A Comprehensive History of Norwich

by A. D. Bayne

In November the Prince and Princess of Wales travelled from their seat at Sandringham to Cossey on a visit to Lord and Lady Stafford, who entertained their Royal Highnesses in a princely style. Their Royal Highnesses, during their sojourn at Cossey, visited this city, entering by way of the Dereham Road and St. Giles’ Road, and passing under triumphal arches amid the acclamations of thousands of the citizens, it being a general holiday. They stopped at the Guildhall and received an address from the corporation. Then they proceeded to St. Andrew’s Hall and attended a morning concert of the musical festival. Their Royal Highnesses, on leaving the hall, rode along the principal streets, through the Market Place, and up St. Stephen’s to the Chapel Field, where they were joyously received by the Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows, and where they planted two trees in memory of their visit. Their Royal Highnesses thence proceeded to the new Drill Hall, which the Prince of Wales formally opened. After this ceremony their Royal Highnesses returned to Cossey Hall. They were accompanied by the Queen of Denmark (mother of the Princess of Wales), and by Prince Alfred (the Duke of Edinburgh). In the evening the city was brilliantly illuminated.

1867. The Norwich Industrial Exhibition was held for six weeks, from August 15th till October 20th, 1867, in St. Andrew’s Hall. About 1000 exhibitors sent specimens of works of art and useful articles, which quite filled the hall. Hundreds of splendid paintings were lent for the occasion, and the show attracted many thousands of visitors. The industrial part of the exhibition was most creditable to the working men of Norwich, many of whom gained medals and money prizes for the best specimens of useful and ornamental articles. The mayor, F. E. Watson, Esq., distributed the prizes on November 5th.

1868. The great event of the year 1868 was the meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science in the city. It commenced on August 19th and continued till the 26th. The old city was filled with distinguished visitors from all parts of Europe; and the hotels, inns, and lodging houses were crowded with strangers. Norwich gave a hospitable welcome to the Society. Dr. Hooker, who by association and descent is a Norfolk man, delivered the inaugural address. The various scientific sections held daily meetings at different public places. The proceedings were reported in daily issues of the Norfolk News and the Norfolk Chronicle, and also in the regular issues of the Norwich Mercury.

On November the 9th, J. J. Colman, Esq., retired from the office of mayor, and E. K. Harvey, Esq., was elected as his successor; John Robison, Esq., was at the same time chosen as sheriff, as successor to Robert Fitch, Esq. As this is the last act of the council which we shall have to chronicle, we take the opportunity of adding a few words on the present state of the corporation. By the Municipal Reform Act all previous charters remain in force, except so far as they are rendered inconsistent with the provisions of that act, and the city is now divided into eight wards, and incorporated under the style or title of the “Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses of the city and borough of Norwich.” The corporate body consists of sixteen aldermen and forty-eight councillors. The mayor is chosen annually on the 9th of November from the members of the council, who also on the same day choose the sheriff from the same body, or from persons qualified to vote for councillors, and who are eligible to the office of councillor. The members of the council are chosen annually on November 1st by the inhabitant householders of three years’ successive occupation, the freemen having been disfranchised for municipal purposes. The aldermen are elected by the council, and go out of office every three years. Committees of the council are appointed for conducting the business of the corporate body. The corporation is possessed of various estates, tolls, and dues, the profits and proceeds of which are placed to the Borough Fund, under the act, and are applied towards the reduction of the rates levied on the citizens. Several large estates which were in the hands of the corporation for charitable purposes are now vested in charity trustees. The corporation still pay fee farm rents to the crown, over £100 yearly. There is in trust of the corporation an estate of 112 acres, situated outside of St. Stephen’s Gate, called the “Town Close,” on which the burgesses had the right of commonage formerly, but in lieu of which right the freemen receive a few shillings yearly. The meetings of the corporation are held in the Council Chamber in the Guildhall almost every fortnight for the despatch of business, and meetings of the committees are held almost daily. The body corporate, as a Council and Board of Health, levies rates as we have already said to the amount of £45,000 yearly. The Board of Guardians sits in the same room, and raises by poor rates about £30,000 yearly, making the local taxation amount to £75,000 per annum. The City Police and Fire Brigade, under direction of Mr. R. Hitchman, the chief constable, occupy the basement of the Guildhall. The force, comprising nearly a hundred men, is considered to be very efficient.

This year an extensive scheme was begun for an effective drainage of the city. We subjoin a brief history of the proceedings which led to this movement, and take the opportunity at the same time of giving some details as to the general operations of the Local Board of Health.

The New Drainage Scheme.

So long ago as 1862, complaints were made of the impurity of the river in consequence of all the sewage of the city and of all the water closets being poured into the stream. In 1863, many inhabitants of Thorpe became urgent in their demands that some immediate steps should be taken to divert the sewage from the river, but this was more easily asked than done. The Board of Health, however, requested their then surveyor (Mr. Barry) to report on the subject; and subsequently Mr. Bazalgette visited Norwich and surveyed the stream.

In the autumn of 1865 Mr. Bazalgette’s report was received. It recommended a plan of conveying the sewage through main drains to Crown Point to irrigate the land there. The board discussed the report and appointed a sewerage committee, who entered into negotiations with R. J. H. Harvey, Esq., M.P., for irrigating part of his estate at Crown Point. Mr. Harvey was to pay the cost of preparing the land for irrigation, and the annual cost of pumping; but after a preliminary notice had been given of the intention of the board to apply for an act of parliament, the board determined not to proceed at that time with the application for the act.

The board subsequently entered into contract with Mr. Hope, of London, to sell him the sewage for thirty years; and the necessary works were ordered to be commenced on March 20th, 1866. The board, however, being pressed by a strong opposition to the scheme, in a few days afterwards rescinded the contract. In consequence of this, proceedings in chancery were commenced, and an injunction was ultimately obtained.

On May 31st, 1866, the board resolved, “That it is absolutely needful at once to take measures to divert the sewage from the river.” Negotiations were entered into for the hire of part of the Crown Point estate, the agreement for which was confirmed by the board on July 10th, 1866. By this agreement the board took on lease 1290 acres of land at Crown Point, at £3 5s. per acre, for thirty years—the whole sewage of the city to be conveyed to Trowse and pumped over the land. Many objections were made to this measure, that the rent was too high, and that the experiment would prove a failure. Pursuant, however, to a resolution of the board, passed on October 9th, in the same year, the committee took the necessary steps to obtain an act of parliament, and did obtain it in June, 1867.