A concise history and directory of the city of Norwich for 1811Berry, Christopher
History
A concise history and directory of the city of Norwich for 1811
Berry, Christopher
Norwich (England) -- History
A gentleman desirous of spending a few days in Norwich, cannot help being
gratified by seeing the various employments of its extensive
manufactories in Stuffs, Cottons, Shawls &c.—the first and last of which
are here carried to a perfection no where else to be met with in England.
Norwich adds greatly to the trade of Yarmouth, by the importation of
about 40,000 chaldrons of coals yearly; wine, fish, oil, Irish yarn, and
all heavy goods which come from thence by the river Yare: and in Peace
the exportation of its manufactures to Russia, Germany, Holland, Denmark,
Norway, Spain, Portugal, Italy, &c. The keels and wherries which
navigate between Norwich and Yarmouth are acknowledged to be superior to
any other small craft in England, for carrying a larger burthen, and
being worked at a smaller expence;—their burthen is from fifteen to fifty
tons; they have but one mast, which lets down, and carry only one large
square sail, are covered close by hatches, and have a cabin superior to
many coasting vessels, in which oftentimes the keelman and his family
live; they require only two persons to navigate them, and sometimes
perform their passage (thirty-two miles) in five hours.
Norwich has experienced of late years, a number of improvements; the
lighting is much more brilliant, and better regulated than formerly; the
paving also, which is in great forwardness, and the alterations
consequent thereon, have already much improved many parts, and will when
finished, add greatly to the beauty of the city, and to the convenience
and comfort of the inhabitants and occasional visitors. The act for
paving the streets, &c. was obtained in June 1808, and empowers the
commissioners to levy on all houses laid to the poor-rate, four shillings
in the pound on the half-rental, and one shilling and four pence in the
pounds on such houses &c. as do not pay to the poor-rate, computed on
half their annual value; also by a frontage of two-pence per running
foot. The commissioners under the paving act are one hundred and
thirty-six in number; sixty-three permanent, besides the Mayor, Aldermen,
Sheriffs, Recorder, Steward, the Speaker of the Commons, the Rev. the
Dean and Prebendary, in all thirty-one, and forty-two Parochial
Commissioners, chosen annually. Clerk’s office on Elm-hill, there are
also a surveyor and four collectors of the rates.
Among the modern institutions of the city is one which serves to shew
that the fine arts are encouraged even at this distance from the
metropolis; this is a “_Society of Artists_,” the members of which have
made an annual public exhibition of their pictures, for the last few
years, during the Assize and following week, at their room in Sir
Benjamin Wrenche’s court, St. John’s Maddermarket, where they also hold a
meeting once a fortnight. If societies of this kind were more
encouraged, instead of that deformity, which disgraces many modern
alterations, beauty, consistency, and propriety would be introduced.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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