1844.
May 1st. Railway between Norwich and Yarmouth opened, and the event was marked with great festivity and rejoicing. Messrs. Grissell and Peto contracted for the work at £10,000 per mile. Previous to this, steam packets plied twice a day on the Yare, between Norwich and Yarmouth.
Oct. Fish Market erected and opened on the site of the old one, but removed to widen the road.
Nov. 18th. Mrs. Harriet Chandler murdered in her grocery shop in Howard Street by Samuel Yarham, who was tried at Norwich on Mar. 27th, 1845, and executed there on April 11th. The prosecution cost £542. (See Jan. 30th, 1882.)
Dec. 13th. Paget’s Brewery, North Quay, pulled down.
Rev. Henry Mackenzie, incumbent of Bermondsey, appointed to the incumbency of St. Nicholas’ Church, but resigned in July, 1848, having the vicarage of St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields, Westminster, conferred upon him. On the 15th of February, 1870, the Town Council voted an address of congratulation on his being appointed Suffragan Bishop of Nottingham. This was the first appointment of a Suffragan Bishop in England for 200 years.
The Naval Hospital converted into a Lunatic Asylum. The building was re-modelled in 1868, and 37 new wards added, by Mr. G. Tyrrell. 80 inmates were received the same year (Sept.) from Haslar, making a total of 169. (See 1811.)
The Mackerel exported realised this year £14,500.
Gorleston Museum, containing many works of art, curiosities, antiquities, &c., established.
Her Majesty Queen Victoria passed through the Roadstead, on her way from Scotland, within a short distance of the shore. The Beach was lined with spectators, and several pleasure boats went off close to the Royal yacht to testify their loyalty.