Chronological Retrospect of the History of Yarmouth and Neighbourhood

May 5th. The town illuminated on the proclamation of peace.

May 24th. The Duke of Cambridge sailed from Yarmouth in the frigate, “Amphion,” for Hanover, of which kingdom he was appointed Regent. (See June 13th, 1803.)

June 28th. Custom House opened.

July. Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Trowbridge, Bart., and Thomas Jervis, Esq., returned to Parliament. The boat built for Sir Thomas to be chaired in, made of oak, 14 ft. long, and 3 ft. 9 in. wide, is still preserved (1884). On the stern is “Trowbridge and the Navy,” under which is a naval crown and trophy. It was built by Mr. James Hurry.

Three hundred persons impressed, but 250 were afterwards liberated. (See 1805.)

Montgomeryshire and Cheshire Militia left the town.

1803

May 5th. An active press at Yarmouth.

May 16th. Embargo laid on all vessels in the Roads.

June 13th. H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge and suite left Yarmouth for Norwich. They came in the same frigate which brought Prince William of Gloucester from Cuxhaven, where their Royal Highnesses were nearly being made prisoners by the advanced guard of the French army. Had they remained there another hour they would have shared the fate of the Hanoverian army. The French General in Holland put an immense number of fishing boats in requisition for the avowed purpose of invading England.

Oct. 25th. The Volunteer Regiments in Norfolk and Norwich resolved to perform permanent duty in Yarmouth in case of an invasion, and on Nov. the 9th two troops of Norfolk Rangers (established 1782), headed by the Marquis Townshend, the Lord Lieutenant, and commanded by Captain Sir M. B. Ffolkes, Bart., and Capt. Beauchamp, marched to Yarmouth on permanent duty; also the Norwich and the Fakenham Volunteers.

Nov. 5th. The Lord Lieutenants of the maritime counties received warrants under his Majesty’s sign-manual, commanding them, “as there was actual appearance of invasion,” to give the necessary orders in pursuance of the late statute, that on the approach of the enemy all waggons and carts, cattle, and stores of corn, likely to fall into their hands, be removed or destroyed, and also that all women and children be likewise removed. The proprietors to be indemnified.

Nov. 7th. Lieut. – Col. Harvey’s battalion of Norwich Volunteers arrived here for garrison duty; also the Norfolk Rangers and Norwich and Fakenham Corps.

Nov. 10th. The Yarmouth Volunteer Infantry received their colours (presented by the Corporation) from the hands of the Mayoress.

Dec. 6th. On the Norwich Volunteers’ return to Norwich, this regiment was succeeded in their fortnight’s garrison duty by the Yarmouth Volunteer Infantry (550), commanded by Lieut. – Colonel Gould.

Dec. 15th. The Lynn and Freebridge Yeomanry Cavalry, with the Artillery and Rifle Corps, marched through Norwich to Yarmouth, to relieve the Dereham and South Erpingham troops.

Dec. 22nd. The Dereham and Swaffham troops of Yeomanry Cavalry marched through Norwich for Yarmouth, to relieve the Lynn and Freebridge troops; and the Diss, North Walsham, Wells, and Old Buckenham Volunteer Companies of Infantry marched into Yarmouth for a fortnight’s duty.

Dec. 30th. The Hingham and Wymondham troops marched to Yarmouth, to relieve the Swaffham and Dereham troops.

Tower and spire of St. Nicholas’ Church removed; rebuilt in 1807 at a cost of £1,890. (See 1806.)

The Militia regiments of the county assembled at Yarmouth and were embodied.

1804

April 4th. The “Antelope,” (Commodore Sir W. Sydney Smith,) the brig “Cruizer,” and the cutter “Prince of Wales,” arrived at Yarmouth, from the Flushing station, which made an unsuccessful attempt to cut out an armed brig near the Scaw. They were attacked by an armed schooner, and obliged to abandon their enterprize, with the loss of five killed and ten wounded.

April 11th. Rear-Admiral Sir W. Sydney Smith left Yarmouth for Norwich. The hero of St. Jean d’Acre proceeded next day on a tour of the country before accompanying the King of Portugal to Brazil.

May 2nd. The gibbet on which Payne was hung in 1781 taken down by order of the Corporation.

May 14th. Lynn Volunteers and (May 26th) North Walsham Light Infantry, came for a fortnight’s training.

The first newspaper, The Yarmouth Herald, printed in the town by a Mr. Black.

May 23rd. Blickling and Gunton Rifle Corps arrived here for a fortnight’s garrison duty.

May 25th. A general fast observed. The Shropshire Militia and the Volunteers at Yarmouth (nearly 25,000 men) attended divine service.

May 26th. The sloop “Helena,” 20 guns, and on Sept. 4th the brig “Musquito,” 18 guns, launched from Mr. J. Preston’s yard.

Sept. 6th. Sloop of war “Cygnet,” 18 guns, launched from Mr. Nathaniel Palmer’s yard.

Oct. 28th. Lord Viscount Chedworth, of Ipswich, died worth £500,000. Thomas Penrice, Esq., surgeon, of Yarmouth, was left a legacy of £20,000 and also residuary legatee, by which he came into possession of at least £300,000.

Nov. 26th. The Corporation and merchants of Yarmouth voted their thanks to Captain Hancock and his officers for capturing the notorious Blackman, who commanded a French privateer of 18 guns, and 98 prisoners were also taken.

Nov. 22nd. The “Romney,” 50 guns, which sailed from Yarmouth Roadstead on the 18th with bullocks and vegetables for the blockading fleet off the Texel, under Admiral Russell, was lost in a dreadful gale of wind on the South Haak Sand. All the officers and crew saved themselves on rafts, but were made prisoners by the Dutch. The officers were afterwards liberated on their parole by the Dutch Admiral Kikkert.

William Gould, Esq., appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of the 6th (Yarmouth) Norfolk Volunteer Infantry.

Night signals established along the coast, and special constables sworn in at Yarmouth.

Yarmouth Volunteer Infantry embodied for 14 days’ garrison duty.

The Rows first numbered; they formerly bore the names of houses in or near them, or persons living near them.

The public mind was much excited by a possible French Invasion, under Napoleon, and many Volunteer and Militia Regiments of Norfolk and Suffolk did garrison duty here.

The Gorleston Volunteers had a field day, when the manœuvres were done in a masterly style, under Captain J. B. Bell. They afterwards dined at the “Feathers” Inn.

Hay was sold at £4 10s. per ton.

The winter was a very severe one, more intense than in 1740. Coals were 2s. a chaldron.

Capt. Dickens, of the Shropshire Militia, walked from the “Angel” Inn, at Yarmouth, to the “Angel” Inn, at Norwich, and back again (47 miles) in 11½ hours, for a wager.

A very large sale of 50 prize ships was advertised to take place at Yarmouth on the 25th. These were principally Dutch vessels used as privateers and fishing vessels, and the description of them took about one column of space. No auctioneer was named, but catalogues were to be had of Mr. A. H. Steward, of Great Yarmouth.

Mr. Aldred, of Yarmouth, met with a serious loss by being robbed in Long Lane, Smithfield, of notes, bills, and jewellery, to the amount of £2,000. He was seized from behind a chaise by a daring street robber, who eluded the vigilance of the police.

1805

April 27th. Two gun-brigs, 14 guns each, built in Mr. J. Preston’s yard, launched.

May 9th. One of the sharpest presses ever remembered in Yarmouth took place. No fewer than 300 persons of the town were impressed, of whom only about 50 were ultimately detained. (See 1802.)

Nov. 7th. Intelligence received of the glorious victory over the combined fleets of France and Spain, off Cape Trafalgar, on the 21st of October, though purchased by the ever-to-be-lamented death of Vice-Admiral Lord Viscount Nelson, who was born at Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk, September 29th, 1758. Congratulatory addresses were voted to his Majesty by Yarmouth; feu de joie fired by the military and volunteers.

Several regiments of Volunteers did garrison duty in the town till relieved by the Shropshire Militia.

1806

April 19th. The frigate, “Boreas,” 28 guns, launched from Messrs. Stone and Constance’s yard; the sloop, “Ariel,” 18 guns, from Mr. N. Palmer’s yard.

June 9th. Vice-Admiral Russell, accompanied by several officers of the North Sea Fleet who were stationed at Yarmouth, visited Norwich.

July 26th. French frigate “La Guerrière,” brought into the Roadstead by the frigate “Blanche.” The former was captured on the 18th, after a desperate action of 45 minutes; she had taken eight Greenlandmen and one Yarmouth vessel, all of which she destroyed.

Aug. 14th. Frigate “Comus,” launched from Messrs. Constance and Co.’s yard.

Nov. 4th. Hon. E. Harbord (second son of Lord Suffield) and Stephen Lushington, Esq., returned to Parliament, but on June 25th, 1808, Dr. Lushington vacated his seat in favour of Giffin Wilson, Esq.

An Act of Parliament passed for repairing the Parish Church of Great Yarmouth and rebuilding the tower belonging to it. (See 1803.)

Southtown Armoury built by Wyatt, at a cost of £15,000. During the war 10,000 stand of arms were arranged in it, after the disposition observed in the Tower of London. After the war the arms were removed to the Tower.

The gun-brig, “Fancy,” built in Mr. J. Preston’s yard.

1807

Feb. 17th. Gun-brig “Snipe,” with 30 French prisoners on board, wrecked on the Beach. Many of them were drowned, together with part of her crew and some women, in all upwards of 60. There were several other wrecks, for the wind blew a hurricane, and a drifting snow rendered the highways for a time impassable.

Feb. 18th. Capt. G. W. Manby, barrack-master at Yarmouth, first succeeded in projecting a line over a stranded vessel; and on Feb. 12th, 1808, seven lives were saved from a vessel 150 yards from the Beach. Parliament rewarded him at different times with grants amounting to £6,000. He was born at Hilgay, Norfolk. Captain Manby, at the age of 88 years, had the satisfaction of knowing that he had been instrumental in saving upwards of 1,000 lives in various parts of the world by his invention. The two ingenious painters (the Joys), brothers and sons of a mail-guard, owed much of their fame to the patronage and assistance afforded them in their youth by Captain Manby.

May 9th. Hon. E. Harbord and S. Lushington, Esq., returned to Parliament. Votes – H., 627; L., 604; William Jacob, 341; A. Upcher, 21.

July 3rd. Mrs. Cooper, relict of the Rev. D. Cooper, of Yarmouth, died. This lady, with an ardent desire to inculcate Christian morality, penned several publications, viz., “Fanny Meadows,” “The Daughter,” “The School for Wives,” and “Exemplary Mother.”

July 26th. The fleet, under Lord Gambier and Vice-Admiral Stanhope (69 pennants in all), sailed from Yarmouth Roads. Sir W. Sidney Smith sailed in Gambier’s flag-ship, “Prince of Wales,” 98 guns. Soon afterwards was fought the second battle of Copenhagen (Sept. 7th). Most of their prizes were brought to Yarmouth – 64 vessels mounting 1,994 guns.

Aug. 14th. E. H. K. Lacon born. He was educated at Cambridge, and created a baronet in 1820 on the death of his father.

Sept. 7th. Norwich Volunteer Infantry marched to Yarmouth for garrison duty.

Oct. 29th. Several transports lost off Yarmouth and Lowestoft.

Nov. 14th. Privateer “Le Décide” brought into this port by the frigate “L’Amiable.” She had made no less than 30 prizes.

Nov. 2nd. Louis XVIII. (under the title of Count de Lille) landed at Yarmouth from a Swedish frigate. The Dukes d’Angouleme and De Berri, and several French noblemen, came with him. This was the first time since the memorable battle of Poictiers, in 1356, that a King of France had been in England.

Dec. A Telegraph erected upon the hill at Thorpe communicating with Yarmouth. An order from the Admiralty Office in London was received at Yarmouth in seventeen minutes.

North Gate removed to widen the roadway. It was flanked with square towers of curious workmanship.

One hundred and forty-four dead bodies washed ashore in this vicinity after a heavy gale.

A new peal of ten bells put in the tower of St. Nicholas’ Church, and first rung out on May 2nd, 1808. Cost £1,161 8s. 4d. The spire of the Church was also rebuilt the same year.

1808

Jan. 10th. Lord Hutchinson and Lord Gower landed here from the “Bellette” sloop-of-war, from St. Petersburgh.

March 30th. Silver eel, 6 ft. long and 21 in. in girth, and weighing 42lbs., caught a mile below Yarmouth bridge in the harbour.

May 10th. Expedition, consisting of 105 transports, under Admiral Keats, left the Roadstead for the Baltic and the protection of Sweden. Sir John Moore commanded the troops. He sailed in the “Mars,” and Major-Generals Paget and Murray in the “Audacious.”

Aug. 20th. First pile of the present Jetty driven, and finished building and opened to the public Jan. 13th, 1809, at a cost of £5,000; 450 ft. long, and platform 21 ft. wide. Extended 60 ft. in 1846 at a cost of about £900, and again 60 ft. in 1870 at a further cost of £859 10s. Constructed on the site of one built in 1560.

Charles Townshend, Lord Bayning, High Steward of the Borough.

Shropshire and Cambridgeshire Militia left the town.

1809

Jan. 28th. Owing to a rapid thaw and the inundation of the meadows the barges proceeding from Norwich to Yarmouth were obliged to return, because the men were unable to find the channel of the river.

Oct. 25th. Fiftieth anniversary of George III.’s reign celebrated in Yarmouth as a jubilee.

One thousand four hundred and sixty-four pounds of fresh salmon from Scotland landed in one day, and sold in Yarmouth market owing to the embargo on all shipping.

A very productive herring fishery.

1810

May 10th. Vice-Admiral Sir J. Saumarez’s fleet left the Roadstead for the Baltic; also the “Victory” (100 guns) and seven other sail of the line.

May 20th. The Eight Hon. Charles, Lord Bayning, of Honingham Hall, a Privy Councillor and High Steward of Yarmouth, died in London, aged 81 years.

Aug. Yarmouth Annual Races first established by the Officers of the Berkshire Militia.

Berkshire Militia left the town.

Mrs. Hunter died, aged 102.

By the Paving Act, provision was made against placing materials on the Quays or other public places for a longer time than was necessary for removing and housing the same.

Nov. 2nd. The Beach from Yarmouth to Wells covered with wrecks and dead bodies after a heavy gale. Another gale and high tide on the 10th, and many vessels and lives lost.

Nov. 14th. Gustavus Adolphus IV., ex-King of Sweden, who had abdicated his throne, landed on the Beach from the sloop “Tartar.” He assumed the title of Count Guttorp, and afterwards proceeded to London.

1811

March 28th. Count Guttorp sailed from Yarmouth on his return to the Continent.

Vice-Admiral Murray appointed to the Naval command of Yarmouth. In 1815 Admiral Drake was appointed Port-Admiral of Yarmouth, the last who held the appointment.

Census taken. Population of Yarmouth, 17,977; with Gorleston and Southtown, 19,691.

The Royal Hospital or Asylum built by Government at a cost of £120,000. Foundation-stone laid by Admiral Billy Douglas in 1809. (See 1815.) The building was erected by Mr. Peto (father of Sir S. Morton Peto), from designs by H. Parkington, Esq., for a naval Hospital. The 11 acres of ground to the east cost the Government £11,000 in 1875.

1812

March 13th. The South Gate sold for £26 to Jonathan Poppy.

July 27th. General Viscount Cathcart’s embassy to the Court of Russia left the Roadstead in the frigate “Aquilon.” Lord Walpole, secretary of Legation to Lord Cathcart, sailed in the “Calipso” to the headquarters of the Russian army.

Oct. 6th. Edmund Knowles Lacon and William Loftus, Esqs., returned to Parliament. Votes – Lacon, 607; Loftus, 387; G. Wilson, 329.

Oct. 26th. Tremendous gale, and eight vessels driven ashore in the vicinity.

A. Royals died, aged 103.

1813

Feb. A high wind blew down and completely demolished the Conventual Church at Gorleston, dedicated to St. Nicholas.

Feb. 18th. Gorleston steeple (about 100 ft. high), which stood near the Haven’s mouth as an immemorial sea-mark, was blown down in a gale.

March 24th. Volunteer Corps of Infantry disbanded, and deposited their arms in store on the establishment of the local Militia.

April 15th. Prince of Orange landed at the Jetty.

April 29th. H.R.H. the Duke of Cumberland arrived at Yarmouth, and embarked on board the frigate “Nymphen” for the Continent.

July 4th. News of Wellington’s victory over the French at Vittoria in Spain received here with great rejoicings.

Aug. 10th. First steam barge proceeded from Yarmouth to Norwich at the rate of five miles per hour.

Sept. 29th. Regent Street formed and opened at a cost of £30,000. Before the opening of this street there was no roadway between King Street and the Quay, except Fuller’s Hill and Friar’s Lane, the latter of which was widened in 1866.

Nov. 14th. Great rejoicing at Yarmouth on the splendid victories gained over the French in Spain and Germany.

The Lancasterian or British School erected; enlarged in 1861.

William III. landed at the Jetty.

North Mayo Militia left the town, and the Wexford Militia the following year.

Sept. 3rd. John Hannah (70) tried at the Yarmouth Sessions for the murder of Elizabeth, his wife, he being the last man executed in the town for murder. A bill issued, with the imprint of Clark, Broad Row, Yarmouth, read as follows: “Monday Morning, Sept. 6th, at about 11 o’clock. Everything being ready, the prisoner, attended by the gaoler and a number of constables, with a great concourse of spectators, moved from the Gaol at 11.15. They went at a slow pace, and at the entrance of Regent Street were joined by the Mayor and other Borough Officers. It was past 12 o’clock when the prisoner arrived at the place of execution; on his way thither he was perfectly composed, turning from one side to the other, viewing the populace. After ascending the scaffold, he spent some time in prayer, and when the hangman had placed the rope round his neck, he was asked if he had anything farther to say. He then confessed as follows: ‘That he was the murderer of his wife by strangling her with his hands, and not with a rope, as had been stated; he said they had lived a very uncomfortable life for many years past, owing to his wife giving her company to other men, which was the cause of his committing the murder.’ The instant before being turned off, he particularly requested to see his daughter, when he was informed it was not possible, as she was confined in Bedlam; he also desired the gaoler to look under the step of the cell, and he would there find four shillings and sixpence. A signal was then given, and the unhappy man was immediately launched into eternity. The body, after hanging the usual time, was delivered to the surgeons for dissection. The gaoler, on his return, found the money as described in the cell.”

1814

July 6th. Peace proclaimed at Yarmouth; Mayor and Corporation went in procession, and at night the town was illuminated.

The Duke of Clarence (afterwards King William IV.), accompanied by his Duchess (Queen Adelaide), landed at Yarmouth, and stayed one night at the “Angel Hotel.”

March 11th. Henry Joddrell, Esq., Bayfield Hall, many years Recorder and Representative of Yarmouth, Chairman of the Norfolk Quarter Sessions, died in London.

April 21st. Restoration of Louis XVIII. to the throne of France. The inhabitants of Yarmouth subscribed £1,106 8s. 6d., for providing a grand dinner to all the inhabitants who chose to partake of it. Fifty-eight tables were spread in the open air along the Hall and South Quays, at which 8,028 persons were seated, and made an excellent dinner of roast beef and plum-pudding. A man personating Neptune in a car attended by Tritons and other deities paraded the town, headed by a band of music. In the evening a large bonfire was made on the North Denes, in which the effigy of Napoleon was consumed amidst much rejoicing, and in the presence of nearly 30,000 persons.

July 14th. First division of West Norfolk Militia landed at Yarmouth from Edinburgh, and marched to Norwich, and joined their Colonel, the Earl of Orford.

Aug. 11th. The Hon. John Wodehouse proposed, and T. W. Coke, Esq., seconded, resolutions recommending that a subscription should be opened for erecting a monument at Yarmouth to the memory of the late Lord Nelson. Lord and Lady Wodehouse, the Hon. Colonel Wodehouse, and Mr. and Miss Coke headed the list with £700. The Corporation of Norwich subscribed £200. (See Aug. 15th, 1817.)

1815

Jan. 24th. A sea-eagle shot at Rollesby, which measured from tip to tip of its wings 7 ft. 6 in.

May 10th. Sharp press for seamen at Yarmouth.

John Thomas Townshend, Viscount Sydney, High Steward of the Borough. He died in 1831.

Six hundred wounded men from Waterloo lodged in the Naval Hospital. (See 1811.)

March 29th. The Nelson Monument Committee at Thetford, after inspecting 44 beautiful plans and designs, selected an Athenian Doric Column, sent by William Wilkins, Esq., architect, of London, a native of Norwich, and author of “Magna Græcia.” Nearly £7,000 was subscribed.

1816

Feb. 16th. Very high tide, the sea and river meeting over the South Denes. A similar event had not occurred since Feb. 3rd, 1791.

Feb. 19th. Corporation petitioned Parliament for a continuance of the Property Tax.

Feb. 26th. Mr. Incledon, Master Taylor, and Mr. Collyer appeared at the Theatre Royal, in The Minstrel; or, a Tour Through England and Ireland. Prices – 4s., 3s., 2s. 6d., and 1s.

Nov. 2nd. Thomas Penrice, Esq., of Yarmouth, to whom the late Lord Chedworth, of Ipswich, left the bulk of his immense property, died at Narford Hall, the seat of A. Fountaine, Esq., his son-in-law. (See Oct. 28th, 1804.)

1817

Jan. 1st. £1,000 subscribed at Yarmouth to relieve and employ the labouring poor; 460 men were employed to form roads to the Bath House, Jetty, &c.

Feb. 4th. The Corporation voted a loyal address to the Prince Regent, expressive of their abhorrence of the attack made upon his Royal person on his return from opening Parliament on the 28th ult. Presented at the levée by Isaac Preston, Esq. (Mayor), accompanied by the High Steward and the Members for the Borough.

Feb. 13th. The new silver coinage of crowns, half-crowns, shillings, and sixpences exchanged for the old at the Town Hall.

Between 7,000 and 8,000 lasts of Herrings taken by 193 boats.

An Act passed to continue two former Acts for widening and amending the road from Yarmouth Bridge to Gorleston.

April 4th, Good Friday morning. Explosion on board the Norwich and Yarmouth steamer – ten persons killed and five injured – just as she was leaving the Foundry Bridge, Norwich. She had 22 men, women, and children on board. £350 raised for relief. These steamboats were first employed on Aug. 10th, 1813.

June 5th. The celebrated Mr. Betty performed at the Theatre in the Iron Chest, as “Sir Edward Mortimer;” and as “Frislam Fickle,” in The Weather Cock.

June 11th. Mr. Matthews appeared at the Theatre as “Goldfinch,” in the Road to Ruin; and as “Somno,” in the Sleep Walker. On 12th, as “Sir David Dundee,” in Ways and Means, “Chip,” in A Chip of the Old Block, and “Buskin,” in Killing no Murder. On the 16th, as “Rover,” in Wild Oats; and in the Adventures of a Mail Coach.

June 23rd. Munden appeared at the Theatre as “Sir Abel Handy,” in Speed the Plough, and as “Crack,” in the Turnpike Gate. On the 25th, as “Old Rapid,” in a Cure for the Heartache, and as “Dozey,” in Past Ten o’clock. On the 26th, as “Sir Anthony Absolute,” in the Rivals, and as “Sam Dabbs,” in Who’s Who? On the 28th, as “Bonus,” in Laugh When You Can, as “Nipperkin,” in the Rival Soldier, and “Lazarillo,” in Two Strings to Your Bow.

Aug. 15th. First stone of Nelson Monument laid by Col. Wodehouse. The column is 144 ft. high, ascended by a flight of 217 steps. The architect was Mr. Wm. Wilkin, R.A., a Norfolk man. There was a grand civic, military, and masonic procession from the Town Hall. After the ceremony, the Mayor, (Isaac Preston, Esq.) gave a dinner to the company; and in the evening he gave a grand ball to 350 of the élite, at the Town Hall.

The Rev. Fisher Watson, M.A., elected minister of St. George’s Chapel, on the death of the Rev. S. L. Cooper in June. On Aug. 9th, 1821, the Rev. John Homfray, and April 16th, 1833, the Rev. Mark Waters, were appointed at salaries of £100 per annum.