston were returned. The next election took place in 1880, when the Liberal party once more made a strenuous effort to secure the return of Mr. Tillett by the aid of Mr. Colman's popularity. The Conservative nominees were Mr. Henry Harben and the Hon. W. F. B. Mainwaring. The Liberals were returned by an overwhelming majority. At the election of 1885 occurred the first indication of the disasters which were to befall Liberalism in Norwich. Mr. Harry Bullard was nominated to oppose Mr.

Colman, with whom as second Liberal candidate was Mr. R. S. Wright. For the first time in his political career Mr. Colman had to be content with second place, for Mr. Bullard was returned at the head of the poll with 7,297 votes, against 6,666 polled by Mr. Colman, and 6,251 by Mr. Wright.

Mr. Bullard was unseated on pet.i.tion, and it was stated at the time that Mr. Colman was opposed to the course taken by his party. Mr. Samuel h.o.a.re was then elected unopposed in the place of Mr. Bullard. At the General Election in 1886 Mr. Colman regained his former position at the head of the poll with 6,295 votes as against 6,156 polled by Mr. h.o.a.re, who had Mr. C. S. Read as his colleague. This election was noteworthy as the last occasion upon which Mr. Tillett was nominated. In 1892 Mr.

Colman made his last appearance as a Parliamentary candidate, and with him was nominated Mr. James Bedford. Mr. h.o.a.re, Conservative candidate, was returned by a majority of 311 above Mr. Colman; and the representation of the city remained thus until the General Election of 1895, when Mr. Colman retired, and for the first time in sixty years the Conservative party returned two members, Mr. h.o.a.re and Sir Harry Bullard.

Mr. Colman, who was one of the greatest benefactors in Norwich, was held in deserved esteem alike by political friends and opponents, and many expressions of public regret were recorded. He was predeceased (on the 15th) by his mother, Mrs. Mary Colman, who died at Town Close Lodge, in her 93rd year. It was announced at a meeting of the Norwich Town Council on October 18th that Mr. Colman had bequeathed to the Castle Museum, free of duty, his collection of oil paintings and water colours by Norfolk and Norwich artists. The collection was valued at 5,000.

OCTOBER.

16.-Died at Fairstead House, Newmarket, aged 82, Mr. John F. Clark, the famous racing judge. Mr. Clark was a native of Norwich, and on leaving school joined his father as a builder. He afterwards became an architect, and during his professional career designed many ecclesiastical buildings, and restored others. He also planned most of the modern grand stands upon the princ.i.p.al race courses in England. Mr.

Clark was appointed judge by the Jockey Club in 1852, and was the third member of his family who had held the office, from which he retired at the close of 1888.

18.-The Norwich Town Council decided to widen Fye Bridge from 22 feet to 36 feet at the estimated cost of 1,000, two-fifths of which were payable by the Norwich Electric Tramways Company.

24.-The National Union of Women Workers of Great Britain and Ireland opened its annual conference at Prince's Street Rooms, Norwich; and on the 27th the Mayor and Mayoress held a reception at St. Andrew's Hall.

30.-Died at Lowestoft, Mr. Frederick Elwin Watson, aged 88. He twice served the office of Mayor of Norwich, in 186667 and in 187071. He was for many years a warm supporter of the Norwich Church of England Young Men's Society.

NOVEMBER.

8.-Died at Wymondham Vicarage, in his 96th year, the Rev. Robert Eden, M.A., Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and honorary canon of Norwich Cathedral. He was the author of several works, including "The Churchman's Theological Dictionary," "Some Thoughts on the Inspiration of the Holy Scriptures," "A History of Preaching," "The t.i.tle Page of the Revised Version of the Holy Bible," &c. In his young days Canon Eden was acquainted with Whately, the famous divine, and was for a time a.s.sistant librarian at the Bodleian Library.

9.-Mr. George Henry Morse was elected Mayor and Mr. Henry Skelton appointed Sheriff of Norwich.

18.-The Norwich and Norfolk Conservative Club was opened in its new premises, the Royal Arcade, Norwich. Sir Alfred Jodrell, Bart., presided on the occasion.

26.-The remarkable recovery of a lost register belonging to the parish of Gressenhall was reported. "The books, which dated from 1538 to 1710, were discovered lying on a shelf in an upper room with a number of other old doc.u.ments, at Docking Hall. A certain Hon. Hugh Charles Hare, who was rector of Docking from 1708 to 1711, was also rector of Gressenhall, and probably to him may be traced the removal of the books to Docking, where they had remained for nearly two hundred years."

28.-The 7th (Queen's Own) Hussars, arrived by train at Norwich, from Southampton, where they had disembarked the same day from the Simla.

DECEMBER.

13.-At a meeting of the Norwich Town Council, Mr. Edward Wild moved the adoption of a report of the City Committee affirming "that the inadequate and unsuitable existing accommodation for the transaction of the public work of the city is a hindrance to the proper dispatch of the business, detrimental to the health of the officials and members of the Corporation, and disproportionate to and unworthy of the position and dignity of this important city." The subject was referred to a committee to report thereon to the Council. (_See_ September 5th, 1899.)

13.-The foundation stone of the new Jenny Lind Infirmary, Unthank Road, Norwich, was laid by Geoffrey R. R. Colman, son of Mr. Russell J. Colman.

In a cavity of the stone was a bra.s.s plate with the following inscription:-"The Jenny Lind Infirmary was founded 1853; rebuilt 1898, foundation-stone laid by G. R. R. Colman. Norwich population, 113,000; fastest train to London 2 hours 37 minutes; electric tramways commenced.

Price of a large sheep 63s.; bricklayers' wages 7d. per hour." (_See_ June 30th, 1899.)

14.-Died, Mr. Robert Wortley, of Suffield. He was one of the best known agriculturists in Norfolk, an excellent judge of stock, and a noted hackney breeder.

24.-Shernbourne church, restored from designs by Mr. Herbert J. Green, and Sir Arthur Blomfield (consulting architect), was re-opened. The Prince and Princess of Wales, accompanied by the Duke and d.u.c.h.ess of York, Princess Victoria of Wales, and Prince Alexander of Teck, attended the service. The Prince of Wales had taken great interest in the work, and had subscribed to the restoration fund, which was raised mainly through the efforts of the rector, the Rev. F. J. W. Girling.

-A young man named Horace Alfred c.o.x entered a cafe in St. Benedict's Street, Norwich, and fired three shots with a revolver at Ellen Parker, one of the a.s.sistants. The bullets missed Parker, and c.o.x then turned the weapon upon himself. He sustained injuries to the head, from which he died shortly after removal to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.

1899.

JANUARY.

1.-In the list of New Year's Honours appeared the name of Mr. Robert Thornhagh Gurdon, of Letton, upon whom her Majesty had conferred the dignity of peerage. Mr. Gurdon a.s.sumed the t.i.tle of Baron Cranworth.

5.-Cringleford church, after restoration at the cost of about 1,400, was re-opened by the Bishop of Norwich.

7.-Died, aged 78, Mr. Samuel Culley, of Grove Avenue, Norwich, who held the office of City Accountant from 1887 to 1898. He was a son of Mr.

Richard Culley, and at an early age learned farming in order to fit him for Colonial life. In 1841 he went to New Zealand, but left on the outbreak of the Maori War, and shipping on board an American whaler obtained the post of second mate. On the voyage the crew mutinied, and the captain lost his reason. Mr. Culley put the ringleaders in irons, took command of the vessel, and brought her to Rhode Island. On returning to Norwich he set up business as a corn merchant, and afterwards as a public accountant. He was identified with the formation of the Norwich Steam Laundry and Baths Company and the Norwich Omnibus Company.

13.-The Bishop of Norwich acknowledged the receipt of a memorial signed by 365 clergymen, 123 lay members of Conference, and 100 magistrates, resident in the diocese, who had expressed their resolve to strengthen as far as possible the hands of the bishops in their efforts to check unsound teaching and to restrain illegal practices in the Church. The memorial gave rise to much dissatisfaction and to a considerable amount of acrimonious correspondence in the public Press.

14.-At a meeting of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital it was announced that Mr. Cadge had subscribed the munificent gift of 10,000 to the Leicester Perpetual Endowment Fund. Mr. Cadge had previously presented to the inst.i.tution an anonymous gift of 10,000.

FEBRUARY.

3.-Mrs. Garrett Anderson, M.D., delivered a lecture at Noverre's Rooms, Norwich, on "The History and Effect of Vaccination." The Dean of Norwich presided, and a committee was formed in order to circulate information on the subject.

7.-Died at Diss rectory, the Rev. Charles Robertson Manning, M.A., F.S.A., honorary canon of Norwich Cathedral, rural dean of Redenhall, and for 42 years rector of Diss, aged 73. Canon Manning was a magistrate for the county, and a member of the Diss School Board, but he was best known for his labours in archaeology. He published "A List of Monumental Bra.s.ses remaining in England," and shortly before his death compiled "A List of Monumental Bra.s.ses omitted by Blomefield." Canon Manning was a well-known authority on church plate, and among other subjects upon which he wrote were church architecture, lecterns, fonts, heraldry, seals, coins, mediaeval patens, and antiquarians objects of almost every kind.

13.-Mr. Leo Trevor's play, "Brother Officers," which was produced at the Garrick Theatre in October, 1898, and became one of the successes of the London season, was performed at Norwich Theatre by Miss Muriel Wylford's company.

17.-A "silver cradle"-a ma.s.sive silver bowl-was presented to the Mayor of Norwich (Mr. G. H. Morse) in commemoration of the birth during his Mayoralty of his son Christopher Charles on November 19th, 1898.

21.-Died at Denver rectory, in his 67th year, the Rev. James Mourant Du Port, rector of Denver, honorary canon of Norwich Cathedral, and rural dean. Canon Du Port formerly held the living of Mattishall, took great interest in educational work in the diocese, and was one of the secretaries of the Norwich Diocesan Conference.

23.-It was announced that her Majesty the Queen had been pleased to approve the appointment of Mr. H. H. Cozens-Hardy, Q.C., M.P., as one of the justices of the High Court of Justice.

25.-Died at Marham Hall, aged 73, Mr. Thomas Brown, a well-known breeder of pedigree sheep and cattle. He was the originator of the successful gatherings held for so many years at Marham in celebration of the annual ram letting.

MARCH.