CHAPTER XV.
Norwich in the Eighteenth Century.
The Reformation had now become an established fact in the Churches of England and Scotland; the glorious Revolution of 1688 had been accomplished; the civil wars were over, and the country enjoyed a long period of repose. Local events had, it is true, become of less importance, because less connected with general history; but the narrative will not be the less interesting to local readers. Walls and gates still surrounded the old city, and confined it within narrow limits. All the principal streets within the walls were now built. The population had increased to 28,000, the working classes being chiefly employed in textile manufactures, which were in great demand all over Europe. The operatives were well employed and well paid during the greater part of this century. It was, in short, a flourishing period in the history of Norwich, as regards its manufactures and its trade.
Queen Anne was proclaimed here on March 12th, 1701, and was crowned on April 3rd, 1702, with extraordinary exhibitions of joy. In this year, too, the art of printing, which had been for some time discontinued here, was revived, and Francis Burgess soon afterwards opened a printing office near the Red Well. In 1701, the first newspaper, called the Norwich Gazette, was published by Henry Cosgrove, he being assisted in the undertaking by the celebrated Edward Cave, the original planner and founder of the Gentleman’s Magazine, which was first published in 1731. The Gazette was subsequently enlarged, and called the Norfolk Chronicle and Norwich Gazette, published by Messrs. Stevenson and Matchett. The former gentleman was a learned antiquarian, and published “The Antiquities of Ely.”
In 1705, the Weavers’ Hall was broken open, and the books were destroyed, since which time the custom of sealing stuffs has been disused. What was the cause of the tumult does not appear.
In 1706, a great part of the city was laid under water by two violent floods, both of which happened in the month of November.
In 1711, the first act was passed for erecting workhouses, &c., in this city; by which it was provided—
“That from and after the first day of May, 1712, there shall be a corporation to continue for ever, within the said city of Norwich and county of the same, and liberties thereof, consisting of mayor, recorder, and steward, justices of the peace, sheriffs, and aldermen of the said city for the time being, and of thirty-two other persons of the most honest, discreet, and charitable inhabitants of the said city and county, in the four great wards of the said city, and the towns, and out parishes in the county of the said city, in such manner as is hereinafter expressed, and the said thirty-two persons shall be elected on the third day of May next ensuing, or within three days after, at an assembly of the said city, for that purpose to be held, by the votes of the mayor, sheriffs, citizens, and commonalty, in common council assembled, or of the major part of them present.”
Then follow the provisions of the act by which all the parishes in the city were incorporated for the relief of the poor. The Court of Guardians was constituted, and empowered to assess to the poor rates all lands, houses, tenements, tithes, stock, and personal estates. The assessment of stock and personal estate, as may be easily imagined, caused great dissatisfaction amongst the rate-payers possessed of property, and was abolished in 1827, when a new act was obtained which considerably altered the constitution of the court. This act was further amended by another passed in 1831, and that was superseded in 1863, by the act at this time in force.
In 1712, the steeple of the new Hall, now St. Andrew’s Hall, fell down and was never rebuilt.
In 1713, the Duke of Ormond was appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk and Norwich, in the room of Lord Townshend.