12.—At the Norfolk Quarter Sessions, the justices ordered that the houses of correction at Aylsham and Wymondham be abolished on the completion of the county gaol.
22.—A new roadway made through the city wall at the west end of Pottergate Street, Norwich, was completed on this date, and opened for vehicular traffic on the 24th. “This great improvement was effected by Mr. Alderman T. S. Day, aided by the exertions of Mr. Blyth, who, in company with Mrs. Blyth, was the first who rode through the new way.”
24.—Died at Lynn, aged 78, William Hall, auctioneer and bookseller. “He was generally known by the appellation Antiquarian Hall, having for many years been in the habit of dealing in works of black letter lore, of which, at one time, he had a good collection. He was a man quite uneducated, but of strong natural abilities, and had read a great deal on subjects of antiquity. Though a man of very eccentric habits, he was universally respected for his industry and integrity.”
—The exhibition commenced at the Ranelagh Gardens, Norwich, of a “grand model of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem.”
25.—The Castle Corporation at Norwich celebrated its 60th anniversary.
29.*—“Died last week, at Holt, Mary Ann Edge, at the advanced age of 103.”
31.—Norwich Theatre re-opened for the season. The new members of the company included Mr. Balls, comedian; Mr. Baker, comedian; Mr. Warren, “walking gentleman”; Miss Scruton, Mrs. Sheppard (formerly Miss Diddear), Mrs. Balls, and Mrs. Watkinson.
FEBRUARY.
2.—The body of an old man, buried in Hethersett churchyard, was stolen by resurrection men. A similar outrage took place in Thorpe churchyard on the same date.
5.*—“Sir Edmund Bacon (one of the three gentlemen nominated to serve the office of Sheriff of this county) is gone to London to prefer some antient claim of exemption from it on account of his being the premier baronet of England. Such claim had been successfully made on a similar occasion by his late father.” Exemption was granted; but on November 11th, in the Court of Exchequer, the Lord Chief Justice of the Court of King’s Bench stated that the authorities, after duly investigating the claim, had decided to disallow it.