1.--On this date occurred the most serious and destructive fire that had
taken place in Norwich during the century. At an early hour in the
morning the premises of Mr. Daniel Hurn, rope maker, Dove Street, were
discovered to be on fire. The flames spread southwards to Messrs.
Chamberlin and Sons' wholesale warehouse, northwards towards Pottergate
Street, and westward to the Public Library. The premises in which the
fire originated, the warehouse, and a portion of the property on the
north were speedily destroyed, and ultimately the Library building was
consumed with its 60,000 volumes and the valuable Norton library. On
August 5th the Edinburgh public-house, at the corner of Dove Street and
Pottergate Street fell with a crash, and two or three persons were
severely injured.
2.--Died at Scone Palace, near Perth, William David Murray, fourth Earl
of Mansfield, K.T., aged 93. The deceased nobleman was better known to
Norwich politicians of a by-gone generation as Lord Stormont, who with
Sir James Scarlett, afterwards Lord Abinger, was returned as Conservative
member for the city at the first Parliamentary election after the passing
of the Reform Act. It was not until 1895 that the Conservative party
once more obtained the undivided Parliamentary representation of Norwich
by the return of Mr. Samuel Hoare and Sir Harry Bullard.
12.--Died at Swaffham, Mr. Herbert William Day, aged 76, who for upwards
of twenty-five years held the office of County Treasurer, and retired
shortly after the passing of the Local Government Act, 1889.
23.--At the Norwich Police-court, Samuel Matthews, of Raglan Street,
Dereham Road, was charged on eight summonses with unlawfully using the
name and title of doctor and of surgeon, thereby implying that he was a
registered medical practitioner. The Bench decided that Mr. Matthews, in
using the word "doctor," did not wilfully and falsely pretend to be
registered as such, and, therefore, dismissed the case; but they
considered there had been an infringement of the law in the use of the
word "surgeon," for which the defendant was fined 1, and 12s. costs. At
the Norwich County Court on the 24th Mr. Matthews was sued by the Master,
Wardens, and Society of the Art and Mystery of Apothecaries of the City
of London to recover the sum of 20 for unlawfully acting as an apothecary
by attending, advising, and supplying medicines to certain persons. A
special jury was empanelled to try the case, which was admitted.
Judgment was entered for the plaintiff society for 20 and costs. Mr.
Matthews was afterwards presented with a gift of plate weighing 300
ounces, subscribed for by the citizens as a mark of their esteem and
sympathy.
26.--The promises of Messrs. Pinchen and Co., brewers and mineral water
manufacturers at South Creake, were destroyed by fire. The damage was
estimated at 3,000.
28.--The church of St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich, was re-opened upon the
completion of the work of restoring the chancel to its original level.
This portion of the great work of restoration was carried out at the
expense of an anonymous donor.
30.--At the Episcopal Consistorial Court, held at Norwich Cathedral,
before Mr. Chancellor Blofeld, was heard an application for a faculty in
which citation had been granted against the Rev. Robert Middleton, rector
of St. Michael-at-Coslany, Norwich, for illegally, without any faculty
and in spite of remonstrance of William Joseph Simmons, one of the
churchwardens, removing a re-table from its position above the communion
table, and moving from the church certain ornaments which stood there,
namely, a cross of brass, two candlesticks, and two flower vases, and for
refusing to replace them. Mr. Middleton was cited to appear and show
cause why a faculty should not be granted to the churchwardens directing
them to replace the articles. The faculty was granted as prayed, with
costs against Mr. Middleton.