RECEPTION OF THE CHARTER OF INCORPORATION.
TUESDAY Afternoon, 22nd September, 1885, was the time appointed for the
official reception of the Charter of Incorporation. The Town Hall was
not sufficiently capacious to accommodate the large number of townsmen
who sought admission.
Chairs were ticketed for the following gentlemen, namely, to the right of
Major Seppings, the Mayor—Rev. T. A. Nash, James Peto, Esq., Rev. J. F.
Reeve, T. Lucas, Esq., E. K. Harvey, Esq., W. F. Larkins, Esq., H. G.
Woods, Esq. To the left of the Mayor—The Town Clerk, Geo. Bush, Esq.,
Sims Reeve, Esq., G. Keen, Esq., W. Chater, Esq., T. S. Allerton, Esq.
Amongst the Ladies were Mrs. Larkins, Mrs. Clubbe, Mrs. F. Worthington,
Mrs. J. Worthington, Mrs. F. Seago, Mrs. Warman, etc. Amongst the
gentlemen were Rev. Dr. English, Rev. J. Wright, Rev. H. I. Wonfer, Col.
H. Leathes, Messrs. T. R. Woods, W. R. Seago, W. Youngman, B. M.
Bradbeer, R. B. Nicholson, A. Lawrence, W. T. Balls, B. Preston, F.
Seago, F. Peskett, J. Hobson, W. Warman, J. L. Clemence, A. Adams, H.
Jefferies, R. B. Capps, S. Howett, R. W. Saul, T. Hobson, T. W.
Etheridge, T. H. Leggett, A. Stebbings, W. W. Garnham, J. Swatman, W.
Farrett.
The Mayor said: Ladies and Gentlemen, I regret that the capacity of our
Town Hall, is not sufficient for the number of townsmen who seek
admission. If we were to adjourn to the Market Place that would be only
sufficiently large. However, our proceedings will not be very long. I
will at once enter on the business before us. My duty to-day is to
receive the Charter of Incorporation, which our Most Gracious Queen in
Council Assembled has been pleased to grant us. (Applause.)
Mr. Keen, (of the firm of Messrs. Keen, Rogers, & Co.,) then rose, and
was received with applause. He said: I have been honoured by Her
Majesty’s Privy Council, who have entrusted me with the duty of conveying
to its destination the Charter of Incorporation of the Borough of
Lowestoft. In parting with it I may be allowed to hope as our native
country has prospered and thriven under our Great Charter, and as the
various towns and boroughs have prospered under their respective
charters, so may the good town of Lowestoft go on to more and more
prosperity under this its own charter. (Applause.) Ladies and
Gentlemen, I am sure I am speaking the sentiments of the whole Borough
when I say I could not place the charter in more worthy hands. (Renewed
applause.)
The Mayor then received the black tin box containing the important
document. Having taken the Charter out of the box he handed it, amid
applause, to
The Town Clerk (Mr. J. E. Cook), who read the lengthy document.
BOROUGH OF LOWESTOFT.
* * * * *
CHARTER OF INCORPORATION.
* * * * *
_VICTORIA_, _by the Grace of God_, _of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland_, _Queen_, _Defender of the faith_, _to all to whom
these presents shall come_, _greeting_.
WHEREAS by the Municipal Corporations Act, 1882, it was enacted that if
on the Petition to Us of the Inhabitant Householders of any Town or Towns
or District in England, or of any of those Inhabitants, praying for the
grant of a Charter of Corporation, we, by advice of our Privy Council,
should think fit by charter to create such Town, Towns, or District, or
any part thereof specified in the charter with or without any adjoining
place a Municipal Borough, and to incorporate the inhabitants thereof, it
should be lawful for us, by the charter to extend to that Municipal
Borough and the Inhabitants thereof so incorporated the provisions of the
Municipal Corporations Acts.
And it was further enacted that every Petition for a Charter under the
said Acts should be referred to a Committee of the Lords of our Privy
Council (in the said Act called the Committee of Council) and that one
month at least before the Petition should be taken into consideration by
the Committee of Council, notice thereof, and of the time when it should
be so taken into consideration, should be published in the _London
Gazette_, and otherwise in such manner as the committee should direct for
the purpose of making it known to all persons interested.
And it was further enacted that where We by Charter should extend the
Municipal Corporations Acts to a Municipal Borough, it should be lawful
for us by the Charter to do all or any of the following things:—
(_a_) To fix the number of Councillors and to fix the number and
boundaries of the Wards (if any), and to assign the number of Councillors
to each Ward; and
(_b_) To fix the years, days, and times, for the retirement of the first
Aldermen and Councillors; and
(_c_) To fix such days, times, and places, and nominate such persons to
perform such duties and make such temporary modifications of the
Municipal Corporations Acts, as might appear to Us to be necessary or
proper for making those Acts applicable in the case of the first
constitution of a Municipal Borough.
And that the years, times and places fixed by the Charter, and the
persons nominated therein to perform any duties, should as regarded the
Borough named in the Charter be respectively substituted in the Municipal
Corporations Acts for the years, days, times, places, officers, and
persons therein mentioned and the persons so nominated should have the
like powers and be subject to the like obligations and penalties as the
officers and persons mentioned in those Acts for whom they would be
respectively substituted:
And that subject to the provisions of the Charter authorised thereby the
Municipal Corporations Acts should on the Charter coming into effect
apply to the Municipal Borough to which they should be extended by the
Charter: and where the first Mayor, Aldermen, and Councillors, or any of
them should be named in the Charter should apply as if they were elected
under the Municipal Corporations Acts, and where they should not be so
named should apply to their first election:
And whereas certain inhabitant householders of the District of the
Lowestoft Improvement Commissioners did in the month of January, 1885,
petition Us for the grant of a Charter of Incorporation:
And whereas such petition was referred to a Committee of our Privy
Council, and one month at least before the same was taken into
consideration by the said committee, notice thereof and of the time when
the same was so to be taken into consideration was duly published in the
London Gazette and otherwise as directed by the Committee:
And whereas our Privy Council have recommended Us to grant this Charter
of Incorporation:
We, therefore, as well by virtue of Our Royal Prerogative as in pursuance
of and in accordance with the Municipal Incorporations Act, 1882, or any
other Act or Acts and of all other powers and authorities enabling Us in
this behalf, by and with the advice of our Privy Council, do hereby grant
order and declare as follows:
(1.) The District of the Lowestoft Improvement Commissioners as defined
in the First Schedule to these presents is hereby created a Municipal
Borough by the name of the “Borough of Lowestoft.”
(2.) The inhabitants of the said District, and their successors, shall
be, and are hereby declared to be one body politic and corporate, by the
name of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses of the Borough of Lowestoft,
with perpetual succession and a Common Seal, and may assume armorial
bearings (which shall be duly enrolled in the Herald’s College), and may
take and hold such lands and hereditaments as well without as within the
Borough as may be necessary for the site of the buildings and premises
required for the official purposes of the Corporation and other purposes
of the Municipal Corporations Acts, not exceeding in value the amount of
£2500 by the year.
(3.) The Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses of the said Borough shall have
the powers, authorities, immunities, and privileges usually vested by
law, in the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses of a Municipal Borough, and
the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Acts shall extend to the
said Borough, and the inhabitants thereof incorporated by this charter:
(4.) The number of the Councillors of the Borough shall be 24:
(5.) The Borough shall be divided into four Wards, with the names and
bounds specified in the First Schedule to these presents:
(6.) Each of the Wards shall elect six Councillors:
(7.) For the purpose of making the Municipal Corporations Act, 1882,
applicable in the case of the first constitution of the Borough, we do
hereby, so far only as regards the first Burgess List, first Burgess
Roll, and first Election of Councillors, Mayor, Aldermen, Town Clerk, and
Treasurer for the Borough, fix and order as follows:
(_a_) The Town Hall in the Town of Lowestoft shall be the place at which
any list, notice, or document required to be affixed, on or near the
outer door of the Town Hall is to be affixed; and
(_b_) Both in relation to the matters aforesaid, and also in relation to
any such election as aforesaid, which it may be necessary to hold before
a valid election can be held under the Municipal Corporations Election
Act, 1882, JOSEPH EDWARD COOK, of Lowestoft; or in case of his death,
inability, refusal, or default, THOMAS SIMPSON ALLERTON, of Lowestoft,
shall perform the duties of Town Clerk; and SIMMS REEVE, of Norwich; or
in case of his death, inability, refusal or default, WILLIAM CHATER, of
Lowestoft, shall perform the duties of the Mayor and the assessors for
revising the Burgess List, and the separate list of persons qualified to
be Councillors; and HENRY SEPPINGS, of Lowestoft, or in case of his
death, inability, refusal or default, GEORGE BUSH, of Lowestoft, shall
perform the duties of the Mayor and Aldermen respectively, as returning
officer, and of the Mayor as summoner of the first meeting of the
Council, and of the Mayor or Chairman of the Meeting for the election of
the Mayor, Aldermen, Town Clerk and Treasurer.
And the said persons shall be substituted in the Municipal Corporations
Act, 1882, for the said Town Clerk, Mayor, Assessors, Aldermen, and
Chairman, respectively, so far as relates to the matters aforesaid: and
(_c_) The first meeting of the Council of the Borough shall be held on
the ninth day of November, 1885:
(_d_) The first Councillors shall be elected on the first day of
November, 1885, and the first Mayor and Aldermen on the ninth day of
November, 1885.
(8.) The years and days specified in the Second Schedule to these
presents shall be the years and days for the retirement of the first
Aldermen, and Councillors, who shall retire in the manner and at the
times therein designated.
(9.) Subject to these presents and the second schedule thereto the
provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1882, shall apply to the
determination of the qualifications of the Burgesses, the making out,
signing, delivering, inspection, completion, publication, commencement,
and continuance of the first Burgess Lists and Burgess Rolls, the claims,
objections, and determinations with regard to the first Burgess Lists or
Rolls the holding adjournments and decisions of the first Revision
Courts, the nominations, elections and continuance in office of the first
Mayor, Aldermen, Councillors, Auditors, and Assessors, the appointment
and continuance in office of the first Town Clerk and Treasurer, the
first Meeting, and Quarterly Meeting of the Town Council, and all matters
and things touching and concerning the above, and the dates and times in
the said act mentioned shall be the dates and times on, at, during within
or for which the matters aforesaid, and the various acts and things in
relation thereto shall take place, be done, be estimated or be
calculated.
* * * * *
FIRST SCHEDULE.
METES AND BOUNDS OF BOROUGH.
The Boundaries of the Borough are identical with those of the District of
the Lowestoft Improvement Commissioners, and comprise the whole of the
Parishes of Lowestoft with Kirkley, otherwise Kirtley, in the County of
Suffolk.
* * * * *
NAMES AND METES AND BOUNDS OF EACH WARD.
EAST WARD.
The East Ward comprises so much of the Borough as is bounded on the North
by the Borough Boundary, on the East by the German Ocean, on the South by
the Outer Harbour, and on the West by a line commencing at a point in the
Borough Boundary in the centre of the Yarmouth Road, and proceeding
thence in a South-Easterly direction along the centre of the Yarmouth
Road to the junction of the same with Park Road, and thence in a
Southerly direction along the centre of Park Road and Albert Street to
the junction of the last-named street with Mariners’ Street, and thence
in an Easterly direction along the centre of Mariners’ Street to its
junction with High Street, and thence in a Southerly direction along the
centre of High Street and the London Road to the junction of the London
Road with Mills Road, and thence in a Westerly direction along the centre
of Mills Road to the junction of the same with Clapham Road, and thence
in a generally Southerly direction along the centre of Clapham Road to
its junction with Bevan street, and thence in a South-Easterly direction
along the centre of Bevan Street to its junction with the London Road
near the Suffolk Hotel, thence in a Southerly direction along the London
Road to the Harbour.
NORTH WARD.
The North Ward comprises so much of the Borough as is included within a
line commencing at a point in the Borough Boundary in the centre of the
Yarmouth Road, and proceeding thence in a South-Easterly direction along
the centre of the Yarmouth Road, to the junction of the same with Park
Road, and thence in a Southerly direction along the centre of Park Road
and Albert Street to the junction of the last-named street with Mariners’
Street, and thence in an Easterly direction along the centre of Mariners’
Street to its junction with High Street, and thence in a Southerly
direction along the centre of High Street, and the London Road, to the
junction of the London Road with Mills Road, and thence in a Westerly
direction along the centre of Mills Road, Love Road, and Love Lane, to
the junction of Love Lane with Rotterdam Road, and thence in a Northerly
direction along the centre of Rotterdam Road, to its junction with
Beccles Road, and thence for a few feet along the centre of the Beccles
Road in a Westerly direction to a point exactly opposite the footpath
which leads in a Northerly direction towards St. Margaret’s Church, and
thence to and along the said footpath and along the road or lane which
forms a continuation of the said footpath, and runs by and to the East of
certain pits to the junction of the said road or lane with the Oulton
Road, just South of St. Margaret’s Church, and thence in a Westerly
direction along the centre of the Oulton Road to the Borough Boundary,
and thence, first in a North-Westerly and Northerly direction and then in
a generally Easterly direction along the Borough Boundary to the point of
commencement before described.
WEST WARD.
The West Ward comprises so much of the Borough as is included within a
line commencing at a point in the Harbour under the bridge over the same
and proceeding thence in a Northerly direction to and along the centre of
the London Road to the junction of the same with Bevan Street, and thence
in a North-Westerly direction along the centre of Bevan Street to its
junction with Clapham Road, and thence in a generally Northerly direction
along the centre of Clapham Road to the junction of the same with Mills
Road, and thence in a Westerly direction along the centre of Mills Road,
Love Road, and Love Lane, to the junction of Love Lane with Rotterdam
Road, and thence in a Northerly direction along the centre of Rotterdam
Road to its junction with the Beccles Road, and thence for a few feet
along the centre of Beccles Road, in a Westerly direction to a point
exactly opposite the footpath which leads in a Northerly direction
towards St. Margaret’s Church, and thence to and along the said footpath
and along the road or lane which forms a continuation of the said
footpath and runs by and to the East of certain pits to the junction of
the said road or lane with the Oulton Road, just south of St. Margaret’s
Church, and thence in a Westerly direction along the centre of Oulton
Road to the Borough Boundary, and thence, first in a South-Westerly and
Southerly direction and then in an Easterly direction along the Borough
Boundary to the point where the boundaries of the three parishes of
Lowestoft, Kirkley, and Carlton Colville meet in Lake Lothing or the
Inner Harbour, and thence in an Easterly direction along the Inner
Harbour to the point of commencement before described.
SOUTH WARD.
The South Ward comprises so much of the Borough as is bounded on the
North by the Inner and Outer Harbour, on the East by the German Ocean,
and otherwise by the Borough Boundary.
SECOND SCHEDULE.
Persons to Retire. Date of Retirement.
The one-third of the Councillors in each 1st. November, 1886.
ward who are elected by the smallest number
of votes shall go out of office on
The one-third of the Councillors in each 1st. November, 1887.
ward who are elected by the next smallest
number of votes shall go out of office on
The remaining one-third of the Councillors 1st. November, 1888.
in each ward shall go out of office on
The one-half of the Aldermen who first go 9th. November, 1888.
out of office shall be those who are
elected by the smallest number of votes,
and shall go out of office on
The remaining one-half of the Aldermen 9th. November, 1891.
shall go out of office on
If any Councillors in any ward or any Aldermen have obtained an equal
number of votes, or have been elected without a poll, so that it cannot
be determined which of them has the smallest number of votes, the Council
of the Borough shall, at the first or second quarterly meeting, and not
later, by a majority of votes, or in case of an equality of votes, by the
Casting vote of the Chairman, determine who are to go out of office at
the times above specified respectively.
In return whereof we have caused these Our letters to be made Patent.
Witness Ourself at Westminister, the 29th day of August, in the 49th year
of Our Reign. By Warrant under the Queen’s Sign Manual,
MUIR MACKENZIE.
Here follows the
Queen’s Sign Manual.
The Mayor said he had only one resolution to bring before the meeting,
and he would ask Mr. Thos. Lucas, a gentleman well-known to all in former
years, and one who was allied with the great promoter of the prosperity
of Lowestoft—Sir Morton Peto—to propose it. The town owed very much to
Sir Morton Peto and the eminent firm of Messrs Lucas Bros., for its
prosperity.
Mr. Thos. Lucas on rising was received with prolonged applause. He said
he had been requested by the Mayor to propose “That the inhabitants of
the Borough of Lowestoft in public meeting assembled hereby desire to
express their great gratification at the grant by Her Most Gracious
Majesty the Queen by and with the advice of her Privy Council, of a
Charter of Incorporation of Lowestoft with Kirkley; and also their
earnest hope that the Charter may tend to the advancement, extension, and
prosperity of the town.” This was, Mr. Lucas said, a peculiarly
interesting ceremony to him. In September, thirty-one years ago, he
entered Lowestoft with his friend Sir Morton Peto, and, he ought to be
able to say, “Sir” James Peto. (Hear, hear.) The names of the gentlemen
who were prominent in the town then were Edwd. Leathes, F. Morse, H. G.
Woods, Youngman (father and son), the Gowings, Seago, Balls, Barnard,
Howett, and several others. This year happened to be the anniversary of
the introduction of the Improvement Act of 1854, and of the formation of
the Improvement Commissioners. On looking over the list who formed that
body in 1854–5, he noticed that eighteen of them were no more, and not a
single one of them was a member of that Commission at the present time.
There might be some persons who knew Lowestoft thirty-one years ago, and
if so, it was only those who could properly appreciate the stride it had
made. He knew Lowestoft years before that date, when the inner harbour
was first formed, and there were very few houses on the south side. The
progress, north, south, east and west of the town was remarkable.
Instead of the very small harbour which was made thirty years ago,
Lowestoft now possessed one of the finest harbours in the kingdom.
Lowestoft had a magnificent fleet of fishing vessels, worth any person
coming from London to look at. The Railway Company had done great things
for Lowestoft. It used to be considered a great feat to get from London
to Lowestoft in 5½ hours, now the journey was accomplished in three
hours. An important interest connected with the town was that of the
visitors. He was sanguine that following the inauguration of the Charter
of Incorporation more accommodation and conveniences would be provided
for visitors. Some of the requirements, though considered as luxuries in
former times, were now regarded as necessities. He would, if he might,
ask the gentlemen who would form the governing body of the town to turn
their attention to the drainage. It was quite true he was interested as
an owner of land on the south side, but that was a mere bagatelle and did
not weigh one iota with him, because he could dispose of it in
twenty-four hours if he wished. But he never lost the touch of interest
he felt in Lowestoft. He would compare the growth of Lowestoft with the
growth of another place. Just before Sir Morton Peto (one of those
far-seeing men) bought the harbour at Lowestoft, he did a similar thing
at Folkestone. That place was very much like Lowestoft, with a few
houses and few people. They did not receive Sir Morton Peto nor himself
with open arms; in fact they were christened “foreigners.” The people
there could not see that it would be an advantage to make any effort to
improve the place, nor to encourage those who were willing to help them.
After a time the people saw the advantages the place possessed, and they
struck out boldly, houses sprung up in all directions, and mansions were
there which had recently been occupied by Princes. There were baths,
assembly rooms, club rooms and tramways up the cliffs. It was proposed
to have a National Art Gallery there in 1886, and for that purpose a
guarantee fund of £50,000 was required. £38,000 of the amount was
guaranteed within two months, and he believed the whole amount would be
guaranteed very shortly. His object in mentioning Folkestone was because
he believed Lowestoft was capable of doing a great deal more than it had
done. He did not mean by that that Lowestoft could raise a guarantee
fund of £50,000 in a short time, but he would say there ought to be pluck
enough in Lowestoft after receiving the Charter, to do certain things
which very much required to be done. The drainage question he would
leave in the hands of the Corporation. (Laughter, and hear, hear.) A
great want in Lowestoft was Assembly Rooms, where high-class
entertainments could be given. Something was wanted for the amusement of
young people, and for that purpose Assembly Rooms were required. He was
prepared to say that if good club rooms were near the harbour, Lowestoft
would be favoured with visits by the largest yacht clubs. He had seen as
many as thirty yachts, between sixty or seventy tons each in the harbour
at one time, and he would ask what reason was there that such a sight
should not be seen in the harbour again. (Hear, hear.) Medicated and
other baths were wanted, and they should be near the reading rooms.
Within the last week he had been in the company of the Chairman of the
Great Eastern Railway Company. He discussed with that gentleman his
opinion as to what ought to be done in Lowestoft. He felt bound to say
that no gentleman could possibly offer to meet the town with more
liberality and kindness than Mr. Parkes. (Loud applause.) Of course,
Mr. Parkes could not commit the railway company, nor would he commit
himself. Mr. Parkes however expressed his desire to co-operate for the
benefit of Lowestoft on the condition that the townspeople did their
part. If the people intended Lowestoft to be what it ought to
become—namely, a first-class watering-place, the inhabitants must drop
their little differences and co-operate together. The prosperity of the
town was far too important a matter to be impeded by personal
differences. He had a temper, and he knew it, but he schooled it, and
during his thirty-six years connection with Lowestoft he had had
transactions with all classes of men—Tory, Radical, Nonconformist, and
Churchman, and he hoped he had never offended one of them nor had one of
them offended him. (Hear, hear.) If he did not agree with a man, that
man had just as much right to an opinion as he (Mr. Lucas) had. He
always respected the opinions of his opponents. (Applause.) He urged
that in electing the corporation they should not care to what party a man
belonged, but that they should put aside all personal feeling, and elect
the very best men they could find. They had no right to think of
anything, or of anybody but the prosperity of the town. If that line was
followed out, the Charter would be, in his opinion, a great blessing to
the town. If at the beginning they took an opposite direction they would
make a mistake. When the list of candidates for the first Board of
Commissioners appeared it represented every class. He advised a similar
course with regard to the New Town Council. Let every class be
represented by the very best men. Then they would give tone, dignity and
go, to the whole thing. In the Mayor they required a gentleman of long
experience, energy, high character, integrity, and means. (Laughter.)
The last-mentioned qualification was an important one. If Lowestoft
started well under the Charter, it would go on well, but if it started
badly, it would take a long time to get right again. He had this week
paid a visit to the Lord Lieutenant of the County (Lord Stradbroke), at
Henham, and although his Lordship was very old, he enjoyed good health.
(Hear, hear.) His Lordship desired him to convey to the town (through
the Mayor), his warmest congratulations on it becoming a Borough, and he
wished Lowestoft continued prosperity. Viscount Dunwich would have
attended the reception of the Charter, but he was away from home. In
conclusion Mr. Lucas said—I should like to couple the name of my brother
(Mr. C. Lucas), with what I am about to say. If you will help us we will
go out of our way to help you. If the new Corporation should not think
it worth to go on making improvements I shall make my bow and say
farewell. We are quite prepared to assist in promoting the North end as
well as the South. If you go round the district, as I have been doing,
there is not a single building put up for a first-class residence. What
we have done for Kirkley is for the good of the town, and I would beg of
you to remember these things. After a passing reference to the Railway
Company, and Sir Morton Peto, and prophesying a great future for
Lowestoft, Mr. Lucas (who became Sir Thomas Lucas) resumed his seat amid
loud cheers.
The Rev. J. F. Reeve seconded the resolution, which was supported by the
then Rector, Rev. T. A. Nash, and, on being put to the meeting, was
carried with enthusiasm.
Colonel Leathes proposed thanks to the chairman, Mr. E. K. Harvey
seconded, and the vote was accorded with acclamation. The Mayor replied,
and Mr. Lucas then eulogised Mr. W. Youngman for the very great interest
he took in the Borough, and the exertions he had made to promote its
prosperity.
Mr. B. M. Bradbeer called for three cheers for the Queen, and these
having been given, the proceedings closed with cheers for the Mayor.