Chronological Retrospect of the History of Yarmouth and Neighbourhood Part 46

July 18th. C. Woolverton, E. R. Aldred, R. D. Barber, and C. E. Bartram, Esqs., sworn in as Magistrates for the Borough.

July 22nd. Horticultural and Floral Fete held at the a.s.sembly Rooms.

July 27th. Balloon ascent by Professor Simmons from the Victoria Gardens. This was the first aerial ascent in Yarmouth since Sept. 17th, 1852.

Aug. 11th. Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Young, the well-known actor and actress, presented with a testimonial-an address beautifully written on vellum, a port-monnaie, and a sum of money-at the Corn Hall, in recognition of their talented aid in an amateur entertainment given at the Regent Hall, on June 23rd, on behalf of the Yarmouth Hospital.

Aug. 18th. The corner-stone of the Methodist New Connexion Sunday School at Burgh laid by J. A. Horner, Esq., of Burgh Grange.

Aug. James Cherry, Esq., appointed Revising Barrister for Leicester and Rutland.

Sept. 23rd. The B battery C brigade of Royal Horse Artillery, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Bishop, arrived at the Armoury.

Oct. 24th. Heavy gale and loss of three vessels. Upwards of sixty French fis.h.i.+ng boats (1,200 to 1,400 men) sought refuge in the Harbour.

The s.s. "Ganges," 1,600 tons, struck on Hasbro' Sands the previous day.

Oct. The Board of Health Act adopted in Gorleston, and on March 8th, 1869, 12 members, out of 27 nominated, were chosen for const.i.tuting the Board.

Nov. 14th. First number of the _Yarmouth Gazette and North Norfolk Const.i.tutionalist_ published by Mr. C. W. G.o.dfrey. This journal subsequently became the sole property of Mr. E. W. Shortman.

Nov. 19th. The Scotch fis.h.i.+ng-boat "Excellent" on fire in the Harbour, and was scuttled to extinguish it. Estimated loss, 200.

Nov. 22nd. During a gale the schooner "Seagull" broke the ma.s.sive piles of the Britannia Pier, and smashed 100 ft. away. (See July 13th, 1858.) In Oct. 1859, a sloop was driven through, and did damage to the Pier amounting to 800 or 900. The Pier has since been shortened 50 ft.

Nov. 26th. The Hon. F. Walpole and Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart., elected M.P.'s for North Norfolk. Votes-W., 2,630; L., 2,563; Edmund R.

Wodehouse, Esq., 2,235; Robert T. Gurdon, Esq., 2,078; including Yarmouth votes, viz., W., 913; L., 971; Wodehouse, 514; G., 476. On Sept. 15th, 1869, a Banquet was given at the Drill Hall, at which 800 or 900 persons were present, and a testimonial, value 600, was presented to Sir Edmund in honour of the successful issue of the pet.i.tion. The testimonial was a magnificent piece of plate, weighing nearly 900 ozs., and consisted of a ma.s.sive centre piece and plateau of silver; the base was flanked by three elaborate b.u.t.tresses supporting brackets, with fluted columns, around which were grouped the figures of Agriculture, Commerce, and Art, the capital being encrusted with a frieze of lions' heads and festoons of laurels, a figure of Fame crowning the summit. The Hon. F. Walpole died on April 1st, 1876; and on April 21st Colonel James Duff was elected M.P.

for North Norfolk by a majority of 110.

Dec. 7th. The south aisle of St. Nicholas' Church closed for restoration. In 1864 Mr. Seddon, architect, estimated that the restoration of the entire church would cost about 23,000.

Dec. 9th. A Grand Concert, under the patronage of the Mayor (S.

Nightingale, Esq.) and the Mayoress; Right Hon. Lord Sondes, Right Hon.

Lord and Lady Suffield, Sir E. Lacon, Bart., M.P., and the Deputy-Mayor and Mrs. Wors.h.i.+p, was given at the Regent Hall. Distinguished artistes-Mdlles. t.i.tiens and Sinico, Signors Bulterini and Campi, and Mr.

Santley. Mr. Wehli, solo pianoforte; and Signor Bevignani acted as conductor.

Dec. 10th. The s.s. "City of Hamburg," plying between this port and London, stranded close to the North Pier, and thereby sustained considerable damage.

Engine-house and reservoir erected on the north side of the Jetty for supplying the Bath House with water. (See 1759.)

An octagonal tower and observatory, 75 ft. high, erected on South Quay by the Trinity Corporation.

Launches: Aug. 17th, the carrier cutter "Chieftain," from Messrs. Smith and Son's yard; Sept. 23rd, the brig "Sultana," 310 tons, from Messrs.

Fellows and Son's yard.

Deaths: Feb. 24th, Mr. Chas. C. Newcombe, postmaster, aged 49.-May 25th, Edward Norris Clowes, Esq., Solicitor, New Buckenham, aged 61.-June 2nd, Mr. W. Shuckford, 15 years Governor of the Workhouse, aged 62.-June 7th, Thomas Bunn, Esq., Corn Merchant, and an Alderman, at Southtown, aged 87.-Sept. 18th, Captain Robert Bensley Davie, Commander of the Cape mail steamer "Saxon," at Southampton, aged 37.-Sept. 18th, John Palgrave, Esq., son of the late William Palgrave, Esq., Collector of Custom Dues at Yarmouth, and afterwards at Dublin, aged 55.-Nov. 2nd, John D'Ade, Esq., at Southtown, aged 86.-Dec. 5th, Mr. W. C. Nutman, many years Relieving-officer, aged 45.-Dec. 27th, Richd. Ferrier, Esq., Brewer, aged 73.

1869.

Jan. 25th. The Chancellor (E. Howes, Esq., M.P.) decided the long-pending question of removing St. Nicholas' Church organ from the west end of the south aisle to the North transept, in the affirmative.

This grand old organ, built by Jordan, Bridge, and Bayfield, in 1733; repaired by England (Jordan's grandson) in 1812, and by Gray in 1840; was removed to the north transept in Feb., 1869.

Jan. Gaol Street Congregational Chapel (built in 1773) closed, and pulled down for the purpose of building the Middlegate Church.

Feb. 9th. The North-end Church Mission Room opened. Cost about 100.

Mr. W. Wright was the architect.

Feb. 16th. The Fish Wharf, 2,251 ft. in length, shed 750 ft., completed.

Total cost, 20,627. The sum borrowed and advanced by the Corporation for the works was 20,502 6s.; total amount of annual outgoings estimated at 1,587 17s. Offices and premises let at 565 16s.

Feb. 23rd. While the s.s. "Buccleuch," was on the point of leaving the wharf in Yarmouth Harbour for Hull, with 20 pa.s.sengers on board, her boiler burst, and several persons were scalded and otherwise slightly injured, the Captain (W. Wright) being seriously hurt. The steamer was much damaged, and her fittings amids.h.i.+ps blown to a considerable distance.

March 1st. The full-rigged s.h.i.+p "Hannah Pattersen," laden with 1,500 tons of coal, came ash.o.r.e abreast of the Workhouse, where she became a total wreck. Insured for 2,000.

March 2nd. Ten tenders opened for re-building the south aisle of St.

Nicholas' Church, and Mr. Williams, of Cardiff, was selected, his estimate for the work being 4,755, out of which sum 480 was deducted for old materials.

March 9th. Mr. C. L. Chipperfield presented by Major Foreman with a handsome timepiece, in acknowledgment of his valuable services as Secretary of the Yarmouth Building Society.

March 10th. The smack "Silver Cloud" run into by the steamer "Earl of Durham," off Winterton, and foundered with loss of all hands.

April 3rd. Schooner "Hickman," 98 tons, struck by lightning.

April 15th. The Great Yarmouth Water Works Bill, for further extending its powers in a drainage scheme, pa.s.sed in the House of Lords.

April 20th. The King of Prussia, through the Amba.s.sador at the Court of St. James', awarded Capt. b.a.l.l.s, of the schooner "George," of Yarmouth, a gratuity of 10 for rescuing the crew of the Prussian schooner "Christine."

April 22nd. New organ opened at Belton Church by Mr. F. W. Rolfe, organist of St. Peter's, Yarmouth.

April 28th. Duke's Head Hotel sold to Mr. J. Davy for 1,525.

April 29th. The iron s.s. "Lady Flora," 1,000 tons burthen, 250 feet in length, ran ash.o.r.e on Caister beach, and after unremitting efforts on the part of Mr. T. B. Carr, of Hull, Mr. Beeching, of Yarmouth, and a numerous gang of men, who bodily raised her ma.s.sive weight on to blocks, she was again successfully launched on July 8th in the presence of several hundred spectators. In Dec. this steamer was totally lost in the Baltic.

May 19th. The Gorleston Company of the Yarmouth Rifle Corps first met for recruit drill. First compet.i.tion prize match, Oct. 14th.

May 26th. First stone of the St. James' Church laid by the Very Rev. Dr.

Goulburn, Dean of Norwich.

June 4th. Violent explosion of gas at Mr. Gambling's office at Southtown, doing damage in and around the premises to the extent of 200 or 300.

June 9th. Charles Cory, Esq., 18 years Town Clerk of the Borough, died at Lugano, Switzerland, aged 54 years. It was decided on June 28th to place a memorial window to his memory in St. Nicholas' Church. His father and grandfather both held the office of Chief Magistrate of the Borough; the former died in 1840.

June 24th. Charles Diver, Esq., appointed as Town Clerk at a salary of 200, and 50 extra as Clerk to the Local Board of Health. (See Nov.

30th, 1875, and Dec. 5th, 1883.)

Aug. 24th. Comer stone of the residence of the Head Master of the Grammar School laid next the site for the intended new Grammar School.