Chronological Retrospect of the History of Yarmouth and Neighbourhood. William Finch-Crisp
Charters surrendered to Charles II.
May 1st. Earl of Yarmouth invited Sir A. Dean and Sir H. Shiers to view the Haven and Piers. The latter was presented at the “Three Feathers” Inn with 100 guineas for his journey. He also visited the town in 1687, accompanied by Lord Dartmouth, who recommended that a ship be sunk, or jetty made, northward of the north Pier, to prevent the sand from coming into the Haven, and that a basin be formed westward of the “brush,” with a sluice to let out the water forcibly into the Haven towards the latter ebb.
Lord Huntingdon and George England, Esq., elected by the Freemen to serve in Parliament. The right of Freemen to vote was ever acquiesced in by the Corporation.
Aug. 12th. Prince George of Denmark landed at Yarmouth, and went post to Windsor.
James II. ejected 5 Aldermen and 12 Common Councilmen from the Corporate Body; and in the following year 3 Aldermen and 4 Councilmen, and placed others in their stead. This right of displacing the Corporate body was reserved by the King.
June 24th. Tumult and riotous proceedings took place in the town through the bigoted conduct of King James II.
Lord Huntingdon and G. England, Esq., again elected, and sent to the Convention Parliament the same year. Re-elected in 1690 and 1695.
Prince George of Denmark’s regiment of Dragoons sent to Yarmouth; and in 1696, two companies of Lieut. – General Bellasis’ Royal Fusiliers were quartered in the town.
The office of Mayor ceased, and the Government of the town again reverted to two Bailiffs, under King James II.’s proclamation. This continued till the time of Queen Anne. (See 1702.)
Haven expenses for the year, £2,323 5s. 4d.
Feb. 16th. Prince of Orange and the Princess Mary proclaimed in the Market Place.
George England and Samuel Fuller, Esqs., returned to Parliament; also in 1695, 1698, and 1700.
May 16th. Edmund Thaxter, Alderman and twice Bailiff, died, aged 62.
The Maces carried by the Mayor’s officers ordered to be made. At New Romney are now (1884) two maces used here at Herring Fair.
Anthony Ellys, Bishop of St. David’s, and author of several theological works, was born at Yarmouth. Died in 1761.
Oct. 18th. William III. landed at Yarmouth, and received with great enthusiasm. The Corporation spent £106 in entertaining him.
All Boroughs were reduced by proclamation to the same state of government as before the surrender of charters to Charles II. (See 1702.)
Two hundred vessels and nearly 1,000 lives lost in one night off this coast.
Sept. 11th. Thomas, second son of Sir George England, Alderman and twice Bailiff, died, aged 48 years.
Oct. 28th. John Albertson, Esq., Alderman and Bailiff in 1655, died, aged 71 years.
A Bar having formed across the Harbour’s mouth, the dangerous state of the Haven was made known by the beat of a drum, and the inhabitants desired to cut and dig a “gut” or trench through the Bar.
Proposed to break up the streets and lay pipes to supply the inhabitants with spring water from a large reservoir, collected from the wells on the Denes. Also in 1810. (See 1835 and 1855.)
Corporation voted an address to the King upon his safe return, and peace with the French King.
John Nicholson and John Burton, Esqs., returned to Parliament.
June 30th. George England, Esq., eldest son of Sir George, died, aged 58 years. He was Recorder, and several times member of Parliament for the Borough. (See 1693 and 1711.)
Fishermen’s Hospital (for 40 persons) erected by the Corporation.
The Corporation obtained a new charter, granted by Queen Anne, which again allowed them to choose a Mayor on Sept. 29th, instead of two Bailiffs. (See 1692.)
Benjamin England and J. Nicholson, Esqs., returned to Parliament; also in 1705.
July 3rd. Thomas Bradford, Esq., Mayor, died, aged 74 years.
March 11th. Twenty-fifth and last Charter granted by Queen Anne, re-appointing certain governors of the town. (See 1684.) When the Parliamentary and Municipal Reform Acts were passed (1832 and 1835), the Mayor was again required to be chosen from the whole body of the Corporation, whether Aldermen or Town Councillors.
A dreadful Fire broke out at the north end of the town, and several houses were blown up to prevent its spreading.
April 30th. Thomas Godfrey, twice Bailiff and many years Town Clerk of this Borough, died, aged 63 years. He was succeeded by John Carlow, and at his decease in 1710 by Francis Turner.
The expenses of Yarmouth Haven amounted to £2,710 7s. 5d.
April 27th. Thomas Bendish, Esq., died, aged 61 years. He was a descendant of the ancient family of Sir Thomas Bendish, Bart., of Essex, who was ambassador from Charles II. to the Grand Seigneur. He married Bridget, daughter of H. Ireton, Esq., of Ireton, for some time Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.
Hon. Roger Townshend and Richard Ferrier, Esq., returned to Parliament.
A Quaker had his Burgess Letter on taking his solemn affirmation only.
Nov. 7th. William Browne, Esq., Mayor, died, aged 46 years.
Richard Ferrier and Benjamin England, Esqs., returned to Parliament. Poll – F. 278; Eng. 269; Townshend 231; Ellys 173. Also in 1713.
April 30th. Benjamin England, Esq., third son of Sir George, died. He was several times Bailiff, Mayor, and Member of Parliament for the Borough.
Henry Borrett, Esq., was Mayor, but dying before his term of office was completed, Samuel Wakeman, Esq., was chosen.
Ordered that no license be granted to any person to draw or retail ale or any other liquor at any house by the sea-side, except during the fishing seasons.
Oct. 3rd. Twenty persons drowned on Breydon from the upsetting of a wherry.
An Act obtained for making a causeway over the Denes from Yarmouth to Caister.
The Charity School erected in the Market Place by a few benevolent persons; and in 1724 the Corporation built two large rooms.
First Town Hall built at a cost of £880. (See April 20th, 1880, and May 31st, 1882.)
Mayors and Justices allowed to wear different gowns to those of other Corporate members.
St. George’s Episcopal Chapel finished building. The contractors were Messrs. Price and Son, who built the Town Hall. The Chapel was consecrated Dec. 8th, 1815. Cost £3,800.
South Denes laid out as a race-course by John Holdrich and other innkeepers of Yarmouth; but annual races not held till 1810.
Easter Fair held on Good Friday until this date, when the Corporation ordered it to take place on the Friday following.
Geo. England, Esq., and the Hon. Horatio Townshend returned to Parliament.
It was agreed that the two last and every succeeding Mayor should receive £100 each, in lieu of the fishing thousand.
The Vicar’s house built by the Corporation.
An Act passed enforcing half the amount of ordinary duties on the Haven to be expended in improving the Haven, Piers, and Jetties; one-fourth part to be expended in deepening and cleansing the three rivers, and repairing the bridge and public quays at Yarmouth; and the remaining fourth part in cleansing and deepening Breydon.
Oct.