time it was considerably enlarged: in this Hall the Assizes, and quarter
Sessions, for the city, are held. It contains also the Mayor's office
for transacting daily business, the Town-clerk's and Chamberlain's
offices; and all elections for Majors and other officers, and all
questions of moment relative to the city, are here determined.
St. Andrew's hall, is a noble fabric, and was formerly a conventual
church of Benedictine friars, it was founded in 1415, consists of a nave
and two aisles, which remain nearly perfect; it had formerly a handsome
steeple, which fell down in 1712; the aisles are separated from the nave
by six elegant slender colomns which support the roof, they are half the
width of the nave, and the same length, the whole is 120 feet long, and
seventy wide; within the walls there are 45 windows, most of which were
formerly ornamented with painted glass, which is chiefly removed or
demolished. In the time of Henry the Eighth, through the interest of the
Duke of Norfolk, the citizens obtained leave to make of the church, a
fair and large hall for the Mayor, &c. to repair unto at a common
assembly, &c.
The St. George's Company formerly held their feasts and meetings here.
This fraternity took its rise in 1385, and at one time amounted to 240
members; in 1416, they received a charter of incorporation: in 1731, the
company resigned their charter into the hands of the Corporation; their
plate and paraphernalia were sold, their debts paid, and their meetings
entirely ceased. In 1544, the first Mayor's feast was held here, and in
1561, a sumptuous dinner, was given to the Duke of Norfolk, and a
numerous assembly of nobility and gentry, at which the Mayor's portion of
the expence, amounted to l. pound 12s. 9d. The bill of fare exhibits a
striking difference between the price of provisions at that period and
the present, beef being 1s. 6d. per stone, flour 6d. per bushel, and
double strong beer 2s. 6d. per barrel. King Charles the Second, and many
of the nobility, were entertained here in 1671. In 1774, this building,
underwent alterations, and received some additions, among which were the
present porch, and the room over it, fitted up as the City Library, in
which the Court of Requests for the recovery of small debts, is held. In
1796, the hall was opened as a Corn-Exchange for which purpose it is used
every Saturday. It was new painted, and the pictures cleaned in 1806.
The walls are decorated with numerous portraits of those who from
official situations or otherwise, have contributed to the welfare of the
city, among which, at the upper end is an admirable portrait of the
immortal Nelson, being the last, and it is considered the best for which
he ever sat. It was painted by Sir Wm. Beechey, in 1801. Also, two fine
historical paintings by Wm. Martin, of Edward and Eleanora, and the death
of Lady Jane Gray, which he presented to his native city. At the lower
end over the window is displayed, the ensign of the French ship, La
Genereux, captured by Sir Edward Berry, in 1800. Every satisfactory
particular, relative to this place, the pictures, artists, &c. may be
learned from a late publication, "A Companion to St. Andrew's Hall,
Price, 1s."
There is also a Jew's synagogue in St. Peter's Mancroft; two Catholic
meetings, one in St. John's Maddermarket, erected within the last thirty
years, the other in St. Swithins lane, of longer standing, and much
smaller. A French church in Queen-street, near Tombland, and the Dutch
church, so called, from having been formerly used by a Dutch congregation
adjoining St. Andrew's hall, but which is now used for the poor belonging
to the workhouse. Two Quakers' meetings, one of which is in St.
Augustine's Parish, on the south side the Gildencraft, which is a strong
brick building with a large burying-ground; the other in the Goat-lane,
near the market-place, which is much smaller and more generally attended.
There are several other places of worship, used by the Protestant
Dissenters, of which, that belonging to the Unitarians is by far the most
elegant. It is an octangular building supported within-side by eight
elegant Corinthian Pillars. The pews are wainscot, the cieling is an
ornamented dome, and the effect of the whole, is remarkably striking.
The first stone of the Building was laid, by the celebrated Dr. Taylor,
on the 25th of February, 1754. The expence of the building which was
near 5000. pounds was defrayed by the congregation, who can number among
their Ministers, several of great literay celebrity, in particular Dr.
John Taylor, Dr. Enfieid, Mr. Bourne, and Mr. George Morgan.
The Independents' meeting-house, stands a little to the east of the
foregoing, in the parish of St. Clement's: it is a large handsome square
building, and was finished about 1693. The limits of this design will
not admit of a particular enumeration of all the places of worship,
belonging to the various congregations of Anabaptists, Methodists, &c. of
which there are many, chiefly in the northern part of the city.
The Excise-office, is at the Bull, in Magdalen-street. The
Permit-office, in St. Peter's Hungate, opposite the Church. The
Stamp-office, St. Giles's Broad street, I. H. Cole, Esq. Receiver.
The Post-office is in the Tuns' court, near the market-place, where the
Mails arrive from London, every forenoon, (Monday excepted), between and
12 o'clock, and are dispatched every afternoon, (Saturday excepted), at
four o'clock; the Mails from all the intermediate places branching upon
the London road, arrive and are dispatched at the same time every day.
The Mail to Yarmouth, is dispatched immediately after the arrival of the
Mails from London, and the Mail from Yarmouth, arrives here every day at
four o'clock. The Mails from Cromer, Aylsham, North-Walsham, &c. arrive
here every day, early in the forenoon, and are dispatched from twelve to
one. G. Litchfield, Esq. Post-master.
Post-horse duty office, Rampant-horse street, St. Stephen's, Mr. J. M.
Murry, Collector.
Surveyor of Assessed Taxes, Mr. C. Lay. St. Giles's, broad street.
Norwich market has for a long series of years, been held in the highest
estimation, for the quantity and quality of provisions, with which it has
been supplied, particularly for poultry, which are sent from hence, in
considerable quantities to London, and various other parts of the
kingdom. The market is under the regulation of a Committee from the
Court of Aldermen, and Commons. Market-days, Wednesday and Saturday.
Collector of the market, Mr. R. Harmar. The Fish-market, adjoining, is
generally well supplied (from Yarmouth) daily, as is the butchery, with
beef and mutton.
The Norwich cattle-market, held on the castle meadow, every Saturday, has
for many years been increasing, and is considered at this time, the first
cattle-market in the kingdom, out of the metropolis. The Corporation, at
an Assembly held in September, 1809, ordered pens to be erected for pigs
and sheep, more convenient places to be assigned for beasts, horses,
stalls, waggons, carts, &c.; and tolls were ordered to be collected, viz.
for pigs and sheep, 8d. per score; beasts, when sold 2d. each, by the
purchaser; for horses, 6d. each; for waggons, brought for sale, 1s. each;
for stalls, 6d. each; for every auction, 1s.; for calves and mules, 1d.
each. Here also is the weighbridge for Hay, &c., Mr. C. Hubbard,
hay-weigher, and collector of the cattle-market.
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. pounds 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.
The village of Thorpe is delightfully situated on the navigable river to
Yarmouth, and commands a charming prospect; here are several places of
public resort which are well frequented during the summer season.
Chapel-field, which is on the south-west part of Norwich, was formerly a
place of much resort as a promenade, particularly on Sunday afternoons;
but within the last few years a reservoir has been made, and a large
tower built, which by a steam engine, at the New Mills, (which were first
erected in 1430, improved in 1695, and brought to perfection in 1802,)
and a subteraneous conveyance, is constantly suplied with water, some of
which is by machinery conveyed from the reservoir to the tower, for the
supply of such parts of the city as are above the level of the reservoir,
from whence it is distributed by cylinders and pipes of different
materials. The reservoir and tower have however, in some degree, spoil'd
its appearance, and together with military parades being generally in the
Market, or on the Castle-hill, and Meadow, have occasioned those places
to become the principal promenades.
The horse-barracks, about a quarter of a mile north-east of the City,
were erected in 1792, and are well worth the observation of a stranger;
they are capable of holding about 230 horses and men; the foot barracks,
just on the northern side of Coslany-bridge, are calculated to contain
about 740 men.
There are five public bridges over the river Wensum, besides one at the
New Mills, generally used by sufferance, which is of wood; four of the
others, viz.--Blackfriars', Fye-bridge, Whitefriars, and Bishop-bridge,
of stone, and Coslany of iron.
Among the miscellaneous buildings, &c. worthy the attention of the
antiquarian or stranger, is Kett's castle, so called from the famous
Norfolk rebel of that name, who encamped there in 1549, at the head of
20,000 insurgents, whose numbers were continually increasing. From this
place he attacked the city, where he committed every kind of outrage,
wantonly destroying many of the principal inhabitants, merely because
they were gentlemen, and burning and plundering most part of the city and
country adjacent. Every possible means were used by government to
disperse them by lenient means in vain; after which, a sufficient
military force was sent to subdue them, which was not effected till many
battles and skirmishes had taken place, with great slaughter to the
insurgents, and some loss to the army. After the main body were subdued,
pardon was again offered to a smaller party who remained in reserve, and
who presently complying with the offer, and with one voice cried out
"_God save King Edward_."
Kett and his brother were soon taken and committed to the Tower of
London, where they were tried and convicted of high treason, and shortly
after executed on gibbets, and hung in chains, one on the top of Norwich
castle, the other upon Wymondham steeple, Wymondham being the place of
their nativity, and nearly three hundred others of the ringleaders
suffered. It is computed that Kett's rebellion cost the nation at that
time near 20,000 pounds. This Castle was founded by Bishop Herbert,
about seven hundred years since, as a Chapel dedicated to St. Michael,
some small ruins of which are yet standing: it is situate on the brow of
Mousehold hill, just over Bishop bridge, near to which, close by the
river on the left hand, flows a spring of pleasant water, formerly much
resorted to, and over which was erected a handsome freestone conduit, by
Sir John Pettus, in 1611. A little further to the left, on the other
side of the river, stands the tower in the Hospital meadow, called the
Dungeon, or Cow's tower; it is a circular building, about fifty two feet
in height, and twenty four in diameter, with a round spiral staircase
reaching to the top; is supposed to have been originally built as an
advanced post and watch tower to the castle; Blomfield thinks it was
built in order to levy the tolls then belonging to the prior and the
church, and says it was used as a prison for the jurisdiction of the
Cathedral. The present tower is stated to have been built in 1390, at
the expence of the city.
In St. James's parish, opposite the church, is an old house, said to have
been built by the celebrated Sir John Fastolf, and termed in antient
records his palace, or city house.
Just within side of the walls near Ber-street, stands St. Catherine's
hill, on which is Mrs. Burroughes's house, the sight of which will well
repay the trouble of a walk. The buildings in Surry-street, among which
is Surry-house, a curious specimen of domestic architecture, the windows
of which were emblazoned on glass, with many armorial bearings. There
are also a number of good houses in St. Giles's-street, Messrs. Gurneys'
Bank, in St. Michael's Plea; the Flour mill, by steam, in St. Andrew's;
Mr. Patteson's brewery, in Pockthorpe, and many others, which will arrest
the attention of the stranger in his perambulation about the city.
Norwich, including the Hamlets, is divided into four great wards,
viz.--_Conisford ward_, _Mancroft ward_, _Wymer ward_, and _Great
Northern ward_; each of which is again subdivided into three small wards;
_Great Conisford_ containing _South Conisford ward_, in which is
comprized the parishes of St. Peter per Southgate, St. Etheldred and St.
Julian, and the hamlets of Trowse-milgate and Carrow; _North Conisford
ward_, in which is the parish of St. Peter per Mountergate. _Ber-street
ward_, in which are the parishes of St. John at Sepulchre, St. Michael
thorn, St. John Timber-hill, All Saints, and the Hamlet of Lakenham.
_Great Mancroft ward_ contains the Parishes of St. Stephen, St. Peter per
Mancroft, and St. Giles, each parish being a small ward in itself,
including the hamlets of Eaton, and part of Earlham and Heigham.
_Great Wymer ward_, is subdivided into three small wards, viz.--_West
Wymer ward_, contains the parishes of St. Benedict, St. Swithin, St.
Margaret, St. Lawrence and St. Gregory, with part of the hamlets of
Earlham and Heigham. _Middle Wymer ward_, contains the Parishes of St.
John at Madder-market, St. Andrew and St Michael at Plea. _East Wymer
ward_, contains the parishes of St. Peter at Hungate, St. Simon and Jude,
St. George Tombland, St. Martin at the Palace, and St. Helen.
_Great Northern ward_, subdivided into three small wards, viz.--_Coslany
ward_ contains the parishes of St. Michael, St. Mary and St. Martin.
_Colegate ward_ contains the parishes of St. George's Colegate, and St.
Augustine. _Fye Bridge ward_ includes the parishes of St. Edmund, St.
James, St. Paul, St. Saviour, and St. Clement. Each of the small wards
have the right of electing two Aldermen, and one of the Nominees for the
Common Council; the rest of the Common Council being chosen by the
Nominees. _Great Conisford ward_, including the Nominees, choosing
twelve,--_Great Mancroft ward_ sixteen,--_Great Wymer ward_ twenty,--and
the _Northern ward_ twelve. In ward elections the resident freemen only
have at right to vote, and the election for Nominees takes place on the
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, before passion-week.
The City is governed by a Mayor, Recorder, Steward, two Sheriffs,
twenty-four Aldermen, (of which the Mayor is one,) sixty Common
Council-men, a Town-clerk, Chamberlain and Sword-bearer, attended by
suitable officers.
The Mayor is elected by the freemen, on the first day of May, and sworn
into office on the guild-day, which is on the Tuesday before Midsummer,
except Midsummer-day fall on a Wednesday, in which case the guild is kept
the Tuesday se'nnight before the Mayor is chosen from among the Aldermen,
is a Justice of the quorum during his mayoralty, and afterwards Justice
of the peace.
On the death or resignation of an Alderman, the Mayor on receiving notice
thereof, must within five days, and not less than two; and giving not
less than twenty-four hours notice to the freemen in the great ward, in
which the small ward belongs, to elect another.
The Sheriffs are chosen--one by a letter from the court of Aldermen, in
the early part of July, and returnable if a full assembly can be made,
within fourteen days, upon paying a fine of 80 pounds to the corporation,
till the 10th of August; on which day, whoever holds it must serve the
office. The other Sheriff is elected by the freemen on the last Tuesday
in August, and they are both sworn into office on Michaelmas-day. The
Mayor with the Sheriffs, hold courts every Wednesday and Saturday, to
hear complaints, and to do every other act tending to the peaceable
government of the city.
The Recorder assists in the Mayor's court as chief Judge, as does the
Steward in the Sheriffs' court, they must both be barristers, and are
always Justices of the quorum, and Council for the city.
The quarterly assemblies are held on February the twenty-fourth, May the
third, the day before guild-day, and Sept. the twenty-first.
There are three Fairs in Norwich,--one on the Thursday before Easter, on
Tombland;--one on Easter-Monday and Tuesday;--and one on Whit-Monday and
Tuesday, by Bishop-bridge.
Here are several Insurance-offices, viz.--The Norwich Insurance
Fire-ffice, on Orford hill, opened in November 1792.
The Union office for insurance against loss by fire, corner of Briggs's
lane, near the market, established in March 1797;--and at the same place
The Union office, for the insurance of lives, and granting Annuities and
Endowments for children.
The General Equitable assurance office, for insuring property from fire,
in Bank street, established Michaelmas, 1807. The Anchor fire office,
Back of the inns, established in June 1808; besides various agencies,
viz.--
Sun fire office agent, Mr. John Taylor, _St. Andrew's_;--Royal Exchange,
Mr. J. Woodrow, _St. George's Colegate_;--Phoenix, Mr. H. Francis, _Surry
street_;--Suffolk, Mr. Marsh, _Bank street_;--British, Mr. L. F. Boyce,
_St. John's Maddermarket_;--Imperial, Mr. Charles Norton, _King street_.
A gentleman desirous of spending a few days in Norwich, cannot help being
gratified by seeing the various employments of its extensive
manufactories in Stuffs, Cottons, Shawls &c.--the first and last of which
are here carried to a perfection no where else to be met with in England.
Norwich adds greatly to the trade of Yarmouth, by the importation of
about 40,000 chaldrons of coals yearly; wine, fish, oil, Irish yarn, and
all heavy goods which come from thence by the river Yare: and in Peace
the exportation of its manufactures to Russia, Germany, Holland, Denmark,
Norway, Spain, Portugal, Italy, &c. The keels and wherries which
navigate between Norwich and Yarmouth are acknowledged to be superior to
any other small craft in England, for carrying a larger burthen, and
being worked at a smaller expence;--their burthen is from fifteen to
fifty tons; they have but one mast, which lets down, and carry only one
large square sail, are covered close by hatches, and have a cabin
superior to many coasting vessels, in which oftentimes the keelman and
his family live; they require only two persons to navigate them, and
sometimes perform their passage (thirty-two miles) in five hours.