19.—After a winter of exceptional mildness very severe weather set in. In some localities the readings of the thermometer were the lowest since 1895. On the 20th a remarkable whirlwind, which did considerable damage to three cottages, occurred at Worstead. February 10th was recorded as “the hottest day for half a century for the time of year.”
25.—An effort was made at Norwich to inaugurate a public subscription for the erection of a memorial to Sir Thomas Browne, the famous author of “The Religio Medici” and other works.
—Died at Thorpe Road, Norwich, Mr. Joshua Womersley, an alderman of the city, aged 77. A native of Yorkshire, he came to Norfolk in 1811 and took employment with the firm of Messrs. Colman at Stoke. He devised a method of making starch from rice, and received the congratulations of the Patent Office on having overcome difficulties in starch making which had hitherto been considered insurmountable. In politics Mr. Womersley was strongly Liberal, and admitted at the Royal Commission in 1868 “having kept certain voters in tow with the object of preventing them being tampered with by the other side.”
28.—The sale took place at Easton Lodge Farm by Mr. John Thornton of the red-poll herd of Mr. J. J. Colman. The total sum realised was 4,262½ guineas, of which 1,114 guineas were paid for the bulls. The average per head was a little over £77. The sale of Mr. Colman’s flock of Southdowns took place at Crown Point on August 9th, and was attended by leading sheep breeders and flock masters from all parts of the kingdom. Mr. Thornton disposed of 999 lots, which realised a grand total of £5,347 6s. 6d.
APRIL.
1.—Strangers’ Hall, Norwich, it was announced, had been purchased by Mr. L. G. Bolingbroke.
6.—The Norwich Diocesan Conference met at Noverre’s Rooms, Norwich, and continued its deliberations on the 7th.
17.—The memorial stone of the Norwich Technical Institute was laid by the Mayor (Mr. G. H. Morse). The building was designed by the City Engineer (Mr. A. E. Collins), and erected by Mr. T. H. Blyth, of Foulsham.
—The centenary celebration of the Church of England Missionary Society commenced at Norwich with services at the Cathedral and the city churches and a meeting at St. Andrew’s Hall.