28.—A public meeting at Lynn approved a plan for constructing a bridge and embankment over the Cross Keys Wash, in order to establish direct communication between the whole of Norfolk and part of Suffolk with Lincolnshire and the north of England.
31.—Wombwell exhibited his menagerie on the Castle Hill, Norwich, and advertised as an attraction “the two unequalled lions, Nero and Wallace, the same who fought and conquered the dogs at Warwick.”
1826.
JANUARY.
7.—In consequence of continued applications for relief by the unemployed weavers, &c., the Norwich Court of Guardians increased the mulct for the ensuing quarter £3,000—an addition to the rates of 2s. in the pound.—On January 12th a Crape Ball, at which the lady patronesses wore white Norwich crape, other ladies scarlet geranium-coloured Norwich crapes, and gentlemen waistcoats of plain white shawl with shawl pattern border as part of their evening dress, was held at the Assembly Room for the purpose of promoting a fund for the relief of the poor, and produced a clear profit of £79. The fund was formally inaugurated at a public meeting held at the Guildhall on January 16th, and upwards of £5,000 was afterwards subscribed.—The Paving Act Commissioners on January 24th decided to macadamise Ber Street in order to afford relief work, and in March the manufacturers, with the same object, commenced making bombazetts and twilled stuffs, articles that were entirely new to Norwich. On March 10th the governors of the Bank of England granted to the manufacturers the loan of £80,000 for four months at the rate of
five per cent. per annum; and on May 15th application was made to the committee in London for the relief of distressed manufactures, who granted £600 to the unemployed weavers, still numbering several thousands.—The Court of Guardians on July 4th increased the mulct for the ensuing quarter to £15,000; and in August offered to obtain employment for a considerable number of distressed weavers if they would consent to a slight reduction of wages. The men declined the offer because the manufacturers refused to guarantee that they would not send work into the country. During the remaining portion of the year employment continued to be scarce.
14.*—“Mr. W. E. L. Bulwer, of Heydon Hall, has lately been presented by his tenants with a piece of plate, of the value of 500 guineas, as a testimony of their respect and esteem for his general good conduct, and especially as a mark of gratitude for his disinterested generosity during the late agricultural distresses.”
18.—Died at Yarmouth, John Joy, for 30 years guard of the mail coach to London. “He has left three sons, two of whom, since the death of Serres, are said to be the first marine painters in the kingdom.”
26.—A great skating match at Wisbech, in which all the principal fen skaters took part, was won by Farrow, of Nordelph.
31.—A large number of weavers caused a riot in Norwich, and destroyed a carrier’s cart which was conveying into the country materials for manufacturing purposes. On February 1st the mob stopped all country carts and seized what manufacturing articles were found upon them, broke the windows of several factories, and became so aggressive that the Scots Greys were called out to quell the disturbance. The rioting was resumed on February 13th, when many citizens were sworn in as special constables, and after the Riot Act had been read the cavalry cleared the streets.