Norfolk Annals Volume I Part 92

-Violent hailstorms, accompanied by thunder and lightning, occurred in many parts of the county. At c.o.c.kley Cley great damage was done.

"Pieces of ice as big as walnuts were found lying under the hedges next morning, and the turnips were out into shreds."

AUGUST.

1.-This being the day on which the "negro apprentices" of the West Indies were admitted to freedom, the event was commemorated by a united prayer meeting, presided over by Mr. Alexander, at Prince's Street chapel, Norwich.

2.-A "foot-steeplechase" took place at Whitlingham. The compet.i.tors had to pa.s.s several times through the river. The event was chiefly remarkable for "the perfect deluge of base coin put in circulation by the swell mob from London." The landlord of Whitlingham Gardens alone took 4 worth of bad silver. In the disturbance which ensued a constable named Hansell had his leg broken.

3.-The High Sheriff (Sir James Flower) arrived at Norwich to attend the Judges of a.s.size, Mr. Justice Parke and Mr. Justice Littledale. With Lady Flower he took up his quarters at the Norfolk Hotel, and, as at previous a.s.sizes, dispensed hospitality with most ostentatious liberality.

13.-Died in Norwich, aged 38, Mr. Horatio Beevor Love, portrait painter.

17.-Died at her house in Surrey Street, Norwich, in her 96th year, Miss Elizabeth Lany, the last survivor of the three daughters and sole children of the Rev. Benjamin Lany, rector of Mulbarton. "On both paternal and maternal sides she was allied to some of the best families in Norfolk and Suffolk."

21.-A grand bazaar was held at the New Inn, Cromer, in aid of the fund for maintaining the "defence wall." After the sale "the jetty, the Victoria Parade (between the walls), and the cliffs were thronged with fashionable promenaders," and in the evening "120 ladies and gentlemen repaired to the New Inn ball room, where quadrilles and waltzes were got up."

28.-This was the hottest day of the summer. The thermometer stood at 83 in the shade. A thunderstorm occurred in the evening, and Mrs. Roach, a schoolmistress at Wroxham, was killed by lightning. The weather on the 29th was cold, wet, and boisterous.

SEPTEMBER.

1.-A white sparrowhawk was shot in Lakenham valley.

6.-The "London Gazette" of this date contained the announcement that the Queen had granted to Mr. Isaac Preston, of Stanfield Hall, Recorder of Norwich, her Royal licence and authority to use the surname of Jermy, in lieu of that of Preston.

8.*-"A porpoise, weighing 1 cwt. and upwards, was lately taken at West Somerton, near the free staith adjoining lands occupied by Mr. H. M.

Thompson. Its length was 5 ft. 3 in., and after being boiled it produced 5 gallons of oil. The distance from the sea is at least 25 miles."

10.-Mdlle. Placci gave an Italian concert at the a.s.sembly Rooms, Norwich.

She was a.s.sisted by Signor Paltoni, Signor Bogrey, Signor Puzzi (horn), and Mr. Harcourt (pianoforte).

12.-A public meeting was held in Surlingham parish church, presided over by the Rev. E. Day, rector of Kirby, in aid of the Church Missionary Society. Addresses were given by the Hon. and Rev. J. T. Pelham, the Rev. E. C. Brewer, Mr. W. Sparkes, and the Rev. J. Patteson. Similar meetings, some of a purely secular character, were held in parish churches at this date.

20.-Mr. Joseph Wiggins, a well-known and popular coachman, was presented, at the Norfolk Hotel, Norwich, with a handsome silver cup, "in testimony of the respect for his general good conduct during his dragmanship of eleven years on the Norwich and Lynn road."

21.-The Norwich fillover weavers pa.s.sed a resolution "that the system of copying patterns from manufactured fillover work, as is now practised by Scotch manufacturers, is the princ.i.p.al cause of the depression of our branch of the manufacture, and loudly appeals to the Legislature for their interference."

24.-An extraordinary riot occurred at Stanfield Hall, the seat of Mr.

Isaac Jermy. The mob, led by a person named Larner, who professed to be a claimant to the Stanfield property, took forcible possession of the mansion. The 4th Dragoon Guards were summoned from Norwich to aid the civil power. The intruder and his followers were expelled from the premises, and about 80 taken into custody and lodged in Norwich Castle.

At the Norfolk a.s.sizes, on April 13th, 1839, before Mr. Justice Vaugham, 70 of the accused were sentenced to one week's imprisonment, and the remainder to terms varying from three months to two months.

OCTOBER.

6.*-"A female specimen of the Peregrine falcon was lately shot by Mr.

Walter Roper, of Norwich, whilst it was in the act of stooping at some pigeons at Duke's Palace Bridge. It is almost an unprecedented occurrence for a bird of retired habits like the peregrine, and so rare in Norfolk, to have been killed in the centre of a large city."

11.-During a gale in the night, 2,000 sail of ships sought refuge in Yarmouth Roads. "To supply their wants more than 3,000 were laid out in Yarmouth on Sat.u.r.day alone, and the butchers were obliged to kill every bullock, sheep, &c., that they could get."

15.-The Hingham Troop of Yeomanry Cavalry, commanded by Capt. Ives, were presented with a standard by the Lord Lieutenant of the county.

20.*-"The match trade, which for many years has been an excuse for begging, is likely soon to be ruined by the superior demand for lucifers for obtaining an instantaneous light, which are now selling at so cheap a rate. One tradesman alone in Norwich (Mr. Wiles, of Exchange Street) has had delivered this week by water and land carriage 20,000 boxes."

28.-The Chartist movement commenced in Norwich. Mr. J. R. Stephens, from Ashton, and Mr. Julian Harney addressed meetings in the Market Place in support of the "people's charter," which, amongst other things, demanded universal suffrage, annual Parliaments, the ballot, and the non-property qualification for members of Parliament. On the 29th a meeting was held at St. Andrew's Hall, the use of which was granted by the Mayor.

NOVEMBER.

5.-A meeting was held at Yarmouth in furtherance of the movement for decreasing the hours of shop a.s.sistants. The employers were asked to close their shops at eight o'clock from Michaelmas to Lady Day, and at nine in the summer months, except on Sat.u.r.day, when they should close at ten o'clock in the evening. Like meetings were held at Norwich and Lynn.

9.-Mr. John Marshall was elected Mayor of Norwich, and Mr. Henry Woodc.o.c.k appointed Sheriff.

10.-The completion of the building of the new chimney of the Yarn Factory near Whitefriars Bridge, Norwich, "was celebrated by a band of music placed on the top playing national airs and 'G.o.d save the Queen,'

accompanied by the workmen joining in chorus, when a flag was hoisted and several guns fired from the top. The shaft is 165 feet high, with a coping of cast-iron weighing upwards of 4 tons." The builders were Mr.

Everett Cattermoul and Mr. C. Darkins.

22.-Tom Allen, "the faithful servant of Lord Nelson," died at Greenwich Hospital. He was born at Burnham Thorpe, in 1764, and joined the Navy in 1793. He first served on board the Agamemnon, under the command of Captain Nelson. After the death of Nelson, Allen entered the service of Sir William Boston, R.N., at Costessey, and by the influence of Sir Thomas Hardy, one of the Lords of the Admiralty, was enabled to end his days at Greenwich.

24.-Died in Norwich, Mr. James Lambe, aged 56. "He was well known to the managers of the Festivals and to many musical people as a noted and accurate copyist. His endowments were not of an ordinary kind. He was a ready versifier, with considerable humour and some share of imagination.

With the works of Shakespeare, Milton, and the poets of Queen Anne's time he was intimately acquainted. He had lived on terms of familiarity with Crabbe, to whom he had acted as amanuensis. Like many other sons of genius, he had endured the extremes of poverty; but under every privation and under many temptations he uniformly preserved his cheerfulness and his integrity. His latter years were pa.s.sed in comparative comfort, through the kindness of a professional gentleman, who gave him constant employment."

26.-North Walsham was lighted with gas for the first time, in celebration of which a band of music paraded the town and a dinner took place at the King's Arms Inn. The gas works were erected by Mr. John Malem.

-The sloop Volharden, of Flushing, with a crew of nine hands, was brought into Yarmouth Roads by the Badger Revenue cutter, Lieut. R. Perceval, R.N., on suspicion of smuggling. Spirits in large quant.i.ties were found on board. Two of the crew were sentenced to six months' imprisonment by the Yarmouth magistrates on December 7th. Lieut. Perceval recommended them to mercy, on the ground that they had rendered valuable a.s.sistance to the Badger when she was in difficulties, and the sentences were commuted to three months' imprisonment.

DECEMBER.

3.-A fine specimen of the little bustard was shot in a turnip field at Old Buckenham.

-Cushing and Smith, Norwich pugilists, seconded by Cricknell and Perowne, fought 13 severe rounds on Mousehold Heath. Throughout Cushing had the advantage of his opponent, and won.

6.-The Royal Amphitheatre and Circus at the Pantheon, Ranelagh Gardens, Norwich, opened for the season, under the management of Mr. Atkins. In addition to the circus performance, equestrian spectacles, ballets, "musical soirees," and comic pantomimes were produced.

14.-The "London Gazette" of this date contained the announcement that the 4th Royal Irish Dragoons, a portion of which regiment was then stationed in Norwich, had permission to wear upon their standards and appointments the harp, crown, and star of the most ill.u.s.trious Order of St. Patrick.

18.-Died in Friar's Street, Lynn, Mrs. Ann Larner, aged 100 years.

22.-The weight of turkeys sent by Messrs. Mack and Co.'s. van from Norwich to London on this day was 6 tons 18 cwt.; before the end of the journey the load was increased to 10 tons.

26.-The Theatre Royal, Norwich, was occupied during the Christmas holidays by Mr. Ducrow's equestrian company from the Royal Amphitheatre, London. Among the pageants produced were "Charlemagne," "St. George and the Dragon," "Mazeppa," and "Timour the Tartar." The season closed on January 26th, 1839.