A Comprehensive History of Norwich

by A. D. Bayne

In the same year Sir Armine Wodehouse, Bart., gave a valuable volume to the corporation containing some old statutes, in which the prescriptive right of the corporation to its present legal name is supported. It had been the property of the Wodehouse family for 200 years. A vote of thanks was passed to Sir Armine Wodehouse for his present. He was a member of parliament for Norfolk from 1736 to 1768 (32 years), and died in 1777. His death was occasioned by a herring-bone sticking in his throat.

On January 7th, 1769, the church belonging to the Dutch congregation was opened for the poor of the workhouses. The poor continued to attend till the New Workhouse was built in Heigham, after which they attended divine service in the chapel there.

On November 19th, 1770, there was a great flood in Norwich, four inches higher than that of 1762. The sufferers were relieved, by a subscription, with money, coals, and bread. On December 19th, of the same year, there was a violent storm of wind and rain, such as had not been remembered since 1741. Happisburgh, Postwick, and Strumpshaw windmills were blown down, and much damage was done in the city and county; many ships with their crews were lost on the Norfolk coast. In the same year the following turnpike roads were made and opened, from St. Stephen’s Gates to Trowse, from St. Stephen’s Gates to Watton, from St. Benedict’s Gates to Swaffham, from Bishop Bridge to Caister near Yarmouth, and from Norwich to Dereham, Swaffham, and Mattishall.

On March 1st, 1771, the names of the streets and highways in the city were ordered to be fixed up for the first time; but this order appears to have been very imperfectly carried out. In the same year the foundation stone of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital was laid by Wm. Fellowes, Esq., who was a great promoter of that benevolent institution. It was erected by a public subscription in the city and county; and it was opened on July 11th, 1772, for out-patients; and on November 7th, in that year, for in-patients. It has been of great benefit to the poor, who have always been attended by the principal physicians and surgeons in the city.

In 1774, St. Andrew’s Hall underwent a complete alteration. The old gateway and wall next Bridge Street were taken down, part of the green yard was taken in, and the old city library room was rebuilt over the gateway, thus defacing all that part of the hall. At the last restoration the old city library room was pulled down, and a new porch was erected, with many other improvements.

In 1779, the new year was ushered in with a most terrible storm of wind and rain, accompanied with thunder and lightning. The lead on St. Andrew’s Church was rolled up, and great damage was done in several parts of the city. In October of this year, the navigation from Coltishall to Aylsham was completed for boats of thirteen tons burthen, at a cost of £6000. About this time smuggling was carried to a great height, even in broad day.

On January 20th, 1780, at a numerous meeting of citizens and county gentlemen, a petition was agreed to and signed, praying the house of commons to guard against all unnecessary expenditure, to abolish sinecure places and pensions, and to resist the increasing influence of the crown. A strong protest was afterwards signed against the proceedings of this meeting. Mr. Coke presented the petition. Armed associations were formed against the government at Yarmouth, Lynn, Holt, and other places.

On March 24th, 1783, manufactures of textile fabrics in the city being very prosperous, the pageant of the Golden Fleece, or what is called Bishop Blaize, was exhibited by the wool combers, in a style far surpassing all former processions of the kind in Norwich. The procession began to move at 10 a.m. from St. Martin’s at Oak, and thence passed through the principal streets of the city. On December 3rd, of the same year, the Black Friars’ Bridge was opened.

In January, 1784, the Amicable Society of Attorneys, in Norwich, was instituted. On May 1st, at an assembly of the corporation, the freedom of the city was voted to be presented to Mr. S. Harvey, Mr. Windham, and Mr. Pitt. On December 13th, the Norwich Public Library was first opened and located in the old library room, formerly over the entrance to St. Andrew’s Hall.

On March 25th, 1785, mail coaches, between Norwich and London, were established, performing a journey of 108 miles in fifteen hours, by which alteration in the post, letters arrived from London a day sooner. This was considered a great improvement. Subsequently, half a dozen stage coaches ran between Norwich and London daily. In July, after various ascents by several persons, Major (afterwards General) Money, at 4.25 p.m., ascended with a balloon from Quantrell’s gardens, and at 6 p.m. the car touched the surface of the sea. During five hours the major remained in this perilous situation, and at 11.30 p.m. was taken up by the Argus revenue cutter, eighteen miles off Southwold, bearing west by north, and he landed at Lowestoft on the following morning. On October 18th, of the same year, the “Friars’ Society for the Participation of Useful Knowledge” was instituted. This society first suggested the scheme of the association for the relief of decayed tradesmen, their widows, and orphans. With them also originated the Soup Charity in this city, and it was long supported and conducted by them, but of late years it has been a separate charity.