Nov. 18th. Messrs. Gurneys and Co.’s Bank erected and opened.
1855.
Jan. 1st. The town and neighbourhood visited with one of the highest
tides witnessed for many years. The wind blew hard from N.W., and the
moon was at the full. Some parts of Southtown were inundated, as also
the North Quay, reaching to the Laughing Image Corner. It reached the
north and south terraces on the beach, and a large boat floated near the
Holkham Steps.
July 28th. First number of the _Yarmouth Free Press_ published; enlarged
January 19th, 1856; and name altered to _Yarmouth Independent_, June
27th, 1857. (See August 14th, 1881.)
Aug. 11th. Collision between the Dover and Calais mail steamer “Vivid”
and the schooner “Henry,” of Yarmouth, by which the latter was run down
in Dover Roads.
Aug. 12th. Wesleyan Reform Chapel at Caister opened.
Aug. 20th. Affray with Militiamen. Several influential gentlemen
sustained severe injuries.
Aug. Laing’s Map of Yarmouth published. It took fifteen months to
complete, and cost £600. (See March, 1856.)
Sept. 5th. Brig “Venilia” launched from Mr. Rust’s yard.
Sept. 25th. Address voted by the Town Council to the Queen, on the fall
of Sebastopol.
Sept. 30th. National Thanksgiving Day for the successful issue of the
Crimean war.
Oct. 3rd. Three French gun boats came into the harbour.
Oct. 6th. Russian schooner “Sampo” captured by H.M.S. “Tartar,” and
brought into our harbour.
Oct. 25th. Loss of the steamer “Isle of Thanet,” off Yarmouth, and three
lives.
Oct. 26th. Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart., entertained the East Norfolk
Militia at Hopton.
Oct. The New Cemetery walled-in, and consecrated by Bishop Spencer, July
16th, 1856. (See Sept. 7th, 1876.)
Nov. 3rd. Two war-ships, “Phœnix” and “Mæander,” anchored in the
Roadstead.
Nov. 28th. Miss Fanny Kemble read Shakespeare’s _Julius Cæsar_ at the
Corn Hall.
Dec. 17th to 20th. Heavy gales; fifteen vessels driven ashore on the
Beach.
Yarmouth Water Works Company completed laying the water-pipes throughout
the town, and opened the works at Ormesby.
Deaths: Jan. 25th, Rev. Lithgoe, minister of the Roman Catholic
Church.—April 24th, Charles Day, Esq.
The Rev. C. Smyth, formerly a curate of St. Nicholas’ Church, ascended to
the summit of Monte Rosa and Monte Blanc.
The Yarmouth mackerel fishery realised a sum of £20,000, and 14,045 tons
of fish of all kinds were sent from this town by rail. 20,248 barrels of
herrings shipped at Yarmouth for foreign ports.
The Dene Well, Albion Road, covered up, and the ancient mode of drawing
water replaced by a pump, which was ordered to be removed in Nov., 1876,
on account of the impurity of the water.
Yarmouth Elocution Society established.
1856.
Jan. 30th. The Norfolk Artillery Militia left by rail for the camp at
Colchester.
Mar. 19th. Sarah Hunnibell attempted to set fire to the Gaol.
Mar. J. Laing, Esq., appointed Town Surveyor of Hastings, a similar
office to which he had held for several years in Yarmouth, and was
succeeded by A. W. Morant, Esq. (See Aug., 1875, and July, 28th, 1881.)
April 16th. Steam tug “Robert Owen” sunk at the Haven’s mouth.
May 29th. Peace celebration at the conclusion of the Russian War.
May. The Rev. J. H. H. McSwinney, minister of St. Peter’s Church,
presented with a silver salver before his departure for Cronstadt.
Appointed minister of St. John’s on his return in 1884.
July 13th. Wesleyan Free Church, Regent Road, opened.
Sept. 24th. First general meeting of the directors of the Yarmouth and
Haddiscoe Railway held at the Star Hotel.
Oct. 20th. Brigantine “Lizzie Lee” launched from Mr. J. Powell’s yard.
Oct. 23rd. “Parallax” lectured at the Corn Hall, and caused great
excitement by his public discussions.
Nov. 25th. Very high tide and heavy gale.
Dec. Rev. W. D. Wade appointed to the incumbency of St. Mary’s Church,
Southtown.
Commander Kisbie, R.N., awarded by the National Lifeboat Institution a
medal for saving 90 lives.
Thirty thousand two hundred and twenty-seven barrels of herrings shipped
at Yarmouth for foreign parts.