1880
Jan. The Bure Preservation Society established.
Jan. 3rd. Schooner “Kate,” of Yarmouth, wrecked.
Jan. 13th. Fire at Mr. Pond’s shop, King Street; and on Jan. 30th a fire on the fishing premises of Mr. Joseph Ellis, Middle Market Road.
Feb. 21st. Major James Henry Orde, 2nd N.R.V., of Hopton Hall, Suffolk, son of the late General and Lady Elizabeth Orde, died, aged 49.
March 18th. A sad accident happened in the Market Place. Mr. Johnson’s horses, in a mourning coach, ran away, and overtaking a walking funeral (Mrs. Thompson’s), came in contact with the bearers, one of whom was knocked over and the coffin thrown to the ground. Damage was also done to some of the shops in the Butchery by the runaways.
March 20th. Fire on board the smack “Young Harry” whilst at sea, and several fishermen injured.
April 7th. The Parliamentary Election for East Suffolk, which includes Gorleston and Southtown, took place, and resulted as follows:—Lord Rendlesham (C.), 4,239 votes; Colonel F. S. N. Barne (C.), 3,620; Mr. R. L. Everett (L.), 3,502. The two first-named were re-elected. This election cost the two Conservative candidates £1,921 6s. each, and Mr. Everett, £1,230 13s. 2d.
April. The first dissolution of Parliament since March 5th, 1874. Although Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart., and E. Birkbeck, Esq., were returned to Parliament for North Norfolk without opposition, their expenses were £325 16s. 5d., including £87 for agency.
April 8th. Mr. T. P. George presented with a massive marble timepiece by the teachers of St. Nicholas’ Sunday School.
April 20th. The principal corner-stone (3 tons in weight), of the new Town Hall and Municipal Buildings was laid by the Mayor (C. C. Aldred, Esq.), in the presence of the Corporation and a large number of ladies and gentlemen. The Mayor was presented with a richly-chased silver trowel appropriately inscribed. In the cavity of the stone was deposited in two stone bottles, “Crisp’s Chronological History of Yarmouth” (A.D. 46 to 1879 inclusive); Times, April 20th; Yarmouth Independent and Gazette, April 17th; Builder, Feb. 22nd, 1879; Building News, Sept. 27th, 1878; a sequence of coin, from a sovereign to a farthing (exclusive of a crown and fourpenny-piece); photograph of Old Town Hall; Council’s Committee Book and statement of date of laying the principal stone, with the names of the Building Committee. (See May 31st, 1882.)
April 27th. Mr. William Smith, 20 years sick steward of the Good Samaritan Lodge (M.U.O.O.), presented with a silver watch and gold Albert chain and appendages by the brotherhood as a memento of esteem; and on June 15th Bro. R. Ladbroke, eight years treasurer to the Marquis of Lorne Lodge, presented with a marble timepiece.
May. R. Martins and S. Nightingale, jun., Esqs., appointed Borough Magistrates by the Lord Chancellor.
May 4th. Marriage of Mr. W. Teasdel with Alice, second daughter of J. E. Barnby, Esq.; June 3rd, F. J. Irwin with Kate, third daughter of Mr. Barnby; and on Oct. 12th Mr. Edgar Barnby with Edith Mary, third daughter of the late J. W. Bunn, Esq.
May 8th. The Mayor (C. C. Aldred, Esq.) and Dr. Mayo thrown out of a dog cart on Regent Road, caused by a runaway horse.
May 19th to 21st. Visit to Yarmouth of the Duke of Edinburgh, as Admiral Superintendent of the Naval Reserve, and considerable éclat was given to the occasion. The Duke also paid a flying visit to this town by the North Norfolk Railway on Nov. 24th.
May 22nd. St. Nicholas’ Church broken into by thieves.
May 25th. St. Nicholas’ change bell ringers rang, in 1 hr. 20 min., on the eight large Parish Church bells (the tenor 31 cwt.), 1,880 changes of Bob major, composed and conducted by William Lee.
May 26th. A Royal sturgeon, six feet long and weighing eleven stone, brought in by the cutter “British Lion.”
June. The Steward memorial drinking fountain removed to the Marine Parade.
June 15th. Mr. S. Sparrow, 14 years hon. treasurer to Court Star of West (A.I.O.F.), presented by the brotherhood with a silver watch, suitably inscribed.
June 17th. Opening of the new Congregational School Room and Lecture Hall, South Howard Street. Cost, with fittings, £3,000.
June 29th. A handsome brass-bound family Bible presented to Bro. Spanton, 10 years auditor to the St. Nicholas’ Lodge (N.O.O.), as a memento of esteem.
June 31st. J. Worlledge, Esq., resigned his position as County Court Judge. On Nov. 6th he was presented with an illuminated address, with 153 signatures. He died on July 19th, 1881. T. B. Bristowe, Esq., Q.C., was appointed Judge on July 28th.
July 1st. Captain Giles, A Company, 2nd N.R.V., presented with a testimonial in commemoration of his marriage by his brother officers and privates.
July 16th. The new Drill Hall, for the 1st Norfolk Artillery Volunteers, opened. The hall is 73 ft. by 40 ft., with orderly and committee rooms attached, each 17 by 13 ft.
July 20th. The first Gorleston Marine Regatta held in the South Ham and Roadstead.
July. On the retirement of Mr. S. Swarbrick from the office of General Manager of the Great Eastern Railway, Mr. William Birt, many years Goods Manager, succeeded to the post. Mr. Swarbrick was presented with a service of silver plate, value 250 guineas, by the heads of the department.
Aug. 14th. The Yarmouth Independent permanently enlarged. (See July 28th, 1855.)
Aug. 20th. Fire at Messrs. R. and A. Brown’s fishing premises, Friar’s Lane.
Sept. Mr. E. Hawkins resigned the management of the Southtown Tramway, and was succeeded by Mr. George Wright.
Sept. 3rd. The mail steamer “Grantully Castle” passed outside the sands on a voyage from Leith to Gravesend, having on board the Hon. William E. Gladstone and family. About 50 Yarmouth gentlemen went out in the tug “Meteor” to present him with an address of congratulation upon his convalescence.
Sept. Part of the original MSS. of “Swinden’s History of Yarmouth” and “Manship’s History” purchased by T. P. Burroughs, Esq., F.S.A. (See 1772).
Sept. 18th. The old wooden Grand Stand on the South Denes totally destroyed by fire.
Oct. 2nd. The three-masted schooner “Curlew,” with her captain and four of the crew, lost off Yarmouth, the result of a collision.
Oct. 4th. Heavy gale and loss of the lugger “Ebenezer” on the South Beach. About £400 worth of damage done to South Pier. On the 29th there was another gale, and many men injured and drowned at sea as well as great destruction of fishing property. The Yarmouth schooners “John Snell” and “Isis” lost. The smacks “Expert,” “Luna,” “Mystery,” “Harry,” and “Defiance” each lost six hands. The Swedish barque “Systers,” which came into port after the gale in a wretched state of dilapidation, was the best criterion of what she had encountered. The “Systers” was valued at £927 14s. 1d., and salvors were awarded £384. She was sold in London on Feb. 1st, for £295.
Oct. 7th. The wine and spirit stores and building site of Messrs. S. Grimmer and Co., at the south-east corner of Regent Street, sold by auction, and realized £5,300, but was afterwards re-sold to Mr. Bayfield by private contract.
Oct. 15th. The resident Inspector at the Vauxhall Station (Mr. Reeve) run over by a train and killed.
Oct. 18th. The Rev. R. Nicholson, founder of the Boys’ and Girls’ Homes, presented with a public subscription (£61) prior to leaving the town.
Oct. 18th. A petty juryman fined £5 for refusing to appear at the Quarter Sessions when summoned.
Oct. 24th. Great communion at the Parish Church, and 1,102 persons partook of the Sacrament this day.
Oct. 30th. A lad named Charles Meffin (15) fell from the inner scaffolding at the new Town Hall (26 ft.), and died from injuries received.
Oct. Cornelius Harley Christmas, a native of this town, whose property was sworn under £60,000, willed £15,800 to the poor of Great Yarmouth for ever, the yearly interest of which was upwards of £770, which sum was to be divided and spent every year, the week before Christmas, in coal, bread, and money. The £770 was reduced by other expenses to £696, viz., £199 for bread, £398 for coal, and £99 in money, to be distributed in wards, namely, North and South Wards each £100 coal, £50 bread, and £24 in money; Market, Regent, and St. George’s each £66 coal, £33 bread, and £17 in money. Not more than 2 cwt. of coal, 1s. in bread, and 1s. to 2s. in money, to be given to one house. But “if difficulties arose through litigation, the property to be realised, and the money to be distributed among the poor of Yarmouth, not more than £20 to occupier of each house.” This year nearly 8,000 cwts. of coal, 16,000 loaves, and more than £100 in money was distributed among 6,000 families, but Mr. Christmas’ death occurring afterwards (see Feb. 4th, 1881) the gift was passed into Chancery, and the poor will have to wait its resuscitation before they get further aid. Other charities were to be benefited. (See Feb. 4th, 1881).
Nov. 4th. Several uproarious meetings of the Board of Guardians commenced, relative to the election of a registrar of births and deaths for the South District.
Nov. 8th. First burial in Yarmouth under the New Burial Law; and on Dec. 27th, the first Nonconformist was buried in the churchyard without the rite of the Church of England.
Nov. 6th. Mr. B. Press elected as an Alderman in place of Mr. P. Case, resigned.
Nov. The beautifully-carved pulpit (designed by the Vicar) in the Parish Church finished. It cost £579 14s., and was 3½ years in making.
Nov. 25th. Mr. Waters presented with a marble timepiece by the senior members of St. James’ choir.
Dec. 23rd. That “a cat has nine lives” was partly verified by the fact that a feline was accidentally nailed under the floor at 47, South Quay, for three weeks without food, and was taken out alive.
Dec. 25th. The dead body of a woman named Harriet Parsons (60), of Norwich, found on Yarmouth Beach. Her husband left her for 27 years, and she, believing him dead, in the interval married again; and her first husband’s return home is supposed to have caused her to commit suicide.
Dec. 26th. Mr. H. T. Stonex ordained by the Bishop of Bath and Wells, and licensed to a curacy at Taunton.
Launches: Jan., smack “Nellie”; Jan. 28th, smack “Silver Dart”; May 3rd, smacks “Busy Bee” and “Edith Mary”; May 10th, smack “Greenheys”; Sept. 27th, smack “Francis”; Nov. 6th, fish carrier “Bessie”; Nov. 22nd, cutter “Phœnix.”
Marriages: March 31st, Rev. G. Merriman, of Martham, to Miss E. S. Steward; May 20th, Mr. G. W. Giles to Miss A. E. L. Blake; June 8th, R. E. Pinhey, Esq., to Emily Gertrude, eldest daughter of F. Palmer, Esq., J.P.; Oct. 21st, Mr. E. H. Morgan to Miss E. K. Press, of Southtown.
Deaths: Feb. 5th, Mr. Marcus John Grimmer, aged 63; Feb. 23rd, Mr. Thos. Todd, boatowner, aged 52; March 11th, Mr. Walter J. Lincoln, Town Hall keeper, aged 48; March 13th, Mr. Geo. Hastings, boat builder; May 28th, Wm. Danby Palmer, Esq., of Southtown, aged 46, June, Daniel Gurney, Esq., at North Runcton, aged 89; July 1st, Arthur G. W. Neale, B.A., aged 23; Aug. 27th. Hezekiah Martin, Esq., aged 86; Sept. 22nd, Mr. Wm. Hewke, many years head master at the Hospital School, aged 68; Oct. 19th, John Wilton Shelly, J.P., aged 70; Oct. 21st, Dr. J. Baily, aged 74; Dec., Frank Buckland, Esq., H.M’s. Inspector of Fisheries, aged 54.