13.--"As You Like It" was for the first time performed locally as a
"pastoral play" in the grounds of Mousehold House, Thorpe Hamlet, the
residence of Mr. W. H. Hackblock. The comedy was represented by amateurs
on the occasion of a garden _fete_.
16.--The new prison on Plumstead Road, Norwich, designed by the surveyor
to the Prison Department, and built by Messrs. W. and T. Denne, of
Walmer, Kent, was completed on this date. The prisoners were transferred
from the Castle to the new prison on August 2nd. On September 12th the
Prison Commissioners gave formal possession of the Castle to the Mayor
and Corporation. The late Governor (Mr. A. E Dent), in handing the keys
to the Town Clerk (Mr. H. B. Miller), remarked that the Castle had for
many generations--since 1345, when it was first used as a county prison,
been in the hands of governors, and he was glad, as the last of that long
line, to hand over the building to the Corporation to be employed for a
different purpose in the future. (_See_ July 27th, 1891.)
20.--Mr. Henry Chaplin, M.P., was the principal speaker at a great
Primrose League _fete_ given in Melton Constable Park by Lord Hastings.
25.--Died, at his resident, at Sevran, in the environs of Paris, Mr.
William Bateman, aged 75. He was second son of Mr. John Bateman, of
Norwich, and brother of Dr. Bateman. At the age of 29 he settled in
Paris as a merchant and acquired an ample fortune. During his mercantile
career Mr. Bateman established extensive commercial operations in Spain,
and in 1870 King; Amadeus conferred upon him the dignity of Knight of the
Order of Charles III. of Spain. Mr. Bateman married the eldest daughter
of Mr. William Harrison, of Yarmouth.
27.--The Premier (Lord Salisbury) visited Norwich. His lordship was
received at Thorpe station by the High Sheriff (Sir Alfred Jodrell,
Bart.), the Mayor (Sir Harry Bullard), and Lieutenant-Colonel Bignold,
the leader of the Conservative party in the city. Escorted by a
cavalcade of fifty horsemen, among whom were several leading residents in
the county and city, Lord Salisbury drove to Harford Lodge, the residence
of Colonel Bignold. In the evening the Premier addressed a great
meeting, held at the Agricultural Hall, under the presidency of Colonel
Bignold, and at the conclusion of the proceedings travelled by special
train to Coltishall, whence he drove to Horstead Hall as the guest of Sir
Edward Birkbeck, M.P., and the Hon. Lady Birkbeck. Lord Salisbury
returned to Norwich on the 28th, and after attending a luncheon given at
the Guildhall by the Mayor, proceeded to the Agricultural Hall, where he
received addresses presented by deputations from many Conservative
associations in East Anglia. Having delivered a further address his
lordship departed from Thorpe station by the 3.25 train for London.