Norfolk Annals Volume I Part 52

SEPTEMBER.

1.*-"The Easton Lodge estate, the property of the late Mr. W. Foster, has been purchased by Mr. Thomas Trench Berney, of Morton Hall, for 30,000 guineas."

-*"The tower of the antient church of St. John of Maddermarket, Norwich, which has long been in a state of dilapidation, is now taking down to be reduced by 14 feet, so as just to leave room for the bells."

-A panorama of Waterloo was exhibited at Ranelagh Gardens, Norwich.

6.-The freemen of the "Blue and White" interest presented to Mr. Alderman James Marsh a silver vase, weighing upwards of 100 ozs. The presentation was made at the Angel Inn, Norwich, by Mr. Edward Taylor.

-Workmen digging at the bottom of Bethel Street, Norwich, discovered a human skeleton "laid exactly in the crossway of the roads; it was thought to be the body of a criminal who died in prison and was buried there."

8.*-"That highly esteemed performer, Mr. Vining, has formed a very advantageous engagement with the proprietor of the Bath Theatre, and will leave the Norwich company at the termination of Bury Fair." (He was succeeded by his brother, Mr. J. Vining, who ultimately became a great favourite on the Norwich stage.)

10.-Miss Dance, of Covent Garden Theatre, appeared at Norwich Theatre in the character of Belvedera ("Venice Preserved"). Her other impersonations included Lady Teazle, Juliet, Widow Cheerly ("The Soldier's Daughter"), Mrs. Haller, Maria ("The Citizen"), &c.

16.-Died at Downham Market, at a very advanced age, William Howlett. "He was for many years employed as a labourer on the premises of Mr. E. R.

Pratt, at Ryston. About 30 years ago he sold his wife, and delivered her to the fortunate purchaser in a halter in the Market Place at Downham, with whom she has ever since lived, and it is supposed they will now marry."

21.-At a quarterly meeting of the Corporation of Norwich, a committee was appointed to take into consideration Mr. Cubitt's plan for connecting the city with the sea by way of Lowestoft.

26.-The foundation-stone of the Unitarian Chapel in Park Field, Diss, was laid by Mr. Meadows Taylor and Mr. Thomas Dyson.

28.-Experiments with a life-saving rocket on Tregrouse's principle were made on Yarmouth beach by Rear-Admiral Spranger. The rocket carried a line from the s.h.i.+p to the sh.o.r.e, and running rigging was then brought into use.

OCTOBER.

4.-Died in London, aged 64, the celebrated engineer, Mr. John Rennie, who a few weeks previously had attended the opening of the Eau Brink cut.

6.*-(Advt.) "Distressing case of long imprisonment. Christopher Wood, formerly of Lynn, bricklayer, committed in 1813 to Norwich Castle for contempt of the Court of Chancery, incurred by his inability through poverty to put in an answer to a bill filed against him to foreclose a mortgage on an estate of which, unfortunately for him, he became owner.

He has been in prison eight years, and has. .h.i.therto been supported by his labour beyond the prison allowance of bread, but having lately nearly lost his sight he must in future depend entirely on the latter. The expense of putting in his answer will amount to 18, and being totally unable to raise that sum must end his days in prison unless the benevolent shall extend their bounty towards him by putting in his answer to obtain his discharge, the Act for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors not extending to persons in custody for contempts."

10.-Robert Skipper, the Norwich pedestrian, commenced the task of walking 1,000 miles in twenty successive days at the Prussia Gardens, Norwich.

He had completed 100 miles on the evening of the 11th, and at the 390th mile was compelled to give up in consequence of magisterial interference.

27.*-"Lady Beevor, widow of the late Sir Thomas Beevor, has taken the surname of Hare out of respect to the memory of her late father."

-Died, aged 74, Mr. Edward Rigby, M.D., of Norwich. He received his medical education under Mr. Martineau, and first began practice in 1769, when he distinguished himself as an accoucheur, and was the author of a treatise on subjects connected with that branch of his profession. In 1814 he took his degree in physic. Dr. Rigby in 1786 established the Benevolent Medical Society for the relief of the widows and orphans of medical men; and in 1789 became a member of the Corporation of Surgeons and of the Medical Society in London. He was a.s.sistant surgeon of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital on its establishment in 1771, surgeon in 1790, and physician in 1814. For many years he kept a private lunatic asylum; and made constant and unremitted exertions in the cause of vaccination. He wrote several treatises on agricultural subjects, and was in 1820 elected an hon. member of the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture. He was also a member of the Linnaean Society. Dr.

Rigby was elected an alderman in 1802, Sheriff in 1803, and Mayor in 1805. His remains were interred at Framingham, near Norwich, on November 5th.

28.-The county magistrates adopted a plan prepared by Mr. Wilkins for the erection of a new county gaol on the Castle Hill, Norwich, "so far as the sum of 26,000 would carry it into effect." This plan included the removal of the then s.h.i.+rehouse and inconvenient courts of justice. In order that the whole of the expense of the work should not fall upon occupiers it was arranged that half only be paid by them, and the other half by the owners of estates.-On December 1st a meeting of the county magistrates was held at the Norfolk Hotel, Norwich, to remonstrate against the selection of the Castle Hill as the site for the new gaol.

At the Norfolk Quarter Sessions in January, 1822, the subject was reconsidered, and it was finally decided by 30 to 24 votes to adhere to the Castle Hill site.-On July 29th the workmen began to prepare the ground for the foundations of the s.h.i.+rehall, and on September 9th the foundation-stone was laid with "Masonic ceremony." Current coins were deposited in the cavity, and upon the stone was a Latin inscription composed by the Rev. F. Howes.-The demolition of the old debtors' court commenced on May 7th, 1823, previous to which the prisoners committed on criminal charges were removed to the different bridewells and houses of correction in the county, the debtors only remaining in the Castle keep.-On July 11th some workmen employed on the building were raising a large stone, which fell and injured four of them, and one, Nicholas Mase, died next day in hospital. The new s.h.i.+rehall was completed in time to admit of the Quarter Sessions being held therein on October 15th, 1823, which was the first occasion on which the building was used. "As to the prison buildings the ancient Saxon castle with BiG.o.d's tower is left entire in its pristine state. The hill is now surrounded with a castellated wall of Aberdeen granite 20 feet high, leaving, however, in general a s.p.a.ce of nearly 20 feet for a public promenade on the summit of the hill." The Castle ditches and meadow had previously been improved at considerable expense by the city. These works completed the first part of the extensive scheme undertaken by the county.

-Lord Suffield was elected one of the chairmen of Norfolk Quarter Sessions, in the room of the late Sir Thomas Beevor, Bart.

31.-There were two candidates for the vacancy occasioned upon the Norwich aldermanic bench by the death of Dr. Rigby-namely, Mr. Jeremiah Ives and Mr. Thomas...o...b..rne Springfield. Both political parties paraded the streets with bands of music, flags, &c. The poll was declared as follows:-Springfield, 430; Ives, 268. "The major part of the electors of the Great Northern Ward received a couple of guineas each for their free and independent votes."

NOVEMBER.

3.-An accelerated mail service was introduced between London and Norwich by the Postmaster-General. By this arrangement the Norwich and Ipswich mail coach performed the journey in one hour less time than previously.

On December 8th, however, it was announced that in consequence of the Ipswich mail not having kept to the prescribed rate of travelling the Post Office authorities had been obliged to return to the former times of departure and arrival in respect to the London mail. On the 17th a new contract was entered into, by which the London mail to Norwich was conveyed _via_ Newmarket. The coach reached the city at ten o'clock am.

and departed at five p.m.

4.-A great gale occurred on the Norfolk coast, many vessels were driven ash.o.r.e between Yarmouth and Wells, and several foundered at sea.

10.*-"Mr. Charles Thurtell, son of Mr. Thomas Thurtell, of Lakenham, has obtained a lieutenancy on board the Rochefort, now in the Mediterranean."

13.-Died at Biddeford, Devons.h.i.+re, aged 63, Major Charles Berkeley Money, Royal Marines. "He had retired from the service some years on account of a severe wound received when captain on board the Royal Sovereign on the glorious 1st of June. He was a native and freeman of Norwich."

16.-A severe storm took place. The roads were in many parts of the county rendered impa.s.sable by the heavy rains, and the marshes and low grounds were flooded.

18.-Died at the house of his son-in-law, Mr. William Mason, of Necton, the Rev. Paul Colombine, D.D., rector of Little Plumstead with Witton and Brundall, perpetual curate of Hardley, and rector of Chilton, Suffolk.

He was presented to the living of Thurlton by the Mayor and Corporation of Norwich in 1757. He was in his 92nd year.

23.-Died, aged 62, Mr. William Burrows, alderman of the Great Northern Ward, and Sheriff of Norwich in 1817.

24.-Dr. Yelloly was elected physician to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, in place of Dr. Rigby, deceased.

26.-Mr. Peter Finch was elected an alderman of the Great Northern Ward, Norwich, in place of Mr. William Burrows, deceased.

DECEMBER.

1.-A troop of the 4th Light Dragoons, under the command of Capt. Pratt, left Norwich for Romford.

3.-A coursing party at Horsford "started a fine stout fox which was instantly pursued by a brace of fleet greyhounds. He kept before them for more than half a mile when the dogs turned him. After beating them off for more than an hour he was taken alive. Soon after Sir George Brograve's huntsman and hounds came up, when the coursing party, who had joined in the chase, offered to unbag the fox for another run, but he was found too exhausted and injured for the purpose, and it became necessary to give him the _coup de grace_, and his head and brush were carried off in triumph."

7.-Mr. R. Hamond turned off a deer at Swaffham which led the field a chase of nearly 30 miles. "It crossed the river twice, and what is most extraordinary Mr. A. Hamond, who is in his 81st year, partook of the whole chase, and was at the spot when the deer was taken near Lynn."

8.*-"Died last week at Ramsgate, at an advanced age, the Rev. Samuel Vince, M.A., F.R.S., Plumian Professor of Astronomy in the University of Cambridge, and Archdeacon of Bedford. He was also rector of Kirby Bedon and vicar of South Creake."

11.-Died at his house in Mansfield Street, Sir Martin Browne ffolkes, Bart, of Hillington Hall, M.P., F.R.S. He was created baronet in 1774, served the office of High Sheriff in 1783, and in 1790 was elected member of Parliament for King's Lynn, and continued to represent the borough without intermission until the time of his death.

-An inquest was held at Lynn by Mr. Samuel Hadley, one of the coroners of the borough, on the body of Robert Roberson, who was shot by Mr. Henry Pond, a linen draper in High Street, whilst in the act of breaking into his shop. The jury returned a verdict of justifiable homicide.

15.*-"Robberies and depredations upon the public having been made to an extent hitherto unknown, it is the determination of the justices in certain Hundreds to form an establishment that will give vigour and effect to the exertions of the magistrates in preventing robberies, burglaries, larcenies, poaching, and felonies of various descriptions."

17.-Cooke's Company of Equestrians commenced a season's engagement at the Norwich Pantheon.

18.-A deputation waited upon Mr. Alderman Crisp Brown, of Norwich, to acquaint him that 300 citizens had subscribed for his full-length portrait, as a mark of "the respect and esteem entertained towards him for his manly and loyal conduct upon all occasions, and for the strenuous exertions which he made during his mayoralty to promote the better observance of the Lord's day." The portrait, by Clover, was hung in St.

Andrew's Hall in October, 1822.

22.*-"Mr. Alexander Baring has purchased the mansion and domains of the Hon. Mr. Petre in Norfolk, it is said for 300,000. The estate is situate near Thetford, and there are 26,000 acres of land."