Norfolk Annals, Vol. 1: A Chronological Record of Remarkable Events in the Nineteeth CenturyMackie, Charles
History
Norfolk Annals, Vol. 1: A Chronological Record of Remarkable Events in the Nineteeth Century
Mackie, Charles
Norfolk (England) -- History
30.—Some remarkable vaults—the disused workings of ancient chalk
pits—were discovered on the property of Mr. Sendall, near St. Giles’
Gates, Norwich. They were 35 feet beneath the surface, and extended in
various directions. The vaults were thrown open for public inspection
and illuminated with coloured lamps.
1824.
JANUARY.
1.—At a public meeting, held at Calvert Street chapel, it was decided to
erect a second Wesleyan Methodist chapel in Norwich. A subscription was
opened, and £600 contributed. The foundation-stone of the new (Lady
Lane) chapel was laid on April 14th by the Rev. William Gilpin,
superintendent of the Norwich circuit; and the building was opened for
worship on October 21st by the Rev. R. Newton, president of the Methodist
Conference, the Rev. John Anderson, of London, and the Rev. Mr. Farrar,
of Leeds.
2.—Persistent efforts were made this year to obtain the removal of the
Lent Assizes from Thetford to Norwich. At a meeting of the county
magistrates on January 2nd, it was decided to present an address to the
Lord Chancellor and Mr. Secretary Peel, representing the inconvenience
and ill consequences resulting from the then existing arrangement. At a
quarterly assembly of the Corporation of Norwich on February 24th, a
committee was appointed to co-operate with the county justices, and a
petition to the House of Commons and a memorial to the Lord Chancellor
were prepared. On June 5th the city petition received the seal of the
Mayor, and on June 11th Lord Suffield, in the House of Lords, presented
the petition from the Norfolk magistrates. It stated that the prisoners
were carried in open carts through the towns and villages, guarded by
soldiers, and “it was not long since that they were exhibited as sights,
one shilling being charged to see convicts of the second and third
degree, and two shillings or more for condemned felons.” There was a
dungeon at Thetford, thirteen feet below the surface of the ground,
measuring eighteen feet by nine feet, and eight and a half feet in
height, and in this cell upon one occasion no less than seventeen persons
were placed to sleep. The Lord Chancellor intimated that the subject was
under consideration, and the petition was ordered to be printed. On
August 7th the announcement was made that the Lieutenant of the county
had received a letter from the Lord Chancellor, stating that the twelve
Judges had unanimously decided against the removal of the Lent Assizes
from Thetford. At the Summer Assizes on August 11th, the Grand Jury for
the county presented an address to the Judges expressing regret at their
decision, and pointing out that the chief benefits contemplated by the
recent Act of Parliament for the regulation of gaols must be in a great
degree frustrated by a continuance of the then state of things in
Norfolk. “The late city calendar,” said the NORFOLK CHRONICLE,
“furnishes no less than three cases of exceptional long confinement
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account