Chronological Retrospect of the History of Yarmouth and Neighbourhood

Jan. Mr. Fisher’s smack “Reindeer” lost.

Jan. 23rd. Schooners “Jim Crow” and “Try,” of this port, stranded and became total wrecks.

Jan. 24th. Mr. James Brown, Beach Station Master, presented by the staff employed on the railway, with a silver-mounted inkstand and pencil case, on his birthday.

Jan. 24th. Very low tide, the water being 3 ft. 10 in. below zero, and 6 ft. 2 in. on the bar.

Jan. 25th. St. Paul’s Mission Church opened.

Feb. Mr. R. S. C. Keymer appointed organist of Gorleston Church.

Feb. A pike, weighing 20 lbs., caught at Horsey Mere.

Feb. Mr. F. W. Rolfe, organist, presented with a handsome timepiece by the choir of St. Peter’s Church.

March 1st. The upper and lower ferries let by auction for five years to Mr. A. Green, at the annual rent of £780, viz., lower, £410; upper (with cottage), £370.

March 6th. Heavy gale and high tide, the drive being inundated, and some of the boats “moored” at the lamp posts. Part of the Jetty was torn up, and “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” under the Britannia Pier, made a complete wreck. The water was 21 or 22 ft. on the bar, and there was a flood tide in the harbour for 21 hours. Several trawlers were lost, including the “Musquito,” “Sea Flower,” “Clarence,” “Reaper,” and “Muscotte,” and 36 lives, leaving 15 widows and 16 children. £132 19s. 8d. was contributed by the Mansion House Fund. Mr. W. P. Brown’s brig “Mary” was lost on the following day with her crew.

March 11th. Major John Gillespie, 31st Brigade Depôt, died, and on 15th was buried with grand military honours in the Cemetery. About 500 of the military and 50 officers were present. Three military bands (including 9th from Colchester, 54), played at intervals, and thousands of civilians lined the streets.

March 12th. New Railway line from Yarmouth to Acle opened for traffic.

March 22nd. The iron gates leading to the Parish Church knocked down by a horse.

March 24th. The three-masted schooner “Orienten” (6,500 deals), stranded south of Wellington Pier.

April 5th. The property of the Earl of Lichfield at Southtown (26 lots, including the “Nine Houses”) sold, by auction for £10,699.

April. Mr. George Dowey, station master (G.E.R.), resigned his position after 25 years’ service, and on Oct. 25th was presented with £100 by 150 subscribers.

April 26th. Lord Suffield presented Bat. – Sergt. Major Quince with a clasp from the Royal Humane Society, and Mr. G. Ceiley with a bronze medal for their bravery in saving lives.

April 28th. James Sutton (64), gate-keeper at a level crossing on the Eastern and Midlands Railway near Hemsby, knocked down by a goods train and killed, while in the act of opening the gates at 9.20 p.m.

April. The Great Yarmouth Yacht Club established.

May 3rd. An elegant liqueur stand with three glasses presented to Mr. H. Pechey, at the Aquarium, by the Winter Assembly Class.

May 5th. Smack “Falcon,” on the North Sand, and crew bravely rescued by the Gorleston National lifeboat crew.

May 12th. The International Fisheries Exhibition in London opened by the Prince of Wales, E. Birkbeck, Esq., M.P., as president, taking especial interest in the show. Many exhibits were contributed by local gentlemen. Exhibition closed Oct. 31st, 2,703,051 persons, exclusive of 20,000 on the opening day, having visited it during the season.

May 18th. Mr. E. W. Worlledge elected as Alderman in place of the late Mr. J. T. Bracey.

May 19th. A handsome timepiece presented by Major Dods and officers and men of the Gorleston Coastguard to Chief-boatman Bridgeland.

May 20th. Rev. E. A. Ducket, B.A., ordained at Wells Cathedral, and licensed to a Curacy at Tiverton-on-Avon.

May. Regent Street paved with blocks of wood, and afterwards a part of King Street.

May 31st. Sergt. – Major Williams, 18 years drill sergeant in 2nd N.R.V., presented with an illuminated address and £35 on his retirement.

May 31st. About 30 yards of palisading and wall on the west side of the churchyard fell down.

June 2nd. Gas explosion in Apsley Terrace. The windows, doors, &c., were completely shattered, and Mr. Rushmer, who entered the drawing room with a lighted candle, was severely injured.

June 5th. Mr. James Ling, relieving officer of Gorleston, appointed registrar of births and deaths in place of the late Dr. Arnott.

June 6th. Mr. Robert Lane, 15 years lessee of the ferries, presented with a ten-guinea silver cup and an illuminated address by his respected patrons.

June 8th. Singing platform on the beach let for £210; and in 1884 for £150 to Mr. Chappell.

June. First prize meeting of the Yarmouth Golf Club.

June. The old Borough Gaol sold for £170 12s.

July 2nd. The Royal Aquarium opened by the Mayor, after its being nearly rebuilt and beautifully decorated at a cost of about £10,000. The event was celebrated by a luncheon and concert given by Madame Alice Barth’s Opera Company. The grand hall is 115 ft. by 60 ft., and 44 ft. high; and the minor hall 80 ft. by 38 ft., and 23 ft. high. The south front is faced with buff terra-cotta, the style Italian, freely treated. Messrs. Bottle and Olley were the architects, and Messrs. Cork and Beach and Mr. B. Springall, building contractors. (See Oct. 31st, 1881.) The same builders contracted for the new Board School, Church Road, Gorleston, on July 17th, at £4,348.

July 4th. C. C. Aldred, Esq., sworn as a Magistrate for the County of Norfolk. (See June 28th, 1884.)

July. Corporal S. J. Batchelder, 2nd N.R.V., won the champion medal of Norfolk at Norwich.

July. Invalid shelter on South Parade ordered by the Council. Cost £60.

July 9th. Retired Commander Francis Harris, R.N., a Trafalgar veteran, died at Southtown, and buried at Gorleston. He was born May 17th, 1795, and was 11 years old when the great battle was fought. He entered the Navy as First-class Volunteer on board the “Téméraire;” was at the battle of Trafalgar with his father, at the defence of Cadiz until Feb., 1811; removed to the “Unité;” assisted at the capture in 1811 of the French store ship “Dromédaire,” 800 tons; in the following May, in the same frigate, in company with the “Pemone” and “Scout,” at the destruction of the “Giraffe” and “Nourrice.” He participated in many boat affairs in the Adriatic; and in the same ship shared in a partial action, fought, 13th Feb., 1814, with the Toulon fleet, under Sir E. Pellew. He was advanced to the rank of Lieutenant in 1815, and made Commander in 1860. The Graphic, March 1st, 1879, published the portraits of the then seven survivors, including Commander Harris and Admiral Spencer Smyth, of this town.

July 13th. Sydney Stalley (20) drowned on Oulton Broad.

July 17th. Columbia Fish Market, London (built some ten years ago by the Baroness Burdett-Coutts, at a cost of £300,000), re-opened, to which large quantities of fish are consigned from Yarmouth.

July 22nd. On Sunday a man (name unknown) hung himself on one of the trees on Trafalgar Road, near the Grammar School.

Aug. 1st. The “Duke’s Head” and Corn Hall let by auction for seven years to Mr. Seaman at an annual rent of £460.

Aug. 23rd. Mr. A. E. Welch saved a gentleman from drowning, and received a testimonial from the Royal Humane Society; and in Sept. Rev. G. Wilson and J. W. Duffield were similarly recognised for their bravery.

Aug. 29th. Messrs. Ferrier and Co.’s brewery, Middlegate Street, with plant, machinery, residence, &c., also 21 public-houses and beerhouses, sold in one lot for £15,750 (exclusive of £669 for rolling stock).

Sept. 2nd. Very heavy gale.

Sept. An elegant obelisk, 24 ft. high, erected in the churchyard at the north-east corner of the Parish Church. It is made of polished red Aberdeen granite, resting on die and steps of the same beautiful stone, while under these is a massive grey granite platform, a single block, 9½ ft. square, surrounded with posts of like material, and rails of shining gun metal. It is erected by Mrs. Mills, of Nelson Road, to the memory of George J. Mills (died Nov. 6th, 1827, aged 37), and other members of her family. (See April, 1878.)

Sept. 17th. Steamer “Isis” stranded on Hasbro’.

Sept. 22nd. Rev. Henry Stebbings, D.D., F.R.S., died in London. He was born at Yarmouth in 1799, took his degree of B.A. at Cambridge in 1828, and ordained by Bishop Bathurst. He was the first editor of the Athenæum, and wrote the “Lives of the Italian Poets.”

Oct. 5th. Batt. – Sergt. Major Quince presented with a handsome timepiece by the pupils in his swimming class, in recognition of his kindness to them.

Oct. 22nd. Destructive fire on the premises of Messrs. Robert Yaxley and John Beckett, and total demolition of the intended Salvation Army barracks. It broke out about 6 p.m., and the group of buildings, comprising fish and tan houses, stable, net stores, &c., were soon one mass of ruins. On Nov. 1st £100 worth of damage by fire was done to Messrs. S. K. Smith and Son’s fishing premises, on St. Peter’s Road.

Nov. Remarkable sunsets, the western horizon night after night being resplendent, the sky changing from pale orange to blood red.

Nov. 19th. Smack “Puss” lost in the North Sea, through collision; and on Dec. 28th the fishing boat “Raven” collided with the “Daylight,” and sunk.

Nov. 27th. Mad pranks of a bull belonging to Mr. Southgate. It entered Mr. Harrison’s grocer’s shop in the Market, injuring one of the assistants and damaging the goods. Afterwards running down Regent Street and along the Hall Quay, it found its way to the Broad Row, where it smashed windows and did other injury, till being secured by a rope round a lamp-post, it was killed, and the carcase removed on a cart. The inhabitants were much terrified, and tradesmen quickly closed their shops.

Dec. 4th. William Holt, Esq., Magistrates’ Clerk and Borough Coroner, died, aged 57 years.

Dec. 4th. Mr. C. A. Goodwin passed a very successful examination as second mate at the London Local Marine Board.

Dec. 4th. Gale and heavy thunderstorm.

Dec. 5th. Mr. Charles Diver resigned his seat in the Council for Regent Ward, and paid the £25 fine; and Mr. Walter Brown was elected to the seat on 24th, by 224 votes, or 52 more than Mr. F. Burton. On Dec. 11th Mr. Diver was appointed Borough Coroner, and Dec. 13th as Magistrates’ Clerk. (See June 24th, 1869, and Jan. 8th, 1884.)

Dec. 8th. John Reeve (38), of Hopton, fell off a load of hay in Gorleston, and died from injuries received.

Dec. 9th. William Jackson, porter on the Eastern and Midlands Railway, at Yarmouth, was run over by a railway carriage, and one of his legs was subsequently amputated at the Hospital.

Dec. 11th and 12th. Another destructive gale and very high tide, the wind blowing “great guns.” Loss of Messrs. Bessey and Palmer’s “Francis” and three hands; the carrier steamer “Marie,” owned by the Baroness Burdett-Coutts, and all hands (12); also Mr. M. Barber’s brigantine “Susannah,” with a crew of four or five hands; and five smacks. About 60 lives were lost in all.

Dec. The season’s catch of herrings was 19,232 lasts.

Dec. Sir Francis Roxburgh, Q.C., appointed Mr. John Etheridge Chief Clerk to the Registrar of the County Court.

Dec. 14th. The derelict barque “Ulah” beached opposite the Nelson Monument. Crew lost.

Dec. W. N. Burroughs, Esq., gave a donation of £500 to the Yarmouth Hospital, and £500 to the Fishermen’s Hospital as a birthday present. Mr. Burroughs died on April 12th, 1884. (See June 11th, 1884.)

Dec. 22nd. Chief Constable W. Brogden presented with a handsome gold keyless hunter watch by the Mayor, on behalf of the Race Committee, for his vigilant attention to duty.

Winners of the Ladies’ Challenge Cups in the Yarmouth Volunteer Corps: —2nd Norfolk Rifles. As will be seen by the following list, Sergeant Buddery took the cup in 1883, after 24 years.

1st Norfolk Artillery Volunteers: The cup was first shot for in 1869, and after 13 years became the sole property of Battery-Sergt. – Major R. B. Smith, as will be seen by the annexed list of winners: —

Launches: Feb. 24th, fishing boat “Nell,” from Messrs. Castle’s yard; March 12th, smack “Sylvia;” March 19th, smack “Little Tom;” May 23rd, Messrs. Morgan’s yachts “Midge,” and June 6th, “Red White;” June 28th, steam tug “Yare,” from Messrs. Beeching’s yard; July 9th, smack “E. Birkbeck,” from Mr. Critton’s yard; July 30th, dandy trawlers “Boy Ben” and “New Spray;” Nov. 3rd, lifeboat “Covent Garden,” from Messrs. Beeching’s yard.

Marriages: Jan. 25th, Mr. G. D. Gowing, Norwich, to Miss E. S. Gambling, Southtown. – May 5th, Mr. E. B. Sewell to Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. John Caleb Fenn, of Gorleston. – July 24th, Rev. E. A. Ducket, B.A., to Miss Maria H. Denny. – June 19th, G. A. Ward, Esq., to Katherine Scott, fourth daughter of E. P. Youell, Esq. – July 20th, Arthur H., second son of R. B. B. Norman, Esq., surgeon, to Edith L. Stevens, of Norwich. – Aug. 9th, Mr. Wm. E. Bovill to Persis, daughter of J. P. Baumgartner, Esq. – Sept. 20th, Mr. C. R. St. Aubyn, of Gorleston, to Miss Annie Adelaide Arnott. – Oct. 22nd, Charles A. S. Ling, M.R.C.S., L.S.A., of Gorleston, to Miss Ada A. Cooper. – Nov. 6th, Rev. R. V. Barker, M.A., to Miss Palgrave.

Deaths: Jan. 2nd, Rev. J. Mangan, D.D., aged 46. – Jan. 30th, Mrs. Garwood B. Palmer, of Gorleston, aged 63. – Mr. T. E. Gray, ironmonger, aged 74. – May 1st. Alderman J. T. Bracey, aged 82. – May 26th, Charles D. Arnott, Esq., M.D., at Gorleston, aged 62. – June 16th, Mr. G. S. F. Skoulding, T.C., chemist. – June 25th, Mr. George Farrow, aged 81. – July 25th, Elizabeth Tolver, wife of the Rev. A. Hume, and daughter of the late Rev. Mark Waters. July 27th, Mr. George Reginald Harmer, aged 28. – Aug. 3rd, Mr. Robert B. Moxon, aged 20. – Aug. 4th, Mary, relict of the late Samuel C. Marsh, aged 68. – Aug. 10th, Elizabeth Boyce Crisp, aged 27. – Aug. 27th, the veteran bellringer, Thomas Gooch, aged 88. – Nov. 3rd, Mr. Joseph Tomlinson, ex-Town Councillor, at Gorleston, aged 47. – Dec. 24th, F. H. S. Raven, B.A., son of Dr. Raven, aged 23.

1884

Jan. 8th. J. T. Waters, Esq., elected Borough Coroner in place of C. Diver, Esq., resigned.

Jan. 15th. St. Andrew’s Hall, Gorleston, sold, including fittings and dwelling-house adjoining, for £430.

Jan. 23rd. Heavy gale; and another on 26th, accompanied with a heavy thunderstorm.

Jan. 26th. At midnight Mr. E. Bostock’s draper’s shop, King Street, burnt down, and stock-in-trade completely demolished; the Rose Tavern adjoining (occupied by Mr. W. Overed) was also partly destroyed by fire; at the same time part of Mr. Watts’ dyeing premises in Middlegate Street were in flames.

Jan. Mr. Keymer, organist of Gorleston Church, presented with a handsome five-o’clock tea service by the choir.

The past winter, and during several previous, were among the mildest on record, snow and frost being scarcely seen.

Feb. 4th. School Board Election.

Feb. 15th. Boiler explosion at Mr. Nall’s steam printing works, Row 63. Messrs. George Emmerson and John Hughes were severely scalded, and much damage was done to the building and machinery.

Feb. 16th. Fire at Mr. G. Archard’s, King Street.

March. The Rev. A. J. Spencer, M.A., prior to leaving the ministry at St. John’s Church for Hickley. Leicestershire, was presented with several costly presents by his congregation, church helpers, &c.

March. A clerical impostor, named John Lindsay, scripture reader connected with St. Peter’s Church, brought to bay, and subsequently imprisoned for solemnizing matrimony without a license.

March. Mr. C. W. Moss, F.C.O., appointed organist of St. Peter’s Church.

April 1st. Mr. Wm. Albrow, 14 years hon. sec. of the Market Ward Conservative Association, presented with a handsome ormolu clock under glass shade, by the members.

April 2nd. A young cow visited the shop of Mr. Baird, Regent Street, but being no judge of leather left without giving an order. Prior to this, Mr. F. Norris’ shop was visited by some sheep.

April 6th. Fire at the Belvedere Tavern, Caister Road.

April 7th. C. S. Orde, D. Tomkins, and F. Arnold, Esqs., sworn in as Borough Magistrates before the Recorder.

April 17th. Fire at Mr. W. Wilkins’ net chamber and residence, Southtown.

April 22nd. Destructive earthquake in East Anglia, but the shock was only slightly felt at Yarmouth, and no damage done.

May 15th. Quarter-Master Cooke, 1st N.A.V., presented with a silver tankard and a four-o’clock tea service, by the past and present officers of the corps and other friends, on his retirement; also an illuminated address.

May 15th. Wm. Smith attempted to murder his wife at Gorleston, and sentenced to 7 years’ imprisonment on July 25th.

May 21st to 23rd. An Ohio Englyshe Fayre at the Town Hall.

May 28th. The south transept of the Parish Church opened after restoration. (See Dec. 3rd.)

June 11th. The will of the late Mr. W. N. Burroughs proved, his personal estate amounting to over £11,000. (See Dec., 1883.)

June 28th. Chas. Cory Aldred, Esq., Deputy-Mayor, and five times Chief Magistrate of the Borough, died. He was born March 21st, 1811, and for 40 years was a very prominent member of society. To perpetuate his memory, his portrait, in robes, painted by Mr. J. B. Burgess, A.R.A., of Finchley Road, St. John’s Wood, and subscribed for by the town, is to be hung in the Town Hall.

June. The Guardians issued bills in all the Wards with the names of defaulting ratepayers upon them, which led to much ridicule, and a public indignation meeting was called on June 25th.

July 5th. Fire at Mr. Sharman’s, Regent Street.

Launches: Jan. 7th, the trawler “Ethel May;” Jan. 29th, smack “Sir Francis Burdett.”

Marriages: March 19th, Mr. W. Richardson, M.B., C.M., to Miss Helen S. Blake. – April 16th, Mr. R. P. Chamberlin, of Wroxham, to Miss Clara M. Wiltshire.

Deaths: Jan. 3rd, John Clarke, Esq., J.P., at Felbrigg; Jan. 9th, Quarter-Master Stembridge, P.W.O. Royal Artillery, aged 47; Jan. 3rd, Mr. Geo. M. Pulford, aged 80; Feb. 15th, Mr. H. H. Gambling, aged 60; Feb. 22nd, Mr. F. W. Rolfe, organist of St. Peter’s Church, aged 43; April 12th, W. N. Burroughs, Esq., aged 85; April 14th, Emma, widow of the late Robert Boyce Crisp, aged 68; April 16th, Arthur Palmer, Esq., J.P., aged 63; April 26th, J. S. Clowes, Esq., T.C., aged 35.

August. The following is a list of persons who died in this Borough of 90 years and upwards: – 1793, Matthew Champion, aged 111; 1854, Eleanor Warren, 102; 1855, Thomas Burgess, 94; 1860, Ann Mann, 96; 1861, Thornton Fisher, 91; 1865, Susannah Clark, 97; 1866, Edmund Clarke 95; 1868, Sarah Crockett, 99; 1869, John T. Buston, 90; 1870, John Meffin, 93; 1873, James Mitchell 99, Mary Ablitt, 95, Susan Baldwin 90, Rebecca Willemite, 90; 1874, Ann Kippon, 97; 1875, Catherine Pullyn 90; Mary Thomas 93, Mary Hall, 91; 1876, Sophia Ranall 90, Mary Ann Blyth, 90; 1877, John Smith 90, Barker Crisp 94, Elizabeth Bristow 91, Martha Bryanton, 91; 1878, Mrs. George Danby Palmer 91, Wm. Plummer 96, Sarah Kelf 92, John Van Hutton 102, Hannah Fountain 91, Susannah Newman 91, Ann Pidgeon 94, Sarah Porter, 94; 1879, Sarah Haw 91, Jane Haw 93, April 6th, Ann Parker 95; Elizabeth Fenn, 90, Elizabeth Farrow 92, Mary Francis 93, Elizabeth Warren 104 and 8 months; 1880, Margaret Henry, 96; 1881, Samuel Yarham 94, M. A. Crickmay 90, Ralph Newby, 93; 1882, Sarah Parker 91, John Mooring 102, Susannah Dye, 94; 1883, Elizabeth Wright 94, Wm. Tyrrell 92, Mary Hogg 91, Maria Manship 96, Lydia Bulley 90, Mary Errington, 92; 1884, Feb. 9th, James Kemp 90, Elizabeth Roberts 97, Sarah Gates 91, Elizabeth James 90, and Wm. Wood 91.