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PREFACE.
PREFACE.
Lowestoft is not only considered a very healthy and pleasant watering place, but, from various causes, is assuming a position of such importance, as to render it more than probable that visiters will arrive in numbers augmented every season: this work is intended primarily for their use; at the same time, it is hoped it will he found interesting to the residents generally, being a verbal and pictorial description of the place of their abode, and a repository of facts and incidents connected with
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SITUATION OF THE TOWN AND ITS GENERAL FEATURES.
SITUATION OF THE TOWN AND ITS GENERAL FEATURES.
Lowestoft is situated upon the most Easterly point of land in England. It stands upon a lofty eminence, and commands an extensive prospect of the German Ocean. Enthroned upon an ancient hill it rests; Calmly it lifts its time-worn head; and first Of all Old England’s busy towns, whispers Its orisons, and greets the rising morn. It stands upon a dry soil, upon the summit of a cliff, and enjoys a most salubrious air—keen, but bracing; and not being exposed to any of those unwholesome damps and va
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THE HISTORY OF LOWESTOFT.
THE HISTORY OF LOWESTOFT.
And Lowestoft has materials for a history. That history, like all which worthily bears the name, reaches far back into the ages that are past. Old Romans, brave Saxons, fierce Danes, have left some vestiges of their connexion with the place, however faint they may, at this distance of time, have become. It has had its feuds with men who dwelt across the Yare, and nobly defended its own natural rights; it took no silent part in the civil commotions of the middle of the seventeenth century; and
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A PERAMBULATION OF THE TOWN.
A PERAMBULATION OF THE TOWN.
Perhaps the reader lodges at the new and commodious houses, built for the accommodation of visitors by the enterprising Mr. Fisher, known as Marine Terrace. Let him, after leaving the house, proceed southward to the Railway station and bridge, turn towards the sea on the Lowestoft side of the harbour, and, leaving Baron Alderson’s abode on the left, proceed to the Battery green; here he may see the Bath house, occupied by Mr. Jones, where hot and cold baths can be obtained; where also, in the R
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LOWESTOFT AND THE ROMANS.
LOWESTOFT AND THE ROMANS.
The Romans had a station in the neighbourhood of Lowestoft called Garianonum; its present name is Burgh Castle. Whilst there, it is probable that they frequented the coast at Lowestoft, as, from its situation, it afforded them a post of observation which they would not be likely to neglect. This probability is strengthened by the fact, that some years ago, a Roman urn containing bones, was found in a piece of ground now traversed by the Railway. It has been supposed that they obtained their k
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LOWESTOFT AND THE DANES.
LOWESTOFT AND THE DANES.
The Danes are supposed to have given the town, and island on which the town is situated, a name. The tradition is briefly this:—Lothbroch of royal blood, when hawking on the coast of Denmark, was overtaken by a tempest and driven across the German Ocean, into the Yare, where he was taken and brought before Edmund, King of the East Angles. The King and Lothbroch were pleased each with the other, so much so, that the Dane continued an inmate of the king’s palace. He conceived a great relish for
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LOWESTOFT AND YARMOUTH.
LOWESTOFT AND YARMOUTH.
The following extract from the town book, taken from Camden, is given in Gillingwater’s History and transferred to our pages, as containing valuable information on our present subject. “About the year of our Lord 1100, about 500 years past,” ( i.e. about A.D. 600) “it pleased God to lay the first foundation of the east town of Yarmouth into firm land, even out of the main sea. Which place was then called and known by the name of Sardike sand, and Sardike shore; and in a short time it proved to
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LOWESTOFT AND THE CIVIL WARS.
LOWESTOFT AND THE CIVIL WARS.
Probably the fact that, in these wars, Yarmouth was Parliamentarian, had no small influence in determining the men of Lowestoft to be so decidedly Royalist. We will not, however, deny them the praise, such as it is, of being devotedly attached to the cause of the mis-guided Charles. Lion-hearted, noble minded Oliver, whose character has been blackened by the accumulated injustice of two hundred years, here, in the early part of his career, performed essential service for the Parliament. Heari
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LOWESTOFT, THE DUTCH, ETC.
LOWESTOFT, THE DUTCH, ETC.
Admiral Sir Thomas Allen, a native of this town, first commenced hostilities against the Dutch, in 1665, by attacking their Smyrna fleet. In the great sea fight of June 3rd, in that year, off Lowestoft, Admiral Allen, Admiral Utber, and Captain Utber, Lowestoft men, were all engaged. The Duke of York commanded the English, Admiral Opdam the Dutch fleet. In this action the Dutch had 18 ships taken and 14 sunk, exclusive of those which were burnt or blown up; they lost 6000 men, including 2300 t
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THE INTERNAL HISTORY OF THE TOWN.
THE INTERNAL HISTORY OF THE TOWN.
And first we will notice some of the calamities with which it has been visited; these have been principally of four kinds: Plague, Fires, Civil dissentions, and Storms. The Plague was felt in this town very severely at several times: probably in 1349, and certainly in 1547. In 1579, twice as many people died in Lowestoft as in 1578; and in 1579 the Plague raged at Yarmouth; the inference is pretty clear, this unwonted mortality was occasioned by the Plague. In 1603, 280 persons were buried in
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CAPTAIN MANBY’S APPARATUS.
CAPTAIN MANBY’S APPARATUS.
In a note in his 69th page, Gillingwater says: “The most probable method of rescuing seamen from those unfortunate situations, that I can think of, is that of a kite. When the storm is so abated that a boat is able to approach pretty near the wreck, let a line (which may soon after easily convey a strong rope) be carried by the kite over the vessel, and then let fall. Thus a communication may be obtained between the wreck and the boat, and by that means, the seaman may be drawn through the wat
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THE LIGHT-HOUSES
THE LIGHT-HOUSES
are at once highly useful, and present striking objects of interest to the visiter. The Upper Light-house is a neat and ornamental building, situated at the northern extremity of the High street, on a commanding eminence, and may be seen to advantage by a person entering the town from the Yarmouth side. It was erected in 1676, by the Brethren of the Trinity House, and subsequently repaired and improved in the years 1778, 1825, and 1840. It is fitted up with large plated reflectors in a lantern
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THE HARBOUR AND RAILWAY.
THE HARBOUR AND RAILWAY.
The Waveney originally emptied itself into the sea between Lowestoft and Kirkley, but being a shallow stream, could not resist the gradual formation of a mound of sand raised by the prevailing east winds, which, in time, effectually cut off the communication between the sea and Lake Lothing. At spring tides, however, the sea would frequently break over the barrier, rush into the lake and over the low lands, carrying away whatever was not sufficiently durable to resist its torrent. Mutford Brid
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THE INFIRMARY
THE INFIRMARY
is situated at the western extremity of the town on the road leading to the church. The society by which this building has been erected was formed in 1822, but the building itself was not erected till 1839. It comprises two spacious wards, well ventilated and warmed, and other necessary conveniences. It has attached to it, a small museum of morbid anatomy, presented by W. C. Worthington, Esq., Surgeon to the Infirmary. Funds are now much required for providing suitable food for the distresse
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THE FISHERMEN’S HOSPITAL
THE FISHERMEN’S HOSPITAL
is a neat series of six cottages built below the town, for aged and infirm fishermen. The cost of the whole erection was £600....
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ALMS-HOUSES.
ALMS-HOUSES.
The giver of two houses (formerly four, but two were destroyed by fire in 1707) in the Fair lane, originally part of the parish work-house, is unknown. The giver of a house towards the south end of the High street, is also unknown. James Hocker, a labourer, who died in 1710, gave his All , about £120; with part of which, a stone and brick house in the Fair lane was bought, which is now occupied by such persons as the churchwardens appoint. Martin Brown, merchant, of Rotterdam, left a sum of mon
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LOWESTOFT AND THE WITCHES.
LOWESTOFT AND THE WITCHES.
One of the dark spots resting upon the townspeople of more ancient times, is the share some of them took in the persecution of the “threescore witches” who were hanged in Suffolk. In 1663, Mr. Samuel Pacey commenced a prosecution against Rose Cullender and Amy Duny, two poor old widows, for witchcraft practised—as it was said—on his two daughters, children, respectively of the ages of eleven and nine years. After being placed in the stocks, and suffering other indignities, they were formally i
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LOWESTOFT IN CONNEXION WITH ROYALTY.
LOWESTOFT IN CONNEXION WITH ROYALTY.
This town is not like common towns, obliged to be content with rendering a general homage to the throne, but was part of the ancient demesne of the crown, and has in consequence been entitled to many privileges, particularly exemptions from toll, stallage, chiminage, pontage, pannage, picage, murrage, lastage, and passage. These, in the growth of the nation have become obsolete. One profitable exemption, however, the townsmen yet enjoy, that is, from serving on juries, either at the assizes or
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THE RELIGIOUS HISTORY OF THE TOWN
THE RELIGIOUS HISTORY OF THE TOWN
next claims our notice, and as the religious denominations are intimately connected with their several places of worship, the places and people will he spoken of together. 1. The Episcopalians . In this parish, as in most others, episcopacy has flourished under its two forms, Romish and Protestant, and the parish church has been its home, which even now presents many mementos of the time when Romanism held an undivided sovereignty over the minds and hearts of the inhabitants: but there are rec
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THE CHURCH.
THE CHURCH.
The church ‘standing by the roadside in its own little garden of Gethsemane,’ is a fine old building dedicated to St. Margaret, situated about half a mile westward of the town, towards which all the streets on the west side tend, as to a common centre. The present building is supposed to have been founded about the middle of the fourteenth century, (on the site of a more ancient fabric, to which the tower, from its inferior proportions and mean construction, is concluded to have belonged,) thou
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SCHOOLS.
SCHOOLS.
The Public Schools in the town provided for the poor are numerous, and generally well conducted. The principal are Wilde’s, Annot’s, and the British School. John Wilde left several estates, together with the rents and profits thereof, to be applied for a virtuous and learned schoolmaster, who shall teach forty boys to write and read and cast accounts, and shall also teach them the Latin tongue. Thomas Annot , merchant of this town, also left money for founding a grammar school at Lowestoft; and
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THE FISHERIES.
THE FISHERIES.
At present there are two fishing seasons during the year. The Herring season begins about a fortnight before Michaelmas, and continues till Martinmas. At the beginning of the season the boats sail off to sea, about thirteen leagues north-east of Lowestoft, to meet the shoals of fish. Having arrived on the fishing ground, the fishermen shoot their nets, (extending about 2,200 yards in length, and eight in depth, which, by simple means, are made to swim in a position perpendicular to the surface
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THE TITHE OF FISH.
THE TITHE OF FISH.
The vicar of the parish makes a claim of half a guinea from each boat on its return from the herring fishery; and half a dole,— i.e. one three-hundredth part of the whole catch—from the mackerel boats at the close of their season. The legality of these claims is disputed, and, in the case of the latter, legal proceedings were instituted in 1845, by the Rev. F. Cunningham against Mr. John Roberts, who declined payment of the demand. Those persons who are interested in the affair may obtain a si
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THE BATTERIES.
THE BATTERIES.
Before Kett’s insurrection in the year 1549, there were six pieces of cannon for the defence of the town; these were carried off by the insurgents to batter the walls of Yarmouth. To replace these, Queen Elizabeth presented to the people of Lowestoft four pieces of cannon and two slings; these appear to have been carried away by Cromwell in 1643, but afterwards he found it necessary to build a fort and plant four guns upon it; some time after, the platform on which these guns were placed was de
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THE PORCELAIN MANUFACTORY.
THE PORCELAIN MANUFACTORY.
There was, some years since, a manufactory of Porcelain or China-ware in this town, but it has fallen away and become extinct. Specimens of the ware may be frequently purchased in the cottages in the neighbourhood....
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THE SAVINGS BANK
THE SAVINGS BANK
was established in 1818, for the purpose of affording to sailors, journeymen, and others, especially to the females of Lowestoft and its vicinity, a secure place where they may deposit the small savings they may be able to make from their wages; which deposits are repaid with interest at £2 18s. 10d. per centum per annum, agreeably to certain rules. The office for this Institution is kept at the town chamber in the town hall, and is open every Wednesday from twelve till one o’clock. Mr. T. Bird
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THE MECHANICS’ INSTITUTION
THE MECHANICS’ INSTITUTION
was established in June 1843, for the following purposes— first , the diffusion of useful knowledge; secondly , the promotion amongst the inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood, of that harmony and good feeling which ought to exist among all men. The means used for attaining these objects are—a library for circulation; the delivery of lectures on literary and scientific subjects; and the adoption of such other means as, from time to time, are deemed expedient by the committee of management.
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THE REPOSITORY SALE.
THE REPOSITORY SALE.
Annually a Bazaar is held in the bath rooms, to which the ladies in the neighbourhood contribute principally articles of their own manufacture. The proceeds of the sale are usually divided between the Church schools and the Infirmary funds....
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CRICKET CLUBS.
CRICKET CLUBS.
During the summer evenings the denes usually present a very lively appearance; the members of the several cricket clubs are practising, not only for their own amusement, but that they may be prepared to meet other gentlemen who, residing in the neighbouring towns, cherish a friendly rivalry in the art of bat and ball....
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Thomas Nash
Thomas Nash
the satirist, who flourished in the reign of Elizabeth, was born at Lowestoft. He wrote a play called “Lenton Stuffe; or, the Praise of the Red Herring,” published in 1599, in quarto; he was also “the author of a slight dramatic piece, mostly in blank verse, but partly in prose, and having also some lyrical poetry interspersed, called ‘Summers’ Last Will and Testament,’ which was exhibited before Queen Elizabeth at Norwich, in 1592; and he also assisted Marlow, in his tragedy of ‘Dido, Queen of
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ENVIRONS OF LOWESTOFT.
ENVIRONS OF LOWESTOFT.
The neighbourhood of Lowestoft is by no means destitute of attractions, and, in its vicinity, visiters may enjoy many pleasant rides and rambles. To the north is Gunton, with its neat little church and churchyard, the pleasantest approach to which is by the first lane leading out from the road which skirts the common on the west. The church has been repaired and refitted under the direction of the Rev. F. C. Fowler, the present Incumbent; a fine specimen of the Norman doorway, on the north side
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FANCY REPOSITORY, HIGH STREET, LOWESTOFT.
FANCY REPOSITORY, HIGH STREET, LOWESTOFT.
T. CROWE, PRINTER, BOOKSELLER, STATIONER, MUSICSELLER, BOOKBINDER, ENGRAVER AND SILVERSMITH. BERLIN AND OTHER WOOLS, Patterns , Silks , Cords , Canvass , Needles , Frames , Rolio , etc. , KNITTING COTTONS, PINS, MESHES. A LARGE ASSORTMENT OF WRITING DESKS, WORK BOXES, DRESSING CASES, TEA CADDIES, ETC. PAPIER MACHE GOODS, BLUE AND WHITE ENAMEL BOXES, PORTFOLIOS, CARD CASES, AND OTHER FANCY GOODS. Cutlery , Perfumery and Patent Medicines . WEEKLY AND MONTHLY MAGAZINES. Appointed Agent for the Suff
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BOHN’S STANDARD LIBRARY,
BOHN’S STANDARD LIBRARY,
At the extremely low price of 3s. per vol. Volumes already Published: 1. The Miscellaneous Works of the Rev. Robert Hall. 2 and 3. Roscoe’s Life and Pontificate of Leo X. in 2 vols. 4. Schlegel’s Lectures on the Philosophy of History. 5. and 6. Sismondi’s History of the Literature of the South of Europe. 7. Roscoe’s Life of Lorenzo de Medici, called the magnificent. 8. Schlegel’s Lectures on Dramatic Literature. 9. Beckmann’s History of Inventions, Discoveries and Origins. 10. Schiller’s
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