1841.
Jan. 14th.—A meeting for the relief of the poor had been held, when £300
was raised in the room.
Jan. 21st.—Mr. E. R. Palmer had been appointed Inspector of Corn Returns.
Jan. 28th—The “Greyhound” (Barker) had arrived at Naples in fifteen days,
“being the quickest passage ever known.”
Feb. 11th.—About fifty tradesmen had dined at the “Star” to commemorate
the baptism of the Princess Royal.
Feb. 18th.—A local committee had been formed in connection with the
“Marine Penitent Female Refuge,” with the Hon. and Rev. E. Pellew,
president; Mrs. C. S. D. Steward, treasurer; and Mrs. G. Danby-Palmer,
secretary.
On Tuesday, the whole of the London traders, sixteen in number, were
lying in the harbour, owing to the late frost.
A meeting of the Conservative ratepayers had been held to protest against
the 1s. 3d. poor’s rate.
Feb. 25th.—A meeting had been held at the Town Hall for promoting a
railway from Yarmouth to London.
March 11th.—The works of the Victoria Building Company had been
commenced, and the Mayor had been requested to lay the first stone.
The “Saucy Jack,” 250 tons, had been launched from Mr. I. Chapman’s yard.
March 18th.—Wm. Barth, Esq., had received an appointment in the Money
Order Office of the Post Office, London.
March 25th.—Records the laying of the first stone on the Victoria
Building Company’s Estate, when Captain Harmer, R.N., (W.M. of Lodge
“United Friends,”) addressed the assembly as follows:—
“At the request of the Directors of the Victoria Building Company, we
are here assembled as Masons to assist our Worthy Brother, who now
occupies the civic chair of this borough, to lay the foundation stone
of this important and interesting work—important and interesting
indeed to Yarmouth. May the work prosper, and from the foundation
about to be laid, may structures arise ornamental to the town,
beneficial to its inhabitants, and advantageous to the builders. May
the promoters of these buildings live to see their great and spirited
design carried out, and when it shall please the Grand Leveller of
human greatness to call them from hence, may they arrive at the point
or centre where the World’s Great Architect lives and reigns for
ever.”
Bro. Richard Ferrier, P.M.—“So mote it be.”
The Mayor then proceeded to deposit two coins of her present Majesty in
the stone, over which a brass plate was laid bearing the following
inscription:—
“The first stone of Kimberley Terrace, Great Yarmouth, to be erected
by the Victoria Building Company, was laid by Samuel Palmer, Esq.,
Mayor of Great Yarmouth, on the 22nd day of March, in the Year of our
Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty One, and in the Fourth year
of the reign of Queen Victoria. William Steward, Esq., Chairman of
the Board of Directors; Thomas Marsh Nelson, Esq., Architect.”
A public dinner was afterwards held at the Royal Hotel, George
Danby-Palmer, Esq., in the chair.
April 1st.—The election of Guardians had ended in “the signal defeat of
the Tories.”
April 15th.—Messrs. C. Davie and D. A. Gourlay had been elected
Churchwardens by the Vestry.
April 22nd.—Mr. F. Preston’s shipyard was likely to be given up, thus
throwing many men out of employment.
An Ecclesiastical inquiry had been held “to make inquiry into a certain
charge preferred by one James Laws, a sailmaker, living in Row 99,
against the Rev. — —, Clerk in Holy Orders. Nathaniel Palmer, Esq.
(instructed by Messrs. Tolver, Preston and Tolver) appeared for the
respondent. The charge was that of soliciting the chastity of the
complainant’s wife by sending her letters, one of which was as
follows:—Meet me to-night about nine or half-past nine between Penrice’s
and the beach.” This charge, in the absence of the letter, was
pronounced by the Commissioners not to have been proved.
May 6th.—At the Leveé, S. Palmer, Esq., and Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart.,
had been presented by W. Wilshere, Esq., M.P.
Six hundred persons had been confirmed at St. Nicholas’ Church by the
Bishop of Norwich.
The “Indiaman,” 821 tons, had been launched from Mr. Preston’s yard for
Mr. Somes. She was estimated to cost £18,000.
May 13th.—The “Highlander,” 122 tons, had been launched from Mr. D.
King’s yard.
Mr. W. Johnson had been appointed a “tradesman to Her Most Gracious
Majesty.”
May 20th.—A merry peal was rung upon St. Nicholas’ Church bells in
consequence of Sir Jacob Astley having made good his claim to the Barony
of Hastings.
The Norfolk Yeomanry, under the command of Major Loftus, had entered the
town for seven days’ duty.
May 27th.—The Officers of this corps had given a splendid ball at the
Bath Rooms, at which 200 persons were present.
Mr. G. Blake had been summoned for refusal, on conscientious grounds, to
pay the Church Rate.
June 3rd.—A meeting had been held “in support of Her Majesty’s
Ministers.”
June 10th.—Messrs. Rumbold and Wilshere had issued their address to the
electors; Lord George Somerset and Mr. Smythe had been named as probable
Tory candidates for the Borough.
June 17th.—Mr. G. Blake had been ordered to pay 1s. 6d., the amount of
the Church Rate, “which he did and departed.”
The census had been taken, showing a population of 25,000.
During the week the roof had been placed on the hotel and houses forming
the south end of Kimberley Terrace.
June 24th.—The Mayor “having received the precept for the election
proceeded to the Market Place, and Guild Hall, accompanied by several
hundred gentlemen, when such precept was read,” no opposition being yet
announced.
The “Norfolk,” 120 tons, had been launched by Mr. A. R. Palmer.
July 3rd.—The election had taken place when Sir George Parker proposed,
and Mr. J. Brightwen seconded Mr. C. E. Rumbold; Mr. Geo. Danby-Palmer
and Mr. B. Dowson proposed and seconded Mr. Wilshere; Mr. R. Ferrier and
Mr. Lacon proposed and seconded Mr. Thos. Baring; and Mr. E. H. L.
Preston and Mr. W. H. Bessey performed the like office for Mr. J. Soames.
These proceedings lasted from eleven o’clock until half-past two o’clock,
during which time “it rained hard and many got wet to the skin,” but,
notwithstanding that, “a more disorderly attendance” had never been seen.
After the nomination the late members were chaired round the town, when
there was a scuffle in the Market Place and one man was seriously
wounded. Next day the poll was held and the numbers declared—
C. E. Rumbold 943
W. Wilshere 945
T. Baring 501
J. Soames 491
July 15th.—Alex. Shafto Adair, Esq., (the late candidate for East
Suffolk) had accompanied S. Palmer, Esq. (with whom he was staying), to
church.
The “Vanguard,” built by Mr. W. Teasdel, had sailed for London.
Six shipwrights, who had gone out with the “Norfolk” to finish her at
sea, were capsized on their return journey in their boat, one of them
named Cole being drowned.
July 22nd.—“Mr. R. R. B. Norman, surgeon dentist, had been admitted a
Licentiate of “Apothecaries’ Hall, London.”
The “Good Samaritan” Lodge had held its anniversary at the Gallon Can,
Gaol Street.
Mrs. Barnwell (late Miss Shipston), a native of Yarmouth, had given a
concert at the Town Hall to a very “genteel” audience. Among those
present were W. Wilshere, Esq., M.P., A. S. Adair, Esq., Rev. C. Penrice,
Mrs. G. D. Palmer, the Misses Chevalier, and G. Borrett, and A. Tompson,
Esq.
An explosion of fireworks had taken place at the Vauxhall Gardens, but,
fortunately, no one was injured.
The Races had been held, when the “Gold Cup,” value £100, was won by Mr.
S. Palmer’s “Langolee.” The £50 plate by Mr. Rogers’ “Jessica.” The
Vauxhall Coronation Cup Stakes by Mr. Munro’s “Clifton.” The Town and
Country Gentlemen’s plate by Mr. Horman’s “Blanche.” The Handicap Stakes
by Mr. Bradford’s “Vigilance,” and the Tally-Ho Stakes (for Hunters) by
Mr. Wm. Danby-Palmer’s “Daniel.”
July 29th.—The Mayor had proceeded to the Narrow Waters for the Water
Frolic, accompanied by Messrs. W. Wilshere, M.P., S. Jay, G. D. Palmer,
J. Tomlinson, W. Johnson, and several other members of the Corporate
body. The cup was won by the “Red Rover,” the property of Mr. S. C.
Marsh.
At night the Vauxhall Gardens had “a bumper.”
August 5th.—A splendid terrace, road, and promenade was being formed on
the Victoria Building Company’s Estate by Mr. George Fenn.
A very superb silver soup tureen weighing 230 ozs., was to be presented
to Samuel Paget, Esq., by the Shipping Assurance Association.
A _dejeuner_ had been given at the Barracks by Captain George W. Manby,
then in his 76th year, to commemorate the 38th anniversary of his
appointment as Barrack Master.
August 12th.—The census showed the population of the Borough to be as
follows:—
Males. Females. Total.
10,427 13,524 23,951
Sailors 1,300 1,300
Totals 11,727 13,524 25,251
August 19th.—The “Rosa Anna,” 115 tons, had been launched from Mr.
Lubbock’s yard.
August 26th.—A complaint was made by Mr. John E. Lacon to the Secretary
of State, that the police (being voters) had “on the day preceding the
recent election been permitted to resign, and that immediately after the
contest they were all re-appointed.”
The Mayor and Mrs. Palmer had given a bespeak at the Theatre.
Sept. 9th.—It was stated that Captain Harmer, “whose undaunted courage
had rendered him the means of saving many lives from shipwreck, had
obtained the command of H.M. Steamship “Driver,” on board which he
hoisted his flag a few days since.”
The “Oriental” (schooner), had been launched from Mr. Preston’s yard.
Sept. 16th.—There had been a fire at the house of Mr. Simon Jay, surgeon,
Regent Street.
Sept. 30th.—The Brethren of Lodge “United Friends” had given a dinner to
their late W.M., Capt. Harmer, R.N., previous to his departure in the
“Driver,” at the Star Hotel.
On Sunday, the following collections had been made for the Hospital:—S.
Nicholas’, £10; S. Peter’s, £16 14s. 2d.; S. George’s, £8 6s. 2d.; S.
Mary’s, £8 11s. 5¼d.; New Meeting, £5 3s. 4½d.; Wesleyan, £7 7s.; Old
Meeting, £3 6s. 8d.
At the Sessions, the Grand Jury presented the disorderly state of the
Market Place every evening between eight and ten o’clock.
Oct. 7th.—The testimonial before mentioned had been presented to Mr.
Samuel Paget, at a dinner held in the Town Hall. Geo. Danby Palmer,
Esq., was in the chair “doing the honours of the table with much spirit.”
Nov. 4th.—The Municipal election had passed over without contests, the
following was the return:—_St. Nicholas’ Ward_: R. Hammond and W. N.
Burroughs. _Market_: W. Johnson and John Owles. _Regent_: J. Tomlinson
and S. C. Marsh. _St. George’s_: T. Lettis, jun., and J. W. Shelly.
_Nelson_: G. Danby Palmer and W. Chambers. _St. Andrew’s_: T. Hammond
and S. Crowe.
John Penrice, Esq. had qualified as a Magistrate; the Editor remarks—“We
understand that a large batch of Tory Magistrates is about to be
created,” (George Bateman, James Clarke, J. F. Costerton, Ambrose Palmer,
E. H. L. Preston, J. C. Smith, and Wm. Yetts, Esqs., were then added to
the Roll of Justices.)
Wm. Johnson, Esq., had been requested by 38 Councillors to allow himself
to be nominated for the office of Mayor.
Nov. 11th.—On the 9th November, Mr. Johnson had been elected to that
office.
Nov. 25th.—The “Arab,” 175 tons, had been launched from Mr. Teasdel’s
yard.
The “Sabbath Observance Society” had issued an address, stating that “no
less than 144 shops were doing business; that carting of fish and other
articles connected with the fishing, and beer from the breweries, &c.,
was witnessed to a great extent, and that 150 public-houses were open on
the Lord’s Day.”
The Magistrates had cautioned Mr. I. Mayers and Mr D. L. Cohen (Jews) as
to Sunday trading.
Dec. 9th.—The “Driver” (Capt. Harmer) had been nearly lost on the rocks
under Steel point, near Flamborough Head, but after heaving the guns
overboard she got off and put into Shields for repairs.
Dec. 23rd.—The Savings’ Bank report showed 2,378 accounts and £71,521
16s. 10d. amount deposited.
The Rev. H. N. Burrows, A.M., had been elected Head-Master of the
Proprietary Grammar School.
1842.
Jan. 1st.—The half-yearly Hospital meeting had been held.
The prisoners had been regaled by the Mayor with roast beef, plum pudding
and one pint of beer each.
Jan. 8th.—Some boys had made a “slider” near Dr. Borrett’s house, upon
which Mrs. Borrett had fallen and broken one of her arms.
Jan. 20th.—A public meeting of the inhabitants had been held for the
purpose of considering the way in which they should celebrate the Royal
Christening, when Sir E. Lacon, the Hon. and Rev. E. Pellew, Messrs. G.
D. Palmer, J. Brightwen, W. N. Burroughs, I. Preston, C. Nichols, and J.
F. Costerton were, with others, present.
The members of the “Loyal Prince of Wales” Lodge of Oddfellows, which had
then been “newly formed,” dined together at the Black Lion, Bro. W. N.
Turner, N.G., presided, supported by Bro. Loft, P.G.M., and Bro. Raven,
P.D.G.M.; F. Palmer, Esq., surgeon to the Order, occupied the Vice-chair,
and about 50 Brethren were present; the following toasts were drunk:—“The
Queen,” “Prince Albert,” “The Princess Royal and the Prince of Wales,”
“The Duke of Sussex and the rest of the Royal Family,” “The Army and
Navy,” “Our Glorious Institutions,” and “The Loyal Prince of Wales’ Lodge
of O.F. of the M.U.”
Jan. 27th.—The Christening of the Prince of Wales had been commemorated
by a dinner at the Crown and Anchor Hotel, where the Mayor and a large
number of his friends dined together, and by a ball at the Town Hall
(opened by C. J. Palmer, Esq., and the Mayoress), at which about 200
persons were present.
A meeting had been held to consider the question of the erection of a
Corn Exchange.
The inmates of the Workhouse and Fisherman’s Hospital returned thanks to
S. Palmer, Esq., for an excellent dinner provided for them by that
gentleman on the “Christening Day.”
Feb. 3rd.—The London Mail did not get in until 12.38; the frequent delays
in these Mails were a source of serious inconvenience.
Feb. 10th.—The Vicar had issued an address, calling attention to the
spiritual destitution of the town, and the restoration of St. Nicholas’
Church.
A correspondent states, “Never, perhaps, has a church been so disfigured;
the introduction of that deformity, the Fisherman’s Gallery, that
wretched ‘gew-gaw’ the Mayor’s seat, those laternal deformities, the desk
and pulpit, and in a word those violations of every principle of taste by
which the building has been defaced, have rendered it the ugliest as well
as the dirtiest church in the Kingdom.”
Feb. 17th.—Great excitement had been caused in the town by the death of
James Duck, aged 69, after having been pushed or knocked down by Mr.
Francis Paget. The Coroner’s Jury found, “That deceased died of
apoplexy, aided and accelerated by a fall he received shortly before his
death, but how or in what manner the fall was received doth not appear to
the said Jurors,” only 12 (of the 18 Jurors) signed this inquisition.
Feb. 24th.—From a petition presented as to the Mail service, it appeared
there were then 574 ships of an aggregate burden of 50,325 tons,
belonging to this port.
Mr. Christopher Taylor had been appointed agent and surgeon to the sick
and wounded seamen, in the place of Wm. Taylor, Esq., deceased.
March 3rd.—2,300 inhabitants of Yarmouth had signed the petition for the
total Repeal of the Corn Laws.
March 10th.—Wm. Worship, Esq., had been elected a Councillor for the
North Ward.
March 31st.—A “Gold Coronation Medal” had been presented by the Queen to
Capt. Manby, for preservation of lives from shipwreck.
A meeting, convened by circular, had been held to consider Sir Robert
Peel’s proposed “Income Tax.” The Mayor presided; Mr. S. Cobb moved and
Mr. G. D. Palmer seconded, a resolution to the effect “That it is the
duty of the meeting by every constitutional means in its power to resist
the income tax proposed by Sir R. Peel.”
Mr. E. H. L. Preston moved, and Mr. C. Cory seconded as an amendment,
“That the Mayor be instructed to call a meeting of the public,” which was
lost by 31 to 34.
A petition was to be “got up” against the tax.
April 7th.—It was rumoured that Jas. M. Cox had been killed by W. B.
Ebbage, but the Jury found that he died from “mis-adventure.”
April 14th.—A Hemsby boat, which had put off to a vessel, had been lost
and nine hands drowned out of her.
May 5th.—The Vauxhall Gardens had been opened for the season, and 100
gentlemen had partaken of a cold collation there on the occasion.
Charges of manslaughter had been preferred before the Magistrates in
respect of the cases of Ebbage and Cox.
May 19th.—The Mayor had attended the Leveé and presented addresses to
H.M. the Queen, Prince Albert, and the Duke of Kent, on the birth of the
Prince of Wales.
June 9th.—Mr. Matthew Hastings Swann had had the degree of “Doctor of
Philology” conferred on him by the University of Berlin.
The Victoria hotel had been completed, and was to be opened by Mr. Balls
of St. James’ Square, London.
June 23rd.—The Victoria hotel had been opened with a public dinner, at
which J. E. Lacon, Esq., presided.
June 30th.—At the Hospital meeting it was stated that the annual
subscriptions had amounted to £334 9s., and the benefactions to £150 0s.
5d., the expenditure being £357 18s. 3d. 76 in-patients and 829
out-patients had been relieved. Geo. Penrice, Esq., M.D., was re-elected
physician, and J. C. Smith and Geo. Bateman, Esqs., were re-elected
surgeons.
July 14th.—Commissioners had been appointed for the purpose of carrying
into effect the provisions of the Income Tax Act.
July 21st.—Samuel Palmer, Esq., had been chosen clerk to such
Commissioners.
July 28th.—A prospectus had been issued for the purpose of establishing
“Shampooing Baths” at Yarmouth.
The Mayor had attended the Water Frolic; the first match was won by the
“Red Rover” (S. C. Marsh, Esq.)
August 4th.—There had been a fire at Mr. Harvey’s tan yard.
August 11th.—The first general meeting of the shareholders in the
Yarmouth and Norwich Railway had been held at the Victoria hotel, Geo.
Stephenson, Esq., in the chair. It was stated that the line would be
probably opened in the Spring of 1844, that the expenses already incurred
would not exceed £10,000, and that 8,000 shares had been taken up.
August 25th.—A “young lady from Lincolnshire,” about 18 years of age, had
eloped from lodgings on the Beach with a Yarmouth gentleman.
Sept. 8th.—At the Races, the Gold Cup was won by Mr. Wilshere’s
“Evasion”; the Vauxhall Stakes by Mr. H. Stracey’s “Protempore”; the
Member’s Plate, and the Gentlemen’s Plate by Mr. S. Palmer’s “Everilda”;
and the Handicap Stakes by Mr. Bignold’s “Camille.”
Strenuous endeavours were made to “put down low gambling,” but the
gamblers appeared to have found refuge in the public-houses, notably at
the King’s Head Inn, Market Place.
The “Bruce” had been launched from Mr. Chapman’s yard.
Sept. 15th.—The Mayor (W. Johnson, Esq.), had entertained 100 friends at
luncheon, on Sunday, after attending Church, where the Hon. and Rev. E.
Pellew had preached in aid of the Charity Schools, established in 1713.
The Race ball had been held at the Bath Rooms, which only 68 persons had
attended.
Sailing matches had been held on the river, the starting place had being
opposite the monument, when the “Red Rover” (S. C. Marsh), beat the
“Maria” (Sir J. Preston), and the “Neptune” (J. Green). The Royal
Sovereign won the Yawl Match.
Sept. 22nd.—H.M. the Queen had passed through the roads in the “Trident,”
accompanied by two other steamers.
Sept. 29th.—The “India” had, after extensive repairs, been launched from
Mr. A. R. Palmer’s yard.
Mr. R. Lubbock had launched the “Isabella” (200 tons) for S. Sherrington,
Esq.
Oct. 6th.—One of Mr. Shuckford’s boats had brought in 23½ lasts of
herring, valued at £700.
Oct. 13th.—The Corn Exchange in Regent Street had been opened, when 150
gentlemen dined together. B. Dowson, Esq., was chairman, and Messrs J.
E. Laws and Thos. Barber were vice-chairmen. The Mayor, G. Danby-Palmer,
Esq., Sir E. Lacon, Bart., and others being present.
Oct. 20th.—There had been a fire at the “New Commercial” club house.
Nov. 3rd.—A prisoner named Lessey complained to the Judge of the
Insolvent Debtors’ Court that he had lain in prison for 23 weeks before
he obtained his discharge, and had then been arrested again at the suit
of his solicitor for £19 19s. 4d. and was thus again a prisoner.