June 12th. The anniversary of the birthday of the late Rt. Hon. William Pitt was commemorated by a dinner of the Tories at the Assembly Rooms. About 160 gentlemen were present.
In August, the new Exchange Street was opened, and on October 11th, a new Corn Hall was opened to the public.
1829. January and February. Petitions were adopted against the claims of the Roman Catholics by the Brunswick Constitutional Club, and other inhabitants of this city; but counter declarations from the clergy of the diocese of Norwich, and from a “Society of the friends of civil and religious liberty,” were agreed to. The agitation on this vexed question had now reached its height in the country.
February 17th. Even the common council now agreed to present an address to the king for the removal of Roman Catholic disabilities.
March. Cleansing Week ward elections came on. Conisford ward, J. Marshall, 258; T. Edwards, 259; J. Youngs, 253, (nominees); J. Skipper, 83; S. W. Mealing, 84; R. Merry, 82. Mancroft ward, no opposition, J. Bennett, A. Beloe, and C. Hardy (nominees). Wymer ward, W. Foster, 466; G. Kitton, 464; A. Barnard, 464 (nominees); J. Culley, 397; J. Brookes, 396; E. Newton, 394. Northern ward, S. S. Beare, 342; R. Shaw, 343; H. Martineau, 341 (nominees); T. Grimmer, 63; E. Hinde, 64; W. Fromow, 64.
May 1st. T. O. Springfield, Esq., and John Angell, Esq., were returned to the court of aldermen for the office of mayor without opposition, and the former was chosen mayor.
June 16th. This being Guild day, T. O. Springfield, Esq., was sworn into the office of chief magistrate; after which he gave a grand dinner to upwards of 800 ladies and gentlemen in St. Andrew’s Hall.
July 15th. A public dinner was given to Thomas Thurtell, Esq., at the Norfolk Hotel, attended by 80 gentlemen, in testimony of their approval of his honourable, impartial, and upright conduct in the performance of his duties as mayor during the previous year.
1830. January. Great disturbances took place in the city in consequence of differences between the manufacturers and weavers concerning wages. On the 12th, between 3000 and 4000 weavers collected in the avenues to the workhouse, where they greatly interrupted the business of the court of guardians, but they were dispersed by the magistrates and patroles. Munificent donations of £200 from Hudson Gurney, Esq., and £400 from London were distributed amongst the distressed weavers in bread and coal, under the direction of a committee. A general subscription was afterwards raised in the city, amounting to £2300, for the relief of the poor.
March. Cleansing Week ward elections. Conisford ward, T. Edwards, 251; J. Youngs, 251; W. G. Edwards, 249 (nominees); J. Skipper, 233; S. W. Mealing, 232; R. Merry, 228. Mancroft ward, J. Bennett, 195; H. Newton, 196; B. Boardman, 196 (nominees); W. Burt, jun., 50; W. J. Robberds, 50; P. Nicholls, 50. Wymer ward, J. Culley, 521; J. Winter, 520; J. Bexfield, 516 (nominees); W. Foster, 376; G. Kitton, 374; A. Barnard, 374. Northern ward, T. Grimmer, 292; E. Browne, 290; W. Fromow, 289 (nominees); H. Martineau, 278; R. Shaw, 276; W. Newson, 276.