1855.
Jan. 1st. The town and neighbourhood visited with one of the highest tides witnessed for many years. The wind blew hard from N.W., and the moon was at the full. Some parts of Southtown were inundated, as also the North Quay, reaching to the Laughing Image Corner. It reached the north and south terraces on the beach, and a large boat floated near the Holkham Steps.
July 28th. First number of the Yarmouth Free Press published; enlarged January 19th, 1856; and name altered to Yarmouth Independent, June 27th, 1857. (See August 14th, 1881.)
Aug. 11th. Collision between the Dover and Calais mail steamer “Vivid” and the schooner “Henry,” of Yarmouth, by which the latter was run down in Dover Roads.
Aug. 12th. Wesleyan Reform Chapel at Caister opened.
Aug. 20th. Affray with Militiamen. Several influential gentlemen sustained severe injuries.
Aug. Laing’s Map of Yarmouth published. It took fifteen months to complete, and cost £600. (See March, 1856.)
Sept. 5th. Brig “Venilia” launched from Mr. Rust’s yard.
Sept. 25th. Address voted by the Town Council to the Queen, on the fall of Sebastopol.
Sept. 30th. National Thanksgiving Day for the successful issue of the Crimean war.
Oct. 3rd. Three French gun boats came into the harbour.
Oct. 6th. Russian schooner “Sampo” captured by H.M.S. “Tartar,” and brought into our harbour.
Oct. 25th. Loss of the steamer “Isle of Thanet,” off Yarmouth, and three lives.
Oct. 26th. Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart., entertained the East Norfolk Militia at Hopton.
Oct. The New Cemetery walled-in, and consecrated by Bishop Spencer, July 16th, 1856. (See Sept. 7th, 1876.)
Nov. 3rd. Two war-ships, “Phœnix” and “Mæander,” anchored in the Roadstead.
Nov. 28th. Miss Fanny Kemble read Shakespeare’s Julius Cæsar at the Corn Hall.
Dec. 17th to 20th. Heavy gales; fifteen vessels driven ashore on the Beach.
Yarmouth Water Works Company completed laying the water-pipes throughout the town, and opened the works at Ormesby.
Deaths: Jan. 25th, Rev. Lithgoe, minister of the Roman Catholic Church.—April 24th, Charles Day, Esq.
The Rev. C. Smyth, formerly a curate of St. Nicholas’ Church, ascended to the summit of Monte Rosa and Monte Blanc.
The Yarmouth mackerel fishery realised a sum of £20,000, and 14,045 tons of fish of all kinds were sent from this town by rail. 20,248 barrels of herrings shipped at Yarmouth for foreign ports.
The Dene Well, Albion Road, covered up, and the ancient mode of drawing water replaced by a pump, which was ordered to be removed in Nov., 1876, on account of the impurity of the water.
Yarmouth Elocution Society established.