On December 26th, the day fixed by the Municipal Act, the first election of councillors took place under the new law.
1836. January 1st. T. O. Springfield, Esq., was chosen the first mayor of the new corporation. He had been a very active partizan in the Liberal interest. He was a member of the council nearly all his long life; his influence was very great in promoting the return of candidates of his own party. On the occasion of his going out of office, a dinner was given to him in St. Andrew’s Hall. About 600 sat down to a sumptuous banquet.
March 1st. The new police, eighteen in number, made their first appearance under Chief Constable Yarington.
On September 20th, 21st, and 22nd, the Norfolk and Norwich Musical Festival was held in St. Andrew’s Hall, when the concerts were well attended, and realised a large sum for the charities.
December 1st. S. Bignold, Esq., was the chief promoter of the Norwich Yarn Company, which had a large capital, the whole of which was lost to the shareholders. On the occasion of laying the first stone of the yarn factory, the pageant in honour of “Bishop Blaize” was revived, on December 1st, 1836. The whole affair was cleverly got up, and admirably conducted. The procession having completed a tour of the city, returned to St. Edmund’s, whence they proceeded to the site of the new building, where S. Bignold, Esq., laid the first stone. This being done, the procession set out to St. Andrew’s Hall, where 900 persons, men, women, and children, sat down to an excellent dinner.
CHAPTER XIX.
Reign of Queen Victoria.
Queen Victoria was proclaimed here in the usual manner, on June 23rd, 1837, amid great rejoicing. On Thursday, August 17th, Dr. Stanley was enthroned in the Cathedral; he was the sixty-sixth bishop of the diocese, and the thirty-third since the reformation. After the installation about a hundred of the gentry, clergy, and laity dined at the Norfolk Hotel. This bishop was a great promoter of the education of the poor. An episcopal chapel was opened in Heigham on August 10th, and afterwards consecrated by the bishop under the name of “Trinity Chapel.” His lordship also consecrated the new church at Catton.
1838. January 3rd. A meeting was held in St. Andrew’s Hall to petition parliament to abolish the apprenticeship of negroes in the colonies. On the 5th the new district schools were opened in St. Augustine’s.
On July 11th, a very numerous meeting of the camlet weavers was held, for the purpose of resisting the proposed reduction of wages. About this time some differences existed between the men and their employers respecting wages. Col. Harvey was requested to mediate between them, and he did so, but without any good result. The city was much disturbed in consequence of these disagreements.
1839. On May 18th, a meeting was held at the Norfolk Hotel to consider a bill about to be presented to parliament for the improvement of the city, and to give the citizens an opportunity of objecting to any of its clauses. On June 19th this bill passed, but very little was done under it in the way of improvement. A great part of the city remained undrained, and the pavements continued in a bad state.