A Comprehensive History of Norwich

by A. D. Bayne

Mr. George Allen erected a large factory in 1857 in St. Stephen’s Back Street, for the manufacture of elastic cloths for table covers, gloves, shawls, and other clothing purposes, and for the production also of silk and lisle webs. The elastic cloths, which are made upon warp frames, are considered to be a great improvement on “Hooper’s Elastics,” made in the west of England, and for wear they are believed to be unsurpassed. The manufacture gives employment to a considerable number of hands.

About 500 power looms are at work in the city, when trade is good, weaving a great variety of mixed fabrics, and no doubt each loom does double the work of the old hand-loom. Supposing each loom to produce one piece of goods weekly, there would be 500 pieces weekly, or 26,000 pieces yearly. The prices vary in value from £1 to £10 per piece, and may be averaged at £5, so that the annual value would be about £130,000. But at least 500 hand-looms are also at work, and supposing that they produce half the quantity of goods, the total annual value would be £195,000, or in round numbers £200,000. We are sorry to state, however, as already intimated, that the manufacture of textile fabrics in Norwich has for some time past been declining, and cannot compare with former years. The depression has arisen from various causes, among which may be mentioned war, which has deprived the city of its best markets. The introduction of cotton and silk goods too has nearly superseded the old stuff fabrics of the city. Machinery in Norwich is also behind that in the north. The wool grown in Norfolk and Suffolk has, moreover, been sent to Yorkshire to be spun, and has been repurchased as yarn for Norwich goods; and lastly, Norwich weavers have not the energy of those in Bradford. Fashion also has been one of the causes of the loss of trade, for the fashions are continually changing, and Norwich firms have to compete with all England, Scotland, and France; and it is not to be expected that a few houses in this city will produce as many novelties as all the rest of the world. A School of Art has been established, but it has not yet produced many practical designers.

CHAPTER II.

Having given an account of the textile manufactures in this city, we proceed to furnish some particulars of the more important of other classes of business, which go to make up the sum total of the trade and commerce of the city.

The Banking Business.

Banking, as now understood, was not carried on till the eighteenth century. Before the American war of Independence very few country banks were established. Norwich manufactures were in their most prosperous state in the middle of last century, and then it was that some banks were established in this city. On January 31st, 1756, a bank was opened in the Upper Market by Charles Weston, who carried on business till the end of the century. In 1768, Mr. Thomas Allday’s bank was opened; afterwards Sir R. Kerrison and Son were proprietors, and in 1808 the bank failed. The debts amounted to £460,000, and the dividends paid amounted to 16s. 4d. in the pound. This was the first bank failure in Norwich of any importance, and it shook public confidence in banks.

Messrs. Gurney’s bank was established in Norwich in 1775 as a bank of deposit and issue. This was at a period the most flourishing in the commercial annals of Norwich. The annual value of textile fabrics produced in the city was over a million sterling, a trade which was of course a great source of business to the bank. Henry Gurney, and his son Bartlett Gurney, were the first proprietors. On the death of the father, the son associated himself with his three brothers, Richard, Joseph, and John Gurney; so the firm continued till the deaths of the different parties. About 1825, Mr. H. Birkbeck, of Lynn, and Mr. Simon Martin were taken in as partners. The firm then comprised R. H. Gurney, J. J. Gurney, D. Gurney, Simon Martin, and H. Birkbeck. After J. J. Gurney and S. Martin died, the firm comprised D. Gurney, J. H. Gurney, H. Birkbeck, F. H. Gurney, and C. H. Gurney; and W. Birkbeck came in after the death of his father. The bank at Norwich has in its connection branches at North Walsham, Aylsham, Holt, Dereham, Fakenham, and Attleborough. At Yarmouth the firm, until lately, comprised D. Gurney, J. H. Gurney, H. Birkbeck, T. Brightwen, and J. H. Orde. This branch has in its connection other branches at Lowestoft, Beccles, Bungay, Halesworth, Saxmundham, Eye, and Stowmarket. At Lynn the firm, until lately, comprised D. Gurney, J. H. Gurney, H. Gurney, H. Birkbeck, S. Gurney, and F. G. Cresswell, and this bank extends to Downham and Swaffham.

The members of the several firms are now as follow:

Norwich and Norfolk Bank.
Henry Birkbeck.	Francis Hay Gurney.
William Birkbeck.	Henry Ford Barclay.
Samuel Gurney Buxton.	John Gurney.
Yarmouth and Suffolk Bank.
Henry Birkbeck.	Henry F. Barclay.
S. G. Buxton.	John Gurney.
Thomas Brightwen.	James Henry Orde.
Lynn and Lincolnshire Bank.
Daniel Gurney.	Henry Birkbeck.
Somerville Arthur Gurney.	H. F. Barclay.
S. G. Buxton.	Francis Joseph Cresswell.

The Crown Bank, in King Street, Norwich, was opened on January 2nd, 1792, as a bank of deposit, discount, and issue. The original proprietors were Messrs. Hudson and Hatfield, and the first bank was in the Haymarket. About forty years since the proprietors were Charles Saville Onley, Sir Robert John Harvey, Anthony Hudson, and Thomas Hudson. They then employed only seven clerks, and now thirty clerks are employed at the new bank. On January 13th, 1820, a circular was issued by A. and T. Hudson, stating that it was with great regret that they announced the death of their friend and partner, Mr. Robert Harvey. Owing to his death, his brother, Mr. Charles Harvey, and Sir Robert John Harvey, his nephew, were added to the firm. Before 1820, Mr. Onley withdrew. Mr. T. Hudson and Mr. A. Hudson died, and before the end of the Russian war, Sir Robert John Harvey died. The present proprietors are Sir Robert John Harvey Harvey, Bart., Crown Point, and Roger Allday Kerrison, Esq., who lives at Ipswich. They have lately built a very handsome bank in the Corinthian style of architecture, on the Castle Meadow, and it was opened in January, 1866. At first the Crown Bank had only three agents in the eastern counties, but the number has gradually increased to thirty. The firm purchased the large business of Messrs. Taylor and Dyson at Diss. This was an important addition, the Diss bank having extensive connections in Norfolk and Suffolk.