Norwich Public Library, was instituted in 1784, and was held in the City Library-room adjoining St. Andrew’s hall, till 1794, when it was removed to the building formerly the catholic chapel, Wymer-street, where books are delivered by the librarian to the subscribers, every day, between the hours of eleven and two, Sundays and a few holidays excepted. It contains upwards of 7000 volumes. Every subscriber pays two guineas and a half, on his admission, and an additional half-guinea, annually. There are about 500 subscribers, under the regulation of a President, Vice-president, and a Committee of 24, chosen from their body, half at each of their annual meetings for two years. A meeting of the Committee, is held on the second Monday of every month, and the annual meeting, the first week in September.
The Assembly-rooms, usually called Chapel-field-house, where assemblies, &c. are held, built in 1754. The rooms are spacious and brilliant.
The Theatre was built in 1757, and much enlarged, and improved by the present Patentee, W. Wilkins, Esq. in 1800, at which time, distinct entrances were made to each part of the house; it is convenient, and tastefully fitted up.
It contains two circles of boxes, besides those above which range with the gallery. The box-lobbies are commodious, and at the back of the upper-circle, is a bar-room, where refreshments of every kind may be procured. The stage is large, and the house has every necessary convenience of green-room, dressings-rooms, scene-rooms, painters-room, property-rooms, music-room, carpenter’s shop, several rooms occupied by the person who keeps the house, &c. It will conveniently hold £130. and has been a nursery for many performers of celebrity, who have afterwards become favorites in the metropolitan theatres, among whom where Mr. Murray, Harley, C. Bannister, Powell, Townshend, Waddy, Blanchard, &c. The house when well filled, appears to the best advantage, and then any person who has a taste for theatrical amusements, neatness and elegance, cannot fail being agreeably entertained with the appearance of the audience, the performers and the house.
The principal place of Summer-amusement and resort, is Ranelagh garden, just without side the City walls, on the London road. Here is a large octangular building, the Pantheon, which is 70 feet in diameter and is fitted up with two tier of boxes, for the reception of company, and an orchestra with rooms behind, for the accommodation of the musicians, leaving a large area in the middle; it is capable of conveniently holding 1200 persons, and here on some public occasions, and annually in the Assize week, which in the regular way commences on the Monday, eight
weeks after Trinity Sunday; the proprietor entertains the public with some of the principal vocal performers from the London theatres, and a suitable band. In the garden is also a bowling-green and an orchestra for the reception of a military band, and the garden and pantheon on this occasion is elegantly lighted up with thirty thousand lamps, in a style superior to any thing of the kind out of the metropolis; the pantheon is at other times occasionally used for very large dinner parties, and for the exhibition of performances, for which the theatre is not adapted. The area is sometimes fitted up as a circus for equestrian exhibitions, for which it is better calculated than any place in the kingdom, out of London.
A garden and bowling-green, called Norwich Vauxhall, in Barrack-street, Pockthorpe, very pleasantly situated against the navigable river from Yarmouth; it is on a smaller scale than Ranelagh, is well furnished with boxes for company, and was tolerably frequented for two or three seasons after it was enlarged and fitted up in its present manner, but has been gradually falling in public estimation since, notwithstanding the proprietor has at several times brought forward a variety of amusements: and indeed it is not probable his exertions can be productive, its situation precluding it from a share of public favor.
The bowling-green near chapel-field, is much the largest in or near Norwich, and is well frequented by the tradesmen in the neighbourhood, and strangers, during the summer season.
The Adam and Eve garden, in St. Martin’s palace, near the cathedral, is a pleasant rural spot, on the opposite side of the river to Vauxhall, it has a good prospect of the horse-barracks, and in the summer seasons is very well frequented.
At Bracondale and Carrow, are some pleasant gardens, commanding a beautiful general prospect, particularly towards Thorpe, over the river.