1855.
Jan. 6th.—There had been a high tide and heavy flood; 130 yards of the rails between Yarmouth and Reedham had been carried away by the latter.
The following gentlemen had been chosen as the Library Committee.—The Mayor (C. J. Palmer, Esq.), Rev. J. B. Bampton, Rev. H. Squire, and Messrs. B. Fenn, R. R. B. Norman, J. Bayly, and S. C. Burton.
It was considered too cold to drill the Militia on the South-denes.
Jan. 13th.—The following quantity of fish had been forwarded from Yarmouth during the preceding year:—
| Packages. | Tons. | Cwt. | |
| From Jan. to Sep. | 282,441 | 10,591 | 10 |
| ,, Oct. to Dec. | 250,981 | 9,411 | 15 |
| Total | 533,422 | 20,003 | 5 |
During the week 20 men of the East Norfolk Militia had volunteered for the line.
At the Tract Lenders’ Festival 400 persons had partaken of tea at the Priory. They were addressed by the Rev. G. Hills, Rev. G. W. Grogan and other friends.
Jan. 17th.—The Norfolk Artillery Militia had received an order to be permanently embodied from the 23rd inst.
Jan. 20th.—Sixty more men had volunteered from the East Norfolk Militia for the line, making a total of 300 of such volunteers in all.
Winter had set in “with all the vigour and severity peculiar to this portion of the Eastern Coast.”
Jan. 24th.—The weather continued intensely cold, and the navigation of the rivers were stopped by the accumulation of ice.
The District Visiting Society was doing great work in the way of alleviating distress.
Pickpockets were still at work. A woman had been robbed by one of them in the Market Row of 8s. 6d., and Mrs. Pole, of Burgh Castle, had suffered a loss of £2 17s. in this way.
Jan. 27th.—The Norfolk Artillery Militia had assembled,—156 non-commissioned officers and men, with the following officers: Captain Astley, Lieutenants Penrice, Tredcroft and North, Adjutant Gilberton, and Surgeon C. C. Aldred. Lord Hastings had not yet joined them.
The Rev. Bowyer Vaux had announced to the Hospital Committee that the Medical Library of the late Mr. Harry Worship would be presented to that Institution.
Bro. William Lucia had been elected W.M. of Lodge “Friendship,” in succession to Bro. Oswald Diver.
Feb. 14th.—The business of the Port had been much affected by the rigour of the weather.
Feb. 17th.—Thirty-four men had volunteered from the Norfolk Militia Artillery for the Royal Artillery.
The South-quay was blocked by the coal carts near the Town Hall, and great complaints being made about this it was suggested that the colliers should unload at a wider part of the quay.
Feb. 21st.—The Subscription Ball had been attended by the Mayor and Mrs. Charles Palmer, Lieutenant-Colonel Mason, the Honourable Mr. Harbord, Mr. Astley, Mr. Graver Brown, Mrs. E. Graver Brown, Reverend A. B. Smyth, Captain Gay, Captain and Mrs. Rippingall, Captain and Mrs. Mathew, Captain, Mrs., and Miss Pearson, Mr. and Mrs. Meadwell, Mr., Mrs., and Miss E. H. L. Preston, Mr., Mrs., and Miss Marsh, Mr., Mrs., and the Misses Steward, Mr. and Miss Chevallier, Mr. and Mrs. Freeman, Mr. and Mrs. Ferrier, Mr. Smith, (East Norfolk Militia) Mr. Smyth (East Norfolk Militia) and Mrs. Smyth, Mr. Palgrave, Mr. and the Misses Barber, Mr. Boycott, Mr. Press, Mr. Aldred, Mr. Eyre, &c., &c.
The town was infested by a gang of thieves.
Four deserters from the Royal Navy had been captured in the town.
A meeting had been held for the relief of the poor, the Mayor presided, and the Rev. G. Hills, and Messrs. R. Hammond, E. H. L. Preston, T. Brightwen, S. Dowson, R. Steward, R. Ferrier, and W. N. Burroughs took part in the proceedings. Mr. George Danby-Palmer sent £10 to the fund, and more than £200 was then collected in the room.
Feb. 24th.—Full power to act as a Burial Board had been vested in the Town Council, and the following Committee of that body appointed to carry out the Act:—The Mayor, and Messrs. R. Ferrier, F. Worship, E. R. Aldred, W. N. Burroughs, J. Jackson, C. E. Bartram, P. Pullyn, and T. Foreman.
Feb. 28th.—A thaw had commenced, and it was hoped that the River traffic would soon be able to be resumed.
Mr. Gyngell had superintended a grand display of fireworks on the Star Quay, which was witnessed by about 7,000 or 8,000 persons.
March 3rd.—A ship of war was likely to be stationed in the Roads to protect the shipping there.
The first of the frozen-in wherries had been liberated at Reedham, and the Steam Packet communication had been resumed with London.
March 10th.—The Norfolk Militia Artillery had been removed to London en route for Eastbourne; when 170 men and the following officers, Captain Penrice, Adjutant Gilbertson, Lieutenants Tredcroft, North, and Micklewaite, left the town.
A meeting, at the Angel Hotel, had been held for the purpose of establishing a pack of harriers; Mr. H. Grimmer was chairman, Mr. Jex, of Hopton, undertook to purchase the hounds, and Mr. J. L. Cufaude to act as honorary secretary to the Committee.
March 14th.—The Market was to be held on Tuesday the 20th, as Wednesday, the 21st, had been proclaimed a day for fasting and humiliation.
The Batteries were being armed with 24-pounders, and it was proposed to construct a fort on Gorleston Cliff, to be armed with 68 pound guns.
March 17th.—Lectures had been delivered by the Rev. R. Cory on “Jerusalem,” and by Mr Craft (a man of colour) upon “American Slavery.”
Bro. Robert Harmer had presided at the annual dinner of the “Druids, Trinity Lodge, 220.”
March 21st.—Several complaints had been made of unprovoked assaults by members of the East Norfolk Militia upon respectable inhabitants of the town.
March 24th.—At the Quarter Sessions, the Grand Jury presented the foul state of the Court House at the Tolhouse.
The national Fast Day had been strictly observed.
Robberies continued to be very frequently committed in the town.
April 4th.—H.M.S. “Harrier” (17 guns) was then stationed in the Roads, and a rendezvous had been opened for Volunteers to the North Sea fleet.
Three hundred men of the East Norfolk Militia had claimed a right to be dismissed, having served 56 days in the then year under the terms of their enlistments, and they were dismissed accordingly.
April 7th.—Messrs. Green, Borking, Clayton, and Harbord had been appointed Overseers, which, as a “partizan” step, was justified by Mr. C. C. Aldred, and objected to by Mr. R. Hammond.
April 14th.—A militiaman had been buried with military honours.
Messrs. Aldred and Steward had been re-elected Churchwardens by the Vestry.
The Vestry decided on the question of making a Church rate, when there appeared 64 for and 87 against the rate, but the majority did not press the matter any further, and ultimately a rate of 1½d. in the £ was agreed to.
The Guardians’ Election had resulted as follows:—
NorthWard. | |
Mr. J. Jackson (L) | 258 |
Mr. J. Mainprice (L) | 252 |
Mr. J. W. Craske (L) | 198 |
Mr. S. Nightingale (C) | 246 |
Mr. E. H. L. Preston (C) | 214 |
Mr. W. Wright (C) | 193 |
MarketWard. | |
Mr. D. A. Gourlay (L) | 226 |
Mr. C. Steward (L) | 165 |
Mr. A. Ames (L) | 136 |
Mr. H. Laws (C) | 252 |
Mr. C. C. Aldred (C) | 247 |
Mr. J. Browne (C) | 200 |
RegentWard. | |
Mr. John Clowes (L) | 120 |
Mr. F. Palmer (L) | 147 |
Mr. J. A. Norman (L) | 147 |
Mr. W. Worship (C) | 198 |
Mr. S. C. Marsh (C) | 196 |
Mr. T. Foreman (C) | 164 |
St.George’s Ward. | |
Mr. T. Lettis, Jun., (L) | 159 |
Mr. J. Scott (L) | 127 |
Mr. B. Fenn (C) | 223 |
Mr. R. Ferrier (C) | 217 |
Mr. J. G. Plummer (C) | 194 |
NelsonWard. | |
Mr. J. H. Harrison (L) | 203 |
Mr. G. Danby-Palmer (L) | 225 |
Mr. S. V. Moore (L) | 193 |
Mr. W. T. Fisher (L) | 131 |
Mr. W. C. Reynolds (C) | 176 |
Mr. J. Clark (C) | 187 |
Mr. C. Woolverton (C) | 249 |
Mr. T. Brightwen (C) | 218 |
April 18th.—A proposal had been made to have all the houses in the town numbered.
April 25th.—A purse of money had been presented to Mr. Farrow, the Secretary of the Liberal Association, “for his long-continued service in the Reform cause.”
April 28th.—The Poor’s Rate was estimated at 1s. 6d. in the £, to meet £3,000 required by the Guardians for the Quarter, who had then £430 in hand to meet demands amounting to £1,450.
May 2nd.—Mr. Lane had been appointed Collector of Poor’s rates for the Market Ward.
George Danby-Palmer, Esq., had almost entirely recovered from the indisposition which he had been suffering from during the winter, and it was proposed to entertain him at a public dinner.
May 5th.—The new burial ground comprised about 10 acres in extent, and the following tender was recommended by the Committee to the Council: J. Thompson, for walls, £1,388; gates, £50; levelling, £110; total, £1,548, with respect to fitting it for use.
Nelson’s Column was still allowed to fall into decay.
May 9th.—Mr. Allcock had been appointed Poor’s Rate Collector for the Nelson and Regent Wards.
The sale of part of the landed property of the late Mr. Ambrose Palmer had taken place, the ship-yard and docks bringing £1,100 and £900 respectively. The leasehold premises on the west side of the river were bought by Mr. Joseph Powell, and the building sites near Queen’s Road fetched about 20s. per foot frontage with a ground rental of about 2s. per yard upon the same.
Letters could now be posted as late as 8.10 p.m.
Water had been conveyed by the Company’s mains to Yarmouth from Ormesby for the first time. One of these pipes burst near the “Gallon Can.”
May 12th.—The Victoria Gardens had been laid out and were likely to outvie any in the neighbourhood.
May 19th.—Mr. Lummis had resigned the office of Librarian.
The Workhouse had been lighted with gas.
A meeting for the purpose of advocating “Administrative Reform” had been held at the Town Hall, when Mr. R. Hammond presided, and Mr. McCullagh delivered a stirring address.
The Tories complained that this meeting was “got up” by the Liberals for party purposes.
May 23rd.—The Water Company had offered to supply water for street-watering purposes free of expense.
H.M.S. “Harrier” had been firing shell to a distance of 1,200 yards in the direction of Scroby; the Queen’s Birthday had been observed in the usual way.
May 26th.—The Water Works had been opened, and in the evening 80 gentlemen dined at the Town Hall, under the presidency of the Mayor (C. J. Palmer, Esq.), who was supported by Sir E. H. K. Lacon, M.P., and Lieut.-Col. Mason.
Mr. F. Maryson and Mr. D. D. Offord, the candidates for the post of Librarian, having each obtained 27 votes, the Mayor gave his casting vote in favour of Mr. Offord, who was thus elected to the post.
Eight additional gas lamps had been placed on the Wellington Pier.
May 30th.—The first stone of the Wesleyan Free Church, on the Regent Road, had been laid by S. C. Marsh, Esq.
June 2nd.—The Russian brig “Phœnix” had been brought in by a prize crew.
June 9th.—The mackerel fishing was going on badly, and many boats had lost nets.
July 18th.—A brace of tench, weighing between eight and nine pounds, had been taken at Ormesby.
Mr. Stracey (afterwards Sir Edward Stracey, Bart.), the Tory candidate for East Norfolk had visited the town. (He was returned, on this occasion, without opposition.)
July 21st.—At the Regatta the following prizes were offered for luggers:—£50, £20, and £10, and there were ten entries; during the match the “Race-horse” (Mr. I. Shuckford) was run down by the “Ocean Star” (Smith and Son). Her crew was rescued by the yawls “Queen Victoria” and “Standard,” but the master of the lugger (Lark) had two of his ribs broken. The “Brothers” (T. Lettis, jun.) won the first prize, the “Henry” (H. Swann, jun.) and the “Prima Donna” (J. Minns) taking the other two prizes. The yawl prizes were not awarded.
The following notice again appeared with regard to the case of
“REGINA v. EAGLETON.”
“The defendant, John Eagleton, a baker, at Yarmouth, who had contracted with the Guardians of Yarmouth to supply the poor with bread, was tried before the Recorder, N. Palmer, Esq., at the Quarter Sessions in March, 1854, upon an indictment charging him, in the seven first counts, with an offence at common law, in fraudulently supplying the poor with bread of short weight; and, in the three last counts, with attempting to obtain payment from the Guardians, by falsely pretending that he had supplied full weight. He was found guilty by the jury, but the Recorder reserved a case for the opinion of the Court of Criminal Appeal, as to the proprietory of the conviction in point of law. On the first argument on April 29th, 1854, before Pollock, C.B., Parke, B., Creswell, J., and Williams, J., the case was referred back to the Recorder, for him to state the whole evidence given at the trial, which he did accordingly, and the case, as re-stated, was, on the following 3rd of June, argued before Lord Campbell, C. J., Alderson, B., Coleridge, J., Martin, B., and Crowder, J., and they, having doubts as to the proprietory of the conviction, desired the case to be argued before the 15 judges, and on the 2nd December, 1854, it was argued before Jervis, C. J., Pollock, C. B., Parke, B., Maule, J., Wightman, J., Erle, J., Platt, B., Martin, B., and Crompton, J., and again on the 3rd of February last, before Jervis, C. J., Parke, B., Maule, J., Wightman, J., Creswell, J., Erle, J., Platt, B., Williams, J., Martin, B., and Crompton, J.—Mr. Bulwer appeared in support of the conviction, and Mr. Bodkin, Mr. Clerk, and Mr. J. H. Mills on behalf of the Defendant. The Judges took time to consider, and on July the 9th, Mr. Baron Parke delivered their judgment, affirming the conviction on the last three counts. The defendant will, therefore, have to appear before the Recorder at the next October Sessions to receive judgment.”
July 25th.—One hundred and thirty ladies and gentlemen had attended the Regatta Ball at the Town Hall, among whom were—the Mayor and Mrs. Palmer, Lord Hastings, Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart., M.P., Lieut.-Col. Mason, Captains Longe, Markham Gay, and other Officers of the East Norfolk Militia, &c. Howlett’s band attended, and dancing was kept up until 4.30.
July 28th.—The Grand Jury had found a true bill against Messrs. R. Ferrier, sen., and R. Ferrier, jun., for assault upon John William de Caux, and it was stated that the case would be tried at the next Assizes.
Aug. 4th.—The Mayor had presided at a meeting called to consider the “Small Tenements Act.”
Eighty-five boats engaged in the Mackerel Fishery had taken fish to the value of £27,994.
Aug. 18th.—All hope of raising the “Racehorse,” which was sunk at the Regatta, had been abandoned. The attempt to do so had cost £150.
Aug. 22nd.—C. J. Palmer, Esq., Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart., M.P., and Captain D. Lane had acted as Stewards of the Races, and 6,000 persons had been brought to the sports by rail.
Between £170 and £180 had been raised by a bazaar for the Congregational Chapel, King Street.
Aug. 25th.—Mr. E. H. L. Preston had had the small bone of his arm broken whilst endeavouring to quell a disturbance which had arisen between some of the Artillery Militiamen.
Eighty ladies and gentlemen had attended the Race Ball.
Aug. 29th.—Mr. J. H. Tillett had produced the “Bench Warrant” for the apprehension of the Messrs. Ferrier for the assault upon Mr. J. W. de Caux, reporter to the Mercury and Norfolk News; bail was placed at £100 and two securities of £50 in each case.
Sept. 8th.—150 men of the Horse Artillery had been encamped on the North Denes, under the command of Captain Mountain and three Lieutenants.
Sept. 12th.—These troops had been reviewed on the South Denes in the presence of several thousands of persons.
Sept. 15th.—The news of the evacuation of the Southern part of Sebastopol by the Russians had been received by the general public with incredulity, they saying “too good news to be true.”
Sept. 22nd.—A hare had taken to the sea, and was picked up by a person who went after it in a boat; having killed it, he sold it for 2s. 6d.
Oct. 3rd.—Sunday had been a day of thanksgiving for the success of the allied armies in the Crimea.
Oct. 10th.—The “Scampo,” a Russian prize, had been brought into the Harbour.
At the Quarter Sessions there was another discussion between the Recorder and Mr. Steward on the one hand and the Visiting Justices on the other side, as to the validity of the appointment of the Rev. G. Hills as Chaplain to the Gaol.
John Eagleton had been sentenced to three months’ imprisonment.
Oct. 17th.—The Liberals claimed a gain of 44 on the Municipal Revision, when Mr. Costerton appeared for the Liberal, and Mr. Cufaude for the Tory, party.
Oct. 20th.—A very brisk corn trade was being carried on, vessels coming in light to load with corn for France and Holland.
Robert Steward, Esq., had been fined 20s. and costs for obstructing the Quay-head.
Oct. 27th.—The East Suffolk Railway was projected.
In 1855, 258,121 quarters of corn had been shipped at this port.
The “Hopton Harriers” had held their first meet at the Kennel at Hopton. Mr. W. Jex provided luncheon. The next meet was to be at Haddiscoe.
Oct. 31st.—Messrs. Beeching and Son had launched a beautiful lifeboat for the Gorleston beachmen.
Nov. 3rd.—Only two Wards had been contested. The returns were:—
St.Nicholas’ Ward. | |
W. Worship (C) | 405 |
J. B. Hilton (C) | 405 |
Henry Danby-Palmer (L) | 262 |
John Mainprice (L) | 262 |
RegentWard. | |
R. D. Barber (C) | 224 |
R. R. B. Norman (C) | 224 |
John Clowes (L) | 159 |
John Fish (L) | 159 |
The names of the other re-elected Councillors are not given.
Four gun-boats had come into the Roads from the Baltic.
Nov. 10th.—The Mayor of Norwich had given a grand ball, in St. Andrew’s Hall; Mr., Mrs. and the Misses Marsh, the Officers of the East Norfolk Militia and Norfolk Artillery Militia, the Misses Steward, the Mayor of Yarmouth and Mrs. Palmer, Mr. W. Danby-Palmer, Mr. F. Danby-Palmer, and others had attended it from Yarmouth.
Nov. 14th.—The “Meander,” 44 gun frigate, was at anchor off the Monument.
Nov. 28th.—Lieut. Matthew Gooda, late of the East Norfolk Militia, had died at Southtown, aged 76.
Dec. 1st.—The dinner, commemorative of the re-election of C. J. Palmer, Esq., to the office of Chief Magistrate, had been held at the Town Hall. His Worship was supported on his right by the Hon. H. Byng, Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart., M.P., Lieut.-Colonel Astley, the Rev. George Hills, and J. Harcourt, Esq., and on his left by the Recorder (N. Palmer, Esq.), Sir H. J. Stracey, Bart., M.P., the Mayor of Norwich and Captain Broadhead, R.N. The Mayor’s guests on this occasion numbered upwards of 100 persons.
George Danby-Palmer, Esq., had presided at a meeting called for the purpose of promoting a national testimonial to Admiral Sir Charles Napier, K.C.B.
Dec. 8th.—Mr. Wright (of the Adelphi) had been performing at the Theatre.
Dec. 12th.—The Mayor had attended the magnificent reception given to the King of Sardinia by the Corporation of London.
Dec. 22nd.—The stormy easterly winds had driven several vessels on to the Beach.
On the north of the Jetty were four brigs, viz., the “Friends,” of London; the “George,” of Yarmouth; the “Boa,” of Colchester; and another. And on the south, one brig, a sloop (the “Telegraph,”) and a billy-boy.
Dec. 26th.—The Norfolk Artillery Militia had marched into the Southtown Barracks under the command of Colonel Astley.
The following Magistrates had been selected to hear salvage cases:—George Danby-Palmer, R. Steward, R. Hammond, J. G. Plummer, J. W. Shelly, B. Fenn, E. H. L. Preston, and W. H. Palmer, Esqs.
Dec. 29th.—The Hon. Colonel Vereker was spoken of as a colleague for Sir E. H. K. Lacon, should Mr. Rumbold resign his seat, but this rumour as to Mr. Rumbold’s resignation, the Globe stated on authority, was without foundation.
At the Quarter Sessions, a conviction of R. Steward, Esq., by the Justices, for obstructing the quay, was quashed with costs.
The question of the legality of the Rev. G. Hills’ appointment as chaplain to the gaol was again considered by the Recorder and Justices.
N.B.—The file for the Year 1856 is missing.