Chapter 16
Rows 48 to 50
The Revised History of Great Yarmouth
ROW FORTY EIGHT, WHEATSHEAF
ROW.
(Palmer)
Bailiff Bartholomew’s Row, 1581 (Johnson
should have used the correct spelling of
“Bartlemews”)
Wheatsheaf Row, 1829
This Row from North Quay to George Street,
was named after the Public House at the south-
east corner, on George Street, which was taken
down, rebuilt and then renamed “The Mitre”
some time before 1928.
Thomas Blackbeard occupied a house on the
north side in 1670. Sir Thomas Meadowe had
a ”Capital Messuage” here, which had been
granted to his father in 1631 (See Fuller’s
Hill). A house at the northwest corner was
in 1745 the property of Francis Morse, of
a family which had flourished in Yarmouth
in the previous century, (and which in the
next century was to be
found at Lound. There is a
row of family tombstones
of the Morces of Lound,
along the east boundary of
Lound Churchyard). 1793
it was purchased by Peter
Upcher of Sudbury, being
the in the occupation of
Mr. Joseph Ramsey. Abbott Upcher was in
1807 a candidate for the representation of the
Borough. The house projecting well into the
road, it was purchased in 1861 by the town
council, and the street was widened. Captain
Curry C. B. , resided at the house at the south
east corner when Captain to the Port Admiral.
Quay House adjoining, and extending nearly
as far as George Street, was for many years
a residence of the Lacon Family.
At the
northeast corner of the row, facing George
Street, and opposite old Broad Row, was a
flint faced house with a stone tablet inscribed
“1581, J. B., if it please God, this house may
stand, and they that dwell therein may be able
to maintain it.” The house was erected in 1581
by John Bartlemews, Bailiff in 1582 and 1595.
He died in the latter year, and his widow in
1601 gave to the corporation the famous old
chest known as “The Hutch”. The inscription
19th Feb 2007,
looking towards
George Street.
The “Hutch” chest
Looking west, 19.2.2007
650
A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
61
asper
1772
map
siteof
Thomas
Morse's
house
oldrow
JohnBartlemew's
house(1581)
Row48
(JohnBartlemews
possessed
thefamous"Hutch")
oldrow
siteofSirJohnFastolf's
house
asper
1906
map
Phoenix
Passage
Goode's
Dining
rooms
61
Wetherall's
thepubhadbeen
CaptainCurry's
house
the"Mitre"
asper
1985
map
HallQuayClub
above was found to be
cut on the reverse side of
carved stone, the design
of which suggested that it
had been taken from some
religious institution, perhaps
that of the White Friars.
Bartholomews (H. B. J.
wrote this and should have
said Bartlemews) who
was Bailiff in 1582 and
1595. The town’s famous
Hutch, an ancient chest
in the town hall entrance
was his property, his
widow presenting it to
the corporation in 1601.
This residence later
became the property of Sir
Thomas Meadowe, whom
King Charles knighted. The
Wheatsheaf sign has been
displaced by the Mitre.
This row was not mentioned in
the 1936 row survey.
No. 11 row 48 was demolished
and the site has been
(unsuccessfully) for sale since
1987. No. 10 is Wetherall’s
locksmith’s shop.
The large establishment
at the northeast corner,
now occupied as Goode’s
Dining Rooms, was in
1581 the residence of John
651
The Revised History of Great Yarmouth
The Occupants, Row Forty
Eight, 1886
(from George Street to North
Quay)
Coates, W., currier and leather
seller
Newark, Mrs.
Prime, C., slaughterman
Hatch, F., brazier
Foz, F. C., carpenter and
contractor (Fox?)
Atkins, F., gas fitter
Bartram, W.
Crouchen, H, mariner
Juby, J. N., seething dairy
Mann, H., shoemaker
Jackson, Mrs. J., beatster
Tomkins, G.
The Occupants, Row Forty
Eight, 1913
(from 62 George Street to 62
North Quay)
North side
Plow, William, boot maker
2. Plane, Mrs.
4. Trett, William, painter
Groom, George
Nelson, Victor
Smith, John Newman
Crisp, Albert
6. Angel, Mrs.
7. Layen, John
652
A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
South side
8. Cole, Samuel
9. Lynes, Robert Charles
10. Gosling, Edwin Charles,
dairy
11. Halladay, Edward
The Occupants, Row Forty
Eight, 1927
( from 62 George Street to
62 North Quay)
North side
2. Goff, Mrs. dressmaker
3. Knell, Stanley
......Phoenix Passage.....
1. Helsdon, William
2. Dunnett, Arthur
3. Clare, Mrs.
19.02.2007
653
The Revised History of Great Yarmouth
4. Staff, Ingram H., boot
maker
19th February 2007
6. Angel, Mrs..
7. Layen, John William
South side
8. Bloomfield, Ernest
9. Eade, Josiah
10. Love, William George
11. Lincoln, William
Frederick
The Occupants, Row Forty
Eight, 1936
(from 62 George Street to
62 North Quay)
North side
2. Goff, Mrs. dressmaker
3. King, Mrs.
......Phoenix Passage.....
1. Reeve, John
2. Wright, John William
3. Clare, Miss
4. Scott, Mrs.
6. Angel, Mrs.
7. Copping, Robert
South side
8. Heath, Mrs. F.
9. Eade, Mrs.
10. Love, William George
11. Bensley, Mrs. A
Outside “The Mitre”, 1987.
654
A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
ROW FORTY NINE
(Palmer gives no
name)
Blake the Linen Draper’s Row, (1828,
Johnson, and below)
Vine Row
Row forty nine was narrow and dismal,
there being few houses in it. Between this
row and Market row, was an old public house
the Maids Head, now pulled down, and
houses and shops built on the site before
Palmer’s time.
Row 49 today would be along the north
pavement of Stonecutters Way.
From Johnson’s notes: On the north wall
of the Vine Tavern is an arched recess
bricked up, well worth notice. The buildings
have wooden struts crossing the row, quite
general in many of the rows. There is a half
timbered house now rarely met with. John
Blake, the linen draper, had his shop in the
Market Place.
The Occupants, Row Forty Nine, 1913
onwards
(from Howard Street North
The row survey of 1936, says “This row runs
from the Market place westward, and on it’s
south side is a large warehouse of hardware,
with business premises. Opposite, across the
row. No. 7, south side, is a tiny tenement, and
no. 10 may be another tenement. Both should
be vacated, lacking air and light. Otherwise
the whole row is occupied with business
premises, and so could remain”.
to George Street )
This row was not then in existence.
The Occupants, Row Forty Nine, 1886
(from Howard Street North
to George Street )
Wright, M. W., carpenter and undertaker
Wholesale warehouses
21.02.2007
655
The Revised History of Great Yarmouth
Comparative maps of Row 49
1885
1906
1772
Howard Street South
21.02.2007
Stonecutters Way (northwest part) 18/12/93
656
A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
ROW FIFTY
(Palmer gives no name)
Symonds’ the Hairdresser’s Row, (1828)
(Johnson)
Lane the Tailor’s Row
Richmond the Cabinet-maker’s
Row fifty ran from the southwest corner
of George Street, to Howard Street. At the
southwest corner, and occupying the space
southward to Row 52, there was a fine
old house having a cut-flint front towards
the quay. All the principal rooms were
lined with wainscot, and there were other
decorations peculiar to mansions of the
17th century. In Palmer’s time it had been
divided into two occupations, shop windows
were inserted, and the tiled roof had been
replaced with slate. During the 18th.
century it was owned by the Love family.
They came from Ireland. Samuel Love was
Mayor of Cork in 1695. The founder of the
Yarmouth family was the Reverend Barry
Love. He fled from Ireland to London in
1689 to escape the persecution of the
Protestants then occurring under the Lord
Lieutenant, the Earl of Tyrconnel, who
was “in arms” for James II. Barry Love
became lecturer in Yarmouth following
the resignation of
Dean Davies. He
became the Vicar of
Yarmouth in 1691,
and later, in 1698
married Anne, the
rich widow of
George Ward. When
St. George’s Chapel
was opened in 1715,
he preached the first
sermon there. His
first wife dying in
1721, he then married
Mary Peters, but
died himself in 1722,
aged 60. His son
Barry was elected
Mayor in 1733, and
later that year was
involved in a dispute
Photo by P.G.Trett, 1971
657
The Revised History of Great Yarmouth
21.02.2007
Broad Row, was a house erected early
in the 17th. century, with a square-cut
flint front. It was later numbered as
no. 65 George Street. In 1749 it was
the property of John Eules, upholder,
but much later, towards the end of the
century, it was purchased by Samuel
Higham Aldred, who was the Adjutant
of two separate Corps of Volunteers
formed in 1798. They were increased in
1803 to six companies, and united into
a Regiment of local Militia, under the
command of Lieutenant Colonel Gould,
Mr. Aldred retaining his post as adjutant
(the local militia was raised to counter
the Napoleonic threat, rather like the
Home Guard in 1940). The house at the
southwest corner has a long history as a
family residence. Dr. Charles Costerton,
Mayor 1825 resided here and Sir James
Paget (see Row 139) the celebrated
Queen’s Surgeon was apprenticed here.
There is a description of this residence,
which became Bunting’s grocery store,
under Row 52. “The splendid flint fronted
houses to the northwest should be taken
note of. At the greengrocers shop with
the rare window frames to the south
of the east entrance, the foul murder of
Mrs. Candler took place in November
1844. Next to the south may be observed
a tablet in the wall, with the initials S.
W. M., 1795”.
over election of commoners, when he seized
Nathaniel Symonds by the nose and was then
struck over the head by him with his cane. The
next year, when Samuel Wakeman was
elected Mayor instead of himself, he refused to
dine with them, and instead, went to dine at Mrs.
Barnaby’s (probably the Ship Tavern). This Barry
Love married Virtue, one of the two daughters
and coheiresses of Christopher Brightin, and
thereby acquired a considerable fortune. He
was a county magistrate, had a country seat at
Ormesby, and was Sheriff of Norfolk in 1745.
He died in 1748, aged 52, possessed of extensive
estates at Ormesby, Tunstall, Repps, Filby and
Hemsby. A detailed history of this family is
in
Palmer’s Perlustration, Vol. I, p. 281-286
.
Subsequently this house was purchased by
Charles Costerton, surgeon, Mayor in 1825,
who lived there until his death in 1851, aged 61.
He married, firstly, Harriet Wenn of Ipswich,
and secondly, Suzannah Shouldham, widow
of Capt. Harmer R. N. At the southwest
corner of the row, was a public house called
“The Buck”, and nearby was another, called the
“Sir Samuel Hood”. Between Row 50 and old
According to Paget, Costerton was a
“kind and helpful master, though hot
of temper and sometimes indiscrete”.
Dr. Costerton’s surgeries were 91, and
23 or 56 daily. Patients had coughs and
colds, and occasionally slight injuries.
Leg ulcers were bandaged, and country
working people particularly, came to
be bled twice a year. Draughts were
1/- (one shilling), mixtures 5/-, leeches
were 6d. (pence). Cupping cost a
guinea. For visits, only the medicine
was charged, unless insufficient. James
Paget left for St. Bartholomews Hospital
in October 1834. James and George
Paget then lodged at 9 Charlotte Street,
Bloomsbury. A year later James Paget
658
A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
house in Rumbelow’s Diary
(note from Rumbelow’s
Diary). The house is now
a nursing home. I had
proposed a nursing home
there in 1984, and running
this with another couple
and the financial support of
Francis Holmes, but in the
event he was not willing to
provide the finance, and it
fell to others to take the idea
forward.
noticed the organism Trichinella Spiralis
in some dissection specimens. Until then this
organism was unknown, but is the cause of
Syphilis. He presented a paper about this to his
fellow students. In 1832 in Yarmouth there was
“the first” epidemic of Asian Cholera, brought
to Yarmouth by sailors from Newcastle, and
very severe (from Paget’s memoirs).
The 1936 survey reads “Poor
houses, site of proposed
new road.” All the houses
here were removed in 1971
for a new road as proposed in 1936, called
Stonecutter’s Way.
The Occupants, Row Fifty, 1886
(from Howard Street to George Street)
In 1834, Charles and James Paget published
“The Natural History of Great Yarmouth”, a
complete enumeration of botanical species,
animals, birds, reptiles, fish, insects, and
plants. There were 88 printed pages, and
included 766 insects, 729 flowering plants, and
456 non flowering plants. Sir William Hooker,
the famous botanist, took a keen interest in
Paget as a botanist. The Hookers were born
at Halesworth, and there is a photo of their
Hall, Mrs. E., tailoress
Newark, J., whitesmith
Dye, Mrs. M.
Ram, M. W.
Clay, L., confectioner
Newark, W. (William the whitesmith, see
Row 3, Vol 1).
Newman, H., mariner
Goreham, W., turner
Emmerson, F., carpenter
Johnson, R.
Taylor, Mrs. H., laundress
Carter, Miss, organist at St. Andrew’s
Church
Costerton’s/Buntings (Clarke’s - left half).
1971, photo., P.G.Trett. How
completely unnecessary it was to
remove this fine historic house and
create “Stonecutter’s Way”.
659
The Revised History of Great Yarmouth
3. Chellis, John Walter
4. Mace, Charles
5. Powell, William
6. Kendale, Mrs.
9. Brewer, Herbert
10. Ives, Samuel
11. Bennett, Arthur
12. Berry, George
The Occupants, Row Fifty, 1927
(from Howard Street South )
1. Bullent, Joseph
Fryer, C.
2. Bullock, William George
Long, W., ostler
3. Smith, James
Cook, A. H., engine driver
4. Swallow, Arthur
6. Kendale, Mrs.
The Occupants, Row Fifty, 1913
9. Westgate, Robert Harold
(from Howard Street South )
10. Butler, Mrs.
1. Purdy, John James
11. Bennett, Mrs.
2. Chapman, George Adam
12. Meacham, Walter
Norton Brothers,
tobacconists (warehouse)
The Occupants, Row Fifty,
1936
(from 82 Howard Street
South )
1. Bullent, Joseph (see Quay
Club)
2. Hodds, William
3. Broom, Charles
4. Blake, Mrs.
660
This part of the roadway and pavement is the site of
Costerton’s house, where James Paget trained (photo 27.4.2007)
A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
6. Kendale, Mrs.
9. Steward, Mrs.
C.
10. Duffield, John
11. Bennett, Mrs.
12. Meacham,
Walter
Norton Brothers,
tobacconists
(warehouse) (Their
shop was on Howard
Street in 1965)
Map of Row 50 and surroundings by Henry Swinden, row numbers added by me.
slipper baths
Barclays
Bank
Row 52, 1930’s
public
toilets
Duke’s Head
yard
1985
661
The Revised History of Great Yarmouth
ROW 51
LAMB ROW (or BLACK SWAN ROW )
(Palmer)
(Johnson gave no additional names)
Row 51 ran from Row 50 to the Market Place.
Previously called Lamb Row, it was then
called Black Swan Row, from an ancient
public house at the southwest corner fronting
Howard Street, rebuilt in the 19th. century.
At the northwest corner was a public house
called the Vine. In 1687 Mrs. Elizabeth
Witch, widow, gave a tenement in this row
for the habitation of poor widows. To the
south of the row, fronting the Market Place,
No. 6 Market Place was a public house, in
1763, “The Old Plow”, and was then the
property of Spencer Lane. In Palmer’s time
he says that it was called the “British Lion”.
To the south side of that house was a half row,
unnumbered, called British Lion Alley, which
was doglegged, and ran into row 51 near to it’s
west end. This was subsequently numbered 51
and a half. Between 51 and the half row are
numbers 35 and 36 the Market Place.
Row 51 east end, 18.12.1993
Numbering of the houses in this row is derived
from the insurance map, which is most useful
in that respect.
would be a good dwelling if replanned in the
interior, and if its front and rear yards were
cleared of outbuildings.” Further in the re-
port is another description also headed row
51, though I wonder whether this is fact is a
misprint for 61, which it must certainly be,
so I have added it there.
In 1927, Johnson wrote “The name Black
Swan Row is from the well-known tavern that
occupied the large premises at the southwest
corner. Here the old style of music hall and
free concert was indulged in. 100 years ago
from this house the carriers left for Beccles
and Southwold. In 1687 Elizabeth Witch
gave a tenement for poor widows in this row.
At No. 5 on the north side there still exists a
splendid 8 leaded light, typical of the good
workmanship put into most of the houses in
our rows”.
The Occupants, Row Fifty one, 1886
(from Market Place to Howard Street)
Blyth J., bricklayer
Haylett, M.
Gedge, Mrs. E., laundress
The 1936 survey says “A good red brick
house on the north side is slightly recessed
from the passageway. It appears to be a house
of the early part of the 19th. century, and to
be in good condition. It is of two principle
storeys, with attics and cellars. Opposite
to the above house is another house which
Bly, L., labourer
Forder, R., labourer
Westgate, F.
Gray, Mrs.
Patrick, M., lightsman
662
A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
LECTURE HALL
Batchelor, S. J.
Spencer, W., pipe maker
Jermain, Mrs., tailoress
Bulliman, W., ostler
Brunning, Miss
Lawrance, T., whitesmith
Kerrison, S.
Marshall, W., oyster dealer
Whilde, W., labourer
Smith, W., labourer
Smith, O.
Blyth, Mrs.
Hatch, T., tinman
Bracey, C., lightsman
The Occupants, Row Fifty one,
1913
From the east, 26.9.1996
(from Market Place to Howard Street
South)
17. Green, William
19. Harris, William, tailor
North side
20. Church, William
1. Phillips, Charles
26. Patrick, Mark
2. King, Miss
27. Russell, Joseph H.
4. Goodrum, Mrs.
28. Blake, John
5. Mayes, James Collins
29. Smith, Albert
6. Took, George
30. Haylett, Mrs.
7. Seago, Arthur Edward
31. Kemp, Mrs.
9. Brunning, Mrs.
10. Lee, Mrs.
South side
663
The Revised History of Great Yarmouth
The Occupants, Row Fifty one, 1927
(from Market Place to Howard Street
South)
Henry Swinden’s map
North side
Market Place
1. Martin, Mrs.
Row 51
54
2. King, Arthur
4. Anderson, Thomas
49
5. Goodwin, George
6. Roberts, Ernest
7. Seago, Arthur Edgar
9. Brunning, Mrs.
10. Patterson, Alexander James
South side
17. Talbott, Frederick Thomas
17 a. Darby, Mrs.
18. Bream, William Frederick
19. Harris, William, tailor
20. Church, William
Palmers, carpet cleaning depot
26. Patrick, Miss
Howard Street
27. King, Miss
28. Parker, James
2. King, Arthur
later, becomes
Hunt’s Yard
29. Hammant, Mrs.
5. Goodwin, George
30. Haylett, Mrs.
6. Roberts, Ernest
31. Capstaff, John P.
7. Randall, Percy
9. Brunning, Mrs.
The Occupants, Row Fifty one, 1936
10. Patterson, Alexander James
(from Market Place to Howard Street
South)
South side
North side
17. Darby, Frederick Charles
1. Algar, Hubert
17 a. Darby, Mrs.
664
A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
18. Mallett, Dennis B.
19. Harris, William, tailor
20. Church, William
Palmers, carpet cleaning depot
26. Patrick, Miss
Morley, Sidney W., plumber (workshop)
1906
27. Bitton, Mrs. 28. Parker, James
29. Hammant, Mrs. 30. Walker, Eric
31. Pearsons, Arthur
Market Place
34
35
36
37
Purdy’s
(1938)
1985
1906
map
25
4
24
5
6
7
23
20
19
The
Vine
1936
9
18
car park
17a
10
Hall
about 1930
5
6 7
8
10 in 1938, 12 in
1965 (Keller’s)
9
Hunt’s yard
Hunts, no 8 in
1965
The bakery,
no 9 in 1965
Howard Street (south)
Comparative maps of Row 51
665
The Revised History of Great Yarmouth
ROW FIFTY ONE AND A HALF
BRITISH LION ALLEY
(Palmer)
Palmer says “To the south of Row 51, fronting
the Market Place, no. 36, is a Public House,
which in 1736 was called the “Old Plow”, and
was then the property of Spencer Lane. It is
now called the British Lion. On the south side
of this house is a row, not numbered, called
British Lion Alley, which is of the shape of
a dog’s hind leg, and runs into Row No. 51,
near the west end of the same”. Johnson
says “This row is different from the other half
rows in that it deviates to the north, entering
midway into number 51 Row. The British
Lion was a tavern at the northeast corner
and the remains of the beer cellars are still
in evidence, their
splendid half round
windows above are
fast disappearing
from our streets”. It
is not mentioned in
the 1936 survey.
Row 51½ now
blocked in the
Market Place
Site of Row 51 and a half, 26.2.1996
(now blocked).
Maps of Row 51 and a half
1772
1906
1985
Market Place
36
35
34
33
666
A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
ROW FIFTY TWO
(Palmer gives no name)
Dr. Costerton’s Row, (Mayor, 1825,
Johnson)
Buck Row
Bunting’s Row
Row fifty two ran from the Quay to Howard
Street. At the southwest corner, fronting the
Quay was the Buck Inn. (No. 8). The next house
along the Quay was (No. 9), the property in
the 18th century, of John March, merchant,
and in 1771 it was purchased by Richard
Bygrave, saddler, who resided there for many
years. He was a very popular tradesman, and
his shop was a favourite resort for all who
desired to hear the news of the day. After his
death it was converted to a druggists store,
and was long occupied by Mr. Cufaude Davie,
who, from 1835 was Churchwarden for many
years. After the death of Mr. Davie in 1851, the
premises were purchased by John Owles, who
had an extensive collection of porcelain and
other wares, a portion of which he exhibited
in 1865 at the Town Hall, together with a
selection from the South Kensington Museum
(what may have been the connection there I
wonder?) Between this house and the next to
the south was another row long stopped up.
This as we see appears on Henry Swinden’s
map more as a crooked passage between
houses there than a straight row. Looking at
the Howard Street end of this section of map
there were several extra - possibly as many
The Buck Inn, at no.8 Hall Quay in Palmer’s
time, but in 1985 was numbered 10, and the
site of the public toilets, closed in 2008 for
some years.
as five - extra half rows at least. At an earlier
date, more rows had existed between Rows
50 and 55, although the 1668 plan shows the
area between rows 53 and 55 as gardens. The
house next to Owles’ was “The Barge” Public
House. It had belonged to Mallett’s Brewery,
and had been first licensed in 1773, when
it had been called the “Yarmouth Barge”
How these ancient buildings could be removed in the
1970’s in so cavalier a fashion is beyond comprehension
Row 50 in 1971, photo
by P.G.Trett
667
The Revised History of Great Yarmouth
Very little traffic uses this new street, it is
absolutely un-necessary, and the quay has been
spoiled seemingly for ever. This road should
be sunk underground to new underground
carparking, and replicas of the old buildings
rebuilt above.
Site of row 50.
(
Mallett
lived at 43 King Street). This pub
was opposite the Quay where the Wherries
and keels moored, that took their cargoes and
passengers to Norwich. What Palmer had not
realised was that the ancient quayside was
much closer than that, since an excavation
reported by Percy Trett in 1968 here was
to reveal the site of an ancient quay heading
under the very building itself. Palmer does
however say that the quay here was called
Wherry Quay, and the old drawing of the quay
here in the 18th. century shows the wherries
moored there. Before the stagecoaches it
was the practice to travel to Norwich by
barge, although not always without hazard,
as some 20 persons were drowned on the
journey in 1712, when a wherry overturned
on Breydon. Today the same journey along
the “Acle straight” is amongst the most
hazardous in the entire country. There is
a serious accident on this road seemingly
every week.
fishing and fowling. On the way, it appears that
there was a great deal of drinking, feasting and
revelling
(see Palmer Vol. I, p. 291)
. James
Sayers, the caricaturist wrote of the revelling
which he attended in 1777. Ives went on the
frolic in 1737, but it was abandoned in bad
weather, and in 1793 Robert Norfor, solicitor,
was killed by a gaff falling on the Mayor’s
Barge. The event was still being held as a
regatta in Palmer’s time.
Next to “The Barge” was and is the public
house known then and now as “The Duke’s
Head”. The house has a cut-flint front with
stone dressings, as did the two houses to
the North until “modernised” (the Buck and
the Barge). Inside, Palmer records, was
wainscotting and ornamental chimney pieces,
an example of which can be seen today in the
first floor northwest room. Most likely Palmer
never saw inside the roof, but here there
remained until 1970, a splendid
hammer-
beam roof
as can be seen in the photographs,
sickeningly removed in 1971, now gone for
ever. A considerable quantity of Yarmouth
panelling was acquired following the war
by Albert “Duke” Crowther of T. Crowther
The “water frolic” was an ancient custom of
the Bailiffs, who twice a year travelled to St.
Olaves with musicians, other officers and
friends, to proclaim the right of free passage,
668
A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
and son Ltd., of Fulham. The panelling was
being removed from the houses during the
wholesale demolition work, and Crowther
acquired it directly from the demolition crew.
This panelling was kept in storage by Mr.
Crowther, who continued to visit his holiday
bungalow at Cliff Lane, Gorleston. It was all
sold by Christies of St. James St., London, at
auction on Monday 12th., to Wednesday 14th,
October 1992. Catalogue no. : CROWTHER
- 4824. The Duke’s Head was owned by the
Eldridge family in the 18th. century, and when
remains first established, the London Stage
started it’s journey from this hostelry. It was
a very tedious journey indeed, by all accounts.
It went via Broome, Bungay, Bury, Bishops
Stortford and Epping, to arrive at “The Black
Bull” in Bishopsgate.
The building (formerly Buntings) above in
1971, had been split into two by 1906, and
here the bar about to be demolished looks
to have been fire damaged.
named Royal, Hall, and Mapes, were tried
and acquitted, but another, called Samuel
Yarham, who had been the principal witness
against them, was later convicted and hanged
at Norwich in 1845. The cost of the convictions
was £542 / 8s/6p. In the Yarmouth GP training
scheme in about 1980 we had a trainee general
practitioner in the Yarmouth scheme, who of
course I knew well, who was called Yarham,
in his spare time modelled men’s clothes for
John Field Menswear in Bells Road, and was
in fact a descendant of Samuel Yarham. This
was Dr. Dorian Yarham. “Dr. Costerton’s
house extended to Row 50, now divided into
At the southeast corner of Row 52, was a
large house fronting Howard Street, which
was divided into two occupations, and in the
southern half, which was a shop, an atrocious
murder took place in 1844. The shop was then
kept by an old lady called Harriett Candler,
who sold Groceries. Some men went in there
one evening on the pretence of making a
purchase, and whilst being served, struck
her fatally upon the head, and ran off up the
opposite row (No. 51 to the Market Place),
with the proceeds from the till. Three men
Bunting on the left, the grocer, and in the right of the doorway, I think, his son, Ernest.
Ernest took over the business in 1923.
669
The Revised History of Great Yarmouth
a splendid panelled room and exquisite
chimney piece from floor to ceiling” (H. B.
J.). There is a
photograph
showing the old
grocer’s shop in the 19th. Century. Ernest
Bunting was the eldest son. He had carried
on a grocery business in Felixstowe named
“Bunting and Miller”. When his father
died he came back to Yarmouth (March
1970) with his young family to take on
the business on the Quay. Unfortunately
in time business here declined, as this
part of the town became very neglected
between the wars. As it was, the business
at Felixstowe has continued successfully on
its site opposite Ranleigh Gardens and on
the corner of Constable and Cobbold Roads
there. In the grocer’s shop, every assistant
wore a long white apron, and these were
all slightly different, the bacon assistant’s
differing from the tea and sugar assistant.
The tea would be weighed on scales in a
brass scoop, then poured into a white paper
bag and tied into a neat, pleasant smelling
package. The butter would similarly be
weighed and measured individually, patted
into shape with wooden “hands”, and the
Mildred Bunting, air raid warden, with stirrup
pump
This photo taken 1932.
Clarke’s; Buck; Owles; Barge; Dukes Head.
two shops and houses” wrote H. B. J.
grocers
were here
for many years.
The Buck Inn was
a favourite place
for the carrier
100 years ago.
Michael Batson the
coachman, left here
for Lowestoft every
day. Further south
will be noticed the
Duke’s Head, a fine
flint fronted Inn with
the date 1600. In the
coaching days the
Royal Mail left and
the telegraph left
here for London.
This Inn still contains
670
Row 52 here to the left of the Buck Inn.
A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
“The Great Yarmouth Mercury” was
born in Felixstowe. In 1926 when
Mildred first met Wilfred, the latter
was still living at the old grocer’s
shop that had been started by his
grandfather. Wilfred had been born in
Feb. 1909. On leaving school he went
to Small’s, the shipping Company on
the Quay, and didn’t like being a tea
boy, so left after two weeks. He joined
the Mercury as a reporter, the paper
then being owned by three men, Harry
Lee, William Sayer, and the Editor.
In 1932 the Mercury was sold by
Eastern Counties Newspapers, and
the editor left for the West country.
As a result Wilfred became the new
young editor, a position that he was
to fill so ably for some thirty-nine
years. It was 1926 when he first joined
the newspaper, and Mildred went to
work in Palmer’s store as a millinary
assistant. Six years later they married,
and she left their employment.
Wilfred Bunting when in the fire service, about
1940.
During the war Wilfred Bunting was
in the fire service, his call-up having
been continually deferred. There is
a splendid photograph of him in his
uniform with its six pairs of brass
buttons. Mildred was an air raid
top given a final pat to imprint a pattern of
yellow ribs. The sugar was usually weighed
by the most junior assistant, and poured into
a blue paper bag. As for bacon, prior to the
advent of slicing machines, there was an
array of extremely sharp knives, and the
skill of slicing rashers of identical thickness
was astonishing. After the business failed,
Ernest went to work for Greene King the
brewers. Another brother lived in Ipswich;
there were also Sidney, May, and Ethel,
of whom none are left now. Wilfred’s last
cousin died in 1991, and this family of
the Buntings of Yarmouth is now extinct.
Ernest took over the business in 1923, and
by 1927 it was closed.
Wilfred Bunting,for many years editor of
About 1935
671
The Revised History of Great Yarmouth
warden. She was provided with a stirrup
pump, which I cannot think would have been
very useful, but in the event she was never
to use it. On the worst night of the bombing
Wilfred was out on duty, and Mildred was
out with another warden walking the streets,
but so much of the town was simultaneously
on fire. The Air raid Wardens post was on
Southtown Road at the junction with Gordon
Road, and Wilfred’s post was on Station Road,
although sometimes they would be on stand-by
on Marine Parade. At this time they lived on
Lichfield Road, and he managed the paper
along with two youngsters. He would go off
duty, then survey the town as a reporter, and
return home at five or six in the morning to
grab an hour or two’s sleep. It was not until
the end of the war that he regained his staff,
including Eustace White and Don Middles
(chief and senior reporter). Although the town
had been largely empty the paper had still been
in demand from people away wanting news
of home. It was Wilfred Bunting’s idea that
the Mercury newspaper should be archived
at the reference library.
Howard Street
George St.
Row 53
Duke’s Head P.H.
The Occupants,
Row Fifty Two,
1886
Row 52
(from Howard Street
to Hall Quay)
Swinden’s map
Hall Quay
North side
Watts, S.
Newstead, T.,
smacksman
The Occupants, Row Fifty
Two, 1913
South side
Crane, Robert
(from Howard Street to Hall
Quay)
Lamb, J., bricklay-
er
Grimmer, James
Pardin, W., fisher-
man
North side
1. Leggett, Robert
The Occupants, Row Fifty Two,
1927
Fox, T., fisherman
2. Dawson, John
(from Howard Street to Hall Quay)
Hayward, T.
3. Nichols, Samuel L.
North side
Boatwright, F.
4. Ives, Mrs.
1. Leggett, Mrs.
Lamb, Miss M.
5. Palmer, Charles William
2. Farrow, George
Newstead, R.
672
A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
Rows52and53
Comparative maps of Row 52
Here another
row before
Costerton’s
house was built
across it
1772
The
Duke’s
Head P.H.
Row 53
by 1906
Costerton’s
house split
into two
shops
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
1906
Row 53
15
Public Toilets
1985
Offices
11
12
13
Row 53
14
No.15. Barclay’s
Bank
3. Grimmer, Mrs.
The Occupants, Row Fifty
Two, 1936
4. Carter, Mrs. E. A.
4. Starling, Mrs.
5. Barrett, Samuel James
(from Howard Street to Hall
Quay)
5. Barrett, Samuel James
South side
South side
North side
Owl’s Court
Owl’s Court
1. Godfrey, A. V.
1. Crane, Mrs.
1. Crane, Robert
2. Harper, Mrs. C.
2. Warner, Mrs.
3. Warner, Mrs.
3. Grimmer, Mrs.
3. Salter, Mrs.
673
The Revised History of Great Yarmouth
ROW FIFTY THREE,
BANK PAVED ROW
TURNER’S ROW
(Palmer)
Turner’s Bank Row (Johnson)
Bank Paved Row
14
15
This row runs from the Quay to Howard Street:
At the northwest corner, wrote Palmer, there
was a house similar to the Duke’s Head, with
a cut-flint front. It was in the 18th Century the
property of John Gillam, (Gilham?) and was
purchased in 1807 for use as a Gentleman’s
Club. The old front was then removed (what
on earth for?) and a new one of white brick
built, and brought out close to the pavement.
For many years it was called “The Coffee
Rooms”, but apparently no coffee was ever
drunk there! There is a drawing we are told
of the original house by Winter, and the house
had an Elizabethan window with sixteen
lights. Subsequently the house became the
subscription rooms which had 90 members
elected by ballot, but the numbers fell off,
and the club was dissolved in 1840. From
then until 1871, the site was occupied by the
Government as a Post-Office. To the northeast
of row 53 stood the Corn Hall (see Howard
Street), used more recently as an auction
room that was to be demolished in 1971 a
particularly bad time for Yarmouth. No-one
could condone this I feel, since then the site
remained vacant until some three years ago
when it officially was leased by the National
Car Parks, a very large firm, started in the
sixties by some ex RAF para’s, who have
done extremely well, although the firm was
recently accused of industrial espionage. The
Corn Hall had an attractive front as seen in
the photograph. It surely cannot have been
more profitable as a vacant site, but no doubt
greed and the bureaucratic process had led to
this state of affairs.
Row 53, between the Bank (15) and no.14.
Both nos. 14 and 15 were built to a design by
Salvin, the bank house constructed in 1854.
the 17th. Century the house had been an
Elizabethan one, depicted on Corbridge’s
map. It had a large porch with a room over it,
and was enclosed by high wooden palisades.
Early in the 18th. century it was in the
possession of Joshuah Smith, who was said
to have raised a great estate by the export of
malt to Holland, and in 1722 purchased the
Lordship of Thrigby from Robert Castell,
and had a grant of arms in 1722 depicting
three handfuls of barley, each with five ears,
as many bees, and an eagle with a crown.
The house was pulled down later in the same
century, and another more stately one erected
by Thomas Adkin, a man of property, and
in the commission of the peace for Norfolk.
Thrigby Hall was purchased in 1977 from the
Rose family, and then 1977 converted into
a wildlife park, and the house to a tea room.
This was not too imposing. The Rose family
owned he franchise for “Kentucky Fried
Chicken, with shops in Yarmouth, Gorleston
and Peterborough. The Peterborough shop
in particular has done exceedingly well.
The Yarmouth shop has certainly been most
successful. The whole franchise was sold
two years ago for a very handsome sum
reputed to be several millions. John Rose
At the southwest corner, of the row, fronting
the Quay, and extending to Row 55, was
Gurney’s Bank, erected in 1854 from a
drawing by Salvin, then and remaining, one
of the most attractive and imposing buildings
in the town, sited directly opposite the bridge.
The bank has become Barclay’s Bank. In
674
A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
was sometimes to be seen (1980’s)
on the Gorleston Golf links riding
an electric golf cart, but his greater
love in recent years has been to dive
in seas all over the world for sunken
treasure from ancient ship wrecks.
This has been most successful in
retrieving silver bullion and old
cannon amongst other treasures.
He has some cannon displayed
outside his house on Marine Parade
Gorleston. His Brother Barry was
running a profitable travel business
in the Gorleston High Street, but
unfortunately this became insolvent
in the depression of 1989-93. John
Rose was in 1992 converting the old
“Sandpiper” restaurant on Marine
Parade into a very unusual themed
restaurant and diving museum, at
very great expense. It was hoped that
this would prove a great new attraction
to the tourists. A few years later, it
was franchised as a fish restaurant
called “Harry Ramsden’s” taking its
name from a famous fish and chip
shop in Yorkshire. The theme of the
Treasure World Restaurant
had been
the “Temple of Doom” from a film
with Harrison Ford in the leading
role. The restaurant had been full of
giant skulls with fire breathing from
nostrils, live snakes and crocodiles under glass
in the floor. Elsewhere, in the restaurant, there
was a photo cell in the hole in the wall , which
triggered a giant ball to run round and set off a
mechanism that lowered the ceiling complete
with spike!. There was also the interior of a
pirate ship in the roof. The adjoining museum
contained silver bullion, cannons and ancient
relics recovered from deep sea diving that
John undertook with his friend the airline
magnate, Richard Branson. The theme was
popular enough I think, and still survives in
the fish and chip shop, but John’s ideas of fast
food were not to everyone’s liking, with huge
mountains of salad that few could eat.
“Nelson House” complete with fearsome land-
lady. A fine house now long gone, but which
was a good example of the high status houses
once in the rows.
Gurney’s Yarmouth Bank. Dawson Turner was
a partner in 1774. Inglis Palgrave was latterly a
director prior to the take-over by Barclays. The
Bank house was last lived in as a residence by
Henry Edmond Buxton (until 1905). The Bank
became Barclays and Co. in 1896. Palmer says
that Gurney’s Bank had been first established
in Norwich as one of the first in the Kingdom.
The branch at Yarmouth was started in a
house opposite the crane on the Quay (No.
24 S. Quay). For a detailed account of the
Turner family of Yarmouth, see
Palmer’s
Perlustration, vol. I, p. 308.
The History of Barclays Bank is related in full
detail in a large work by P. W. Matthews and
A. W. Tuke. On page 140 is a description of
At the southeast corner of Row 53 was a flint
built house, no. 58, having some ornamental
675
The Revised History of Great Yarmouth
ironwork on the front. Here was David
Ferrow’s bookshop, a well established
antiquarian bookshop where I have
purchased many items of great interest
over the years, including a copy of
Palmer’s work, a signed copy of Frederick
Danby Palmer’s Yarmouth Notes, and
Ernest Cooper’s copy of Swinden’s
Book being of special note. David
Ferrow’s Establishment celebrated it’s
30th anniversary in 1992. The building
had been rebuilt since Palmer’s time
and although handsome and imposing,
is clearly no longer the flint built house
that Palmer saw there.
The present bank of Barclays at the
southwest corner was built in 1854, the
same year as the bridge opposite, from
Salvin’s design. The shop adjoining to
the south is by the same architect,
wrote H. B. J. The celebrated Dawson
Turner MA FRS FSA FLS., 1775-1858,
was resident partner here and made his
wonderful and valuable collection of
literature, autographs and manuscripts,
and Norfolk topographical works (much
of which is in the British Library).
Row 53 was not mentioned in the 1936
survey.
The Occupants, Row Fifty Three,
1886 (from Hall Quay to Howard
Street South)
Daviss, W., cab proprietor
Petterson, Mrs. H.
Church, Mrs.
The Occupants, Row Fifty Three,
1886
(from Hall Quay to Howard Street
South)
1. Moore, Arthur
Right, Ferrow’s book shop, no.77
Howard Street South, 17.3.2005.
676
A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
The Occupants, Row Fifty Three,
1913
(from Hall Quay to Howard Street
South)
1. Petterson, Mrs.
The Occupants, Row Fifty Three,
1936
(from Hall Quay to 77 Howard Street
South)
No occupants listed
Above, 13.11.1994.
Photo. 17.3.2005.
677
The Revised History of Great Yarmouth
ROW FIFTY FOUR,
ALMS HOUSE ROW
(Palmer)
Alms House Row, 1750 (Johnson)
Smith the Baker’s Row, 1845
Palmer’s Arcade, 1898
This row ran from Howard Street to the
Market Place. It was called Alms House
Row, from a number of Alms Houses on the
south side, which were sold in 1842 by the
Guardians, with the approbation of the Poor
Law Commissioners. On the north side was
a very old doorway leading to what was
probably a large house at one time of some
importance. Not shown, but the arcade went
through the shop. In 1898 the Borough
Surveyor was ordered to place a post in the
centre of Row 54, to prevent through traffic
of barrows. At this time there were 12,000
persons housed in the rows. Thirty per cent,
it was said, never saw the light of day shine
in any room, and the remainder saw about an
hour of sunshine. Many had old thick walls
soaked with moisture and filth. Row 54 is still
present in the Market Place, between No.
36 and No. 37 Market Place (1992). Even in
Swinden’s time this row actually led into
Row 51, and this is where the comparative
study of maps proves to be so fascinating,
for it can be seen that the same situation
prevailed in 1906, even though it was listed
as running to Howard Street South in all of
the directories. There were quite a number
of inhabitants in the minutest of dwellings,
and also in the row were the goods entrance
of Hunts Mineral Water Factory, and the
goods entrance of Palmer’s store (as listed
1913 onwards). Of these, now only the goods
entrance to Palmer’s store remains, and only
the minutest part of the row remains coming
out into the car park. The rest of the row has
long been engulfed by Palmer’s store.
Photo., 26.2.1996
“Many of the rows contained Alms houses,
and as late as 1842, some were on the south
side. At the northwest corner a well known
and old established bakery was commenced
in 1845 by
Mr. Smith
. This row has long been
a popular thoroughfare, leading from the
Market Place to the Bank Row, being a quick
route to the bridge and station. Palmer’s the
furnishers and drapers had extensive shops on
both sides of the row, over which they erected
a glass roof and named it ‘Palmer’s Arcade’”
wrote H. B. J.
The 1936 Row Survey says: A good red brick
house on the north side, is slightly recessed
from the passageway. It appears to be a house
Details of properties conveyed
to Palmers and subsequently
demolished for the car park. Later
described as four tenements in
“Skullbones Square” all resorting
to the same outside tap for water.
678
A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
of the early part of the 19th. century, and to
be in good condition. It is of two principal
stories with attics and cellars. Opposite to the
above house is another house which would be
a good dwelling if replanned in the interior,
and if its front and rear yards were cleared of
outbuildings.
Loveday, J., milk dealer
Thompson, H., bell man
Chapman, R., bricklayer
Laws, Mrs.
Dawson, J., bricklayer
Bowles, R., fish curer
Mitchell, Mrs. M. A.
Childs, Mrs. L.
Brooks, R., carpenter
Beckett, Mrs.
Butler, Mrs. C.
Fuller, Miss, dressmaker
Harrison, G.
Howard, S., fisherman
Lake, T., carpenter
Miller, T.
Wenn, S., wherryman
Buck, J., labourer
Wade, W., mariner
The deeds of 21, 22, and 23 in this row (in
possession of G. Sturrock, but which I have
photocopied), show that at least from 1883
these were all sold as one conveyance, and
on 12th. August 1871 by Elizabeth Hawkins
to Thomas George Freeman, and then on the
8th December 1880 to P. Bellin, for the sum
of 390 pounds. There was then a pump and
well standing in a passage to the south of the
premises, all three dwellings being entitled
to take water there. Percy Blair Bellin was
a timber merchant, Anna Bellin, his wife,
passed the dwellings to her daughters, Ethel,
Henrietta, and Ada Florence, and thence they
passed to Fred Marsh of Southtown. In 1916,
Fred Marsh was described as a retired jeweller,
living at Lisbon House, no. 6, Wellesley Road.
He died on the 8th April 1932. In 1934,
Herbert Reginald Marsh of Southerby House,
Martham, sold to Cecil Dudley Rayment
of 88 North Denes Road. Rayment was an
estate agent, much into property dealing, and
also owned property on my surgery site at 55
King Street. The dwellings in row 54 however
raised 820 pounds, and were described as
four freehold properties or tenements, in the
yard formerly called “Skullbones Square”,
and now called Priory Square, nos. 8, 9, 10
and 11 Priory Square, Priory Street
Gorleston
,
and also the three tenements, nos 21, 22, and
23 row 54. Mr. C. D. Rayment in due course
conveyed the row properties on 31 Dec. 1949
to Palmers, Gt. Yarmouth Ltd., for the sum of
£300. Cecil Dudley Rayment was then at 14
Marine Crescent, Gt. Yarmouth.
The Occupants, Row Fifty Four, 1886
(from Market Place to Howard Street )
Payne, Miss
Ringwood, Miss
Townrow, Mrs., lodging house keeper
Gooch, W., boot maker
Long, E., weaver
The Occupants, Row Fifty Four, 1913
(from Market Place to Howard Street
South)
North side
11. Gooch, Mrs.
12. Houghton, James
Hunts Limited, mineral water manufacturers
(goods entrance)
15. King, Owen Mc Cabbe
16. Frost, James
17. Bowles, William
South side
19. Brainton, Mrs.
21. Roberts, George
22. Wenn, Mrs. M.
23. Everett, Arthur Leonard
24. Rose, Francis
25. Newark, Isaac
26. Wright, Mrs.
Palmer Brothers, drapers. (goods entrance)
The Occupants, Row Fifty Four, 1927
(from Market Place to Howard Street
South)
North side
12. Parker, Harry
Hunts (1920) Limited, mineral water
manufacturers (goods entrance)
South side
19. Lodge, William
679
The Revised History of Great Yarmouth
21. Walker, Herbert Arthur
22. Mills, Charles
23. Everett, Arthur Leonard
24. Rose, Mrs. M. A.
25. Frost, Mrs..
Palmer Brothers, drapers. (goods entrance)
The Occupants, Row Fifty Four, 1936
(from Market Place to Howard Street
South)
North side
Row 54
12. Parker, Harry
Hunts (1920) Limited, mineral water
manufacturers (goods entrance )
see the History of Hunts in Howard Street
South
South side
19. Lodge, William
21. Slater, George Edward
22. Mills, Charles
23. Everett, Arthur Leonard
24. Rose, William
25. Shingles, Mrs.
Above, east end, about 1870, below, west end,
17.12.08
680
A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
Comparative maps of Row 54
Market Place
now
MacKay’s
Store,
previously
the Distillery
Tavern, then
The “Red
House”
1906
39
40
36
37
39
40
39
40
1985
1772
11
12
21
15
16
this looks
more like a
warehouse
22
Car Park
17
23
This is a guess here as to
which property was which
(21-25)
On the north side “a good red
brick house, slightly recessed
from the passageway” cannot
here be identified, but may
have been no.12, being the
only substantial building...(at
the east end. No. 11 was still
numbered in 1913.
24
9
12
25
Hunt’s Goods
entrance
Smith’s bakery (see
“Howard Street”)
Bakery from 1845
Howard Street South
Left, the
“Distillery
Tavern”,
between rows
56 and 58 in
the Market
Place. Right,
Mackays
Shop on
south side of
Palmers.
681
