1868.
Jan. 1st.—A. Brogden, Esq., had given 20 tons of coals to the poor of the borough.
Jan. 8th.—“Fenian scare.” The Magistrates had held a private Meeting, which was attended by Major Jones and Captain Scovell, (96th Regiment) with a view to adopting measures for the more efficient protection of property within the borough.
The ammunition stores had been removed from the Batteries to the Barracks and the Military had paraded and marched to Church with muskets and side arms.
Jan. 11th.—The “United Brothers” Lodge, A.I.O.F., had held its 4th annual festival in St. John’s Schoolroom.
Jan. 15th.—Mr. Matthew Butcher, junr., had been appointed Consular Agent to the Italian Government at Yarmouth.
Jan. 25th.—The Norfolk and Suffolk Building Society had held its first annual general meeting, Frederick Palmer, Esq., in the chair; the report was a very favourable one, and, being laid before the meeting by Mr. L. Blake (the Secretary), was unanimously adopted.
Jan. 29th.—A fatal fire had occurred at Mr. Pigg’s shop and dwelling-house in the Market Row. Mrs. Pigg and two children had been burned to death, and damage sustained to the estimated amount of some £3,000.
Feb. 12th.—The lugger “Flying Fish” had struck upon a sunken wreck, and immediately foundered.
The “North Sand” had dried to a very considerable extent.
Feb. 19th.—There had been a fracas in the hunting field at Toft Monks, consequent upon Mr. Colman causing a hare to be shot during a run of the Norfolk and Suffolk Harriers, and thereupon having been assaulted by one of the sportsmen.
Feb. 26th.—Contains the account of the presentation, at the Cape, of a watch and address to Captain F. Diver, of the “Roman.”
March 7th.—Mr. S. Aldred had been appointed treasurer to the Race Committee (vice Mr. C. Steward, deceased.)
Mr. C. C. Newcomb, post-master, had died.
March 11th.—The Quarter Sessions could not be held, as neither the Recorder, or a deputy on his behalf, appeared on the day fixed for holding this Court.
“The Cigar Ship.—This novel specimen of marine architecture, known as the ‘cigar ship,’ put into this harbour on Friday last, and has since continued to be an object of great curiosity among our seafaring population. The vessel, which is named the ‘Walter S. Winans,’ was built by the firm of Messrs. Winans, American contractors, and is stated to be on an experimental cruise, with the view of thoroughly testing her sea-going qualities. She is fitted with a screw propeller, the fans of which are entirely submerged. Her engines are of 35 horse power, but can be worked up to 50, and it is stated she has attained a speed of 14 miles an hour. The peculiarity of her build gives her a singular appearance, her cone-shaped bow projecting for some distance clear of the water, while her stern is more depressed. This gives her a very unsightly look, and it is evident that her builders have sacrificed everything in her construction to attain a high rate of speed, her berthing and general accommodation being of an inferior character compared with other sea-going steamers.”
April 4th.—The question of purchasing the Ferries had been considered by the Town Council, the price asked for them being £9,500, and the Committee of the Council had recommended the purchase, but on division the motion to do this was lost by 11 to 10 votes.
April 8th—Messrs. Ellis, Pestell, Skoulding, and Harbord had been re-appointed overseers.
April 15th.—The following Guardians had been elected:—North Ward: Messrs. Nightingale, Neave, and Buston. Market Ward: Messrs. Laws, Aldred, and Fenn. Regent Ward: Messrs. Worship, Barber, and Diver. St. George’s Ward: Messrs. Scott, Foreman, and Palmer. Nelson Ward: Messrs. Woolverton, Moore, Bracey, and Clowes.
April 22nd.—Large numbers of codling, plaice, and whiting were being taken in the dykes near the Acle New Road. It was supposed that these salt-water fish were left there by the floods of the previous December, when the Breydon Wall had been broken.
May 2nd.—The “Everette” had foundered at her anchors in the Roads.
The Fish Wharf was to be extended 1,100 feet, for which work Mr. Parmenter’s tender of £1,375 had been accepted.
May 23rd.—The property “without the Walls” had been for the first time assessed to the land tax.
May 27th.—The Queen’s Birthday had been observed as a general holiday, and a salute of 21 guns fired from the South Battery by the Norfolk Artillery Militia, under the command of Colonel Lord Suffield.
May 30th,—That Regiment had been inspected by Colonel Knox.
June 6th.—Mr. Shuckford, Master of the Workhouse, had died.
June 10th.—A meeting, convened by Messrs. O. Diver and H. Brand, had been held for the purpose of organising an opposition Steam-packet Service.
June 27th.—The following had taken part in an Amateur performance at the Regent Hall for the benefit of the Hospital:—Miss Lawes, Miss T. Lawes, Messrs. Colley, Meadows, Lawes, Cattermole, Fenn, Watson, Godfrey, Cooke, Spence, H. Baker, J. Franklin, and Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Young.
July 4th.—Mr. and Mrs. Blyth had been elected Master and Matron of the Workhouse.
The British Medical Association had held a meeting at the Town Hall, Dr. Vores in the chair; the following Yarmouth medical men were also present:—Dr. Macleod, R.N., Dr. Smyth, and Messrs. J. C. Smith, Frederick Palmer, Charles Palmer, D. Meadows, T. Moxon, R. R. B. Norman, Bately and C. B. Rose.
July 11th.—Fifty thousand mackerel had been landed in one day and sold at from 10s. to 12s. per 120.
July 22nd.—Messrs. E. R. Wodehouse and R. T. Gurdon had been accepted as Liberal, and Sir E. H. K. Lacon and Major Walpole as Tory, candidates for the then newly-constituted division of North Norfolk.
Messrs. C. Woolverton, E. R. Aldred, C. E. Bartram, and R. D. Barber had been “secretly” appointed Justices by the Lord Chancellor.
July 30th.—Contains the following as to the coming contest:—“The Liberal candidates are announced to address the electors at the Angel Hotel, Market Place, on Wednesday evening next. Mr. Wodehouse arrived on Saturday last, and there is little doubt of both the candidates receiving an enthusiastic welcome on their first public appearance before the Liberal portion of the constituency. The selection of Messrs. Wodehouse and Gurdon for the Northern Division of the County has been regarded with general satisfaction here, even among Liberals of the more advanced school of politics, and the coming contest promises to see the Liberal party of this borough thoroughly united and more than usually perfect in its electoral organisation.”
Aug. 1st.—The Liberal electors had been addressed by their candidates in the Long Room, Angel Hotel, J. Clowes, Esq., presiding, and among those present were Sir T. Beevor, Bart., Messrs. J. Scott, F. Palmer, P. Pullyn, C. E. Bartram, H. Brand, W. T. Fisher, Revs. Shelley, Tritton, &c.
Mr. Simmons had made a successful balloon ascent from the Victoria Gardens.
Aug. 5th.—The Tories had held a meeting at the “Star,” E. H. L. Preston, Esq., in the chair, and amongst those present were Messrs. T. Brightwen, I. Preston, W. Holt, E. H. H. Combe, C. Diver, Captain Dods, J. C. Smith, W. J. Foreman, G. S. Shingles, R. Gorell, T. George, B. Dumbleton, J. T. Bracey, J. Bracey, F. Ferrier, H. Cowl, B. Jay, C. Preston, E. Stagg, T. Todd, T. W. Doughty, J. Bunn, J. Cooper, J. Buston, J. G. Ellis, G. Beck, E. Boult, W. Mabson, J. H. Bly, T. C. Foreman, Burgess, &c., &c.
Aug. 8th.—At the Regatta the “Ariel” (T. M. Read), won the prize for schooner yachts, and the “Red Rover” (Nightingale) and the “Belvidere” (H. Teasdel), the other yacht prizes. Mr. I. Preston acted as secretary, Messrs. J. Clowes and Petts as umpires, Mr. F. Harmer as starter, and Mr. J. Cobb as time-keeper on this occasion.
Aug. 19th.—Gorleston had been made one of the polling places for East Suffolk.
Aug. 29th.—The Races had been held, the Stewards being the Mayor (W. Worship, Esq.), Lord Hastings, Baron Rothschild, J. Goodson, Esq., M.P., and F. Barne, Esq.
Sep. 5th.—A number of persons had been victimized by the advertisement of a “Trip to Cromer by Steamer,” which was to call for them at the Jetty; no steamboat, however, appeared, and the promoters ran off with the passengers’ fares.
Sep. 12th.—Messrs. Wodehouse and Gurdon, with Mr. McCullagh Torrens, M.P., had addressed the electors from the Angel Hotel; amongst those present were Sir Thomas Beevor, Bart., and Messrs. J. J. Colman, R. Hammond, Bircham, Rev. Shelley, J. Scott, J. Clowes, C. E. Bartram, F. Palmer, F. Danby-Palmer, J. Mainprice, G. Blake, L. Blake, S. C. Blake, J. Fellows, A. Davie, W. T. Fisher, S. Page, J. Humphries, D. R. Fowler, W. J. Brand, W. Livingston, &c., &c.
Sep. 19th.—Dr. Abdy had held the County Revision Court at the Tolhouse, when Mr. I. O. Howard Taylor and Mr. F. Danby-Palmer appeared for the Liberals and Mr. C. Diver for the Conservatives.
Sept. 23rd.—The Liberals claimed a gain of 81 on the revision, and it was stated “that great credit was due to the Liberal agents, Messrs. I. O. Taylor (Norwich) and F. Danby-Palmer (Yarmouth) for the care bestowed in preparing the claim and objection lists.”
Sept. 26th.—The B Battery of the C Brigade, R.H.A., under Colonel Bishop, had arrived at the Southtown Barracks; it was composed of 180 men, with 140 horses, and six nine-pound Armstrong guns.
The “Sultana” (brig of 301 tons) had been launched from Messrs. Fellows’ yard for Messrs. Stone and Company.
Oct. 7th.—The Mayor, with Messrs. W. T. Fisher and R. B. Ellis as assessors, had held the Municipal Revision Court at the Tolhouse, when Mr. F. Danby-Palmer appeared for the Liberals and Mr. C. Diver for the Conservatives.
Oct. 10th.—The following were the retiring Councillors:—North Ward: Messrs. J. Mainprice and J. H. Bly. Market Ward: Messrs. F. Worship and C. C. Aldred. Regent Ward: Messrs. C. B. Rose and E. Stagg. St. George’s Ward: Messrs. J. C. Smith and J. Scott. Nelson Ward: Messrs. C. E. Bartram and H. H. Barber. St. Andrew’s Ward: Messrs. E. H. L. Preston and H. Teasdel.
Oct. 17th.—A vestry meeting had been held with a view to the removal of the organ from the west end of St. Nicholas’ Church, the Rev. H. Nevill presided, and Messrs. E. H. Preston, W. Mabson, C. S. D. Steward, R. Hammond, and C. Cory took part in the proceedings.
There was a glut of herring, and prices “ruled low.”
Oct. 21st.—This state of affairs continued, and prices only averaged from £7 to £8 per last.
Oct. 28th.—There had been heavy gales, with loss of life at sea, which had interrupted the fishing.
Nov. 4th.—James Coleby had escaped from the Borough Gaol.
The polling in the contested Wards had terminated as follows:—
RegentWard. | |
E. Stagg (Con.) | 177 |
J. Burton (Con) | 128 |
T. Todd (Ind.) | 92 |
MarketWard. | |
C. C. Aldred (Con.) | 174 |
E. Fyson (Con.) | 158 |
J. F. Neave (Lib.) | 133 |
J. G. Overend (Lib.) | 119 |
St.Andrew’s Ward. | |
J. P. Baumgartner (Lib.) | 276 |
F. Dendy (Lib.) | 274 |
H. Teasdel (Con.) | 173 |
R. Dumbleton (Con.) | 176 |
The Liberals thus gaining two seats at Gorleston.
Nov. 7th.—Mr. Lane (Rate Collector) and Mr. R. Page (Bill poster), had been before the Justices in consequence of a row arising out of the election.
Nov. 14th.—At the Council meeting, S. Nightingale, Esq., had been on the motion of Mr. C. C. Aldred, seconded by Mr. Woolverton, elected Mayor.
And Mr. H. Teasdel (the recently defeated candidate at Southtown) was appointed an Alderman in the place of Mr. John Brown.
Nov. 18th.—There had been heavy gales from the N.N.W., and a schooner had been driven through the Britannia Pier.
Nov. 25th.—The nomination for North Norfolk had taken place at Aylsham, when the Rev. H. Lombe proposed, and Mr. E. H. L. Preston seconded, Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart.; Mr. H. R. Upcher proposed, and Mr. J. W. Shelly seconded, Mr. Edmond Robert Wodehouse; Mr. E. Fellowes, M.P., proposed, and Mr. R. Leaman seconded, the Hon. Frederick Walpole; Mr. Bulwer proposed, and Mr. Richard England seconded, Mr. Robert T. Gurdon; and the High Sheriff (Lord Ranelagh) having declared the show of hands equally divided between the candidates, a poll was demanded on behalf of all of them.
Nov. 28th.—The poll had been declared as under:—
| Walpole | 2,642 |
| Lacon | 2,574 |
| Wodehouse | 2,237 |
| Gurdon | 2,081 |
At Yarmouth it was stated that:—
“the proceedings throughout the day in connection with the polling for this part of the district were characterised by considerable excitement. The Conservatives from the opening of the poll took a prominent position, and as hour by hour passed away their majority steadily increased, until by three o’clock they were, according to their published returns, nearly 400 ahead. No statement of the poll was made during the day by the Liberals, but every exertion was made to reduce the Conservative majority. Cabs and carriages bearing placards of “Vote for Wodehouse and Gurdon” were dashing about in all directions, keeping up the excitement; but, despite every effort, the influence of the local candidate proved too strong to be successfully resisted, and at four the Conservative declaration of numbers showed the following result:—
| Lacon | 948 |
| Walpole | 890 |
| Wodehouse | 505 |
| Gurdon | 469 |
The polling at Ormesby for the Hundreds of East and West Flegg was also, as might have been anticipated, greatly in favour of the Conservative candidates. Despite these adverse returns, the Liberal agents were sanguine of better results in other parts of the district, but their majorities at Cromer, Wells, and Holt, failed to make any material change, so far as the issue of the election was concerned, and it became at length apparent that the hopes of the Liberal majority in North Norfolk were at an end. Notwithstanding the excitement engendered by the contest, the election was conducted throughout with great good humour. During the day the streets and approaches to the polling places were thronged by persons who amused themselves by cheering and shouting in favour of their respective candidates, but there was, during the afternoon, an entire absence of the drunkenness and violence that characterised previous borough elections. If the numbers polled be examined, it will be found that in the county (excluding Yarmouth) Mr. Wodehouse and Mr. Gurdon are in a slight majority. It was in Yarmouth where the majority was obtained, and which, we hear, will yet be found to have been obtained by illegal practices.”
Dec. 12th.—Mr. Nutman (Relieving Officer for the North District) had died.
It was alleged that an “aged imbecile pauper,” had been taken out of Rollesby Workhouse by a Guardian to vote for the Tory candidates.
Dec. 19th.—The directors of the Britannia Pier Company had decided to hand over that structure to Mr. Isaac in consideration of his taking over the mortgage upon it.
Admiralty Jurisdiction had been conferred on the Yarmouth County Court.
Dec. 30th, contains the following notice of the death of Richard Ferrier, Esq.:—“We regret to announce the death of Mr. R. Ferrier, who expired at his residence, Trafalgar Road, on Sunday morning, after a protracted illness. The deceased gentleman represented St. George’s Ward for many years in the Town Council, though for some time past his ill health had incapacitated him from the discharge of his public duties. He was a man of sound judgment and excellent business habits, and his opinion on all practical matters had great weight with the Council. Mr. Ferrier was in politics a Conservative, and in his younger days was distinguished by the zeal and energy with which, at all times, he worked for his party. In respect to his memory the flags were hoisted half-mast high on the Town Hall.”
1869.
Jan. 2nd.—The average price of herring during the fishing had been £8 17s. 6d. per last, and the money thus expended had amounted to £146,000.
Jan. 6th.—Mr. J. D. Hayes had been elected one of the Relieving Officers in the place of Mr. Nutman deceased.
John Coleby alias “Jack Sheppard,” who had recently broken out of gaol, had been re-captured.
Jan. 16th.—There had been a contest in St. George’s Ward to fill the vacancy caused by Mr. R. Ferrier’s death; when the following was the poll:—
| Mr. T. W. Doughty (Con.) | 104 |
| Mr. H. Hammond (Lib.) | 82 |
Jan. 27th.—A faculty had been obtained for the removal of St. Nicholas’ organ from the west end of that church to the North Transept; this had been strongly opposed by Mr. E. H. L. Preston.
Feb. 17th.—There had been severe gales from the Eastward, causing much damage to shipping.
Feb. 21st.—Mr. John L. Cufaude (Clerk to the Guardians) had been arrested in respect of a claim “for which (as he stated to that Board) he had no right in justice to be arrested”; subsequently he made himself a bankrupt, when it appeared that he had been involved in racing transactions, where he had figured as Mr. De La-Cè.
Feb. 27th—The boiler of the “Bold Buccleugh,” Hull steamer, had exploded while that vessel was at her Yarmouth Wharf.
March 13th.—Mr. Williams, of Cardiff, had been given the “St. Nicholas’ Church Contract,” although his price (£4,755) exceeded that of Mr. Hood (Norwich), which was £4,194.
The following gentlemen (out of 27 candidates) had been elected members of the newly-formed Gorleston Board of Health:—Messrs. Dendy, Baumgartner, Gooda, J. Hammond, Beevor, Gambling, Teasdel, W. Nelson and J. Nelson.
Mr. Chipperfield (the late Secretary) had been presented with a testimonial by the Yarmouth Building Society.
Two otters had, during a run of the harriers, been captured in a field near Thrigby Hall.
March 20th.—Mr. S. B. Cory had been elected Clerk to the Gorleston Board at a salary of £50 per annum, and Mr. F. Dendy chairman of that body.
April 7th.—The following Guardians had been elected:—North Ward: S. Nightingale, J. T. Buston, and J. F. Neave. Market Ward: C. C. Aldred and W. Laws (with a tie between J. A. Norman and R. Tunbridge). Regent Ward: W. Worship, R. D. Barber and C. Diver. St. George’s Ward: J. W. de Caux, J. Scott, and J. Rivett. Nelson Ward: C. Woolverton, J. T. Bracey, J. H. Harrison, and G. W. Moore.
Messrs. C. S. D. Steward and E. R. Aldred had been re-elected Churchwardens.
April 14th.—Mr. J. A. Norman had been seated as a Guardian for the Market Ward; there were then 9 Conservatives and 7 Liberals upon the Board.
The Rifle Corps had held a Church parade.
April 17th.—William Danby-Palmer, Esq., had accepted the command of the local batteries of Artillery Volunteers.
Major Orde had presided at the soireé of the Norfolk and Suffolk Building Society held in the Corn Hall.
May 1st.—The Rifle Corps had given a series of amateur dramatic representations at the Drill Hall, in which Messrs. Wiltshire, Youell, Applewaite, Giles, Watson, Chipperfield, and others had taken part.
The Duke’s Head had been purchased by Mr. Davey for £1,520.
May 12th.—The Officers of the East Norfolk Militia had given a ball to 200 persons at the Town Hall.
June 5th.—Mr. E. H. L. Preston had presided at a meeting called for the purpose of presenting a testimonial to Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart., M.P. Captain Dods, and Messrs. William Mabson, William Danby-Palmer, C. Woolverton, R. D. Barber, and Dumbleton took part in the proceedings.
June 12th.—Mr. Charles Cory (Town Clerk) had died of gastric fever in Italy in his 57th year.
June 16th.—Messrs. Charles J. Palmer, C. Diver, and H. R. Harmer were candidates for the office thus rendered vacant.
June 23rd.—At the Council meeting Mr. C. Diver (being the only person nominated), was unanimously elected Town Clerk, and a vacancy in the Aldermen being thus caused, the following voting took place:—
| Mr. J. H. Orde | 25 |
| Mr. E. H. L. Preston | 3 |
July 14th.—The 1st Norfolk Artillery Volunteers (under command of Captain W. Danby-Palmer) had attended St. Peter’s Church.
July 24th.—The following appointments had been made in the 2nd Norfolk Rifle Volunteers:—W. P. P. Matthews to be Captain, B. Wilson to be Lieutenant, William H. Palmer to be Ensign, W. E. Wyllys to be Surgeon, and T. W. Doughty to be Hon. Assistant Quarter-Master.
July 31st.—At the Council meeting, Mr. C. C. Aldred was very abusive to Mr. J. C. Smith during the election of a Haven Commissioner in the place of the late Mr. Cory; the voting was as follows:—For Mr. W. Worship: The Mayor, and Messrs. Purdy, Shingles, Orde, Watling, Bunn, Teasdel, Worship, Hilton, Barnby, Nuthall, E. R. Aldred, C. C. Aldred, R. D. Barber, Tomlinson, Foreman, Doughty, Jay, Woolverton, Bartram, and Steward; total 21. For Mr. E. H. L. Preston: Messrs. Youell, Harmer, Laws, Mabson, Bly, Fyson, Wright, George, Stagg, J. Burton, W. D. Palmer, Smith, Scott, Veale, J. T. Bracey, Stone, Barber, Richmond, Gooda, Brand, Dendy, and Baumgartner; total 22. Absent, Sir E. H. K. Lacon, and Messrs. Mainprice, J. Bracey, Gourlay and Shuckford.
Aug. 4th.—The late P. Stead, Esq., had bequeathed £1,000 to the Hospital.
Aug. 28th.—The corner-stone of the Grammar School on Trafalgar Road had been laid by S. Nightingale, Esq. (Mayor).
Sept. 11th.—Upwards of 300 lasts of herring had been landed at the Fish Wharf, and prices ranged from £10 to £25 per last.
Sept. 25th.—Dr. Hills (Bishop of Columbia) had addressed two public meetings at the Town Hall, and preached at St. Nicholas’ in aid of that Mission; the total sum thus realised was £64 11s.
Oct. 2nd.—Mr. R. H. Palmer (Revising Barrister) had been holding Courts at Yarmouth, Ormesby, and Gorleston, when Messrs. C. Diver, F. Danby-Palmer, and F. W. Ferrier were the agents appearing before him.
Mr. Wm. Jas. Palmer had been elected House Surgeon at the Hospital in the place of Mr. Colley resigned.
Nov. 6th.—The following had been the result of the Municipal Election:—
St.Nicholas’ Ward. | |
Mr. S. Nightingale (Con.) | 266 |
Mr. E. H. L. Preston (Con.) | 228 |
Mr. J. F. Neave (Lib.) | 176 |
Mr. J. E. Barnby (Con.) | 246 |
Mr. Nuthall (Con.) | 209 |
Mr. J. A. Norman (Lib.) | 195 |
RegentWard. | |
Mr. T. George (Con.) | 158 |
Mr. W. Wright (Con.) | 156 |
Mr. F. Danby-Palmer (Lib.) | 82 |
Mr. John Clowes (Lib.) | 72 |
St.George’s Ward. | |
Mr. J. W. de Caux (Lib.) | 156 |
Mr. W. J. Foreman (Con.) | 151 |
Mr. Chas. Palmer (Con.) | 137 |
Mr. H. Hammond (Lib.) | 132 |
NelsonWard. | |
Messrs. Veale and Bracey (Con.) unopposed. | |
St.Andrew’s Ward. | |
Messrs. Gooda and Richmond (Con.)unopposed. | |
Nov. 10th.—Charles Woolverton, Esq., had been unanimously elected Mayor.
Owing to the recent gales, the following fishing smacks were reported as missing:—The “Prince Albert,” “Thomas and Fanny,” “Armada,” “Echo,” “Royal Diadem,” “Lord Raglan,” “Eugene,” “Garland,” and “Pursuit.”
1,500 wind-bound vessels had sailed through the Roads northwards.
Dec. 4th.—The Justices had dismissed a summons for payment of rate in consequence of the action of the Overseers in not placing the rated person on the Municipal list, Mr. F. Danby-Palmer arguing the case for the ratepayer, and the Vestry-Clerk appearing for the Overseers. As this raised a large question on the Register, it had caused some excitement in political circles, and further action was threatened.