Chronological Retrospect of the History of Yarmouth and Neighbourhood from A.D. 46 to 1884. William Finch-Crisp
whale came ashore south of Grubb’s Haven, which was cut to pieces and carried away in carts.
1488.
The Bailiffs feasted Sir John Paston, son of the late John Paston, on porpoise, then a royal fish.
1493.
May 16th. By charter of Henry VII., Burgesses were empowered to constitute Justices of the Peace.
1508.
The fourth Haven made; and the fifth Haven cut in the reign of Henry VIII., 1529.
1509.
House of Carmelites, or White Friars, destroyed by fire; founded in Edward I.’s time, 1278.
1511.
Southtown united with Gorleston.
1515.
Queen of France and her husband, Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, entertained here three days.
1525.
Church of the Dominicans burnt down.
1528.
Great dearth of corn. The extravagant sale price then was 26s. 8d. per quarter. Several men were hanged for taking part in a riot arising from the same.
Gorleston began to be built upon. (See 1511.)
The first Yarmouth crane erected by Richard Bishop.
1529.
Duke of Suffolk suppressed a riot arising from the dearness of corn.
1535.
Nov. 1st. Tumult in St. Nicholas’ Church; twenty-four persons, with William Swarton, the chaplain, at their head, disturbed the congregation while the Rev. D. R. Cotton was preaching.
1538.
The high altar of St. Nicholas’ Church, remarkable for its richness and beauty, with the saints’ figures and pictures, broken and destroyed.
1541.
Oct. 28th. Four merchant heretics entered St. Nicholas’ Church, and created a great disturbance during the service.
Nov. 2nd. A merchant and shoemaker were fined 2s. each for bargaining and selling a last of white herring in the Church.
Sir Humphrey Wingfield returned to Parliament, held at Westminster.
Ordered that Aldermen should wear scarlet gowns, with fur tippets and straight hose, at assemblies and festivals.
1544.
Height of town wall, 23 feet. On war being declared the following year with France, a large rampire was thrown up on the eastern side, and afterwards extended along the north and south walls. (See 1396.)
Sir H. Wingfield again returned to Parliament.
1545.
At Corporate meetings no member allowed to depart without leave of the Bailiffs; otherwise was fined for disorderly conduct. Members of the Corporation compelled to wear scarlet gowns and straight hose, under penalty of fines.
1546.
Two French ships and 120 prisoners taken by the town.
A house for country butchers built.
1549.
The sixth Haven made. It was agreed that the money, plate, ornaments, robes, vestments, tunicles, albs, ameffes, belonging to St. Nicholas’ Church, should be disposed of, together with the bells in the steeple and other property in the Church, and the proceeds (£1,816 9s. 7d.) devoted to its construction. The Haven was then commenced, 100 men being employed daily upon it.
A rebellion in the town. Kett’s adherents advanced and destroyed all the materials for the Haven, and laid it in ruins; and the work of the Harbour was stopped till the following year. The next attempt also proved as unsuccessful. Another report says—The Norfolk rebellion, under Kett, the tanner, commenced; but their designs were frustrated by Yarmouth men, who, setting fire to a stack of hay on the west side of the Haven, were able to attack the enemy unseen, and defeated them, many insurgents being killed, 80 taken prisoners, and six pieces of ordnance secured. They were afterwards defeated by the Earl of Warwick at head-quarters in Norwich, and lost some 4,500 men; their leaders, William and Robert Kett, being suspended alive in chains on a gibbet.
1550.
Another great Plague. (See 1349.)
The Castle used as a Borough Gaol. During subsequent periods of alarm, it was again repaired. The upper part of it was taken down in 1620, and the following year the