—Violent hailstorms, accompanied by thunder and lightning, occurred in many parts of the county. At Cockley Cley great damage was done. “Pieces of ice as big as walnuts were found lying under the hedges next morning, and the turnips were out into shreds.”
AUGUST.
1.—This being the day on which the “negro apprentices” of the West Indies were admitted to freedom, the event was commemorated by a united prayer meeting, presided over by Mr. Alexander, at Prince’s Street chapel, Norwich.
2.—A “foot-steeplechase” took place at Whitlingham. The competitors had to pass several times through the river. The event was chiefly remarkable for “the perfect deluge of base coin put in circulation by the swell mob from London.” The landlord of Whitlingham Gardens alone took £4 worth of bad silver. In the disturbance which ensued a constable named Hansell had his leg broken.
3.—The High Sheriff (Sir James Flower) arrived at Norwich to attend the Judges of Assize, Mr. Justice Parke and Mr. Justice Littledale. With Lady Flower he took up his quarters at the Norfolk Hotel,
and, as at previous Assizes, dispensed hospitality with most ostentatious liberality.
13.—Died in Norwich, aged 38, Mr. Horatio Beevor Love, portrait painter.
17.—Died at her house in Surrey Street, Norwich, in her 96th year, Miss Elizabeth Lany, the last survivor of the three daughters and sole children of the Rev. Benjamin Lany, rector of Mulbarton. “On both paternal and maternal sides she was allied to some of the best families in Norfolk and Suffolk.”
21.—A grand bazaar was held at the New Inn, Cromer, in aid of the fund for maintaining the “defence wall.” After the sale “the jetty, the Victoria Parade (between the walls), and the cliffs were thronged with fashionable promenaders,” and in the evening “120 ladies and gentlemen repaired to the New Inn ball room, where quadrilles and waltzes were got up.”
28.—This was the hottest day of the summer. The thermometer stood at 83° in the shade. A thunderstorm occurred in the evening, and Mrs. Roach, a schoolmistress at Wroxham, was killed by lightning. The weather on the 29th was cold, wet, and boisterous.