1863.
Jan. 1st. Assembly Rooms opened by a company. On Feb. 13th, 1870, the Billiard Rooms were destroyed by fire; damage, £700.
Jan. 20th. Smack “Baron Campbell,” belonging to Mr. Yaxley, foundered in a heavy gale. The crew, after battling with the fury of the waves for 13 hours, and being nearly exhausted at the pumps, were gallantly rescued by the crew of the smack “Greyhound.”
March 10th. Marriage of Prince Albert Edward with Princess Alexandra of Denmark, at Windsor. The display of enthusiasm at Yarmouth somewhat resembled the Volunteer Review of June 19th, 1862, with this difference—the town in the evening was brilliantly illuminated, and a display of fireworks took place in the Market Place. Nearly 600 Volunteers were entertained by Sir E. Lacon to a sumptuous repast at his stores on the North Quay. 4,669 school children were regaled with a tea at the town’s expense, which, with all other expenses, incurred an outlay of £259. The subscriptions amounted to £322.
March. 19th. The Yarmouth Gas Bill Clauses to incorporate the Company, and make further provisions for lighting the town, were agreed to by a Committee of the House of Commons. The bill was read a third time, and passed March 23rd.
March. The Rev. John Beazor ordained as Deacon by the Bishop of Tasmania.
April 18th. A fine otter captured on the Hall Quay.
April. The Royal Marriage Celebration Committee presented R. Steward, Esq., and Capt. W. J. Foreman with a silver medal as a souvenir of the eventful occasion, and in recognition of their valuable services.
May 12th. Sardinian barque “Mississippi,” with 1,000 tons of cargo, sprang a leak and was beached, but got off again by the Gorleston boatmen for £300, when (on the 16th) she stranded on the Bar. In June she was dry-docked in the yard of Messrs. Fellows and Sons.
May 26th. Charles Marsh, a nigger acrobat, went up the Nelson Monument, got outside, and after clambering up the caryatides to the figure of Britannia, performed some of his gambols, but accidentally missing his footing, fell headlong from the trident to the ground, a distance of 140 ft., and was killed.
May 31st. First service for the ordaining of priests and deacons held at St. Nicholas’ Church by the Bishop of Norwich. Five ordained as deacons and four as priests.
June 17th. The Norfolk Agricultural Society held their Annual Show of Stock and Implements for the first time at Yarmouth. The prizes offered were £558 in money, £53 in silver medals, and £37 in four silver cups.
June 24th. Bishop Hills returned to England upon a visit from British Columbia, and preached at St. Nicholas’ Church, Aug. 16th.
June 25th. Mr. N. Clowes, Secretary to the Young Men’s Association, was presented with “Routledge’s Edition of the Poets” (19 vols.), as a mark of esteem.
June 25th. The Yarmouth Gas Bill read a third time and passed, and received the Royal assent June 29th.
June. David Falcke, James Scott, and William Briggs, Esqs., were approved as Magistrates by the Lord Chancellor.
July 1st. The barque “Egbert,” 400 tons burthen, launched from Messrs. Fellows and Sons’ yard.
July 6th. Two men accidentally killed by the falling of a hatchway belonging to the wherry “Rigby,” while at Burgh Water Frolic with a freight of 90 or 100 pleasure-seekers, many of whom were precipitated into the water.
July 14th. The Channel Squadron, under the command of Admiral Dacres, visited Yarmouth Roads. It comprised the “Edgar,” 71 guns; “Black Prince,” 41; “Warrior,” 40; “Liverpool,” 39; “Royal Oak,” 35; “Emerald,” 35; “Resistance,” 16; “Defence,” 16; and the corvette “Trinculo.” Totals—293 guns, 6,800 horse-power, and 4,799 men.
Aug. 26th. Memorial stone of the new Baptist Chapel, St. George’s Park, laid. Contract for building, £1,500.
Sept. 15th. Review on Mousehold Heath of the Norfolk Volunteers, on which occasion Corporal J. Wilshak, of Yarmouth, was presented with the Champion’s Prize (£20 and bronze medal) from the hands of Lady Suffield.
Sept. 18th. Messrs. Churchwardens Steward and Aldred presented with a silver tea service each, by members of the congregation of St. Nicholas’ Church, in testimony of their esteem. (See Nov. 23rd, 1879.)
Sept. 26th. First number of Yarmouth Chronicle published by Messrs. Steer and Godfrey.
Oct. 3rd. The cutter “Samuel and William” (60 tons), belonging to Messrs. Smith and Sons, launched, this being the first built at Runham, near the Suspension Bridge. She was built by Messrs. Winter and Pigg. The father of the latter built the yacht, “Red Rover,” the property of S. Nightingale, Esq.
Oct. Mr. C. C. Newcombe, appointed Postmaster.
Oct. A pedestrian named Elson, of Nottingham, walked for several days from Yarmouth to Lowestoft and back three times each day—a distance of sixty miles a-day.
Nov. 2nd. The Board of Health decided to borrow £3,000 for extending the Parade south, on the suggestion of C. J. Palmer, Esq.
Nov. 9th. R. Steward, Esq., elected as Mayor. On March 10th, 1864, Mr. Steward was presented with a testimonial, value £200, subscribed for by the town. It comprised an elegant tea and coffee service, a silver salver, and a cake basket.
Nov. 16th. The Royal Sea Fisheries Commissioners held an enquiry at the Sailors’ Home.
Nov. 20th. Destructive fire at the farm of Mr. J. Hammond, at Gorleston.
Nov. 21st. Mr. Robert Hales, the Norfolk Giant, died in Yarmouth, aged 43 years. He was born at West Somerton, May 2nd, 1820. In the prime of life his height was 7ft. 6in., and he weighed 33 stone. He measured round the chest 64in., waist 62in., thigh 36in., calf of leg 21in., across the shoulders 36in. His father was 6ft. 6in., and mother 6ft. in height. His brothers averaged 6ft. 5in., and sisters 6ft. 3in.
Nov. 29th. Rear-Admiral Sir J. H. Plumridge, K.C.B., died at Hopton. He was distinguished for many gallant services in Egypt, Denmark, Genoa, and Bomarsund. He was Knighted in 1855.
Nov. 30th. Mr. H. Panks presented with a silver watch and chain, and a book, as a mark of esteem and appreciation of his efficient services as organist, by the congregation of St. John’s Mission Room.
Nov. The Rev. W. T. Harrison presented with a handsome pocket communion service.
Nov. The lifeboat “Friend of all Nations” launched from Mr. Critton’s yard. Cost nearly £400.
Dec. 3rd. Furious gale (more disastrous than recorded May 28th, 1860), attended with loss of 17 smacks, 2 schooners, and 1 brig, belonging to Yarmouth, and all their crews; also seven other vessels lost off the coast. The total number of lives lost was 145 men and boys, leaving 73 widows and 110 orphan children. Her Majesty’s gunboat “Ruby,” one of the vessels despatched from the Humber to search for the missing smacks, was lost on Texel Beach. On the 21st, the Government sent from Sheerness the steamer “Medusa” (800 tons) to search the North Sea for missing smacks, but she returned unsuccessful. On the 28th a meeting was convened at the Town Hall by the Mayor, for relieving the sufferers, £222 being subscribed in the room, which, with other subscriptions, amounted to nearly £2,000, her Majesty heading the list with £100.
The Yarmouth College, South Quay, established; and Sutherland House School in 1875.
Dec. 8th. Case of arbitration at the Town Hall between the Corporation and the Gas Company as to the value of 10,000 square yards of land for building the new Gas Works. The Corporation demanded £7,646, but the arbitrator (Mr. Rodwell, Q.C.) awarded £4,106 15s.
Dec. 14th. The schooner “Spray” on fire, and was run ashore near the Wellington Pier. She was laden with deals, coal, and coke; valued at about £700.
Dec. 16th. Owing to the death of Major S. C. Marsh on Aug. 30th, the Artillery Volunteers presented his family with a solid silver working model of a field piece, with a miniature officer at the trail end, the whole standing on a chased silver plateau and an ebony stand, as a memento of Mr. Marsh’s connection with the Corps.
Dec. 17th. Conversazione at the Public Library, many objects of interest exhibited.
Great Yarmouth Building Society established.
Deaths: Mar. 25th, William Yetts, Esq., J.P., aged 67.—April 6th, John S. Coxon, Esq., who held the office of Postmaster for one year, aged 32. April 29th, Joseph G. Plummer, Esq., J.P., aged 58.—May 8th, William T. Clarke, Esq., J.P., aged 49.—May 19th, Mr. William Green, many years Overseer of the Parish, aged 74.—Sept. 18th, Rosamond Matilda, widow of the late Dawson Turner, Esq., at Kirkley, Lowestoft, aged 52.—Sept. 25th, John Youell, Esq., A.L.S., aged 89.—Oct. 7th, Ambrose Reeve Palmer, Esq., of Haddiscoe Hall, aged 51.—Nov. 4th, Edmund Reeve Palmer, Esq., for many years Registrar of Yarmouth County Court, aged 63.—Nov. 30th, Capt. B. Love, E.N.M., aged 71.