Local Board of Health established, succeeding the Board of Paving
Commissioners.
1853.
June 28th. On Tuesday afternoon the ceremony of driving the first pile
of the Wellington Pier took place. The beach and terrace were decorated
with flags, &c. The pile driven had a brass plate inlaid, bearing the
following inscription:—“This, the first pile of the Wellington Pier, was
driven on the 28th of June, 1853, by S. C. Marsh, Esq., Mayor of this
Borough. David Waddington, Esq., M.P., chairman of the Company; Mr.
Peter Asheroft, Engineer; and C. J. Palmer, Secretary.” The procession
from the Hall comprised a body of police, then a band, followed by the
Mayor and Corporation, the Minister of the Parish, and the Town Clerk,
the Ancient Order of Oddfellows bringing up the rear. The procession
entered the Pier, marched to the far end, and there several blows by the
“monkey” were given to one of the piles; speeches made, colours hoisted,
guns fired, &c. When they retired the public were admitted free. The
pier was decorated with flags and laurels. Cosgrove’s brass band was in
attendance. Grand dinner at Victoria hotel at 8 p.m., and a ball at the
Town Hall. The pier, which cost £7,000, was opened to the public on Oct.
31st, and the day being fine, the town was _en fête_. The structure was
not finished till 1854.
July 28th. Re-opening of the Particular Baptist Chapel, after extensive
alterations.
Aug. 27th. Mortlock Lacon, Esq., died at his residence, Hall Quay, aged
66, and was buried at South Walsham.
Aug. Coast visited by a very heavy gale, and on Jan. 4th of the
following year, so boisterous was the wind that most of the shops in the
Market had to be closed, except the doors. The market on Wednesday was
suspended. The snow was of great depth.
About 90 boats employed in the mackerel fishery, each carrying ten men,
and 65 trawling smacks, belonging to the Port of Yarmouth. Sale of fish
realised nearly £27,000.
A herring 17½ in. long by 7½ in. in girth, and weighing 18 ozs., caught
near Yarmouth.—In Nov., 1870, a mackerel caught weighing 2 lbs. 11 ozs.,
length 19 in., and girth 10¼ in.
The herring fishery during this year was very successful. About 100 sail
of boats comprised the fleet of herring craft. Seven boats belonging to
Mr. Letts and Mr. Skuckford brought in 650 lasts. The prices realised
ranged from £4 10s. to £24 per last. The following ships left for
different parts of the Mediterranean: Isis, 2,282 barrels; Fanny Palmer,
1,750; Acis, 1,488; Race Horse, 2,385; Stamboul, 1,811; Clarissa, 400;
Tyro, 2,342; Fegossa, 1,728; Princess Royal, 1,480; Queen of the East,
1,925; Secret, 2,085; Earl Leicester, 2,800; Isma, 2,930.
Sept. 18th to Dec. 18th. The quantity of herrings sent by rail from
Yarmouth:—To London, 202,844 packages, weighing 7,559 tons; to Norwich,
3,873 packages, or 387 tons; to Eastern Counties Railways, 18,298
packages, or 914 tons; Eastern Union, 5,252, or 200 tons; to stations
beyond Peterborough on Midland, London and North-Western, and Great
Northern, 51,782 packages, or 2,589 tons; herrings in bulk to Manchester,
Birmingham, Worcester, &c., 500 tons—total, 281,850 packages, or 12,189
tons in weight.
Sept. Mr. Peter Coble, Mayor’s officer, died.
Dec. 31st. The Icehouse, situate near the Vauxhall Railway Station, was
partly destroyed by fire. The roof being thatched, it burnt very
fiercely, so that engines were not of much avail, and the fire continued
burning all night, and up to Sunday evening of New Year’s Day. It is now
(1884) occupied as a coal store.
1854.
July 19th. First stone of the Independent Chapel, King Street, laid.
Building opened in June, 1855; cost £3,700, including site.
One hundred and eighty-four licensed public-houses and 50 beer-shops in
the town.
George John Milles, Lord Sondes, High Steward of the Borough.