Chapter M: A. Jefferies threw himself from the bridge (1)

May 15th. Lord Anson and C. E. Rumbold, Esq., presented with the freedom of the town, and returned to Parliament June 9th. Votes—R., 649; A., 645; Sir E. K. Lacon, 250; Lord Suffield, 250.

May 25th. The old Crane on South Quay blown down during a heavy gale of wind, and a new one erected at a cost of about £1,400.

Mariners’ Chapel built by George Palmer, Esq., service having previously been held in a vessel named the “Ark,” which fell into decay and so became useless.

“Historical and Topographical Notices of Great Yarmouth and its Environs,” by John Henry Druery, published. The work was dedicated to the Right Hon. George William, Lord Stafford, Baron Stafford and Baronet, of Costessey Park, Norfolk.

1827.

Feb. 6th. Mary Welch died, aged 73 years, leaving 102 children and grandchildren.

Vaughan and Murphey, two noted resurrectionists, stole several bodies from St. Nicholas’ churchyard, and caused great excitement in the town. The railings on the west side were subsequently erected in consequence.

1828.

Mr. David Service, the Yarmouth poet, died.

1829.

May 29th. The bells rang out a merry peal on the opening day of the Suspension Bridge. This structure, on the North Quay, was made chiefly of iron, and thrown across the river Bure by Robert Cory, Esq., under the powers of an Act of Parliament passed in the year 1827. It cost about £4,000.

1830.

Feb. 8th. Intense frost; river frozen as far down as the Public Library.

July 31st. Hon. Colonel G. Anson and C. E. Rumbold, Esq., returned to Parliament. Votes—A., 946; R., 945; H. Preston, 751; T. E. Campbell, 754.

1831.

Launches: March 8th, schooner “Sea Witch;” March 15th, brig “Ocean,” from Mr. Palmer’s yard; Aug. 1st, brig “Earl Grey,” from Mr. Teasdel’s yard.

March 15th. Marriage at Stokesby Church of Samuel Taylor, only son of Wm. Huke, of Yarmouth, with Charlotte Crowe Norton, of Stokesby.

May 2nd. Hon. G. Anson and C. E. Rumbold, Esq., again returned to Parliament.

July 7th. First stone of St. Peter’s Church laid, and finished building and consecrated Aug. 26th, 1838. Cost £12,000.

Sept. 12th. Mr. Power, of Covent Garden, appeared at the Theatre Royal, as “Colonel O’Dillon,” in _The Married Lover_.

Census taken. Population of Yarmouth 21,115; with Gorleston and Southtown, 28,231.

St. Mary’s Church, Southtown, erected. Site presented by the Earl of Lichfield; cost, raised by subscription, about £3,000.

1832.

April 3rd. The Hon. and Rev. E. Pellew appointed Chaplain of St. Nicholas’ Church, at £40 per annum.

April 17th. Mr. Wm. Hazard died, aged 72 years.

May 27th. Messrs. Grout and Co.’s Silk Crape Factory burnt down. Present one erected in the same place. A Hospital originally stood here. (See 1828.)

Oct. 11th. Russian Horn Band Concert at the Town Hall.

Dec. 11th. The Hon. G. Anson and C. E. Rumbold, Esq., returned to Parliament, after the passing of the Reform Bill.

Edw. Pellew, Admiral Viscount Exmouth, High Steward of the Borough.

District Visiting Society established, and failed for want of support; but another attempt was made to re-establish it April 10th, 1861.

Yarmouth Glee Society gave their first concert.

1832 to 1835.

By Municipal Reform Act the rest of Gorleston parish added to Yarmouth Borough.

1833.

Launches: Jan. 18th, schooner “Cornelia” from Mr. Holmes’ yard; May 6th, brig “Hudson” from Mr. Preston’s yard; July 12th, schooner “Abeona” from Messrs. Fellows’ yard; July 21st, brig “Margaret” from Messrs. Fellows’ yard; same year the barque “Harmony;” Dec. 10th, schooner “Fairy Queen,” and Dec. 12th, brig “Pioneer” from Mr. Lubbock’s yard.

Bishop of Norwich inspected the plate at St. Nicholas’ Church and St. George’s Chapel.

Horatio Walpole, Earl of Orford, High Steward of the Borough.

1834.

Jan. 15th. Divine Service performed in the Chancel of St. Nicholas’ Church for the first time.

Jan. 24th. Brig “Pioneer,” of Yarmouth, stranded near the Dungeness Light.

May 12th. Proprietary Grammar School at Southtown opened. It was demolished in July, 1858, to make room for the Goods Station of the East Suffolk Railway. The school cost £1,500.

June 16th. Yarmouth and Southtown Ferry opened.

Aug. 1st. First Annual Marine Regatta held.

The Fort removed.

Launches: May 18th, brig “Alexander,” from Mr. Preston’s yard; June 21st, schooner “Racer,” and Sept. 11th, schooner “Maria,” from Mr. Lubbock’s yard; Sept. 17th, brig “Vivid,” and Oct. 16th, schooner “Nora Creina,” from Messrs. Fellows’ yard.

An inquiry opened at the Tolhouse Hall, before J. H. Hogg and J. Buckle, Esqs., two of her Majesty’s Commissioners, respecting the state of the Yarmouth Corporation. After nineteen days’ inquiry, it was adjourned _sine die_. The evidence adduced was published the same year by Mr. Henry Barrett.

1835.

Jan. 7th. Thomas Baling and W. M. Praed, Esqs., returned to Parliament.

Jan. 23rd. Lord Walpole and E. Woodhouse, Esq., returned to Parliament.

April 7th. The “Baltic,” “Venus,” and “Wellington” left the Harbour with 200 emigrants for Canada.

Oct. 6th. Samuel Brock, a Yarmouth beachman, with a company, went off in the yawl “Increase” to the rescue of the crew of a Spanish ship, about twelve miles from land. They reached the vessel, and on returning in a squall the yawl was capsized, and nine men were drowned. Brock, the only surviving one, after battling with the waves for seven hours, was safely taken on board the brig “Betsy,” at 1 a.m. the next morning, and put ashore at Lowestoft. (See 1873.)

Dec. 26th. In pursuance of the Act, 6 William 4th, cap. 76, for the better Regulation of Municipal Corporations in England and Wales, the first Election of Councillors (under this Act) took place, when the returns were as follows:—_North Ward_—R. Hammond (108 votes), W. N. Burroughs (99), A. Sewell (94), Chas. G. Doughty (91), Benj. Sherrington (90), E. H. L. Preston (89). _Market_—Simon Cobb (135), Wm. Johnson (134), Wm. Hammond (131), B. Cobb (129), Edw. N. Clowes (128), Edw. Sewell (124). _Regent_—John Brightwen (98), S. T. Palmer (98), S. Charles Marsh (98), J. Tomlinson (98), Cufaude Davie (97), Benjamin Dowson (95). _St. George’s_—C. Sayers (91), Wm. Grave (91), G. Penrice (91), Wm. Barber (91), H. V. Worship (90), T. Lettis (89). _Nelson_—G. D. Palmer (147), R. Palmer Kemp (137), G. Garson (127), Matthew Butcher (124), John Symonds (122), S. Robinson (118). _St. Andrew’s_—J. S. Bell (115), T. Hammond (111), J. W. Dowson (105), Wm. Barth (101), Hezekiah Martin (91), Patrick Stead (87). At a Meeting of the Council, on the 31st Dec., 1835, the following gentlemen were elected the Aldermen for the Borough, viz.:—John Brightwen, Benj. Dowson, Captain Wm. Larke, Richard Sibbs Lonsdale, J. B. Palmer, Joseph Starling, Robert Teasdel, George Jeffries, Benjamin Fenn, Robert Wall, Thomas Pitt, Charles Nichols.

The custom of electing Mayors by an inquest abolished. They were elected previous to this date, Sept. 29th.

Scheme projected for supplying the Town with Fresh Water by means of a Reservoir on the high lands at Burgh Castle, but unsupported.

The Hon. and Rev. Edward Pellew, fourth son of Admiral Lord Viscount Exmouth, appointed to the incumbency of St. Nicholas’ Church, on the resignation of Mr. Turner.

The two stuffed figures representing John and Betty Goblett, annually exhibited in front of Tolhouse Hall, prohibited being placed there.

Capital Jurisdiction abolished.

1836.

William Barth, Esq., elected Mayor on Jan. 1st, and again on Nov. 9th.

Feb. 27th. Brig “Isis” wrecked on the South Beach. “The History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Norfolk, including Great Yarmouth,” by Mr. William White, of Sheffield, published; second edition in 1815.

Thomas William Anson, Earl of Lichfield, High Steward of the Borough.

Great storm, twenty-three vessels stranded on Yarmouth Beach, and upwards of forty lost on the coast.

The last Market Cross removed.

Rev. R. Pillans, while driving his carriage into the Angel yard, struck his head against a beam and broke his neck.

1837.

Nov. 12th. Captain William Watts died, aged 70 years.

Dec. 2nd. Brig “Valeria” launched from Mr. Lubbock’s yard.

First stone of the Wesleyan Chapel laid. The building cost £4,200.

On Queen Victoria ascending the Throne, C. E. Rumbold, Esq., was re-seated in Parliament, and the election of W. Wilshere, Esq., secured as a colleague.

G. D. Palmer, Esq., appointed as a Magistrate.

1838.

Aug. 28th. William Wilshere again returned to Parliament.

The new Workhouse opened. Cost of entire building up to 1860, about £10,000.

Sergeant John Wright died, aged 110 years.

The last of the Town Gates (Pudding) pulled down.

Yarmouth Hospital founded, mainly through the exertions of Mr. Wm. Steward, and completed in 1839.

Crew of ten hands, drowned from the fishing lugger “Walter and Ann.”

1839.

Feb. 14th. Brig “James,” of Yarmouth, lost off the coast of Scotland.

March 7th. A tremendous hurricane, and the streets and rows were strewn with _débris_ from the roofs of houses, to which much damage was done.

Sept. 25th. Arthur Beevor, Esq. died, aged 82 years.

Launches: June 13th, schooner “Rob Roy,” from Mr. Lubbock’s yard; Aug. 29th, schooner “George Lord,” from Mr. Preston’s yard; Oct. 2nd, brig “Elizabeth,” from Messrs. Fellows’ yard; and Nov. 11th, schooner “Star,” from Mr. Teasdel’s yard.

1840.

Jan. 10th. The uniform penny postage first came into operation, and excited a great deal of ridicule, and its speedy failure predicted. Railways were in their infancy. Book post established in 1855, and Postal Cards introduced in 1870.

Jan. 30th. William Finch-Crisp, the compiler of this work, born at Hackney, afterwards lived at Erith, in Kent, for 11 years (where his father died on March 12th, 1850), and then came to reside in Great Yarmouth at the end of the year 1854, at which place he married Mary Ann, second daughter of the late Robert Boyce Crisp, on June 25th, 1870. His dearly-beloved mother died in Oxford on Dec. 5th, 1869, and her remains were interred in Jericho Cemetery, Oxford.

Nov. 4th. A selection of sacred music from Handel’s oratorios, _Judas Maccabæus_ and the _Messiah_, performed at St. Nicholas’ Church by the Yarmouth Choral Society. Conductor, Mr. Woolman. Price (by ticket only), 2s. 6d., and for young ladies and gentlemen under 14 years of age, 1s. 6d.; book of words, 6d. Concert on behalf of Yarmouth Hospital and Dispensary.

Dec. Mr. James Burman conducted a complete peal of Bob Major on the Parish Church bells, composed of 5,040 changes, which were rung in 3 hrs. 25 min. In Jan., 1843, was rung a true and complete peal of Grandsire caters, containing 4,004 changes, in 3½ hours (composed by Burman), the only peal of the kind on record; also, same year, a peal of Treble Bob Royal, 5,040 changes, in 3 hrs. 35 min. (These records are now in the belfry.)

The old Post Office in Row 63 removed to the Hall Quay. The first office was in Row 107, about the year 1695.

John W. Shelly and Wm. Johnson, Esqs., were appointed Magistrates.

Gorleston National Schools erected.

John Clowes, Esq., presented with the silver medal of the Lifeboat Association for personal exertions rendered in the Nov. gale.

1841.

March 22nd. First stone of the Victoria Buildings laid.

June 29th. C. E. Rumbold and W. Wilshere, Esqs., returned to Parliament.

Nov. 14th. The _Birmingham Gazette_ of 100 years ago (1741) says:—“From Yarmouth we hear there are great complaints this year in relation to their herring fishery; their men being all pressed into the service, and only boys left in the town for that employ.”

Nov. 18th. The barque “Iron Duke” came ashore, and sunk near the Britannia Pier. (See Oct., 1879.)

The Sawyers’ Arms public-house, Fuller’s Hill, destroyed by fire, and the Albion Tavern subsequently built on the site.

They were 49 persons in the Children’s Hospital, 223 in the Workhouse, 6 in the Royal Hospital, 37 in the Borough Gaol, 134 fishermen, &c., in boats and barges, and 173 absent mariners, according to return.

Launches: March 17th, the brig “Norfolk Lass,” and May 24th, the barque “Maria Soanes.”

Richard Hammond, J. F. Costerton, E. H. L. Preston, J. C. Smith, and W. Yetts, Esqs., were appointed as Magistrates.

Sir E. Lacon and Sons endeavoured to sink an Artesian well on their premises, but an accident to the pipes after boring 600 feet caused the undertaking to be abandoned. Sand and shingle were found to the depth of 111 ft., then 49 ft. of dark sand, below this very fine clay to the depth of 350 ft., then a layer of flints 5 ft. thick, and below them chalk, which was not penetrated.

Census taken. Population, 24,529—10,780 males and 18,529 females; Gorleston and Southtown making an addition of 3,779—total, 28,038. Of the inhabitants of Yarmouth, 3,340 were not born in Norfolk, and 13,430 were above 20 years of age—5,515 males and 7,915 females. Gorleston comprised 3,201 acres of land, and had 6,223 houses; of the latter, 5,408 were considered in Yarmouth, 164 were uninhabited, and 61 building.

Lifeboat Station first established at Caister.

Deaths: John Berney Crome.—August 18th, Giles Borrett, Esq., M.D.

1842.

Nov. 21st. First Concert of the Great Yarmouth Amateur Musical Society given at the Town Hall. Leader of the band, Mr. A. Suggate.

The present Hospital School erected on the site of the one built in 1278.

The duties levied on vessels entering the Port and discharging cargoes from the Roadstead amounted to £10,074 17s.

Police Court, Station House, and detention cells added to the Town Hall. (See Sept. 30th, 1879.)

Corn Exchange, Regent Street, attached to the Commercial Club-house, opened by a Company, to whom they both belonged. The former pulled down in Jan., 1871, and a new Post Office built.

1843.

Aug. 3rd. Children’s Hospital School opened after its re-erection.

Oct. 15th. Sarah Martin, the prison visitor, died; and in 1858 a memorial window to her memory was put in St. Nicholas’ Church. She was born in 1791, at Caister, and left an orphan at an early age.

The Round Tower near the Hospital built; ascended by a flight of 42 stairs. It was built by the merchants and shipowners, as an observatory tower, at a cost of £150.

1844.

May 1st. Railway between Norwich and Yarmouth opened, and the event was marked with great festivity and rejoicing. Messrs. Grissell and Peto contracted for the work at £10,000 per mile. Previous to this, steam packets plied twice a day on the Yare, between Norwich and Yarmouth.

Oct. Fish Market erected and opened on the site of the old one, but removed to widen the road.

Nov. 18th. Mrs. Harriet Chandler murdered in her grocery shop in Howard Street by Samuel Yarham, who was tried at Norwich on Mar. 27th, 1845, and executed there on April 11th. The prosecution cost £542. (See Jan. 30th, 1882.)

Dec. 13th. Paget’s Brewery, North Quay, pulled down.

Rev. Henry Mackenzie, incumbent of Bermondsey, appointed to the incumbency of St. Nicholas’ Church, but resigned in July, 1848, having the vicarage of St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields, Westminster, conferred upon him. On the 15th of February, 1870, the Town Council voted an address of congratulation on his being appointed Suffragan Bishop of Nottingham. This was the first appointment of a Suffragan Bishop in England for 200 years.

The Naval Hospital converted into a Lunatic Asylum. The building was re-modelled in 1868, and 37 new wards added, by Mr. G. Tyrrell. 80 inmates were received the same year (Sept.) from Haslar, making a total of 169. (See 1811.)

The Mackerel exported realised this year £14,500.

Gorleston Museum, containing many works of art, curiosities, antiquities, &c., established.

Her Majesty Queen Victoria passed through the Roadstead, on her way from Scotland, within a short distance of the shore. The Beach was lined with spectators, and several pleasure boats went off close to the Royal yacht to testify their loyalty.

1845.

Jan. 20th. Schooner “John,” of Jersey, stranded on the South Beach.

Jan. 26th. The yawl “Phœnix” and seven lives lost. Meeting convened on the 29th to relieve the widows and orphans left destitute.

April 16th. First stone of Unitarian Chapel, Middlegate Street, laid. Opened October 13th. Built on the site of the Old Meeting House.

May 2nd. Fall of the Suspension Bridge. 400 persons precipitated into the water, out of which number 79 were drowned. An immense crowd were attracted to the bridge and its precincts by a fête on the River Bure. The bill announcing the entertainment for the evening was headed, “Is it to be a benefit or not?” and underneath it a clown pointing to the above words. Then follows an address by Mr. Nelson as “a candidate for public favour,” who announces that “Friday night will be a grand banquet night,” and adds, “The following extraordinary fête will most positively be achieved, Mr. Nelson, the celebrated clown and modern Yorick, will sail on the River Bure, starting from Yarmouth Bridge to Vauxhall Gardens, at 5 o’clock on the above day in a common washing tub, drawn by four real geese, elegantly harnessed and caparisoned.” The tub was 18 inches deep. The annexed verses were on either side of a wood cut of the clown:—

Dear public, you and I of late
Have dealt so much in fun;
I’ll give you now a monstrous great
Quadruplicated pun—
Like a grate full of coals I’ll burn
A great full house to see;
And if I am not grateful too
A great fool I must be.

The following artistes were to appear at the Circus (a wooden structure on the Theatre Plain)—Master Barlow, the four sons of Siberia, Mr. Alfred Cooke, Signor Germani, Mr. Charles Adams, Mr. George Cooke, Madame Culine, and Mr. W. Cooke.

Sept. 24th. Mr. Henry Teasdel’s warehouses destroyed by fire.

Gorleston Wesleyan Chapel re-built.

Yarmouth exported 327,000 quarters of corn; and in 1855, 258,000 quarters.

1846.

Sept. 2nd. Burgh Castle sold to Sir J. Boileau, Bart., of Ketteringham.

W. H. Palmer, W. Thurtell, J. Fenn, B. Jay, and W. H. Bessey, Esqs., were appointed Magistrates.

Lord Wodehouse, Lord Lieutenant of the County, died at Kimberley.

1847.

County Court first held at Yarmouth.

Steamer “Enterprise” seized for smuggling tobacco, and the engineer fined £100.

The Sea Wall in front of Britannia Terrace erected by C. Cory, Esq. Cost £2,000.

June 17th. The schooner “Ann and Jane” launched from Mr. King’s yard.

July 29th. Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Lennox and O. Coope, Esq., returned to Parliament.

Aug. 31st. Jewish Synagogue, in Row 42, built and consecrated. It was built on the site of a former one.

Nov. 29th. Cart-load of hay burned on the Hall Quay.

Deaths: June 6th, Capt. H. Barrett, ballast-master.—Dec. 24th, Admiral Sir George Parker, K.C.B.

1848.

April 8th. The brig “Agenoria” wrecked on the North Beach.

May 17th. Address of Loyalty presented to her Majesty by the Mayor.

June 30th. A Bill brought into Parliament depriving the Freemen of Yarmouth of their votes. The number on the Register was 1,106. Only such householders as were on the Register allowed to vote at the ensuing election, when J. Saunders and C. E. Rumbold, Esqs., were returned to Parliament.

Aug. St. Nicholas’ Church re-opened after restoration.

Sept. 22nd. Richardson’s Rock Band Concert at the Town Hall.

Oct. 7th. Mr. Norman’s warehouse, in Blind Middle Street, burnt down.

Lord Fairfax, with a large retinue, arrived in the town.

Nov. 6th. Murder at Stanfield Hall of Mr. Isaac Jermy and his son, by James Blomefield Rush, who also wounded with pistol shots the son’s wife and a domestic. The victim’s family resided in Yarmouth. (See Dec. 27th, 1879.)

Deaths: Feb. 26th, at Southampton, Rev. H. G. Maul, formerly curate of St. Nicholas’ Church.—Sept. 1st, Rev. Alexander Creak.—Nov. 20th, James Gidney, Esq., at Southtown.—Dec. 9th, John Lacon, Esq., at Hopton.—Dec. 27th, James Norton Sherrington, Esq.

1849.

Feb. 12th. Stone coffin, containing a perfect skeleton wrapped in hempen sackcloth, discovered in the north wall of St. Nicholas’ Church.

The Fishing boat “William Tell,” of Yarmouth (and crew), lost off North Foreland.

Sept. 18th. Mr. John Driscoll buried in the Roman Catholic Cemetery; this was the first interment there.

Nov. 15th. General Thanksgiving Day for Deliverance from Cholera.

The remains of Bishop Stanley landed at the Crane Quay.

The new Bridge crossing the River Yare, and connecting Southtown with Yarmouth, commenced. Cost £50,000, including the site. 2,600 tons of stone and about 300 tons of iron were used in the construction, the two leaves of iron weighing about 45 tons each. (See 1427 and 1854.)

1850.

Jan. 28th. Parliamentary and Financial Reform Meeting held at the Corn Hall.

Mar. 31st. Mr. Waters’ Mill burned down.

Sept. 5th. Primitive Methodist Chapel opened. The Schoolroom adjoining was opened Oct. 29th, 1855, and cost about £450. (See Aug. 3rd, 1874, and June 22nd, 1875.)

Sept. St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church completed. Cost £10,000.

St. Peter’s National Schools erected.

Mr. Archard, with the assistance of Mr. C. C. Wilkinson (a resident of Yarmouth in 1880, and a relative of Mr. J. W. Argyle, of this town), brought out the invention for perforating postage stamps. They were before this date cut up with scissors. The former gentleman received a Government grant of £4,000 as inventor, and the latter £150 for constructing the machine. (See March 14th, 1881.)

Deaths: March 21st, William Glenister, Esq., architect.—March 24th, Rev. G. S. Barlow, rector of Burgh.—June 7th, Capt. Larke, R.N.—July 11th, J. Pritchard, Esq., surgeon.

1851.

Feb. 22nd. Sailors’ Riot for advance of wages. 11th Hussars sent from Norwich to suppress it. 18 persons taken prisoners.

The Duke of Northumberland awarded Mr. James Beeching 100 guineas for the Best Model of a Lifeboat. There were 280 competitors for the prize.

Census taken. The returns were as follows:—Population of Yarmouth, 11,867 males, 15,014 females, total, 26,881—321 males included being at sea. Gorleston, 1,195 males, and 1,391 females. Southtown, 572 males, and 840 females. The number of houses in Yarmouth was 6,328; and in Gorleston and Southtown, 948 houses—6,886 being inhabited.

Deaths: March 18th, Cufaude Davie, Esq., J.P., aged 56.—Oct. 23rd, Rev. J. Watson, D.D.—Lady Arabella Parker.

1852.

Jan. 1st. A procession of sailors through the town.

Jan. 3rd. Mr. Ransom’s mill burned down.

Jan. 17th. Douglas’ Travelling Theatre arrived here, and left on the 29th.

Jan. 18th. The brig “James and Margaret,” of Newcastle, whilst passing through the Roadstead, was discovered to be on fire, and she was run on shore opposite the Victoria Hotel. The fire was got under, and she was towed into the Harbour by the tug “Robert Owen.” After being temporarily repaired was sent home.

Feb. 5th. Mr. Bales’ Ball at the Town Hall.

Feb. 12th. Seventh Anniversary and Conversazione of Young Men’s Institute at Town Hall; Sir E. H. K. Lacon in the chair. A splendid collection of British and Foreign Goods, Pictures, and Curiosities were exhibited.

Feb. 20th. Mr. Ellis Mickleburgh, aged 80, accidentally killed by Mr. Roll’s van on the Lowestoft Road.

Feb. Gersham Davie, master of the Charity School, died.

Mar. 22nd. Jacobs, the Wizard, at the Theatre.

Mar. 22nd. Mr. Eccleston’s draper’s shop, Broad Row, was destroyed by fire at 11 p.m.

April 11th. A fire broke out in a Malt House, in Row 70, Howard Street. No material damage.

April 19th. Miss Fanny Kemble gave a Reading at the Town Hall. Subject: _As you Like it_. On Sept. 8th, another Reading from the _Play of Measure for Measure_.

May 17th. Grand Masquerade and Fancy Dress Ball at the Theatre Royal

May 30th. Public Anti-Mormon Meeting on the Chapel Denes for the purpose of exposing Mormonism. A Meeting also at Masonic Hall on Aug. 30th.

June 25th. Musical Reunion Conversazione at the Bath House Reading Room.

June 29th and 30th. Mr. Gill’s Midsummer Flower Show at his Nursery, Regent Road. Admission, 6d. to the Gardens.

July 8th. Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart., and C. E. Rumbold, Esq., elected to Parliament for the Borough. They were opposed by Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Napier and W. T. McCullagh, Esq. Returns next day—L., 617; R., 547; M’C., 523; N., 488. The proclamation was read on 2nd; hustings erected on north-front of Town Hall on the 5th; booths erected on 6th; and nomination on 7th.

July 13th and 14th. Yarmouth Roads Regatta.

Aug. 12th. Flower Show at Vauxhall Gardens postponed owing to bad weather, till next day.

Aug. 20th. Robbery at the shop of Mr. Mouse, George Street.

Aug. 27th. Mr. W. Cook’s equestrian troupe entered the town, and their marquee erected on the Chapel Denes.

Sept. 17th. Grand Balloon Ascent at 5.30 p.m., at the Vauxhall Gardens by Lieut. Chambers, R.N., amid the cheers of a vast multitude of people. It was postponed from the previous day owing to the wet weather. (See July 27th, 1868.)

Dr. Alfred Impey died at Cove Hall, Suffolk, aged 38.

Oct. 7th. The Lord Bishop of Norwich and the Rev. W. Hook, vicar of Leeds, and Chaplain to the Queen, preached at the Parish Church on behalf of the New Priory Schools. Between the services a cold collation was provided by Mr. Brown, of the “Angel” Hotel.

Oct. 7th. Priory National Schools opened and the restoration of the Old Hall celebrated. Built from a design by J. Flakewell, Esq. Cost, 1,850. Library and Museum built in 1868.

Nov. 18th. Funeral of the Duke of Wellington took place. By request all shops in the town were closed.

Nov. 28th. Fire on the premises of Mr. J. W. Darnell, baker, Howard Street.

Nov. 29th and 30th. Two Concerts at the Town Hall by Mr. H. Phillips and his daughter.

Dec. 14th. Mrs. Swan gave a Reading from the Play of _Henry VIII._ at the Town Hall.

R. Steward, T. Brightwen, B. Fenn, J. G. Plummer, J. Cherry, and C. C. Aldred, Esqs., were appointed Magistrates.

Caister Castle sold by auction to John Gurney, Esq., of Hoveton Hall. Norfolk.

Southtown Gas Works erected; enlarged in 1859. (See March 23rd, 1876.)

Local Board of Health established, succeeding the Board of Paving Commissioners.

1853.

June 28th. On Tuesday afternoon the ceremony of driving the first pile of the Wellington Pier took place. The beach and terrace were decorated with flags, &c. The pile driven had a brass plate inlaid, bearing the following inscription:—“This, the first pile of the Wellington Pier, was driven on the 28th of June, 1853, by S. C. Marsh, Esq., Mayor of this Borough. David Waddington, Esq., M.P., chairman of the Company; Mr. Peter Asheroft, Engineer; and C. J. Palmer, Secretary.” The procession from the Hall comprised a body of police, then a band, followed by the Mayor and Corporation, the Minister of the Parish, and the Town Clerk, the Ancient Order of Oddfellows bringing up the rear. The procession entered the Pier, marched to the far end, and there several blows by the “monkey” were given to one of the piles; speeches made, colours hoisted, guns fired, &c. When they retired the public were admitted free. The pier was decorated with flags and laurels. Cosgrove’s brass band was in attendance. Grand dinner at Victoria hotel at 8 p.m., and a ball at the Town Hall. The pier, which cost £7,000, was opened to the public on Oct. 31st, and the day being fine, the town was _en fête_. The structure was not finished till 1854.

July 28th. Re-opening of the Particular Baptist Chapel, after extensive alterations.

Aug. 27th. Mortlock Lacon, Esq., died at his residence, Hall Quay, aged 66, and was buried at South Walsham.

Aug. Coast visited by a very heavy gale, and on Jan. 4th of the following year, so boisterous was the wind that most of the shops in the Market had to be closed, except the doors. The market on Wednesday was suspended. The snow was of great depth.

About 90 boats employed in the mackerel fishery, each carrying ten men, and 65 trawling smacks, belonging to the Port of Yarmouth. Sale of fish realised nearly £27,000.

A herring 17½ in. long by 7½ in. in girth, and weighing 18 ozs., caught near Yarmouth.—In Nov., 1870, a mackerel caught weighing 2 lbs. 11 ozs., length 19 in., and girth 10¼ in.

The herring fishery during this year was very successful. About 100 sail of boats comprised the fleet of herring craft. Seven boats belonging to Mr. Letts and Mr. Skuckford brought in 650 lasts. The prices realised ranged from £4 10s. to £24 per last. The following ships left for different parts of the Mediterranean: Isis, 2,282 barrels; Fanny Palmer, 1,750; Acis, 1,488; Race Horse, 2,385; Stamboul, 1,811; Clarissa, 400; Tyro, 2,342; Fegossa, 1,728; Princess Royal, 1,480; Queen of the East, 1,925; Secret, 2,085; Earl Leicester, 2,800; Isma, 2,930.

Sept. 18th to Dec. 18th. The quantity of herrings sent by rail from Yarmouth:—To London, 202,844 packages, weighing 7,559 tons; to Norwich, 3,873 packages, or 387 tons; to Eastern Counties Railways, 18,298 packages, or 914 tons; Eastern Union, 5,252, or 200 tons; to stations beyond Peterborough on Midland, London and North-Western, and Great Northern, 51,782 packages, or 2,589 tons; herrings in bulk to Manchester, Birmingham, Worcester, &c., 500 tons—total, 281,850 packages, or 12,189 tons in weight.

Sept. Mr. Peter Coble, Mayor’s officer, died.

Dec. 31st. The Icehouse, situate near the Vauxhall Railway Station, was partly destroyed by fire. The roof being thatched, it burnt very fiercely, so that engines were not of much avail, and the fire continued burning all night, and up to Sunday evening of New Year’s Day. It is now (1884) occupied as a coal store.

1854.

July 19th. First stone of the Independent Chapel, King Street, laid. Building opened in June, 1855; cost £3,700, including site.

One hundred and eighty-four licensed public-houses and 50 beer-shops in the town.

George John Milles, Lord Sondes, High Steward of the Borough.

Oct. 18th. The Southtown Bridge opened to the public. (See 1849.)

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.

Marine Parade commenced. (See Mar. 7th, 1876.)

Deaths: Aug. 10th, Henry Humphrey, in the 100th year of his age.—Aug. 21st, Captain Charles Pearson, aged 72.

1857.

Jan. 8th. “Volunteer” steam-tug on fire in the harbour.

Jan. 13th. Inauguration Dinner of the Eastern Star Provident Association Friendly Society held at the Corn Hall. The society started with near 900 members in 12 branches established in Norfolk and Suffolk.

Jan. Rorqual whale, 45 feet in length, and weighing about 20 tons, caught at Winterton, and exhibited on Wrestler’s Plain.

Feb. 6th. Mr. J. B. Beales appointed Inspector of Weights and Measures, succeeded by Mr. E. D. Louttid, who resigned the office in Jan., 1871; and on Feb. 27th, 1871, Mr. F. W. Robinson was appointed. (See 1874.)

Feb. 20th. Man-of-war ship “Blenheim,” 74 guns, anchored in the Roadstead.

Feb. 28th. The schooner “Branch” launched from Mr. Fellows’ yard.

Mar. 1st. The iron screw-collier “Isby” run ashore south of Caister.

Mar. 28th. E. Watkin and W. Torrens McCullagh, Esqs., returned to Parliament for the Borough, by a majority of 158. Parliament dissolved on Mar. 21st. Grand procession of the United Seamen’s Association.

Mar. Mr. George Tewsley appointed Superintendent of the Borough Police. (See 1872, 1877, and 1878.)

April. A fine sturgeon, a Royal fish, caught off Yarmouth.

A mammoth tusk picked up at sea, which measured 4 ft. on the bend and 21 in. in girth.

May 15th. Thackeray, the novelist, lectured in Yarmouth: Subject—Georges III. and IV.

May 16th. Emily Major, dressed in male attire, attempted to escape from Gaol.

May 27th. Two Russian trophies received at Yarmouth. The Mayor applied to Lord Panmure for them in June, 1856.

June 7th. Corner-stone of St. John’s Church laid. This building, which cost £2,000, was opened Feb. 7th, 1858. In 1859 the southern aisle was added as a memorial to the late Miss Maurice, and opened by Bishop Hills before his departure for British Columbia.

June 8th. The Bill authorising the construction of the Britannia Pier read a third time and passed. This Pier was opened by a public company, July 13th, 1858, which has since dissolved.

Aug. 28th. Meeting of the British Archæological Association at the Town Hall.

Aug. 29th. The House of Commons decided the election to Parliament of W. T. McCullagh and E. Watkins, Esqs., as invalid. A. W. Young and J. Mellor, Esqs., were returned to Parliament in their place; the next day a monster meeting, between 10,000 and 12,000 people being present, was held on the Quay. E. Watkin, Esq., was drawn by men, by means of a rope attached to his carriage, from the Railway Station round the town.

Sept. 15th. Two Prize Fights took place on the banks of the Yare, between Batson and Slack, and Stamp and Turner.

Sept. 18th. Meeting at the Town Hall on the Indian Mutinies; £233 17s. subscribed in the room for the sufferers.

Sept. 24th. Organ at St. Peter’s Church opened. It was built by Messrs. Bishop and Starr, at a cost of £400.

Sept. 30th. Day of National Fasting and Humiliation.

Oct. 14th. Dinner given to Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart., at the Town Hall.

Oct. 22nd. Loss of the s.s. “Ontario” and 24 of her crew, on the Barber Sand. A dreadful gale and great destruction to the shipping.

Oct. Government Schools of Art and Navigation established, mainly through the exertions of the Rev. J. B. Bampton.—Exhibition of Paintings, &c., held at these schools in 1860. These schools occupy part of a Mansion formerly the residence of the Paget family.

Oct. 29th. Demonstration of the Liberal party at the Town Hall.

Nov. 12th. A warm Vestry Meeting (the second) at the Town Hall for making a Church Rate of 1½d. in the £, to include St. Peter’s. The report of the Church property in the town was made by a committee appointed at the first meeting, and it was resolved that no rate should be made. The Church party demanded a poll, which lasted till the following afternoon, but they lost it by 121 majority. The Church party finding they were defeated, the Parish Church and St. George’s Chapel Clocks were stopped till Dec. 22nd, when they were set going after nearly six weeks’ rest.

Nov. 17th. T. P. Burroughs, Esq., passed his examination for admission as a Solicitor.

Dec. 4th. The steamship “Rapid,” of Leith, sunk on the Cross Sands, and in 1858 divers were employed to raise some of her stores, consisting of wine, drapery goods, hearthrugs, smoked meats, tins of herrings, &c., which were sold at St. George’s Hall, Corn Hall, and on Hall Quay.

1858.

Jan. 1st. Fire in Jane Place, destroyed the roofing of three houses, and entirely demolished the whole of a net chamber. It originated in Mr. Moore’s workshop.

Jan. 11th. Testimonial, consisting of a splendid tea and coffee service, with an oval 24-inch waiter, weighing 203 ozs., presented to B. Fenn, Esq., by the Fishermen’s Provident Society.

Jan. 18th. The Aztec Lilliputians, the reputed Gods of the Pagan Temple of Iximaya, exhibited at the Corn Hall, Regent Street.

Feb. 11th. An Address voted by the Town Council to her Majesty on the marriage of H.R.H. the Princess Royal to H.R.H. Prince Frederick William of Prussia.

Feb. The Lord Chancellor appointed six (out of 15 candidates) new Magistrates for the Borough, viz., P. Pullyn, D. A. Gourlay, F. Palmer, W. T. Clarke, J. Barker, and J. Owles, Esqs.

Feb. 11th. The Town Battery ordered to be removed. The materials were sold for £84 12s.

Mar. 8th. The Fermanagh Light Infantry Militia (845 rank and file), commanded by Lord Enniskillen and the Hon. S. Crichton, arrived in Yarmouth.

Mar. 14th. The “Frederica,” 420 tons register and 600 tons burthen, launched from Mr. T. Branford’s yard. Between 8,000 and 4,000 persons witnessed the sight.

April 15th. Collision between the s.s. “Ernestide” and the Prussian ship “Thomas” off Yarmouth. The former foundered.

April 22nd. St. John’s Church consecrated, and in the same month the stone pulpit and the communion plate at this church were bought out of the proceeds of sale of the book, “Story of Samuel Brock.” The Church was opened Feb. 7th; enlarged in 1859, 1866, and 1868.

May 4th. Riot at Southtown between the Fermanagh Militia and some coalheavers.

May 19th. The brig “Nil Desperandum,” 800 tons register and over 500 tons burthen, launched from Mr. J. Rust’s yard. Thousands of persons witnessed the sight.

May 26th. The Corn Exchange, Regent Street, sold to R. Steward, Esq., for £1,540; and in 1870 was purchased by Government for the New Post and Telegraph Offices, &c.

June 10th. Sir E. N. Buxton, M.P., died at Cromer, aged 46 years.

June 15th. Congratulatory address voted by the Town Council to J. Paget, Esq., on his appointment as Surgeon-Extraordinary to her Majesty the Queen.

June 20th. Dawson Turner, Esq., M.A., F.S.A., F.R.S., &c., died at Brompton, aged 83 years, and his will was sworn under £70,000 personality. He was born Oct., 1775, at Yarmouth, where his father was a banker. He was educated at the Grammar School at North Walsham, and entered Pembroke College, Cambridge, in 1793. At his father’s decease he became a partner in the firm of Messrs. Gurneys and Co., and managed the Yarmouth bank. He married the daughter of the late William Palgrave, Esq., of Coltishall. His library comprised 40,000 volumes.

June 29th. County Election between Cooke and Stracey, for the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Buxton. The former returned by a large majority. Each party had a booth in the Yarmouth Market Place.

July 4th. Rev. William Tritton, of Cambridge, preached his first sermon at the Independent Chapel, King Street.

July 13th. Britannia Pier opened. _Déjeûner_ given in the afternoon on the Pier to the shareholders and their friends, 150 in number. The structure cost about £6,000.

July 16th. Grand Procession of the Freemasons to and from St. Nicholas’ Church to the Town Hall, where about 125 gentlemen sat down to an excellent dinner.

July 20th. Nottingham Order of Oddfellows opened a new Court in Middlegate Street, and next day was publicly commemorated by a procession through the town, headed by Hulley’s Saxhorn Band.

July. Fifty-seven invalids, mostly Indian sufferers, arrived at the military Hospital on the South Denes from Chatham.

Aug. 26th. The Norfolk Hotel sold by auction to Messrs. Hills and Underwood for £2,160.

Aug. 30th. G. Wells Holt, Esq., Magistrates’ Clerk, tendered his resignation to the Magistrates. He ably filled the office for over 22 years. His son William succeeded to the office, to whom a dinner was given at the “Crown and Anchor” on Oct. 4th. (See Dec. 4th, 1884.)

Sept. 2nd. Riot in Charlotte Street and Broad Row with the Fermanagh Militia. Tradesmen obliged to close their shops.

Sept. 4th. Royal yacht “Grille,” belonging to the King of Prussia, arrived in the Harbour.

Sept. 8th. Two Prussian frigates, “Thetis” and “Gefion,” under the command of the High Admiral Prince Adalbert, arrived in the Roadstead.

Sept. 23rd. The Louth Rifles, under the command of Sir John Robinson, and comprising 500 men and 24 officers, arrived in Yarmouth.

Oct. 1st. First Evening Service held at St. George’s Chapel after the gas had been laid on.

Oct. 6th. An elegant Church Service, bound in turkey morocco, presented to the Rev. Robert Boyle, LL.D., by the inhabitants of Gorleston, as a farewell token of their esteem.

Nov. 15th. The s.s. “Hunwick” sunk off the Jetty. Ship and cargo valued at £8,500. The crew saved.

Nov. The Rev. G. Hills, B.D. resigned the incumbency of St. Nicholas’ Church, on his appointment to the Bishopric of British Columbia. The degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred by diploma at a convocation at Durham on the 30th.

Nov. Mr. G. Dowey appointed Station Master, and resigned in 1884.

Dec. 13th. The Rev. W. D. Wade, B.A., incumbent of St. Mary’s Church, Southtown, presented with a purse of 60 guineas.

Dec. 23rd. S. C. Burton, Esq., solicitor, sworn as a Commissioner to Administer Oaths in the High Court of Chancery of England.

Dec. Rev. H. R. Nevill, incumbent of St. Mark’s Church, Lakenham, near Norwich, appointed to the incumbency of Yarmouth; and the Rev. G. I. Pellew, curate of St. Nicholas’ Church, appointed to fill the vacancy at Lakenham.

Dec. Mr. J. M. Petts, late chief officer at the Coast Guard Station at Gillingham, Chatham, promoted by the Admiralty to be chief officer of the Yarmouth Coastguard. In March, 1866, he was presented with a gold watch and guard (value £65) and a silver cup (value £85), subscribed for by 121 gentlemen of the town, and presented at the Town Hall by the Mayor (C. C. Aldred, Esq.), in recognition of many acts of bravery in saving shipwrecked crews. He resigned the office on Oct. 1st, 1870. From Oct. 5th, 1859, to Feb. 14th, 1870, no less than 40 vessels were wrecked on the beach and off the coast, from which Mr. Petts, in conjunction with those under his command, was instrumental in rescuing 295 lives. Joined the service June 22nd, 1827.

Deaths: Jan. 17th, Rev. J. Pike, the much-esteemed minister of the Independent Chapel, Gorleston, died directly after leaving the pulpit, where he officiated in the service.—Mar. 4th, Sir Eton S. Travers, aged 69 years.—Mar. 15th, Mr. S. V. Moore, a respected member of the Town Council.

1858–9.

The winter was remarkably fine, neither wind, rain, nor snow interrupting fine weather till 31st March, when snow fell, and a severe frost followed.

1859.

Jan. 1st. Sailors’ Home established. Its completion on Feb. 2nd was celebrated by a tea given to a large party of beachmen and their wives at the Norfolk Hotel. The Home cost about £2,000.

Jan. 12th. Mr. James Buddrell, master of the fishing vessel “Hosannah,” presented with a first-class silver medal and diploma from the Emperor of the French for saving the lives of 11 men, the crew of the French brig “La Prospère,” off Hasbro’.

Jan. 12th. The Queen constituted the Colonies of British Columbia and Vancouver’s Island to be a Bishop’s See, and appointed the Rev. George Hills, D.D., to be ordained and consecrated Bishop of it. This ceremony was performed at Westminster Abbey by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishops of Norwich and Oxford, on Feb. 24th. In Jan. Dr. Hills was presented with a handsome communion service by the members of his congregation, and on the 26th of May was presented at the Town Hall with a testimonial, value £400, as a token of esteem. He reached his new diocese in March, 1860.

Jan. 17th. The Rev. H. Hitcham died, aged 40 years.

Jan. 19th. The sloop “Eliza” launched from Mr. J. Rust’s yard.

Feb. 10th. An Address voted by the Town Council to her Majesty on the birth of a grandson, heir to the Throne of Prussia.

Feb. 17th. Cuthbert Collingwood Hall, Esq., of Beach House, on the Marine Parade, died at his seat, Collingwood Court, near Windsor. Mr. Hall was one of the earliest advocates of our Marine Parade, and gave £50 towards its construction. He married the granddaughter and co-heiress of the celebrated Admiral Cuthbert Lord Collingwood, who commanded at Trafalgar after Lord Nelson received his death wound.

Feb. 20th. The “reading-in” ceremony and first sermon preached by the Rev. H. R. Nevill at St. Nicholas’ Church. The text chosen was 1 Cor. ii. 1, 2.

Feb. Portrait of Lord Sondes, High Steward of the Borough, placed in the Town Hall.

Mar. 17th. St. Patrick’s Day was ushered in at break of day by the band of the Louth Rifles playing through our streets the Irish air dedicated to the patron saint.

Mar. 21st. East Suffolk Railway Bill read a third time in the House of Commons and passed. The line was opened at Southtown on the 1st of June.

April 5th. E. W. Watkin and A. W. Young, Esqs., addressed a large meeting of between 2,000 and 3,000 persons on the Hall Quay; and again on the 15th.

April 13th to 16th. Charles Stratton, commonly known as “General Tom Thumb,” with a company, gave an entertainment at the Theatre.

April 19th. The “Athelstan” launched from Messrs. Fellows’ yard. This fine vessel was commanded by Captain John Braccy, of Yarmouth. (See Aug. 18th, 1882.)

April 29th. Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart., and Sir Henry J. Stracey, Bart., returned to Parliament.—Votes—L., 693; S., 653; Watkin, 568; Young, 537. This was the first time of polling in wards. No hustings. Nomination from the “Crown and Anchor” balcony.

May 12th. Cardinal Wiseman, accompanied by Lord Stafford and a party of friends, paid a visit to Yarmouth.

May 26th. The house of Mr. Bradnum, at Gorleston, struck by lightning, the fluid knocking a chimneypot through the roof, smashing the windows and frames, and doing other damage.

May 27th. First meeting, called by the Mayor at the Town Hall, respecting the enrolment of Rifle Volunteers at Yarmouth.

June 7th. Miss Ann Turner, daughter of the late Dawson Turner, Esq., presented the Town Council with 17 rolls, &c., relative to the History of Yarmouth.

July 11th. Eighty invalids, mostly Indian sufferers, arrived at the Military Hospital on the South Denes from Chatham.

July. The schooner “Alma” brought to Yarmouth nine 68 and one 54-pounder guns from Woolwich for the North and South Batteries. There were six guns mounted on each battery, namely, three 82, two 68, and one long 24-pounders, some of them weighing as much as five tons.

July. B. Dowson and F. Worship, Esqs., appointed Deputy-Lieutenants of the County.

Aug. 12th. The fine vessel “Himalaya,” 375 feet in length, with her saloon of 100 ft., brought a portion of the Donegal Militia to Yarmouth, who were landed by the steam-tug “Robert Owen” at the Barrack Wharf; and on the 14th the vessel left, having previously embarked the Louth Rifles for Preston.

Sep. 1st. Appointment of officers for the Rifle Volunteers, and the services of the men accepted by Government.

Sept. 7th. Rev. W. Griffiths, M.A., minister of the Congregational body, ordained at King Street Chapel.

Sept. 12th. Fire at Mr. S. Ives’ premises, in Howard Street; estimated damage, £150. Another fire originated at the same place on June 5th, 1867, doing damage to the amount of £600.

Sep. 26th. C. P. Molly, Esq., of Liverpool, contributed a Mural Drinking Fountain for the Borough. R. Steward, Esq., contributed one in Nov., which is now placed in front of the Sailors’ Home.

Sept. 28th. Services of the Artillery Volunteer Corps accepted by Government, and the appointment of officers confirmed.

Sept. Water supplied by the Yarmouth Water Works Company to the inhabitants of Southtown.

Oct. 8th. Riot in King Street with four of the Donegal Militia, one of whom when in custody at the Police Station attempted to set fire to his cell, and a _melée_ took place before it could be extinguished.

Oct. 25th. Violent gale, 14 lives lost off this coast, and 80 shipwrecked seamen lodged at the Sailors’ Home. A sloop driven through the Britannia Pier and severed it in two.

Nov. 30th. First stone of St. Andrew’s Church laid. Contract for building was £1,050 10s. In March, 1864, a schoolroom was built adjoining the church, which cost £500 more.

Dec. 16th. The _Norfolk Standard_, published by Mr. J. Cooper, was discontinued. The same publisher printed the _Yarmouth Weekly News_ and the _Yarmouth Standard_ previously.

Dec. 20th. Rev. F. W. Johnson, who was appointed in Jan., 1858, minister of St. John’s Church, died in London. By will he bequeathed £3,000 to endow the Beach and Harbour Mission.

Dec. 27th. Jacob Astley, Baron Hastings, and a baronet of England, died at his town residence, aged 62 years. He was born on Nov. 13th, 1797, and was the eldest son of Sir Jacob Henry Astley. The late lord married, on Mar. 22nd, 1819, Georgiana Caroline, youngest daughter of Sir Henry W. Dashwood, Bart., and sister of the late Marchioness of Ely. (See Dec. 24th, 1875.)

Francis Worship, E. P. Youell, and J. Clark, Esqs., appointed as Magistrates.

Bastard shark caught off Yarmouth.

Thirty-two thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine barrels of herrings shipped at Yarmouth for foreign ports.

Vice-Admiral Lovell, K.H., who had served under Nelson at Trafalgar, died, aged 72.

New Lifeboat-house erected by the National Association at a cost of £400.

1860.

Jan. 3rd. Three cases of wine, eight of spirits, and five of oil, and a cask of vinegar, landed here, having been picked up by the smack “Chance.”

Jan. 4th. Schooner “Hero,” of and for Yarmouth, went ashore on Palling Beach and became a total wreck. Sold for £9.

Jan. 20th. The people in Southtown alarmed by the report of a “Spring-heel’d Jack” in the locality for some days previous. The supposed fiend, who assaulted one of the employés on the East Suffolk railway, and left him insensible on the ground, was said to be a man clad in a white tight-skin dress, and goat’s horns fixed to his head.

Jan. F. Palmer, Esq., appointed hon. surgeon to the Rifle Volunteer Corps.

Feb. 2nd. The fishing lugger “Paymaster,” belonging to Mr. B. Fenn, sailed from Yarmouth to Portsmouth, a distance of 240 miles, in 23 hours.

Feb. 14th. A detachment of the Donegal Militia (162) left Yarmouth for Deptford.

Feb. 16th. The premises of Messrs. Bullimore, West, and Todd, coachbuilders, carpenters, &c., destroyed by fire.

Feb. 16th and 18th. Officers of the Donegal Militia performed at the Theatre on behalf of the Hospital. _Used Up_ and the _Irish Attorney_ were represented.

Feb. 17th. The fishing smack “John Bull” driven on Yarmouth beach in a gale. The crew of five were taken out of the rigging by a lifeboat crew, and all saved except one boy. George Milligan, at the risk of his own life, bravely rescued a helpless man who was lashed to the rigging. In March, he and Capt. T. Davies, R.N., inspecting commander of the Yarmouth Coastguards, received silver medals for their bravery on this occasion, and the lifeboat crew £24.

Feb. 24th. Enquiry opened in the House of Commons upon the petition against the return of Sir E. Lacon and Sir H. Stracey, Barts., as M.P.’s for the Borough. After seven days’ investigation, the Chairman of the Committee announced them as duly elected.