1882.
Jan. 2nd. Mr. Henry H. Baker, town surveyor for nearly 20 years, died, aged 52 years. He succeeded Mr. Morant on his resignation in Nov., 1864. On Feb. 14th, Mr. J. W. Cockrill was appointed town surveyor.
Jan. 9th. First annual tea given to 600 aged poor people at the Drill Hall, inaugurated by Mr. T. C. Foreman.
Jan. 30th. James Hall, better known as “Jigger” Hall, died in the workhouse. He was one put upon his trial with Mapes and Royal for the murder of Mrs. Chandler, and acquitted. Hall was the last survivor of the accused. (See Nov. 18th, 1844.)
Jan. 31st. Silver wedding day of Mr. C. Woolverton celebrated by a dinner to his workpeople.
Feb. 18th. Rev. G. Venables, S.C.L., vicar of Yarmouth, was collated and instituted by the Bishop of Norwich to the office or place of an Honorary Canon in the Cathedral Church at Norwich, vacant by the death of the Rev. W. F. Patteson.
Feb. 28th. Loss of the steamer “Livadia” (1,447 tons) on the Middle Cross Sands, and 24 of her crew drowned, the boatman (Thomas Sewell, brother of the captain of the local tug “United Service”) being the only survivor, who was bravely rescued by the Gorleston Volunteer Lifeboat “Revenge.” A subscription was made for the 14 lifeboatmen by Mrs. Bowler, who gave them each one guinea, and the National Institution awarded £20. On March 12th, a lifeboat, marked “Livadia,” was picked up in the North Sea with three dead bodies in it.
March 2nd. Hannah Sarah, relict of the late T. Brightwen, Esq., died at Fritton, aged 73 years. Deceased’s personal estate was sworn under £50,000. She bequeathed £6,000 to the perpetual endowments of St. Andrew’s and St. James’ Churches; £500 to the Yarmouth Hospital, and numerous legacies to friends and dependants.
March. A leather bag, containing cheques and documents, value £6,000, dredged up at sea by the smack “Nelson,” of this port. The bag was lost out of the steamer “Annie Arbib,” which foundered in the North Sea in Nov., 1881.
March 6th. A “scene” in the Police Court over the appeals against the Poor-rate. Six magistrates left the Bench, and a “warm discussion” ensued.
March. E. W. Worlledge, Esq., appointed by the Lord Chancellor to be a Commissioner to administer oaths in the Supreme Court of Judicature.
March. Mr. F. E. Bowler presented with a handsome timepiece and an illuminated address by the assistants in Messrs. Chamberlins and Co.’s establishment, as a token of esteem on his 50th birthday.
March 31st. The Rev. A. R. Abbott, B.A., instituted to the vicarage and parish church of Gorleston and Southtown, on his own petition.
April 3rd. Fire in Mr. S. Randell’s stock room, Market Row. Damage about £30.
April 29th. Heavy gale, which played sad havoc among the fishing craft, those entirely lost with all hands including the “Jester,” “Phœnix,” and “Olive Leaf.”
April. Mr. A. Linder, of this town, chosen pier-master at Skegness, out of 76 candidates. On May 5th he was presented with a purse of £18 13s., as a mark of respect by the patrons of the Wellington Pier.
May 9th. The Town Council moved addresses of congratulation to the Duke and Duchess of Albany on their marriage on April 27th; and congratulation to the Queen.
May 18th. The Wellington Pier sold by auction to Mr. Chappell for £890, but through some discrepancy in the transfer the bid was withdrawn.
May 18th. Launch at Southtown of a new iron paddle boat, 100 ft. long, breadth 14 ft. 2 in., depth 7 ft., and owned by Mr. R. J. Blyth. It was built by Mr. H. E. Wright, Yare-side Iron Works, and Miss Wright christened it “Jumbo.”
May 30th. H.R.H. the Prince of Wales paid a fourth visit to this town, and left on June 2nd.
May 31st. Opening of the New Town Hall and Municipal Buildings by the Prince of Wales, the ceremony being on a very grand scale. Three hundred and fifty guests were invited to the déjeuner, including the Mayor of Yarmouth and the Lord Mayor of London, Lords Aylesford, Suffield, Rendlesham, and Carpington; Sir H. Clifford, Sir E. Lacon, Sir H. Bedingfield, Sir R. J. Buxton, Sir T. Boileau, Sir T. Beevor, Admiral Sir H. Keppel, Colonel Teesdale, E. Birkbeck, Esq., &c. In the evening there a grand display of fireworks on the Britannia Pier. The Hall was designed by J. B. Pearce, Esq., and the contractors Messrs. J. W. Lacey, of Norwich. The total cost was £35,764, as follows:—Building contract, £26,200; extras on building, new works, and fittings, £4,442 11s. 1d.; architect’s commission, £1,705 10s. 9d.; Clerk of Works, £417 5s.; Norman and Son, furniture and fittings, £1,177 7s. 9d.; Mr. Finch, ditto, £592 1s. 5d.; Chamberlins and Co., linoleum, £351 9s.; Aldred and Son, clock, £361 15s.; Mr. Keable, blinds, £26 15s. 3d.; Ellis and Son, mats, £22 15s. 10d.; decorations, opening ceremony, £28; premiums on designs for Town Hall, £70; foundation stone and the laying, £46 5s. 1d.; expenses of opening ceremony, £38 9s. 4d.; travelling expenses to inspect other Town Halls, £29 5s. 4d.; solicitor to H.M.’s Treasury, £17 6s. 10d.; miscellaneous charges and expenses, £239 14s. 6d. (See April 20th, 1880.)
May 31st. John Mooring, captain of the maintop of H.M.S. “Thunderer,” at the Battle of Trafalgar, died at the Yarmouth Naval Hospital, aged 102 years.
May. The Union Railway, from the Beach Station to the North Quay, completed.
May. Surgeon-Major C. C. Aldred resigned after 29 years his commission in the 2nd Brigade (E.D.) Royal Artillery. On April 24th, 1883, Mr. Aldred was presented with a pair of silver cups, on which was inscribed:—“Presented to Surgeon-Major Aldred, on his retirement from the regiment, by H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, K.G., and the officers who have served and are serving in the P.W.O. Norfolk Artillery Militia.” (See June 28th, 1884.)
May. Capt. Combe, promoted to the rank of Major in the 2nd Norfolk Rifle Corps.
May. Count Bismarck, son of Prince Bismarck, visited Yarmouth.
June 7th. Thos. George Wooden (15) died through being crashed by the buffer of a railway carriage at the Southtown Station.
July 17th. Mr. S. J. B. Batchelder, hon. sec. of Court Star of West (A.O.F.), presented with a marble clock and an illuminated list of subscribers for several years good service.
July 25th. Mr. J. T. Waters, ten years choir master of St. James’ Church, presented with a handsome silver keyless chronometer.
July 27th. Sham fight between 2,000 men belonging to the Royal Naval Reserves, 1st Norfolk Artillery, and 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Norfolk Rifles on the North Denes, in the presence of 2,000 or 3,000 people.
Aug. 18th. John Bracey, Esq., J.P., T.C., whilst out celebrating his 52nd birthday, with his family, at Fritton, died suddenly. On Dec. 13th, the mother of the above, and wife of J. T. Bracey, Esq., died, aged 68. (See April 19th, 1859.)
Sept. 5th. The Army and Navy Tavern, Blackfriars’ Road, sold by auction for £2,100, and £68 fixtures.
Sept. 5th. Commander Parker, R.N., presented with a handsome silver and polished oak salad bowl as a mark of esteem by the Caister Life-Saving Volunteer Corps; and on Sept. 23rd, the Gorleston L.S.V.C. gave him a marble timepiece and bronze ornaments; and Commander Parker presented the chief officer with a beautiful clock, and chief boatman Bridgeland with a book, “The World of Wit and Humour.”
Sept. 29th. £11,247 8s. 8d. had been expended on the Gorleston Spur Breakwater. £6,000 more required to complete the work.
Sept. 30th. This being the eve of the 88th birthday of the veteran ringer, Thomas Gooch, a merry peal was rung on the Parish Church bells. (See Aug. 27th, 1883.)
Sept. The council decided to allow the Tolhouse Hall to be retained by the Archæological Society, as a monument of antiquity, and the trustees subsequently accepted Mr. R. Davy’s contract (£485) for its restoration.
Oct. 3rd. St. John’s Church organ, after being enlarged and renovated by Mr. W. C. Mack, was opened. It has two manuals CC to F 54 notes, and pedal CCC to F 30 notes; 18 stops and 726 pipes, viz.:—Great organ, 408 pipes, swell, 288, and pedal, 30. The anchor lashed to a cross on the front panel of the case was designed by Mr. Chas. Harrison (a local artist of wide-spread popularity), and carved by Mr. Homes.
Oct. 10th and 11th. Board of Trade Fisheries Enquiry at the Town Hall, by Messrs. C. M. Norwood, M.P., E. Birkbeck, M.P., E. Heneage, M.P., Alderman Leak (Mayor of Hull), and T. Gray, sec. of the Marine Department.
Oct. 11th. St. George’s Chapel re-opened after extensive renovation, inside and out, at a total cost of £1,700.
Oct. 20th. Mr. G. R. Ceiley rewarded by the Humane Society for bravely saving the lives of James Simonds at Yarmouth, and four persons at Lowestoft.
Oct. 23rd. Cabmen’s shelter placed on the Hall Quay.
Oct. 24th. Heavy gale. Loss of the lugger “Edward and Ellen,” smack “Nancy,” the Yarmouth brigantine “Let me Alone,” and ketch “Hannah.”
Oct. 26th. The wife of Capt. Bunn presented with an elegant silver épergne, as a wedding present, by the A Company Rifle Volunteers, out of respect to their captain.
Oct. 28th. Gale of great severity, and another on Nov. 14th, when the brig “Kettland” came ashore on the South Beach, and great bravery was displayed by the Gorleston lifeboat, and also Mr. Lloyd, Inspector of Naval Reserve, in rescuing the crew. Commander Poynder presented Lloyd with two medals. Fifty fishermen were lost during the late gales, together with the fishing dandies “Sceptre,” “Silver Streak,” “Children’s Friend,” “Ich Dien,” &c., leaving 14 widows and 44 orphans.
In Yarmouth there are 621 fishing boats, 333 being smacks and the remainder luggers; their value is £372,000, and their nets and gear, £100,000 more. Their owners number 498, and crews 5,160. Scotch boats 800, and 120 smacks from Gorleston. Value of fish caught by trawlers of this port, £325,000. Number of herrings caught in five years, 71,458 lasts, which at an average of £10 a last gives a total of £714,580. The Corporation had up to date spent £34,916 in building the fishwharf, offices, &c., which latter let for £1,438 a year. Trawl fish caught in 1877, 11,863 packages; 1878, 39,508; 1879, 31,072; 1880, 28,400; 1881, 24,003. The dues were as follows:—In 1877, £1,574 on herring, and £59 on trawl fish; 1878, £846 herring, £164 trawl; 1879, £978 herring, £129 trawl; 1880, £1,163 herring, £118 trawl, 1881, £1,393 herring, and £100 trawl.
Nov. 11th. Mrs. Harriet Vade, wife of R. H. V. Walpole, of Yarmouth, and Suffolk Hall, Cheltenham, died.
Nov. £3,349 14s. 4d. spent about the erection and fittings of new nave of St. James’ Church.
Nov. 20th. The steamtug “Andrew Woodhouse” sold for £90.
Nov. 21st. J. C. Smith, Esq., elected Alderman of the Borough in place of the late Wm. Worship, Esq. Seventeen voted for Mr. Smith, and 11 for Mr. E. Worlledge.
Oct. 20th. The Swedish man-of-war frigate “Vanadis,” in the Roadstead; and on 26th, German war-ship “Leipzic,” 16 guns and 483 men.
Oct. 23rd. Fires at Mrs. Rigg’s wool shop, St. Peter’s Row, E; Nov. 16th at Mr. Jas. Ayers’ fishing premises, S. Market Road; Nov. 23rd, at Mr. H. Fenner’s, steam tannery works, S. Denes Road; Nov. 24th at Mr. Wigg’s jewellery shop, Regent Street; Dec. 10th, the net chamber of Mr. Hellenburgh, Ordnance Road; and at Mr. G. B. Palmer’s, Market Place.
Nov. 9th. Mr. F. Arnold presented with an elaborate salad bowl and pair of silver ladles on the opening of the Park Young Men’s Institute.
Nov. Rev. E. Venables appointed to the church and district of St. John’s the Evangelist, Drury Lane, London.
Nov. 12th. Wm. Worship, Esq., solicitor, died at Ormesby, aged 70 years. £1,000 was subsequently subscribed by the town for the founding of a scholarship at the Yarmouth Grammar School to perpetuate his memory.
The fishing smack “John Cooper” sunk by a steamer, and one man drowned.
1,028 lbs. 13 ozs. of tobacco (value £284 8s. 9d.) smuggled into Yarmouth during the year.
This year 99,422 coins were collected for various objects in the Parish Church, viz., 36,816 half-pence, 36,817 pennies, 10,756 threepenny pieces, 300 fourpenny pieces, 9,872 sixpences, 4,061 shillings, 412 florins, 289 half-crowns, nil crowns, 68 half-sovereigns, 28 sovereigns, and three notes. Total amount, £1,038 14s. 7d.
One thousand eight hundred and fifty plaints entered in the County Court for sums amounting to £10,639. In 1881, 2,591 plaints for £12,967.
Launches: March 7th, a steam launch launched from the Yare-side Iron Works; March 30th, smack “Morning Star”; July 4th, fishing boat “Muscotte.”
Marriages: Feb. 28th, Alexander Mitchell, Esq., M.D., to Ellen Eugénie Ramsdale, of E. Dereham; April 10th, Mr. W. H. Kempton, of London, to Miss H. M. Gamble; Mr. E. S. Brown to Miss A. M. Ulph, in London; April 6th, Mr. T. Ambrose Palmer to Miss E. J. Sheewan; June 8th, Mr. F. H. Smith, of Bradwell, to Miss Grace Dendy, of Gorleston.
Deaths: Jan., Henry B. Thompson, serjeant-at-mace and bellman, aged 65; March 25th, Caroline Louisa Bartlett, widow of Capt. H. J. Lacon, R.N., at Ipswich; March 31st, Mr. W. A. Hardingham, 45 years in the service of Messrs. Grout and Co., aged 59; May 4th, Mr. R. Dumbleton, ex-Town Councillor, aged 63; May 18th, Mr. W. R. P. Dick, senior cashier at Messrs. Lacon’s Bank, aged 50; Aug. 12th, Mr. John Clowes, grocer, aged 73; Sept. 24th, Chas. John Palmer, Esq., F.S.A., aged 78; Dec. 17th, Wm. Johnson, Esq., J.P., at Caister, aged 82.