1.--The directors of the Norwich Yarn Company having obtained the minimum
sum necessary for commencing their new works on the ground purchased of
Mr. Youngman, the first stone of the new factory was laid on this day.
The event was celebrated by a procession in honour of Bishop Blaize, to
illustrate the pagan story of Jason's argonautic expedition to Colchis in
search of the Golden Fleece. The last celebration of the kind took place
in 1783. The character of Bishop Blaize was impersonated "most
appropriately, both as to age and gravity, by Richard Dickerson, comber,
who had taken part in the former procession." Starting from the premises
of the company, the procession paraded the principal streets of the city,
and halted opposite Mr. Bignold's house in Surrey Street, where an
"oratorical address" was delivered by the senior orator, Edward Warman.
At noon the procession arrived at St. Edmund's, where Mr. Bignold laid
the foundation stone, and, in addressing the company, stated that the
building about to be erected would be 163 ft. in length, by 42 feet in
width, and four storeys high. As the works already in operation afforded
employment to 800 people, this mill, which would be one-third larger,
would yield employment to 1,200. Upwards of 15,000 pounds had been
raised for defraying the cost of the works. The procession afterwards
moved by a circuitous route to St. Andrew's Hall, where the directors
entertained 900 persons who had taken part in the proceedings. John Sell
Cotman, who had sketched the pageant, announced the issue and sale of
folio prints illustrating the event. He stated: "In pure regard of the
children of the industrious poor of my native city, I give my labour,
with the entire profits of the work."
10.--The skeleton of a gigantic whale, taken at Plymouth in October,
1831, was exhibited on the Castle Hill, Norwich. It measured 85 feet in
length, and was advertised as "The Prince of Whales at Home."
25.--Christmas Day was ushered in with snowstorms and hailstorms,
thunder, and lightning. On the 26th the roads were rendered almost
impassable by the drifting snow, which, in some localities, was from ten
to twelve feet deep. Soon all vehicular traffic was stopped. The
Ipswich mail coach, which should have arrived at Norwich on Christmas
Day, did not reach the city until eleven o'clock on the night of the
29th. It was detained at Thwaite Duke's Head, whence the letter bags
were despatched in the charge of mounted messengers. One of the
passengers, Capt. Petre, undertook to walk to Norwich, a distance of
twenty-eight miles; he arrived in the city on the 28th, and thence
proceeded on his journey to Westwick House. The Newmarket mail could get
no further than Bury St. Edmund's, and all other public vehicles were
delayed. On the Dereham, Fakenham, and other turnpikes gangs of
labourers were employed to remove the snowdrifts. There were many
shipping casualties on the Norfolk coast. Such severe weather had not
been experienced since 1799. The thaw commenced in the middle of
January, 1837, and high floods occurred in the neighbourhood of Norwich
and in other localities.
26.--Ryan's Royal Circus was opened for the season in a large wooden
building erected at the Ranelagh Gardens, Norwich, by Mr. Bunn.
1837.