The nave and aisles are lighted at night by nine polished brass coronæ, of characteristic design, pendant from the centres of the arched ribs of the roof. When lighted up at night, during the Choral Society and Festival Concerts, the interior presents a very brilliant appearance. Amongst the principal attractions of the hall are the portraits of city worthies and some historical paintings. A fine work of art, Queen Eleonora sucking the poison from her husband’s wound; and another, the Death of Lady Jane Grey, by Martin, a native of this city; may be seen at the west end. Large sums have been offered for them. The two oldest portraits in the hall are Queen Anne and Prince George of Denmark. A fine portrait of Admiral Lord Nelson, painted by Sir William Beechey, was the last for which the illustrious “Norfolk Hero” sat after his return to England in 1801. It is allowed to be an admirable likeness. He is standing on the quarter deck of a man of war; the tri-coloured flag of France is lying at his feet; and the flag of Spain lies on a cannon; leaning against which is the sword of the Spanish Admiral, Don Xavier Winthysen, surrendered to him on February 14th, 1797. On the hero’s hat is the magnificent diamond Aigrette, or Plume of Triumph, and under it the rich pelisse of sable fur, both of which were presented to him by the Grand Seigneur. He is decorated with the red riband as Knight of the Bath, and with the blue riband and medal suspended therefrom, which are the Insignia of the Order of St. Ferdinand. On his breast are stars of the most honourable Order of the Bath, of the Grand Cross, of the Order of St. Ferdinand, and of the Imperial Order of the Crescent Suspended from his neck by a riband, hang two gold chains, and another is affixed to his button hole on the right side, all of which had been presented to him, at various times, for his unparalleled naval victories.
“Such honours England to her hero paid,
And peaceful sleeps the mighty Nelson’s shade.”
This superb painting may be seen at the west end of the hall on the north side. Gainsborough painted the portrait of Sir Harbord Harbord, afterwards Lord Suffield, considered one of the best in the hall. Amongst the other portraits in the building are some painted by Gainsborough, Beechey, Heins, Smith, Bardwell, Stoppelaer, Adolphe, Opie, Clover, Hoppner, Lawrence, and Thompson. The following is a list in chronological order, with names of the painters.
And over the west window is festooned the Flag of France taken by Lord Nelson from the ship Genereux in 1800.
The Corn Exchange.
The Corn Exchange is situated in Exchange Street, which commences at the north end of the Market Place. The original building, which was erected in 1828, at a cost of £6000, being found too small, was taken down in 1861, and the present spacious edifice was built by a company at a cost of £16,000, including the site. The exterior is massive in its effect. The key stone of the large window has a carved head of Ceres. The interior is well lighted from the roof, the superficial area of the glass being equal to the area of the hall. The inside measurement is 125 feet by 81 feet. The height from the floor is 66 feet. At the east end are portraits of John Culley, Esq., the originator of the Exchange, and of the late Earl of Leicester, who was justly regarded as the greatest farmer in Norfolk. A large amount of business is transacted here every Saturday afternoon.
The Norwich Public Library.
The Norwich Public Library is located in a spacious room built for the purpose at the end of an avenue opposite the Guildhall. The first meeting of subscribers was held there on September 7th, 1837. The library contains about 30,000 volumes, including many old books of divinity and archæology. The yearly subscription is one guinea paid by shareholders, and 26s. paid by others; and subscribers are entitled to borrow two sets of books at a time. The library is open from 10 a.m. till 9 p.m. Besides the large room which contains the books, there are smaller rooms for the convenience of readers. Mr. Langton is the librarian.