Norfolk Annals Volume Ii Part 101

3.-Died at Christiania, Mr. Joseph Stanley, who formerly practised as a solicitor at Norwich. He for several years represented the First Ward in the Town Council, and on the death of Mr. Robert Culley was elected County Coroner after an exciting contest. He it was who served a writ upon the Mayor of Norwich in the matter of the Town Close Estate, with the result that the estate, which had long been regarded as the exclusive property of the freemen, was declared to be a charity. Mr. Stanley had resided in Norway ten years preceding his death.

4.-Died, Mr. James R. Bulwer, Q.C., one of the Masters in Lunacy. Mr.

Bulwer was the eldest son of the Rev. J. Bulwer, rector of Hunworth-with-Stody, and was born in 1820. He was called to the Bar by the Inner Temple in 1847, and became treasurer in 1880. He took silk in 1865. From 1861 to 1866 he was Recorder of Ipswich, and from 1866 to 1898 he held the like office at Cambridge. He was also a justice of the peace for Norfolk, and was one of the chairmen of Norfolk Quarter Sessions, a post which he resigned on December 31st, 1898. Mr. Bulwer was Conservative member for Ipswich from 1874 to 1880, and represented Cambridgeshire from 1881 to 1885. From 1873 to 1884 he was lieutenant-colonel of the Inns of Court Volunteers.

12.-Mrs. Keeley, for many years one of the leading actresses on the English stage, died at her residence in London, in her 93rd year. She was a native of Ipswich, and in her young days, as Miss Annie Goward, was a popular member of the Norwich Company.

16.-Paderewski, the famous pianist, appeared at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich.

-The election of a member to fill the vacancy in the representation of North Norfolk by the elevation of Mr. H. H. Cozens-Hardy to the judicial bench, took place on this date. The candidates were Sir Kenneth Kemp, Bart. (U.), and Sir William Brampton Gurdon, Bart. (L). The poll was declared at Aylsham Town Hall on the 17th as follows: Gurdon, 4,775; Kemp, 3,610.

19.-After a winter of exceptional mildness very severe weather set in.

In some localities the readings of the thermometer were the lowest since 1895. On the 20th a remarkable whirlwind, which did considerable damage to three cottages, occurred at Worstead. February 10th was recorded as "the hottest day for half a century for the time of year."

25.-An effort was made at Norwich to inaugurate a public subscription for the erection of a memorial to Sir Thomas Browne, the famous author of "The Religio Medici" and other works.

-Died at Thorpe Road, Norwich, Mr. Joshua Womersley, an alderman of the city, aged 77. A native of Yorkshire, he came to Norfolk in 1811 and took employment with the firm of Messrs. Colman at Stoke. He devised a method of making starch from rice, and received the congratulations of the Patent Office on having overcome difficulties in starch making which had hitherto been considered insurmountable. In politics Mr. Womersley was strongly Liberal, and admitted at the Royal Commission in 1868 "having kept certain voters in tow with the object of preventing them being tampered with by the other side."

28.-The sale took place at Easton Lodge Farm by Mr. John Thornton of the red-poll herd of Mr. J. J. Colman. The total sum realised was 4,262 guineas, of which 1,114 guineas were paid for the bulls. The average per head was a little over 77. The sale of Mr. Colman's flock of Southdowns took place at Crown Point on August 9th, and was attended by leading sheep breeders and flock masters from all parts of the kingdom. Mr.

Thornton disposed of 999 lots, which realised a grand total of 5,347 6s.

6d.

APRIL.

1.-Strangers' Hall, Norwich, it was announced, had been purchased by Mr.

L. G. Bolingbroke.

6.-The Norwich Diocesan Conference met at Noverre's Rooms, Norwich, and continued its deliberations on the 7th.

17.-The memorial stone of the Norwich Technical Inst.i.tute was laid by the Mayor (Mr. G. H. Morse). The building was designed by the City Engineer (Mr. A. E. Collins), and erected by Mr. T. H. Blyth, of Foulsham.

-The centenary celebration of the Church of England Missionary Society commenced at Norwich with services at the Cathedral and the city churches and a meeting at St. Andrew's Hall.

MAY.

1.-The Great Eastern Railway Company introduced a restaurant car service on their system between London, Cromer, and Lowestoft.

-The 7th Hussars marched from Norwich _en route_ to Colchester, where they were temporarily stationed during the renovation of Norwich Cavalry Barracks. Among the officers was Prince Alexander of Teck. The regiment encamped on Stuston Common on the first night, at Broom Hill on the second night, and completed the march on the 3rd.

6.-Died at Northrepps Hall, Mr. Richard Hanbury Gurney, aged 44 years.

He was a son of Mr. John Henry Gurney, and served the office of High Sheriff in 1896.

-Lord Wolseley, Commander-in-Chief of the Army, arrived at Norwich, accompanied by Major-General Kelly-Kenny, Inspector-General of the Auxiliary Forces, Col. Gough, military secretary, and Col. Allen, _aide-de-camp_. On the 7th his lordship, with Major-General Sir W. F.

Gatacre, commanding the Eastern District, attended service at the Cathedral, and afterwards inspected a number of old soldiers in the cloisters, and visited the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home. Lord Wolseley on the 8th inspected the depot and the 3rd Battalion Norfolk Regiment at the Britannia Barracks, and in the afternoon proceeded to Yarmouth, where he inspected the troops.

17.-The Duke of York's Own Loyal Suffolk Hussars a.s.sembled at Norwich for the annual training, which concluded on the 25th. Lieut.-Col. Lucas was in command of the regiment.

23.-The Sandringham hackneys, the property of the Prince of Wales, were sold by auction at the Wolferton Stud Farm. His Royal Highness, who was accompanied by the Duke of York, attended the public luncheon, at which a distinguished company was present. The total amount of the sale was 11,611 guineas, an average price per head of 178.

24.-The list of Birthday Honours, commemorative of the 80th birthday of the Queen, included the name of Mr. Samuel h.o.a.re, M.P., upon whom her Majesty conferred a baronetcy.

25.-The nave of Norwich Cathedral was re-opened after restoration, the cost of which was generously undertaken by Sir Samuel h.o.a.re, Bart., M.P., and Lady h.o.a.re. The Mayor and Corporation attended the service, at which the sermon was preached by the Dean of Norwich.

-The Prince of Wales, accompanied by Prince Alexander of Teck, Admiral Sir Henry Keppel and others, arrived at Yarmouth, and on the 26th inspected the Prince of Wales' Own Norfolk Artillery Militia, the 3rd Norfolk Militia, and other troops. In the evening his Royal Highness attended a ball given by Viscount c.o.ke and the Artillery officers, and on the 27th terminated his visit.

-The Royal Arcade, Norwich, erected on the site of the old Royal Hotel, was opened. The Arcade was built by Messrs. J. Youngs and Son from plans by Messrs. G. J. and F. W. Skipper.

27.-The Duke and d.u.c.h.ess of York visited King's Lynn, and in the grounds of the West Norfolk and Lynn Hospital received purses on behalf of a fund to defray the cost of a children's wing added to the Hospital as a memorial of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

JUNE.

1.-At the Norwich Consistory Court, before Mr. Chancellor Blofeld, the Bishop of the Diocese p.r.o.nounced sentence of deprivation on the Rev.

Bryan O'Malley, vicar of Flitch am, and made an order upon the defendant for the payment of the costs of the proceedings.

2.-At a meeting of the Scots Society of St. Andrew, Norwich, held at the Maid's Head Hotel, the president, Dr. Thomson, unveiled portraits of Dr.

John Murray and of his wife, Mary Boyles Murray, presented to the society by Mr. Bronson Murray, of New York, in recognition of the work done by the society in restoring the tomb of Dr. Murray in the churchyard of Wells-next-the-Sea. The portraits were copied by Mrs. Leslie Bush-Brown, great great grandniece of Dr. Murray, from the original works belonging to the Guion family, of Senica Falls, New York.

27.-Died at St. Stephen's House, Norwich, Mr. John Copeman, aged 87.

Senior partner in the firm of Messrs. Copeman and Sons, wholesale grocers, Castle Street, he was for several years a member of the Town Council and some time alderman. It was he who suggested the purchase of the sewerage farm by the Corporation. He was a member of the Norwich Board of Guardians, and took part with Mr. J. H. Tillett and the Rev.

George Gould and others in securing the pa.s.sing of the Norwich Poor Act of 1863. Mr. Copeman was one of the founders of the "Norfolk News," and for some time edited it.

28.-The Summer Show of the Norfolk Agricultural a.s.sociation was opened at Diss. Mr. Edward Mann presided at the luncheon. The exhibition closed on the 29th.

JULY.

10.-At a special meeting of the Norwich Town Council a report was received from a joint committee of the Corporation and the Board of Guardians upon the subject of the rating of city property, and a resolution was adopted recommending important alterations in the a.s.sessments. The Guardians on December 20th accepted a recommendation for the appointment of valuers to undertake the work of rea.s.sessment.

17.-Died at Ivy Lodge, Eaton, Mr. C. C. Rix Spelman, Deputy-Mayor of Norwich, aged 55. He was a son of Mr. Benjamin Rix, of Ipswich, and was born at Yarmouth. In 1858 he became a.s.sociated with the firm of Messrs.

Spelman, and on joining as a partner in 1874 took the name of Spelman-his mother's surname-in addition to his own. In 1897 he was elected Mayor of Norwich, and was in politics a Liberal. He was twice married-first to Miss Franklin, of Norwich, who died in 1877, and secondly, in 1880, to Mrs. R. E. Gibson, sister of Mr. F. Oddin Taylor.

22.*-"The Earl of Leicester has forwarded to the governors of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital a cheque for 5,000 for building new quarters for nurses at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital."

23.-The Norfolk Volunteer Brigade went into camp at Colchester.

29.-Barnum and Bailey's great show visited Norwich. It came by special trains from Yarmouth, and on leaving Norwich proceeded to Bury St.

Edmund's.

31.-Died, the Rev. Canon Hinds Howell, aged 91. He was seventh son of Mr. C. A. Howell, Treasurer of the Island of Barbados, where he was born.

Canon Howell was many years rector of Drayton, and one of the most energetic clergymen in the diocese.