Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
1
THE EAST SUFFOLK GAZETTE from 1880

1880
1880
1880

East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 

ADVERTISEMENT: Ward & Walton, late Robert Ward, Importers of wines and liqueurs
ADVERTISEMENT: Edward Buck, wine merchant, Northgate; established 1825
ADVERTISEMENT: Caxton Printing Press: sermons, pamphlets & conditions  of sale,  catalogues,

East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 
East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 

bill heads,  circulars,  cards, programme of  entertainments, tickets, rate collectors’ books, price lists,
sessional, county court & other legal forms
ADVERTISEMENT:  A  Dixon,  bookseller  &  stationer,  printer,  bookbinder,  just  published  The

1880
East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 

Beccles Almanack for 1880, price 1d. Market Place
ADVERTISEMENT: William Flower, chemical & drug warehouse, Market Place.
ADVERTISEMENT: CF Parker, grocer & draper; opposite the Church

1880
1880

East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 
East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 

1880
1880
1880

East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 

ADVERTISEMENT: George Yallup, draper, Exchange Square
ADVERTISEMENT: Kent & Son, ironmongers, tinmen, braziers & gasfitters, Hungate
ADVERTISEMENT; D Soanes, boot & shoe maker, Market Place

East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 
East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 

1880
1880

East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 

ADVERTISEMENT: Wright, WH; Red House, Market Place
ADVERTISEMENT: Jonathan Read, formerly Durrant, watch & clock maker, jeweller; established
1804; Market Place

East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 

1880
1880

East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 

ADVERTISEMENT: Gambees ready relief pills sold at 20 Fair Close Road, proprietor
EDUCATION: Boarding & Day Schhol: Smallgate House, Scholastic Duties wll be resumed on 22

East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 

Instant. Boarders  are requested to reassemble  on Monday  19 January. Principal: Miss McCulloch,
who “Begs to remind her pupils that her Annual Soiree will take place on Tuesday 20 January. She

would  also  acknowledge  with  thanks  the  elegant  Dinner  Service  prsented  by  her  Pupils  &  her
Friends.”

1880
1880

East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 

TO LET: New Road near the Quay: Coach House & Stables; Apply Mr Hayward, cooper, Bridge St
TO LET: London Road, A Residence to Let with Flower & Fruit Garden, 2 Sitting Rooms, Kitchen
etc & 4 Bedrooms. Apply Thomas Garrod, London Road.
ENTERTAINMENT:  Literary  Institute;   Lecture  by  AK  Hockey  on  “Recreations  &  Tastes  of

East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 
1880
East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 

Remarkable Men” Mr F Deane will read “The Sportheen”  & there will be a performance Vocal &
Instrumental Music in Assembly Room. Front Seats 6d, Back Seats 3d.
COUNCIL: The BRIDGE: It was said that the approach to the Bridge was bad & the Lighting & the

1880
East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 

state  of  the  road  were  very  bad  indeed.  Councillor  Darby  took  Mr  Phipson,  who  had  previously
pronounced the bridge to be safe, on a boat under the bridge, touching it with an oar, half a barrow
full of plaster fell. He had no idea it was in such a bad condition; but nothing has been done.

 
 

The Town Clerk said the Council had no authority to act. Alderman Laws suggested it might be done
in the shape of a Memorial to the Magistrates.
AFGHANISTAN: Nothing has occurred to disturb the position of the British force at Cabul since the

1880
East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 

reoccupation of that city. It is stated that the city presents a very desolate appearance, the insurgents
having done much damage. All the fighting men are dispersing to their homes.
IRELAND: The agitation agaist landlords in Ireland continues. On Sunday a meeting was held near

1880
East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 

Balla, County Mayo, at which resolutions were passed condemning rack renting as a moral injustice.
LIQUIDATION Mr Benjamin Brown; paying 4s/- in the £
CHURCH PROMOTION: Rev AC Tracy, formerly Curate, to Rectory of Stapleford, Herts.

1880
1880

East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 
East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 
1880
East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 

WEIGHTS & MEASURES ACT: A Correspondent says this Act is a dead letter in this place. Bakers
go their rounds with their  bread  carts, minus  scales, with  impunity, & the 4lb loaf is  very often  a

doubtful question. Also the price of milk has been raised a hundred per cent; but are milk measures
stamped?

1880
East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 

CHAPEL APPOINTMENT: Mr Robert Mobbs of Beccles to be Pastor  of Conregational Church  at
Fakenham.

1880
East Suff Gaz 13 Jan 

BATHING PLACE: Corporation to  let by auction for  5 years. The hirer to discharge the duties of
Superintendent.
SCHOOLS: Shrubland House, Station Road. Miss Ecclestone hopes to receive pupils on 27 January.

1880
East Suff Gaz 13 Jan 

Barders to assemble on Monday 26 January.
SCHOOLS: Miss Knapp of Station Road pupils on 20th January.
HOSPITAL: Thankfully acknowledge a gift of two tons of coal by Messrs N Pells & Son.

1880
1880

East Suff Gaz 13 Jan 
East Suff Gaz 13 Jan 
1880
East Suff Gaz 13 Jan 

CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH:  The  first  phase   of   building   a   new  school   and   classrooms
completed at cost of £1100 including the site. Next phase to improve interior of church; Tender from
Messrs  Calver  of  Ringsfield  accepted.;  new  staircases,  new  gallery  front,  new  pulpit,  new  side

windosws, and an apse behind the pulpit intended to receive an organ, which will be purchased and a
warming  apparatus. All the woodwork will  be  of pitch-pine. The  church will probably be lighted
from the roof. The cost will be £1,000.

Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
2
1880
East Suff Gaz 13 Jan 

DIED Mrs Wright, widow of Rev George Wright, late Baptist Minister. Rev SK Bland conducted the
Service.

1880
East Suff Gaz 13 Jan 

OVERCROWDING:  Inspector of Nuisances, AG Love brought to Court, John Farrow, labourer of
Newgate. A room 15ft by 9ft rented by defendant occupied by himself, his brother and wife and their

seven   children, ranging  from twenty to three years. The  cubic  feet of  air being sufficient for  one
person only. Room to be occupied by one person only within seven days.

1880
East Suff Gaz 20 Jan 

DEATH  at Beccles  of John  Spencer,  born 1815, joined the  service  of George IV for three years,
went on to mercantile service, in 1857 obtained a master’s certificate. During the American War he
ran  the  blockade  twice  in  the  “Economist”  and  he  was  also  connected    with  the  “Galway  Steam

Packet Company” of  Lever Roebuck notoriety,  as  captain  of the “Victoria”. He was wrecked three
times  and on the  occasion of the loss  of the “Senator”, he  endured  exposure and suffering for five
days and nights in an open boat, withpot provisions of any kind. He was at the Gold Diggings during

the rush; and, in truth, his whole life was very eventful. He was landlord of the Star.
CONGREGATIONAL CONCERT by their chapel  choir  in  aid  of the Chapel  improvements. Mr &
Mrs Corbyn played major part. Pieces by Handel, Mendelssohn and “The last Rose of Summer” etc.

1880
East Suff Gaz 20 Jan 
1880
East Suff Gaz 20 Jan 

SCHOOLS: National Schools. Resignation of the Treasurer WE Crowfoot, through age. Election of
Read Crisp in his place. The master and mistress had fully sustained their character for effiiency, and
they were now aided by a very promising assistant master. Mr JK Garrod was Secretary.

1880
East Suff Gaz 20 Jan 

COUNCIL: (1). BRIDGE: The Mayor Mr Eastaugh had with Mr Darby inspected the arches, found
them in  a very  bad state.  Large pieces of stone had fallen out from the arches, and the walls were
cracked and greatly dilapidated.

 
 

(2). Well in the  old Gildhall Barn to be  filled  in.  (3).  Water used  at dairies  impure.James Bullen,
John  Driver,  William  Huson  and  Eliza  Nunn,  must  provide  proper  water  supply,  (4).  Pump  in
Ballygate to be removed and well sealed. (5). A roller standing in Old Market removed by occupier in

premises belonging to Mr Garrod, formerly Cutting’s  (6) Street lights not to be lit between 20 May
&  20 August (7) Mr Harper’s new  houses  [in Hungate] pathway  from  SW  corner of  Independen

Chapel classroom to Mr Harper’s gateway laid with York stone. 
WANTED Housekeeper, middle aged,  experienced for  Ladies’  School. Mr Wm Garrard,  Waveney

 
 
1880
East Suff Gaz 27 Jan 

House. 
SHOP:  Mrs  C  Atkinson  relinquishing  business  carried  on  for  20  years,  her  successor  Mr  W

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1880
East Suff Gaz 27 Jan 

Haverson;   Stocks   of   sugars,   fruits,   pickles   and   sauces,   brushes,   baskets   and   crockery.[34]  
Newmarket 
TREAT: Workmen at Mr Darby’s brickyards supper at Mr Charlish’s refreshment house.

 

1880
1880

East Suff Gaz 27 Jan 
East Suff Gaz 27 Jan 

ENTERTAINMENT:  Fortnightly  entertainments  “for  the  People”  in  Assembly  Room.  About  400
present. Programme of music and recitation included a song and dance by a travelling minstrel.
LIQUIDATION: George Kerridge, earthenware dealer. 2s 6d in the pound.

1880
1880

East Suff Gaz 27 Jan 
East Suff Gaz 27 Jan 

ESCAPE by 3 Leman School boys. Playing on ice on Crisp’s dyke near the Bathing-Place, Flegg fell
in, rendered insesible by hitting his head on ice. Two others fell in Woolner & Shadforth. Rescued by
maltster, Whyatt.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

1880
1880
1880

CHURCH: Reopening of Organ. Recital: Handel, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven on Monday 9 Feb.
DEATH: John Garnham (died 3 Feb 1879) 
BREWERY  Dinner:  Messrs  Worthington  catering  by  Mr  Frampton  of  Britannia  Shades.  Mr  AB

East Suff Gaz 3 Feb 
East Suff Gaz 3 Feb 
 
East Suff Gaz 3 Feb 

Worthington presided, supported by Mr Clark & Mr Danby; Mr JM Brundell filled the Vice Chair.
COURT: Isaac Vertigen v George West, brickmaker. Claim £1 15s rent admitted. Earned 15s a week,
paid £7  a year rent and had ten children to support. He must pay 2s a month until next harvest.

1880
East Suff Gaz 3 Feb 

Ples 
Ples 

Dwelling: 
George WEST 

Pleasant Place 

 

CENSUS 1881 
Barsham, Suffolk, England 

 

 
Head 

40 
38 
15 

General Laborer

Ples 
Ples 

Susan WEST 
Samuel WEST 


Broome, Norfolk, England 
Beccles, Suffolk, England 

Wife 
Son 

 
 
 

Bricklayers Laborer
Scholar
Scholar

Ples 
Ples 

Mary WEST 
Agnes WEST 

12 
11 


Beccles, Suffolk, England 

Daur 
Daur 

Beccles, Suffolk, England 

Beccles, Suffolk, England 

Ples 
Ples 

Susan WEST 
Ettie ((Hetty)) WEST

 

10 

Beccles, Suffolk, England 

Daur 
Scholar

Scholar
Daur 

Ples 
Ples 

George WEST 
William WEST 

 
 



Beccles, Suffolk, England 
Beccles, Suffolk, England 

Son 
Son 

Scholar
Scholar

Ples 
Ples 

Mary WEST 
Arthur WEST 

 
 



Beccles, Suffolk, England 
Beccles, Suffolk, England 

Daur 
Son 

1880
East Suff Gaz 3 Feb 

Court: Emma Porter, domestic servant aged 13 v Robert Took, confectioner. Hired for 4 weeks at 1s a
week & 1s  6d  afterwards. Left after 5 weeks; not enough food, and too hard work. Took to pay 4s
owing.

1880

RETIREMENT:  Robert  A  King,  builder,  Beccles  to  retire.  Business  to  be  carried  on  by  Henry
Hopson, who has been his employee for 35 years.
ENTERTAINMENT: Australian General Tom Thumb gave performance in Assembly Room.

East Suff Gaz 10 Feb 
1880
East Suff Gaz 10 Feb 
Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
3
1880
East Suff Gaz 10 Feb 

RUGBY  FOOTBALL:  on  Saturday  afternoon  15  of  Norwich  Carrow  Works  team  v  15  Caxton
Works team, newly formed. Norwich won.

1880
East Suff Gaz 10 Feb 

CHURCH ORGAN  reopened.Built  1757  by  Richard  Bridge  for  St  James,  Clerkenwell.  In  1796
George  Pike  Englandbuilt  a  new  organ  for  that  church,  was  paid  £500  and  given  the  old  organ.

Moved  it to Beccles.  in  1859 rebuilt  by Messrs Bishop,  Starr & Richardson of  London under the
direction of HC Walker - in a dilapidated condition. Originally built at west end , was moved in 1859

to  corner  of north  aisle  -  in  confined position. Now  faces south,  enclosed in  substantial  oak  case
designed by Mr EW Norman of Norwich and made by Mr Woodroffe. A great part of works replaced
and given a third manual.

1880
East Suff Gaz 10 Feb 

OVERCROWDING: John Farrow had not obeyed earlier order. House belonged to Mrs Suggate and
was underlet. Fined £1 plus 8s 6d costs. Liable to 10s a day if not obeyed.
RETIREMENT: Mrs Elizabeth Ingram,  Station Road, retiring  from  businesscarried  on  by  her  late

1880
East Suff Gaz 17 Feb 

husband. James Cutler, bricklayer, plasterer, builder, Newgate, taking over.
ENTERTAINMENT “Mrs Jarley’s  Wax  Works” for Gorlston church Organ.  Very successful, well
attended despite the high cost.

1880
East Suff Gaz 17 Feb 
1880

COUNCIL: Sealing conveyances of purchase of land  adjoinig Railway Station. Stated that it was 15
years since the last reassessment was made throughout the town for rates. Some revisions had been
made.

East Suff Gaz 2 Mar 
1880
East Suff Gaz 2 Mar 

FIRE in premises of Mr Keridge, baker. prevented  by Police Constable Gray seeing smoke  coming
out of sitting room on first floor. Burning soot had fallen down the chimney. Extinguished.
Congrgational  Schools.  Superintendents:  E  Masters  &  JL  Kent,;  Treasurer  W  Read;  secretary  C

1880
East Suff Gaz 2 Mar 

Chase. Mr  Flower  resigned secretaryship  after  13 years, who  recalled that  he took over from Mr
ward, who on the night he resigned the post of Superintendent, died.
DROWNING  Bungay  waterman,  James  Cossay  left  wherry  at  Mr  Crisp’s  quay  [probably  by  the

1880
East Suff Gaz 9 Mar 

Bridge], went to Page’s beerhouse [Maltster’s Arms, Bridge Street] which he left at 11pm. returning
to wherry in the dark tripped over rope attaced to a wherry, fell into river and was drowned. Jury said

path should be wider and no ropes to stretch over path.
SANITARY  REPORT  by  EB  Crowfoot.  Population  5000;  Houses  1098.  Births  168;  Deaths  102.

1880
East Suff Gaz 9 Mar 

Average death rate per 1,000 was 21.3. Deaths of those under five  32. Problems: (1) Water closets
flushed by cans, so not properly flushed. Proper tank supplied with constant supply of water vital. (2)

Pump  water  sed  in  dairies  impure  Milkman  who  was  infected  by  scarlet  fever  spread  disease  to
family of nine when he came to milk the cow. (3) Systematic attention to sanitary nuisances in town,
street by street Sewer in Northgate completed in 1879.

1880
East Suff Gaz 9 Mar 

MARKET TEA: Mr Masters: The last season was a very bad one, excessively wet. The loss to many
of the hirers of Corporation marshes serious. Let by public auction. Mr Mayhew: He hoped they had
got over the worst. If not, woe betide all classes connected with agriculture, for another year like the

last they would not be sitting  round that table. Many neede the  assistance of the  landlords. I f they
acted wisely they would keep good sound men as tenants rather than sacrifice them and give to others
advantages which the old ones did not now possess. There was also a grumble about the high cost of

tithes and taxes.
LICENCE; Sun Inn from Mr Buggs to Robert Cock.
COURT:  Contaminated  water  used  to  wash  out  vessels  by  milkmen.  Given  2  weeks  to  improve,

1880
1880

East Suff Gaz 9 Mar 
East Suff Gaz 2 Mar 

otherwise £20 fine.
COUNCIL:  Sunday closing  of licensed premises. Only  five  members  attended.  4  supported  idea.
Petition sent to Parliament from Beccles.

1880
East Suff Gaz 16 Mar 

1880
1880
1880

East Suff Gaz 16 Mar 

DEATH: Mrs Tracy, senior, aged 80, mother of the Rector.
TO LET: Unfurnishe apartments, WE Mills, Smallgate.
TESTIMONIAL to Superintendent Cole of £10 at Ixworth.

East Suff Gaz 23 Mar 
East Suff Gaz 23 Mar 
1880
East Suff Gaz 23 Mar 

VESTRY MEETING: Overseers elected: T Easter, RA King, JM Brundell, EW Hindes.; Collectors
of taxes: R Jarman & J Mullett.

1880
East Suff Gaz 23 Mar 

COURT: Benjamin Ward the Younger and Obadiah Clarke [in the 1881 census he was listed as being
35, a wherryman out of employ, living as a widower with his parents in Blyburgate]  were charged

with illegally fishing in private waters belonging to the Corporation, on the 19th of January. -- Both
the  defendants  pleaded  guilty,  Ward  saying  he  was  after  eels,  and  was  not  aware  he  was  doing

anything wrong, as he had seen others doing the same. -- Mr Angell said the object of the prosection
was  to  prevent  trespassing  on  the  Corporation  marshes,  as  the  tenants  had  complained  of  their
marshes being run over. The defendants had been asked to appear before the committee, and had they

apologised  nothing  would  have  been  heard  of  these  proceedings;  but  as  they  chose  to  set  the
committee  at defiance, the matter, it was  felt,  could not  be  looked  over. The magistrate fined the
defendants 2s 6d each, and 7s 6d costs; cautioning them that if  brought up again on a similar charge

the full penalty of 20s would be enforced. Thirteen days were allowed for payment.
Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
4
1880
East Suff Gaz 30 Mar 

SALE  by executors of Marcus John River, Esq a piece of arable land abutting on Castle Road and
lands of Sir Charles Clarke and John Copeman, Esq containing 3a 1r 37p in the occupation of Robert

Elliott.
ELECTION:  Mr  Everett,  Liberal  candidate;  Lord  Rendlesham  &  Colonel  Barne,  Conservative

1880
East Suff Gaz 30 Mar 

candidates, the present members.
LICENSED VICTUALLERS Chair taken by JP Walton. Agreed unanimously to oppose the closure

1880
East Suff Gaz 30 Mar 

of licensed premises on Sundays.
ARTILLERY VOLUNTEERS: Gun drill under Lieut Walton
will continue to be the resident manager at Becclesr 

1880
1880

East Suff Gaz 6 Apr 
East Suff Gaz 6 Apr 

1880
 

East Suff Gaz 13 Apr 

ELECTION: Lord Rendlesham (Cons) 4239; Barne (Cons)  3618; Everett (Lib) 3504.
In Beccles Mr Worthington resented flour being thrown at his partner Colonel Marshall and attacked
the aggressor. Police escorted Worthington to the Brewery followed by an amused and rather excited

 

crowd.  Some fights took place  in the streets, some furze  bushe were burnt on the Common, where
there were 9 ploicemen and 200 demonstrators,  and a public lamp in Station Road was smashed
COUNCIL: (1) Bathing Place  let to Mr W  Smith  at  £20pa for  5 years; Mr RA King  & Mr Tyrell

1880
East Suff Gaz 27 Apr 

required to remove  obstructions  in Puddingmoor (2) Burial Board  be asked to trim the trees in old
burial ground (3) Sanitary: bye-laws to require plans of all new buildings to be submitted to Council
(4) Mr Delf  of Northgate recently bought two houses there, would be prepared to set them back to

remove existing obstruction for £20. Agreed
COUNCIL: The Mayor wished to alter the name of the Assembly Room, and as there appeared to be
some legal reasons for a change, it was decided in future to call it “The Town Hall”.

1880
East Suff Gaz 27 Apr 

1880
1880

East Suff Gaz 27 Apr 

COUNCIL: Precept for the cost of the Board School last year 10d in the year.
ADVERTISEMENT: H  Lawrance, mineral & soda water  manufacturer, Yarmouth  & Beccles -  in
Gaol Lane. Print showing their Works inside.

East Suff Gaz 4 May 
1880
East Suff Gaz 4 May 

SHOP Plate GlassWindow smashed  by pony  backing  cart  into it. Mr Parkhouse  [27 Newmarket].
Cost £7.

1880
East Suff Gaz 4 May 

Artillery volunteers paraded and marched under Captain Thomson Wilson to Barsham Church. The
service was conducted by Rev RAJ Suckling, chaplain to the Corps. On return at 1  o’clock a large

crowd had collected to see them.
WANGFORD UNION Mr Richard French Chirman; WE Crowfoot, Vice Chairman.

1880
1880

East Suff Gaz 4 May 
East Suff Gaz 4 May 

COURT: Sarah Mills drunk and using obscene language in Titshll Alley. Quarrelling. Norwich Castle
for 14 days hard labour.
SALE: Newly erected Terrace of 5 substantially built white brick and slated Residences & Spacious

1880
East Suff Gaz 11 May 

corner shop fronting Ravensmere adjoining the new road leading to the Railway Station.
LOT 1 House & Corner Shop, occupied by Robert Curtis £25 rental. (withdrawn  at £340)
LOT 2: Two residences adjoining, occupied by JH Hall & Wm Sayer £15 rental (not sold)

 
 

 
 

 
 

LOT 3 Two residences adjoining the last  lot,  occupied  by Henry Stimpson & Robert Flaxman £15
rental (not sold)
ALSO 50 eligible Plots of valuable Building Land. suitable fo genteel residences, close to the  

 
 

 
 

Railway Station. Each plot containing 20ft frontage and depth of 92ft.
(Lots 4 & 5 purchased by Mrs Oxborough at £20 each; Lots 6 & 7 by R Stannard at £20 each; Lots 8  
9 by T Easter. Remainder withdrawn.)

 
 
1880
East Suff Gaz 18 May 

RETIREMENT: James Mullett, [4] Ballygate, tailoring, drapery and hat establishment retiring after
40 years. Business taken over by WG Cross
CHORAL SOCIETY: between 40 and 50 singers. Mr Livock at the harmonium and conductor. Mrs

1880
East Suff Gaz 18 May 

Corbyn  chief  pianist.  Handel;  Barnby’s”Magnificat  in  E”.,  Mendelssohn,  Beethoven’s  “Ruins  of
Athens”
SALE: by executors of Benjamin Thrower: LOT 1: Freehold Residence & Confectioner’s Shop with

1880
East Suff Gaz 1 June 

convenient offices, occupying  a commanding position in the Market Place now occupied  by Rober
Took under a lease of 4 years at rent of £32.(purchased by Mr RA Took for£540

 
 

LOT  2:    Block  of  Three  Freehold  Cottages  in  Hungate  Lane,  occupied  by  Stephen  Oxborough,
Robert Freestone   and Harriet Baker, quarterly tenants  at total  of  £15. (purchased  Edward Ford  at

£165)
Pupils  of  Smallgate  House  under  Miss  McCulloch  put  ona  Drawing  Room  Entertainment  in  the

1880
East Suff Gaz 1 June 

Assembly  Room  in  aid  of  Beccles  Hospital.  Large  audience.  Performance  varied,  interesting  and
amusing
QUEEN’S  61st BIRTHDAY celebrated  by Rifle Volunteers. !45 officers  and men paraded  in Old

1880
 
East Suff Gaz 1 June

Market on Saturday at 4pm. Marched to the Common headed by the Band, dressed in the new scarlet
uniform. Maqjor Crowfoot, Captain Keogh, & Lieuts Robinson & Read
MILTARY  BANDS:  Artillery  Band  will  play  in  the  east  end  of  the  Avenue  every  Thusday.  On

1880
East Suff Gaz 8 June 
Friday evening the Rifle Band will play in the Newmarket
Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
5

1880
1880

East Suff Gaz 8 June 

BICYCLE CLUB of Waveney Valley formed.
GAS COMPANY: Chairman WE Crowfoot; Present: WM Crowfot, Waterman, Parker, Ling &  

East Suff Gaz 8 June 
 
Dixon. Paid 8% dividend.

1880
1880
1880

East Suff Gaz 8 June 

BAPTIST UNION: Beccles without a pastor. Members 147, children in school 180.
page 5 missing
DEATH of Mr HJ Kerrison  aged  85. Upright,  hoourable, kind  and  considerate in  every relation of

East Suff Gaz 15 June 
East Suff Gaz 22 June 

life. He was churchwarden for more than twenty years.
SALE: Brick & tiled  double  cottage  between  Swines Green and  London Road in the occupation of
Robert  Houghton  and  Alfred  Elliott  at  rental  of  £10  pa;  each  cottage  having  front  sitting  room,

1880
East Suff Gaz 29 June 

kitchen,wash-house,  pantry,  coal-house,  bedroom  accommodation,  fruit  garden.  [purchased  James
Dowe £155]
LIQUIDATION: Mr C Frampton, publican [of Britannia Shades, 3 Blyburgate]

1880
1880

East Suff Gaz 6 Jul 
East Suff Gaz 6 Jul 

FLAG A new flag for the Church Tower presented by the Mayor and Rector jointly.
TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION: 61 teachers went boating, fishing  and  picknicked  at Fritton. In the
afternoon  dancing was  attempted,  but was  given up, the weather  being too  hot;  and the members

1880
East Suff Gaz 6 Jul 

found a more congenial amusement in singing well-known glees and part-songs on the lake.
ATHLETIC SPORTS,  several thousand people present. Refreshments by Mr Potter of the Crown &
Anchor Inn. Tug  of war between the Artillery  and Rifle Corps. The Riflemen  just won the  best of

1880
East Suff Gaz 6 Jul 

three pulls.
LICENCES: Sun Inn, Mr RA Cock;  Star Inn, Mrs Spencer; Queen Victoria, Mr J Girling.
SLAUGHTERING  in  unlicenced  premises.  Mr  Le  Grice  slaughtering  in  Hungate  Lane  without  a

1880
1880

East Suff Gaz 6 Jul 
East Suff Gaz 6 Jul 

licence. Had also slaughtered in Smallgate and |Blyburgate without a licence. Fined £5             
SALE: by executors of William Meen
Beaumont Villa:  a  comfortable  and well-built residence pleasantly situated  on the  Londn#on Road

1880
 

East Suff Gaz 20 Jul 
 

recently occupied by Mr Meen.[purtchased by Mr B Woolnough for £270]
FURNITURE SALE: Surplus furniture of Mrs Loring

1880
1880

East Suff Gaz 20 Jul 
East Suff Gaz 20 Jul 

RESIGNATION: Surgeon Robert Metcalfe resigns from Artillery.
RIFLE VOLUNTEERS; 125 of Beccles contingent joined 85 from Bungay at Shipmeadow for a joint

1880
East Suff Gaz 20 Jul 

drill session.
DEATH: Robert Ward, retired wine merchant, died 3 March 1880.

1880
1880

East Suff Gaz 27 Jul 
East Suff Gaz 27 Jul 

FAUCONBERGE SCHOOL: EM LOring elected to scholarship at Eton.
LICENCES: Britannia Shades: James Reynolds.
EPITAPH ON MATTHEW TROTT in Aldeby Church: 1658. (in Latin)

1880
1880

East Suff Gaz 27 Jul 
East Suff Gaz 3 Aug 
 
 

MS./ Quod Reliquum est/ Matthew Trott generosi hujus ecclesiae/ nuperi patroni hic inhumatur sacri
sint/ cineres licet ne violentor, utpote quia/ tu etiam (lector) et cinis es longaeuus vix-/ it plus tamen
alis quam sibi ac si quid/ sobria ac innocua vita si quid sua vel/ suorum pietas porro valuissent, adhuc

su-/ -perstes non caruisset epitaphio plura non/ addam sed ut ex voto valetas
Obit XXIX die Maii Anno/ aetatis suae LXXIII / anno incarnationis MDCLVIII / dicta sit Deo gloria
ALSO: Anno Dom. Thomasina uxor Matthei Trott, Generosi de Beccles, sepulta fuit 1 Octob.”

 
 

 
 

1880

WEATHER: Drenching showers on Saturday fell with scarcely any intermission until ten o’clock on
Sunday morning. In many places the fine and promising  crops of  barley have  been  crushed to the
ground, matted  and twisted  as though rolled, and the wheat  crop, although less  laid, has suffered

East Suff Gaz 10 Aug 

severely.
CONGREGATIONAL  BAZAR  in  Mr  Crisp’s   garden.  Mr  Bezant   of   Leamington   displayed   a
telephones. They were connected  by two wires 50 yards in length, the telephones placed in  an out-

1880
East Suff Gaz 10 Aug 

house at one end and a summer house at the other. Visitors would apply a disc to the ear and another
to the mouth, and a conversation would then ensue along the wires, quite audible and distinct
BECCLES REGATTA on Monday.in fine weather

1880
1880

East Suff Gaz 10 Aug 

POLICE COURT: Mr AB Worthington,  brewer,  let the Victoria Arms pub  [in  Ingate] to  Edmund
Spendler  for  £18  pa,  paying  quarterly.  Did  not  pay  and  emptied  his  house  of  furniture  to  avoid

East Suff Gaz 10 Aug 

distraint.
TO LET: Cowkeepers & others: from Michaelmas premises in Newgate now occupied by Mr Robert

1880
East Suff Gaz 17 Aug 

Read.
CHOIR EXCURSION: for St Michael’s Choir; trip down the river in a wherry, with refreshments

1880
1880

East Suff Gaz 17 Aug 

ENTERTAINMENT:Farini’s Friendly Zulus from the Royal Aquarium London & Circus. 100 men,
horses, ponies & camels. Gorgeous Cavalcade of Pictorial Carriages.
BURGLARY  Premises  of  Isaac  Green,  clothier,  Newmarket  entered  at  3am  by  a  tramp,  but  he

East Suff Gaz 24 Aug 
1880
East Suff Gaz 24 Aug 

escaped without taking anything.
COUNCIL:   SANITARY  COMMITTEE:  1)  Mr  Strathern  at  the  Angel  to   connect  with  water
company  2) two grates in passage by Welch’s house be removed and cess-pools filled up. 3) A gutter

1880
East Suff Gaz 24 Aug 
to be laid both sides of Saltgate with stones from the Common  4) The lamp on the Black Boy Inn be
Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
6

removed and placed on a column on the premises occupied by Mr E Spratt.
COUNCIL: Borough Rate to be 1s 4d in the pound. No rate previously ? or lately. Corporation Land

1880
East Suff Gaz 24 Aug 

bringing in £1,000 less for the Marshes in the last few years.
RAILWAY:  Excursion  to  London:  Wednesday  8  Sept,  leaving  Beccles  5.50  am  returnin  6pm

1880
East Suff Gaz 31 Aug 

Thursday from Liverpool Street. First Class 10s 6d; Covered Carriages 6s 0d.
CHORAL SOCIETY: First Rehearsal: Stainer’s “Daughter of Jairus”.

1880
1880

East Suff Gaz 31 Aug 

LUNATIC ASYLUM: Clement Dennington, bricklayer of Ingate, behaving ery strangely, wandering
about with nothing  on  but  his shirt. Police  stayed with  him  all night  and  conveyed  him to  lunatic
asylum in the morning. He had been a good workman and steady man.

East Suff Gaz 31 Aug 
1880

POLICE COURT: Emma Sampson, wife of Roger Sampson charged with assaulting Martha Moore.
Complainant stated she met defendant in the yard, who commenced to abuse her. The defendant had
something under her apron, which proved to be a chamber pot. The contents of this defendant threw

East Suff Gaz 31 Aug 

over complainant, and then struck her in the face with the pot  and caused the blood to flow freely.
Upon that the complainant struck her in return. The defendant’s statement was in complete variance.
She said she was going down the yard and met complainant, who commenced to abuse her and to use

the most filthy language towards her. She also struck the defendant and knocked her down. In the fall
the  chamber pot was broken,  and she struck complainant with one  of the pieces. Defendant further
said that complainant’s children pelted her with the contents of the vessel.

 
 

In  corroboration  of  her statements she  called  William  Vyse, shoemaker,  [of Thurlow’s Yard] Mrs
Mills,  wife  of  Mark  Mills,  publican,  [of  the  Lord  Nelson,  29  Northgate]    and  Mrs  Oxborough,
shopkeeper, [perhaps of Long’s Yard] who stated that the complainant was the agressor. Dismissed.

1880
1880

DEATH: Arthur H Dowson at Mooroopna, Australia, surgeon of Geldeston on 13 Aug
RETIREMENT of Jonathan  Eastaugh from firm  of  JD  Eastaugh &  Sons  of  Lowestoft, Kirkley  &
Beccles. Sons take over,

East Suff Gaz 31 Aug 
East Suff Gaz 7 Sep 

1880
1880

BAPTIST CHURCH: Rev WH Smith pastorate from November.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH  REOPENING: Church rebuilt early in 19C had cost £2140 18s 4d

East Suff Gaz 7 Sep 
East Suff Gaz 7 Sep 

- about as much as had now been spent on the new schoolroom and the improved sanctuary.
The alterations to the  church: many of the side pews on the  ground floor were formerly of the old

 
 

fashioned square form, and thus valuable space was lost, while other seats in the  area  and  galleries
were  exceedingly  narrow.  The  whole  interior  has  now  been  refurnished  with  comfortable  open

benches, cushioned with crimson mats.
The  galleries, which were inconveniently deep  and unsightly, have been  reconstructed. The  gallery
front has  a solid  and  handsome appearance, and is ornamented with  arched panels,  backed with V-

 
 

joiunted boards. One marked improvement is the removal of the disused upper gallery, which gives a
greater sense of space and air at the end of the church. The pillars supporting the galleries have also
been replaced by new ones of a larger and more ornamental descriptrion.

 
 

The old square-shaped windows at the side  and front of the  church, have  been  replaced with  new
ones,  gracefully  arched  at  the  top,  and  fitted  with  “Moore’s  patent  ventilators”.  By  raising  the
windows in the front, the appearance of the building towards the street, as well as in the interior, has

been greatly improved.
Vestibules, paved with Minton tiles,  have been constructed  at each front entrance, opening  into the
area, with doors panelled with plate glass. New commodious staircases to the galleries have also been

 
 

erected. The aisles are laid with linoleum, and bordered with Minton tiles.
Perhaps the  most noticeable improvement  in the interior  is seen  at the  end  opposite the  entrance,
where an apse has been built for a new organ, and for the accommodation of the choir. In front of the

 
 

apse, a spacious and very elegant pulpit - the first design of which was suggested by the pastor - has
been erected on a platform. The pulpit, which is approached by a staircase on either side, is made of
selected pitch pine wrought into richly moulded panels, relieved with polished walnut pilasters; the

top is finished with a nahogany moulding, and book board. The platform below the pulpit is furnished
with highly polished oak table and chair.

 
 

A  large  sun-burner  has  been  placed  near  the  centre  of  the  ceiling,  which  effectively  lights  the
galleries and area, and which it is hoped will prove effective in ventillation.

 
 

In  addition  the  exterior  wood  and  iron  work,  and  also  the  vestries,  have  been  newly  painted;  all
interior work necessary for a heating apparatus has also been completed. The whole of the work has

been done  by Messrs Calver,  of Ringsfield,  under the  direction  of  E Boardman,  Esq  architect,  of
Norwich.
The total cost, including organ and extras, will be about £1,150

 
1880

 

BECCLES ARTILLERY INSPECTION. Capt Wilson CO, & Lieut Walton on parade with total of
83 Officers & Men, seven absent. ... Battery moved to the Gaol Yard where detachment manned the
64 pounder.

East Suff Gaz 7 Sep 
1880
DEATH of Mrs Youngs, wife of the Landlord of the King’s Head. The servant who slept in the same
East Suff Gaz 14 Sep 
Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
7

room found her mistress in the morning lying on the floor, dead.
FURNITURE SALE in Blyburgate of late Charles Bobbett: several dozens of port wine, plate, plated

1880
East Suff Gaz 21 Sep 

goods etc.
SALE   of  Residence   in  Blyburgate  [No   33]  of  Charles  Bobbett,  with  comfortable  siting   and

1880
East Suff Gaz 21 Sep 

bedrooms, offices, well of 54ft. [Sold to Mr James Guy for £295]
SARGEANT ALLEN for widow & chiuldren £ 10s from NCOs & Gunners of Artillery Battery

1880
1880

East Suff Gaz 21 Sep 

MALT TAX repoealed
CENSUS: 1881: on night of Sunday 3 April.
TO LET: Caxton Arms, Beccles. Apply Steward, Patteson & Finch from 11 Oct.

East Suff Gaz 21 Sep 

1880
1880

East Suff Gaz 21 Sep 
East Suff Gaz 28 Sep 

1880
 
1880

TO LET: 8 roomed Villa with Garden & Stabling  £19 pa
Or To Let: 8 roomed Villa with large Garden and Vinery & Stabling. £30
TO BE LET: A House with Garden, Vinery, Stable, Coach House & Offices. Apply CF Parker4

East Suff Gaz 28 Sep 
 
East Suff Gaz 28 Sep 

1880
1880

RAILWAY: Cheap Return ticket to London for 2 or 4 days.68 people took advantage of cheap fares.
DROWNED  on  board  the  fishing  boat  Victor  in  North  Sea.  Alfred  Farrow,  17,  of  Beccles  fell
overboard and was drowned.

East Suff Gaz 28 Sep 
East Suff Gaz 28 Sep 
1880

ACCIDENT: Miss Lillistone travelling in her carriage in London Road, the horse stumbled & threw
her old & trusted servant broke his collar bone. Horse ran on to St Mary’s Road. Stopped by a youth,
Johnson who caught the reins.

East Suff Gaz 28 Sep 
1880

LICENCE: The Horse & Groom, a house for many years privately occupied was transferred from the
Brewers to Henry Thrower of Beccles
DRUNK:  William  Beane,  chimney  sweep,    abused  Margaret  Girling,  Landlady  of  the  Butchers’

East Suff Gaz 28 Sep 
1880
East Suff Gaz 28 Sep 
Arms, because she would  not serve him  drink  out of hours.  When her husband returned he pushed
Beane out of the house, who then broke several windows. Many previous convictions; 28 days hard

labour
RECTOR’S   LETTER:   [In   connection   with   a   series   of   letters   about   Nonconformists   &   the
Church:”No one can show that the relations of Church and Dissent in this town for the last eight years

1880
East Suff Gaz 28 Sep 

have been other than the most friendly kind.” [He cited examlpes of the School Board, the Hospital
Committee & the Town Council  “Where the spirit was so  good” and “there is mutual respect and

consideration.”]
SALE of INGATE LODGE ESTATE:,

1880
 

East Suff Gaz 5 Oct 
 

by Will of  late George  Fenn:  Long  frontages  on the Railway  &  Ingate Road  [Grove Road]  7 the
intended new Road from Ingate Road to the Railway Station, which will form a new Entrance to the
Town & Railway Station from Lowestoft.

 
 

LOT 1: INGATE LODGE, a Genteel Modern Residence in Ingate Road & abutting on the intended
new road, containing Entrance Hal, Dining Room 20ft x 17ft; Drawing Room, Study, Kitchen, Bath
Room, Two Store Rooms, Pantry, Coal House & other Offices. Four airy & pleasant Sleeping Rooms

& two Dressing Rooms on the First Floor; Three Attics, Water Closet & other closet accommodaion;
with Two Vineries near the House, Two large Vineries adjoining Ingate Road, Stable, Coach-House,
&  other  outbuildings;  7  Piece  of  Garden  Ground  well  planted  with  Fruit  Trees,  bushes  &  shrub,

having a frontage of 175ft on Ingate Road & containing altogether 0a 2r 32p.  [Not Sold]
LOT 2:
Lot 1 on the EAST side of the New Road [Gosford Road] & abutting the Railwy containing 0a 1r 2p.

 
 
 A Valuable piece of Garden Ground, well  adapted  for building purposes, lying  opposite

[not Sold]
LOT 3: A  very  eligible piece  of Building  Land  containing  13 perches,  adjoining  Lot 1,  having  a
frontage of 43ft 6ins on the New Road. 

 
 
[C Betts £30
 
 

LOT 4: A similar piece  of  Land  adjoining the last  containing  16 perches & frontage of 33ft on the
New Road. [W Gill £31]
LOT 5: similar to above having the same contents & frontage [W Gill £32]

 
 
 

 
 
 

LOT 6: similar to above having the same contents & frontage [A Stimpson £30]
LOT 7: similar to above having the same contents & frontage [W Aldous £29]

 
 

 
 

LOT 8: similar to above having the same contents & frontage [E Masters £31
LOT 9: similar to above having the same contents & frontage [E Masters £31]

 
 

 
 

LOT 10: similar to above having the same contents & frontage [E Masrters £31]
LOT 11: similar to above having the same contents & frontage [E Masters£31]

 
 
 

 
 
 

LOT 12: similar to above having the same contents & frontage [RA King £29]
LOT 13: similar to above having the same contents & frontage [J Crisp £29]
LOT 14: similar to above having the same contents & frontage [J Crisp £30]

 
 
 

 
 
 

LOT 15: similar to above having the same contents & frontage
LOT 16: similar to above having the same contents & frontage [J Crisp £30]
LOT 17: similar to above having the same contents & frontage [J Crisp £30]

[J Crisp £30]
 
 
LOT 18: similar to above having the same containing 11 perches & same frontage [J Crisp £30]
Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
8

 
 

 
 

LOT 19: similar to above having the same containing 11 perches & same frontage [J Crisp £30]
LOT 20: similar to above having the same containing 10 perches & frontage of 25ft [ J Crisp £30]

 
 

 
 

LOT 21: Building Land of 15 perches abutting on the Railway frontage of 33ft [WE Wigg £32]
LOT 22: Building Land of 13 perches abutting on the Railway frontage of 33ft [J Crisp £30]

 
 

 
 

LOT 23: Building Land of 15 perches abutting on the Railway frontage of 33ft [J Crisp £30]
LOT 24: Building Land of 16 perches abutting on the Railway frontage of 33ft [J Crisp £31]

 
 
 

 
 
 

LOT 25: Building Land of 16 perches abutting on the Railway frontage of 33ft [J Crisp £32]
LOT 26: Building Land of 17 perches abutting on the Railway frontage of 33ft [J Crisp £33]
LOT 27: Building Land of 18 perches abutting on the Railway frontage of 33ft [J Crisp £33]

 
 

 
 

LOT 28: Building Land of 19 perches abutting on the Railway frontage of 33ft [J Crisp £41]
LOT 29: Building Land adjoining containing 27 perches, abutting on Railway & Coal Yard of Mr HL
Robbins, frontage of 60ft [RJ Read £70]

 
1880

 

TOTAL SALE: £876
SALE:  Castle Farm: Henry Read retires from Business: 12 Cart Mares & Geldings, Cart Foal,  16
Shorthorn Steers, 6 Milch Cows, 50 Grey-faced Ewe Lambs, 30 pigs, 4 Road & Harvest Wagons, 4

East Suff Gaz 5 Oct 

Three-quarter load Tumbrils, Turnip Cart, Phaeton, Ploughs, Harrows, Rolls, Smyth’s 16-Colter Corn
& Seed Drill, Cubitt’s baulk Drill, Root Cutters & pulpers, Horse-Power ChaffEngine & Works, bins,
trughs, iron-fold & rift hurdles, ladders, harness, tools, Dairy & Brewing utensils.

1880
East Suff Gaz 5 Oct 

CAPE MOUNTED RIFLEMEN WANTED: Farm  Lads, Grooms, Farriers  aged 20 to 26 years old.
Only single men apply. Pay from 5s to 6s a day
Rev RAJ Suckling, Rector of Barsham has been offered and has accepted the vicarage of St Peter’s,

1880
 

London Docks,  vacated by the death  of the Rev CF  Lowder. The rev  getleman made an  affecting
allusion to the subject  in  his sermon on  Sunday evening, stating that  he received it as a  direct call
from  God,  which  he  must  obey  at  any  cost.  During  his  twelve  years  residence  at  Barsham,  Mr

Suckling  has  greatly endeared  himself to  his parishioners  and  a wide  circle  of devoted friends,  by
whom his departure from this neighbourhood will be deeply regretted. It is understood that he will

not leave before Christmas. [Did he die before taking the appointment - see 14 Dec 1880?]
It is not yet known who will be appointed to the rectory of Barsham, which is in the gift of the present

 
 

rector.
FLOODS: The heavy rainfall of the last week or ten days has caused a considerable rise in the river

1880
 

Waveney, and the banks are overflowed in many places. This is the case on the Suffolk side only in
this immediate  neighbourhood,  as the Norfolk side was  recently raised  at  a  cosiderable  cost. The
expenditure, however does not seem to have been entirely successful in its object, as all Gillingham

marshes apear to be more or less flooded, probably owing chiefly to the overflow of the dykes.
HORSE SALE:: 162 Horses & colts sold. Some reached 45 guineas.
SALE of FURNITURE; The Ship Inn (under a Bill of Sale)

1880
1880

East Suff Gaz 12 Oct 
East Suff Gaz 19 Oct 

1880
 
 

Lowestoft Journal 

Suspected Murder at the Ship of Mrs Flowers, wife of the Publican.
THE SUPPOSED WIFE MURDER AT BECCLES.
Lowestoft Journal October 1880

 
 

 
 

On Wednesday morning, at six o'clock, the wife of James Flowers, landlord of the Ship Inn, near the
Bridge, wan found lying dead in the tap-room, and from the fact that the house had been closed at a
very early hour on the previous evening, and other circumstances, a good deal of excitement was felt

in the neighbourhood. An inquest was held before C. W Chaston. Esq., County Coroner, on Thursday
morning, when Alfred Francis, engine driver, in Mr. Darby's employ. who lives next door to the Ship
Inn, said he was in the habit of calling Flowers every morning at six o'clock. On Wednesday morning

Flowers was up when he went by, and called him in, and said, "There's a rather bad Job happened.
here; the poor Old  girl  lay here  dead"  Francis then went  into the tap-room  and  saw the  deceased
lying on the floor with her head nearly on the threshold of the cellar door, and her feet towards the

window of the tap-room. The witness, being in a hurry, could not stop to make a close examination,
but sent his children for a doctor and policeman. He was unable to say whether Flowers and his wife

lived comfortably together, but he had seen the deceased the worse for drink.
Hannah Willingham, a young girl who is staying with Francis, said she had often seen the deceased  

 
 

the worse fur drink. She last saw her alive at six o'clock on Tuesday night, when she was lying on her
face  in  the  cellar.  Witness  lifted  her  up,  and  helped  her  into  the  bar  and  sat  her  on  a  chair.  She

afterwards  went  for  the  charwoman  because  she  thought  the  deceased  needed  help.  She  saw  no
bruises except for an old one in the eye..
Harriet Beane said she had been charwoman to the deceased for eleven years. She described how the

 
 

last witness  came for  her,  and that  on her  accompanying the  girl  back to the  Ship  at half past six
o'clock, they found the doors and windows closed. The witness tapped at the bar window, and then
Flowers put his head out of the window above and told her his wife was in bed. Not feeling satisfied

the witness went back to the house again at eight o'clock, but could make no one hear. She said she
Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
9

was much surprised to find the house closed so early, as she had never known it to be shut up till past
eleven. She had frequently seen the deceased the worse for drink, and had seen bruises upon her, but

when she asked deceased how they came she would make no answer, only burst into tears, Mary Ann
Ward  and  Sarah Ward, married women  also  gave  evidence, the  first  as to the  deceased's  drinking

habits; the second with  reference to  cries of "Murder", which she told the  Inspector  of  Police she
heard  about  ten  o'clock  on  Tuesday  night.  She  gave  her  evidence  very  reluctantly,  and  said  she

believed the cries were made by an invalid lady who lives close by, and who is out of her mind.
Mr EB Crowfoot, surgeon said he had made an external examination of the body of deceased and also
a post mortem examination. He found bruises on the arm, thigh, left side, and face. On post mortem

 
 

examination he found ten of the ribs had been broken on the left side, the fracture being continued in
four of the lower ones. On the right side eight of the lower ribs were fractured, and he attributed these
injuries to compression in the chest, perhaps by kneeling. He attributed the cause of death to shock,

consequent  on  the  serious  injury  to  the  ribs,  which  could  not  have  been  merely  from  a  fall.  The
anoemic condition of the brain, the pale and healthy appearance of the lungs, and the emptiness of the
right side of the heart, all pointed to sudden death. Death probably ensued very  quickly  after such

injuries, especially considering the condition of the brain, and the commencing fatty changes of the
heart.
Mr WT McComb, assistant to Messrs Crowfoot, corroborated, and the inquiry was adjourned at this

 
 

stage till Friday.
Flowers was detained in custody.
VERDICT OF THE JURY

 
 

 
 

 
 

The  enquiry touching the  death of  Susan Ann Flowers,  aged 67, was resumed  at the Police Court,
Beccles,  on Friday,  before Mr CW Chaston, coroner. The Chief Constable  and the Deputy Chief-
Constable were present; and Mr Dowsett watched the case on behalf of the prisoner Flowers.

 
 

John Finch, groom, in the employ of Mr S Darby said he was well acquainted with the deceased and
Mr Flowers. He went to the  Ship Inn on Tuesday night,  about six o'clock, when Flowers told  him

"My old woman has been on drinking again," and "She is a high mettled old woman , and she will
have her own way." He afterwards heard the deceased make a sort of groaning noise in the bar, the

same he had often heard her make when she was the worse for drink. He had seen her the worse for
drink so often that he did not pay any regard to the noise. No one to his knowledge was in the house

when  he  left, besides  Flowers  and  his wife. Flowers was the worse  for  drink, though  he was not
drunk. On Wednesday morning  at 11, the witness called in  at the  Ship,  and saw Flowers,  and said,
"Why, you must have locked up the door as soon as I got out." Flowers replied "Yes, you were the

last one that went out of the house." He also said he thought he had better shut the house up and go to
bed, as Mrs Flowers was the worse for drink, and lying there, it would look very bad for any one to
come in.

 
 

Charlotte Mills, wife of John Mills, waterman, Beccles, also said she was well  acquainted with the
deceased, who had  at  different times  complained to  her about  her husband  beating her.  Early  one
morning between haysol and harvest, the deceased came to her house ans asked witness to take her in

and take  care  of  her.  She was  afraid to  go  home alone, and would have witness  go back with  her.
When they got back to the Ship Inn, Flowers did not seem very angry, but they had been quarrelling.
At this stage the  enquiry was again  adjourned until half-past five o'clock, when Inspector Bardwell

 
 

said he had ascertained that Finch was the only person who entered the Ship Inn during the absence
of the  girl Willingham  and  her  return  on Tuesday night. He  had also  enquired  about Mrs Flower's
state on Tuesday, and her sisters informed him that though she was noisy, she was not shrieking or

calling out "Murder".
The evidence of the witnesses was then read over to them, and signed.
The girl Willingham, recalled, said the deceased did not appear to be in any pain when she assisted

 
 

 
 

her on Tuesday night from the cellar to the bar.
By permission of the Coroner, Mr Dowsett addressed the jury in the prisoner's behalf, after which the

 
 

Coroner briefly summed up, and the jury retired to consider their verdict.
After  thirty  minutes'  consideration,  the  jury  returned  a  verdict  of  "Wilful  Murder"  against  James

 
 

Flowers.
MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY

 
 

 
 

The prisoner James Flowers, innkeeper, Beccles, was brought before the Magistrates - R Dashwood,
Esq. (Chairman),  WE Crowfoot,  Esq.,  and the Mayor - on  Saturday, and  charged with the wilful
murder of his wife, on the 12th October.

 
 

 
 

Mr FJ Dowsett appeared for the prisoner.
The first witness called was Hannah Willingham, aged 19, who repeated the evidence she gave at the
inquest, to the  effect that she went  into the  Ship Inn  on Tuesday  evening,  about six  o'clock,  and

finding the deceased lying on the floor of the cellar, picked her up, and set her upon a chair in the bar.
Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
10

The deceased was helplessly drunk, but she managed to walk with her support, and to totter over the
threshold  separating  the  cellar  from  the  bar.  Afterwards  she  fetched  Mrs  Beane,  the  charwoman,

because she thought Mrs Flowers required help; but when they got back to the Ship they found the
house closed. On tapping at the window, Flowers opened his bedroom window and said Mrs Flower

was in bed. There was a light in the bedroom. In cross-examination, witness said Flowers asked her to
pick his wife up. The deceased often got drunk, and used to fall about and get bruises.

 
 

Alfred Francis, engine diver, Beccles, said he knew the deceased well. He saw the prisoner about five
minutes to six on Tuesday night. He lived next door, but he heard no unusual sound during the night.
The next morning, when he went to call Flowers at ten minutes to six,  as was  his custom, Flowers

was up,  and said to him  as he was  going past. "Stop Francis; there's  a rare  bad  job happened. The
poor old gal is dead, and lay in the bar." The witness went into the bar, and there saw the deceased
lying on the floor, her head near the cellar threshold, and her feet close to a little round table. She had

evidently been dead some hours. He told Flowers not to meddle with her, and sent his children for the
doctor and the police. He had occasionally heard deceased and the prisoner quarrelling, but he never
saw any blows struck.

 
 

Harriet Beane,  charwoman to the  deceased for  eleven years, said that on Tuesday night  about 6.30
Hannah  Willingham  and Alice  Francis  came  and told her to  go  down to the  Ship,  as they believed
Mrs Flowers was dead. She went down, but could not get into the house, and Flowers told hr his wife

was in bed. She had often heard them quarrel, but only once saw her strike at her.
Hannah Willingham, recalled, said she thought Mrs Flowers was dead when she left her, as she fell
back in the chair with her eyes and mouth wide open.

 
 
 
 

Mr EB Crowfoot repeated the  evidence  he had  give before the Coroner,  detailing the results of the
external and post mortem examinations he had made. He found a large bruise on the left side, one on
the  left thigh, and  another on the right thigh. There were also bruises under the  eyes,  all  of which

appeared to be recent. On a post mortem examination he detected a fracture of ten ribs on the left side
and  eight on the right. The heart presented signs of fatty degeneration; the lungs were healthy; the

liver was softer and more friable than it is in a state of health; the stomach, spleen, and right kidney
were healthy, but the left kidney was undergoing fatty degeneration. He found about 3ozs. of serous

liquid in the arachnoid cavity of the brain, and the cortical surface of both hemispheres were covered
with a layer of coagulated lymph. He was of opinion that death was caused from shock consequent on

the injuries to the ribs, which could only have been caused by extreme violence, and not from a mere
fall.
In cross-examination the witness said he noticed no disarrangement of the clothes nor any appearance

 
 

of a struggle. The fatty degeneration of the heart might have caused death, and it was very likely that
the serous fluid on the brain might cause death, coupled with a fall. Deceased was a person peculiarly
liable, from the condition of the brain, to a fit of serous apoplexy. All the injuries might have been

caused by a fall, except the fractured ribs; and the position in which deceased lay when he saw her
was quite consistent with the theory that she fell from a chair in a fit.
By the Chairman - Violent pressure upon the chest would account for the fracture of the ribs.

 
 

 
 

John Fletcher, groom, said he was in the Ship Inn with Francis on Tuesday night, about six o'clock,
and  heard a sort of  groaning  noise  in the bar. Flowers told him "My old woman has been drinking
again.  She  is  a  high-mettled  old  woman  and  will  have  her  own  way."  The  next  morning  he  saw

Flowers, who said,  "This  is a  very bad job that  has happened." And in reply to  a remark  about his
early closing, said, "I thought it would look very bad for anyone to come in and see my wife in that
state." Flowers was the worse for drink on Tuesday night, but not drunk.

 
 

Alice Francis, aged 11, said she went to the prisoner's house on Tuesday evening, about five minutes
past  five,  when  she  saw  the  deceased  lying  in  the  cellar.  She  was  frightened,  and  went  and  told
Hannah Willingham. About a quarter past six they went in, and Wi8llingham picked Mrs Flowers up

and sat her in the chair in the bar. When she was set up in the chair her head fell back, and her mouth
and eyes were wide open. Afterwards they went for Mrs Beane, because they thought Mrs Flowers

was dying.
No further evidence was offered, and the prisoner was remanded till Tuesday.

 
 

 
 

[The Trial took place at Norwich Assizes on 12 November 1880. Flowers was found Not Guilty by
the Jury after an absence of five minutes.]

1880
East Suff Gaz 19 Oct 

WINTER ASSIZE: Mr Justice Lindley has been appointed the Judge. There will be no civil business,
prisoners only being tried.
COUNCIL; Disposal of sewage. Report by Mr Miller advised part of disposal on the Common & on

1880
East Suff Gaz 19 Oct 

Sir Charles Clarke’s  Land, but  he would  not  allow  it. Nathaniel Pells, Deputy Mayor: “Mr Miller
proposed that part  of the Common should be  irrigated. But he thought the Town Clerk would tell
them the  Corporation could not do that. It could not take a part of the Common from the Commoners

of the Town, and it seemed that Puttock Hill was the only place.”
Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
11
 
 

The  Town  Clerk  said  he  had  two  Counsels’  opinion  on  the  use  of  the  Common.  One  decidedly
negatived the idea that the Corporation could get the Common without a special Act of Parliament.

The other thought they could have it, but only by trying the question in a Court of Law. That would
cost a considerable sum of money. His own  opinion was with the unfavourable opinion which said

they could not have the Common.
The Council agreed (with the dissension of Councillor Brundell) to use the 40 or 50 acres of Puttock

 
 

Hill and go ahead with the revised scheme .
TO LET; RAVENSMERE: A corner Shop with two glass fronts and House with seven apartments
BECCLES WORKING MEN’S ASOCIATION: Anniversary. in the Town Hall 9was the Assembly

1880
1880

East Suff Gaz 19 Oct 
East Suff Gaz 19 Oct 

Room) Tea at 6.30, Songs & recitations & Band of Artillery Volunteers.
COUNCIL ELECTIONS: No contest: JM Brundell, T Easter, WP Garrod & N Pells renominated.
The London Correspondent of the  Norfolk news says: “There is every chance that the subscription to

1880
1880

 
 

Mr  Lowder,  the  celebrated  ritualistic  priest,  will  reach  £10,000  as  designed.  About  Mr  Lowder’s
work I  knew personally little or nothing,  but I was much struck by hearing the other day secularist
testimony to his untiring and self denying energy on behalf of the poor in the filthy neighbourhood in

which he lived. All honour to  him then, say I, whether he  be Ritualist or  Papist,  or  Evangelical or
Mahommedan.  The  man  who  will   voluntarily   go   and   live   about  the  Docks;   not  visit  there
occasionally, but will slav there and die there when he might have a comfortable rural village with a

population  of  two  or  three  hundred  is  a  true  saint,  no  matter  what  his  creed  may  be,  and  it  is
refreshing to hear that Mr Lowder will have a worthy successor. A gentleman has been found who is
willing to resign a charming country vicarage with good pay and spend the rest of his days in Poplar.

If the Church of England or any denomination could number amongst its ministers a few heroes like
these it might teach anything and the people would be won.
MOVED: Mr AH Livock, Organist at the Parish Church has moved from Station Road to The Leman

1880
East Suff Gaz 16 Nov 

School, Ballygate
ADVERTISEMENT:  William  George  Cross,  (late  James  Mullett)  Tailor   &  Hatter,  Ballygate

1880
East Suff Gaz 16 Nov 

(established 1840)  Scotch Tweed Suitings
CONCERT by pupils at the Middle Class College conducted by Mr Hockey, assisted by M Pringg.

1880
1880
1880

East Suff Gaz 16 Nov 
East Suff Gaz 16 Nov 

COUNCIL; Mr Laws resigned as Alderman. Mr Pells elected Alderman.
LICENCES: Temporary Transfer: Royal Oak to Robert Rayner;   White  Swan to Thomas  Wright;

East Suff Gaz 16 Nov 

Hermitage to John Darby; Ship to William Bell.
MAYOR: Mr Garrod elected Mayor. (in his absence, but later agreed to)
MAYOR’S  DINNER.for  retiring  Mayor  J  Eastaugh.  In  the  absence  of  the  Mayor,  chaired  by

1880
1880

East Suff Gaz 16 Nov 
East Suff Gaz 16 Nov 

Alderman WM Crowfoot. Praise for Mr Laws, retiring after nearly 30 years on the Council.- before
the Marshes were drained, before tar paths were laid, before the Avenue, remembers the Town Pump.
Mayor four times.

1880
1880
1880

East Suff Gaz 23 Nov 

ELECTED: Robert Block, elected without opposition.
BAPTIST MINISTER: WH Smith from Tenderden in Kent, commenced his pastorate.
COUNCIL: 1. Tenders of Mr Fisk & Mr Spratt for repair of sluice on Little Coommon accepted

East Suff Gaz 23 Nov 
East Suff Gaz 23 Nov 

 
 
 

 
 
 

2. W Goodman’s tender for Garden, late occupied by W Woolner in Grove Road accepted £8
3. Six young Swans to be sold at Mr Read’s Sale.
4.  Culvert  at  St  Anns  Bridge  to  be  continued  on  North  side,  parapet  6ft  high  in  a  line  with  the

Cottages & Public House by mr Betts at £6.
5. Mr Cowles to repair water troughing at property late occupied by Mr Hockey [44 Northgate]
6. Lighting Swines Green. 66 inhabitants send a memorial of thanks.

 
 

 
 

 
1880

 

7. Committee requires earth privies to be converted to water closets. Prejudicial to health.
ACCIDENT: Robert Plumb of  Worlingham sent to Beccles with a  horse & van to collect some oil
cake from Messrs Eastaugh’s granary, which is situated at the extreme end of the Quay, just past the

East Suff Gaz 23 Nov 

bridge. Could only be approached through the water that had overflowed its banks. Fell off the path
into the river, horse dragged down by weight of cart. Driver stuggled hard for two or three minutes,

whip  in  hand, no  boats happened to  be  near  &  nothing  could  save the poor man’s  life.  Leaves  a
widow & six children.

 
 

There was an adjournment until the following week, when Joseph Rawlings, a wherryman was called.
It was stated that he had called “Come on” to the driver & beckoned him on, It was considered to be

too far away for him to have been heard in the wind. Accidental Death the verdict of the jury.
James Pitchers,  hawker,  accused  bu Theophilus Flatman,  farmer  of  beating  his pony unmercifully
with a stick about 4ft long. Fined 10s 6d.or 14 days hard labour.

1880
East Suff Gaz 30 Nov 
1880
East Suff Gaz 23 Nov 

Foot & Mouth Disease. All markets in Suffolk & Norfolk closed. Essex also infected., but Christmas
auctions at Beccles allowed to go ahead (even though the disease was in Beccles in the London Road
meadow in the occupation of Mr J Forder.)

1880
East Suff Gaz 7 Dec 
Lieut FWD Robinson to be Captai in the Rifle Volunteers.
Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
12

1880
1880

East Suff Gaz 14 Dec 

Theft of fowl by Arthur Riches from John Ling of Red Cow Inn.
Choral  Society  Concert  on  Thurs  16  Dec:  Stainber’s  “Daughter  of  Jairus”  (sol  part  Mrs  WM

East Suff Gaz 14 Dec 

Crowfoot) & “Hear my Prayer” Mendlessohn (solo Mrs Marriott)
ENTERTAINMENT:   Moonlight   Minstrels   proceeds   to   widow   of   Robert   Plumb,   drowned.

1880
East Suff Gaz 14 Dec 

Commences 8pm, Carriages at 10. In Town Hall, Seats 2s 6d to 6d.
BOOK:  a sequel to the Memoirs  of the late RA Suckling, with  correspondence  in  connection with

`1880
East Suff Gaz 14 Dec 

the  recent  appointment  to  the  living  of  Barsham,  by  his  youngest  brother.  Entitled  The  Law  of
Primgeniture, to be procured at the Roydon Parsonage. Price 2s.
GLYDES SUFFOLK ALMANACK for 1881 published.

1880
1880

East Suff Gaz 14 Dec 
East Suff Gaz 14 Dec 

TO LET: Large warehouse in Old Market, late in occupation of Mr Wigg, Barnby. Apply JK Garrod.
CURATE’S FUND: Rector asks for greater contributions to the fund or one of the Curates will have
to leave.

1880
East Suff Gaz 21 Dec 
1880
East Suff Gaz 21 Dec 

TRAMPS:  The  number  ot  tramps  &  beggars  infesting  the  town  threatens  to  become  a  serious
annoyance. People have been stpped in the public road and money demanded with threats if refused.
RECTOR OF BARSHAM: Rev EP Williams of St Barnabas, Beckenham.

1880
1880

East Suff Gaz 21 Dec 
East Suff Gaz 28 Dec 

ADVERTISEMENT: E Jordan, bookseller & stationer, at corner of Market & Smallgate Streets.
THE YEAR 1880: 1) A good harvest made the outllok more cheerful, but outbreak of foot & mouth
disease a setback.

1880
East Suff Gaz 28 Dec 

 
 

 
 

2) CURATES: Only £125 is required to be subscribed to keep two Curates
3) INGATE MISSION:  Land has  been purchased in Ingate  on which to build a parish room in the
Spring.

 
 

 
 

4) CORPORATION MARSHES now letting for a quarter of the price of some years ago.
5)  The  Bridge:  Pronounced  safe  by  Surveyors  at  Quarter  Sessions.  “So  the  bridge  remains  -  a
grievance to all concerned in traffic by river pr road.”

 
 

6)  DEATHS  in  the  YEAR:  William  Hochkin,  7;  Jeremiah  Rich  72;  Joseph  Nunn,  55;  Charles
Bobbett, 80; GH Crickmay, 59;

1881 VOLUME MISSING

1881
 

TO BE LET: RAVENSMERE: Corner Shop with two glass fronts & House with 8 Apartments
A House with 6 ApartmentsApply S Darby

East Suff Gaz 4 Jan      
 
1881

TO BE LET: OLD MARKET: A large  &  commodious  Warehouse   late  in the  occupation  of  Mr
Wigg, Barnby. Apply JK Garrod

East Suff Gaz 4 Jan      
1881

ADVERTISEMENT: Robert J Read,  Ingate Mils & Market  Place: Thanks inhabitants for  5 years
support. Has added a unique Wheat Scourer which takes away the heaviest part of the dross before
entering the three newly placed Star Smutters.

East Suff Gaz  4 Jan     

 
1881

 

He has also added a Victor Centrifugal Flourdressing Machine.
WORLINGHAM Church: Mr Livock to give recital on the organ in aid of the proposed painted East

East Suff Gaz  4 Jan     

Window.
TREAT to WORKMEN: Mr Clifford  Smith entertained his employees, and a few tradesmen  at the

1881
East Suff Gaz  4 Jan     

White Lion. Upwards of 40 were present
DEATH of CHILD of James Knights, blacksmith. Mr McComb, assistant surgeon said the child died

1881
East Suff Gaz 4 Jan      

of convulsions
CHURCH NEW YEAR SERVICES: The religious observance of this season appears to be growing.
At Worlingham service  at  7 o’clock. At Barsham, following  a  custom of several years observance

1881
East Suff Gaz 4 Jan       

there was a midnight service
FEOFFMENT CHARITY by SW Rix. Addition to article previously published on 2 November of Mr
Crowfoot’s address to the Feoffes. “As the primary trusts of the Deed - including those which might

1881
East Suff Gaz  4 Jan     

be  considered  “superstitious”  -  were  limited  to   a  period  of  20  years,  they  are  not  of  much
practicalimportance now - including the “anniversary of certain persons.” ... And to keep during that
time a year-mind of John Chener etc, yearly on the feast of SS Peter & Paul in St Michael’s Church ..

a Mass of Requiem for the souls ... etc. - We have here the names of the benefactors referred to in the
deed.
The functionary there stranely called “the Doleman” was, plainly enough “le bellman” whose duty it

 
 

was, not to “prepare for”  but only to give notice of the anniverary. cf York in 1514.
ADVERTISEMENT: Notice! The only establishment in Beccles where hair is brushed by Machinery
is Edgar Stebbings, Hair Cutting Rooms, Market Place.

1881
East Suff Gaz 11 Jan      
1881

WANTED IMMEDIATELY for the Cape Mounted Riflemen. Hardy  Youths from  20 to 26 years.
Pay from 5s to 6s a Day.
POSTAL DELIVERIES: By the apointment of another auxillary Postman delivery of letters has been

East Suff Gaz 11 Jan      
1881
East Suff Gaz 11 Jan      
Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
13

expedited - in some places by nearly an hour.
LIQUIDATION: Edward Bailey, butcher

1881
1881

East Suff Gaz 11 Jan      

WILD BIRDS: Protection for 85 species from 1 April to 1 August.
THEFT.  Some time  between  during  Saturday  night, Mr  W Berry,  shoemaker,  London Road, was

East Suff Gaz 11 Jan      
1881
East Suff Gaz 11 Jan      

robbed of 30s worth of leather and two pairs of boots. His shop is at the back of his Garden, some 30
yards from his dwelling house, the door being secured by a padlock.

1881

BALL: Mrs Hayes’ dancing class gave their annual Invitation Ball in the Town Hall. Between 80 &
90 were present. Mrs\Spencer of the Star In provided refreshments.
BARSHAM; Letter from Maurice Shelton Suckling about the alienation of the Living by his nephew.

East Suff Gaz 11 Jan      
1881
East Suff Gaz 11 Jan      

Insulted by not being asked to become Rector etc, which he attributes to the desire to continue with
Ritulaism.
BARSHAM: Presentation to Rev RAJ Suckling on leaving Barsham.

1881
1881

East Suff Gaz 11 Jan      

QUARTER SESSIONS:Arthur Riches of Beccles charged with stealing 5 ducks valued at 15s from
John Ling, of the Red Cow public house, Beccles. Not guilty. Insufficient evidence.
WEATHER:  On  Wednesday  &  Thursday  there  were  heavy  falls  of  snow  accompanied  by  sharp

East Suff Gaz 11 Jan      
1881
East Suff Gaz  19 Jan     

frosts. On Sunday the river was thronged with skaters. Skaters were able to get as far as Burg Bridge
in  one  direction and  Shipmeadow  Lock  in the  other. There being no floods  on the  marshes,  just at
present, skaters are confined to the river for their amusement.

1881

TOWN COUNCIL:  Mayor: WP Garrod; Deputy Mayor: JD Eastaugh; Aldermen: WM Crowfoot, E
Masters, J Mayhew; Councillors:  I Copeman, RS Block,  S Darby, T Easter, J Mullett, CP Poll, C
Smith.

East Suff Gaz 19 Jan 
 
 

1.)  A  hay  stack  on  the  Marsh  was  preventing  the  continuation  of  the  Sewage  Works.  The  stack
belonged to Coucillor Poll’s brother. He  had tried to sell the hay,  but without success. His tenancy
had finished,  but stacks were  usually  allowed to stay  until the  following June. . The Town Clerk

insisted that he was surprised it had not been removed. He would take  responsibility for its removal.
2.) The lock to the Soup Kitchen had been broken by the Rifle Band, who had been allowed the room

 
 

for practice. The Mayor said that if they wanted it for practice, they should keep it for such and not
for skylarking.

1881
1881

FOOT & MOUTH DISEASE present since November.
BARSHAM: Unsigned letter supporting the right of the patron of the living to choose a successor on

East Suff Gaz       
East Suff Gaz 19 Jan       

grounds  of  creed rather than family -  even though the writer does  not subscribe to the  Sacredotal
views of the Rector.

1881
EDUCATION: The School now carried on by Miss Garrard in Waveney House will be eopened in
East Suff Gaz 25 Jan      

the house long occupied by Dr Dashwod in Gentleman’s Walk by Miss Lydia Gammide, to whom it
has been transferred.
EDUCATION: Miss Dent  ready to receive pupils in  English,  Latin,  French,  Painting, Drawing  &

1881
East Suff Gaz 25 Jan      

Music, Providence Cottage, London Road, Beccles.
CO-OP: Beccles Working Men’s Co-Operative Association, Fair Close. Dividends will be paid on 5
February.

1881
East Suff Gaz 23 Jan      
1881

WEATHER: The ice &  skating  have  continued  on the river throughout the week. On  Saturday  a
donkey & cart were driven under the stone bridge - which is said not to have happened since 1860.
POLICE COURT: 1.)  Order  for payment for  arrears owed by Richard Golding,  labourer, for two

East Suff Gaz 25 Jan      
1881
East Suff Gaz   25 Jan      

children in a Reformatory. To pay 22s or go to prison.
2.) John Leggett & John Howells stealing a pair of skate belonging to William Spear, brazier outside
his shop. Howells found not  guilty,  Legget  fined  £1  1s,  or 28   days hard  labour. The  boy said  he

 
 

would rather lay it out in gaol; but his mother pleaded for time, and was allowed 13 days.
3.) Licence of Ship Inn transferred from James Flowers to William Bell
The Caxton Arms from Thomas Wright to Robert Collett

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

The White Swan from Thomas Rivett to Thomas Wright
The Royal Oak from John Precious to Thomas Rayner

 
1881

 

The Hemitage from William Bell to John Darby.
TERRIBLE GALE: On Tuesday it rose to nearly a hurricane. The hardiest of people were driven to

East Suff Gaz 25 Jan      

shelter, and on the night of Tuesday it was positively dangerous to be about. The falling and drifting
snow, which froze as it fell, blocked the streets and roads and made them impassable. The mail cart

was dispatched  as  usual,  but the man found  it impossible to make way, even  on  horseback,  and  he
was obliged to turn back with the bags.
Mr H Woolner’s bedroom window was blown in, and the room exposed to the full fury of the storm.

 
 

Early  in  the  day  the  railway  became  blocked  in  several  points,  and  finally  traffic  was  all  but
suspended, the only line being was that between Beccles and Lowestoft. The Waveney Valley trains
were stopped at Pulham by a heavy snow drift through which it was impossible to make way. A large

staff of men was employed to clear the lines.
Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
14
 
 

The postal  deliveries were thrown into  confusion, the  letters, in some  instances being two  or three
days on their  journey. The  country  roads were so blocked, the  doctors were unable to make their

professional visits. on Wednesday, and in many instance it was impossible to get through the roads.
On Ellough Hill the snow had accumulated to a depth of ten feet. Very rael has so much snow been

sen on the streets, and the thought ofthe streets when thethaw sets in is dreadful to contemplate.
LIQUIDATION: James Lockwood of Beccles, builder.

1881
1881

East Suff Gaz 1 Feb      

MARRIAGE between Rev Edward W Holmes, assistant curate, to Anna, youngest daughter of Henry
Read, sen, the Lodge, Beccles
WEATHER: A complete change took place on Wednesday, with rain on Thursday, bringing a rapid

East Suff Gaz  1 Feb     
1881
East Suff Gaz  1 Feb
 

thaw.
THEATRE: Laurence Smythe’s Dramatic Company played in the Town Hall: Othello on Thursday,
The Merchant of Venice on Friday, Hamlet on Saturday, when there was a full house.

 1881
East Suff Gaz  1 Feb   
1881

FAUCHONBERGE  SCHOOL: HAV Ransom  elected to  a  Scholarship at Tonbridge  School of £52
pa.
CO-Op: Sales of £819 - an increase of £263 on the first quarter - a very satisfactory performance for

East Suff Gaz  1 Feb     
1881
East Suff Gaz  8 Feb     

the short time it has been in existence. The profit allows a dividend of 2s in the Pound.
ATTEMPTED HIGHWAY ROBBERY on Gillingham Dam, but the attacker was not successful.
DEATH  of  Rev  WE  Scudamore,  aged  67.  Rector  of  Ditchingham  for  42  years.  He  founded  an

1881
1881

East Suff Gaz  8 Feb     
East Suff Gaz  8 Feb 

orphanage,  a  House  of  Mercy  and  a  Hospital.  in  Ditchingham.  The  parish  Church  has  also  been
restored and enlarged within the last ten years.     
Educated at  St John’s College, Cambridge he  early showed  great  ability as  a scholar; and toughout

 
 

his life was an assiduous student of classical literature. He was formerly a Fellow of St John’s where
he ook  his Bachelor’s Degree  as ninth wrangler  in 1835. He was Warden of the  Sisterhood of All
Hallows in the parish. He was the  author of many publications, many of them supporting the High

Church views.
SALE of FURNITURE of William Garrard of Waveney House

1881
1881

East Suff Gaz  15 Feb     

SALE: FEN LANE (adjoining Mr Tolls’ Mill) by Fred Trewson for the Executors of Samuel Neech
at the King’s Head

East Suff Gaz  15 Feb     

 
 

 
 

LOT 1.) Three brick & tiled Cottages, ocpied by W Davy, W Newson & J Balls;
AND a lean-to brick & tiled Shed adjoining, with Stables & Piggery, let to Mr William Bell;

 
 

 
 

ALSO a brick & tiled lean-to Workshop, lately occupied by Mr S Neech, decsd.
LOT 2.) Three brick & tiled Dweling Houses, adjoining Lot 1, occupied by James Rouse & Widow
Meadows.

 
 

LOT 3) A brick & tiled Dwelling House, adjoining Lots 1 & 2, occupied by the deceased, with large
Garden, Fish-house, Sheds, Warehouse & Premises.
SIR CHARLES CLARKE & Lady Clarke have left London for Cannes, intending to spend the spring

1881
East Suff Gaz 15 Feb 

months there.
EDUCATION: Beccles School Board:  The only persons nominated are the retiring members: Messrs
Wm  Crowfoot,  J  Mayhew,  FS  Rix,  H  Read  &  JE  Crisp.  This  is  their  fourth  election  without

1881
East Suff Gaz  15 Feb   

opposition, their first appointment dating in 1872.
ACCIDENT: Mr Salter, a farmer, driving down Blyburgate on Friday at one o’clock, when his horse
took fright. Being unable to pull up, he turned its head into Mr Pearce’s Yard, where the animal was

1881
East Suff Gaz  15 Feb     

brough to  a halt, but at the  expense of the shafts of the  cart, and the  great risk of running into Mr
Pearce’s shop window. Mr Salter was not injured.
CHAPEL RECOGNITION SERVICE of Pastor WH Smith at Baptist Church.

1881
1881

East Suff Gaz  15 Feb     

POLICE  COURT:  Striking  Constable  Peck:  Benjamin  Ward,  the  younger  -traced  by  Inspector
Bardwell by footmarks in the snow leading to his house; 28 days Hard Labour.
George Pitchers: in company with Ward in Ravensmere; Norwich Castle for 6 weeks Hard Labour.

East Suff Gaz 15 Feb
 
 
 

Followed the trail in the snow to his house near the Marquis of Granby.
EDUCATION: GIRLS’ COOKERY:  Letter by JC Buckmaster: The domestic life  and health of the

1881
East Suff Gaz  15 Feb     

poorest family depend chiefly on cooking, and this duty generally falls to the woman. If she has been
taught to spend her money wisely, and by simple cookery make what she has  purchased yield its full

amount  of  enjoyment  and  nourishment,  her  family  will  be  comfortably  fed,  while  her  next  door
neighbour, with perhaps  double the  income may  be  half starved. But if  girls  are  allowed to  leave

school without this teaching they are not likely to learn it afterwards. They get married without the
least idea of how to perform any of these domestic duties without which every home is in danger of
becoming a place of perpetual discomfort and anger.

 
 
1881

 
 

Can anything be done in Beccles to make the education of irls more useful and more practical?
The Board School is the place to take the initiative.
DEBTS:  I,  George  Woolnough  (late  of  Waveney  Valley  Cottages,  Lady’s  Meadow),  will  not  be

East Suff Gaz  22 Feb
 
responsible for My wife’s debts, Lucy Woolnough.
Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
15
1881

BREWERY  DINNER:  Employees  of  AB  Worthington  had  their  annual  dinner  at  the  Town  Hall,
produced by H Palmer of the George & Dragon. About 40 were present, the Chair taken by Mr JM

East Suff Gaz  22 Feb     

Brundell.
POSTMISTRESS: Miss ME Ottey has been appointed Postmistress in succession to her mother, Mrs

1881
East Suff Gaz  1 Mar     

Ottey, who after holding Postmistress many years has been obliged to retire.
MARKET TEA: About  80 or  90 farmers  and tradesmen were present. Mr FP  Lings,  agent  of Mr

1881
East Suff Gaz  1 Mar      

Barne of Sotterley, was in the Chair.
Mr Blyth said he had  never seen the  agricultural interests  in such  a  bad state  as the present time,
which he attributed to bad seasons and extra expenses. One great excess in their expenditure was the

 
 

School Boards. He strongly condemned the system  which allowed of boys being kept at school till
they were  of 13 or 14 years of  age, and averred that boys of  9 were more useful. Highway Boards
were also condemned.

 
 

Mr Jex said it was not the prices,  but the  bad seasons which had produced  agricultural  depression.
The country did not supply a quarter sufficient to maintain the people, and had it not not been for the
produce sent from America and other places there must have been a famine. Agriculture would rally

if only they had better seasons.
WEATHER: STORM on Saturday night a chimney fell down form Mr Burnham’s House through the
roof of his neighbour, Mr W Godbold., who was fortunately away for the night.

1881
East Suff Gaz  8 Mar 

1881
1881

TRAMP sentenced for 7 days in gaol for begging.
DEATH of Mr HORSLEY of Horsley & Sons, old-established coach builders. Richard Horsley had
been unwell for some tme and showed consumptive tendencies. He was 48. At his Funeral 59 of his

East Suff Gaz  8 Mar     
East Suff Gaz  15 Mar     

employees joined the procession.
Rev  SCUDAMORE  obituary.  Born  at  Wye  in  Kent,  French  school  in  Brussels,a  High  School  in
Edinburgh,  then  a  school  at  Lichfield.  After  leaving  Cambridge  he  became  a  Master  at  Oakham

1881
East Suff Gaz   15 Mar    

School, followed by acting as a tutor in Lord Minton’s family. Then to Ditchingham.
SALE of STOCK at Ellough Road Farm by Executors of Henry Wyatt.

1881
1881

East Suff Gaz  22 Mar     

SALE of 3 VINERIES in Ingate
SALE  of  STOCK  &  FURNITURE:  ELLOUGH  ROAD:Farming  Stock;  4  cows,  2  Calves  etc  by

East Suff Gaz 22 Mar      
1881
East Suff Gaz 22 Mar      

direction of Executors of Henry Wyatt
SALE of FURNITURE: HUNGATE: Cross Keys: Wiliam Wright (who is giving up housekeeping),

1881
East Suff Gaz 22 Mar      

Furniture, Pony, 2 Pony Carts
TO  BE  LET:  LONDON  ROAD:  Small  Semi-detached  House  containing  4  Bedroms  &  Dressng
Room, Two Sitting Rooms, Kitchen etc. Apply ET Dowson, Geldeston

1881
East Suff Gaz 22 Mar      
1881

GIRLS’ FRIENDLY  SOCIETY: Tea  was provided  at the Rectory Room. There was  a   numerous
gathering.  The  Society  was  established  for  the  encouragement  of  domestic  servants,  and  much
interest is shown in it by several ladies of the town and neighbourhood.

East Suff Gaz 22 Mar      
1881

BOARD SCHOOL GRANT: The Report  of the Inspectors has been  received. An  improvement is
mentioned  in  the  boys’  school,  but  he  report  is  generally  unsatisfactory.  In  the  boys’  school  132
children were present; girls’ 112; 111 infants.

East Suff Gaz 22 Mar      

1881
1881

FOOT & MOUTH DISEASE: Suffolk returns; 844 increase in cases.
CRICKET CLUB: Mr ET Dowson resigned fro Captaincy, Mr EB Crowfoot elected Captain. Mr Ef
Buck resigned as Secretary; Edward Buck took his place.

East Suff Gaz 22 Mar      
East Suff Gaz 22 Mar      
1881

LITERARY INSTITUTE: Mr Parkhouse in the Chair; The Artillery Band played an Overture: “The
Fair Maid of Perth.” Mr John Hooker delivered a lecture on “Some Electrical Phenomenon”.
LICENCES: Caxton Arms: temporary licence to Robert S Norman;

East Suff Gaz 22 Mar      

1881
1881

East Suff Gaz 22 Mar      

BECCLES FIFTY YEARS AGO: by Samuel Wilton Rix:
I travelled outside the “Star” Coach, travelling the whole of that 23rd of March 1831 through blinding
dust and cold rain. A ninepenny letter was my precursor; penny postage and electric telegrams beng

East Suff Gaz 22 Mar      
 
 

then unknown. The Yarmouth Star passed through Beccles, on its upward journey, every morning at a
quarter past six,  giving  notice of its approach  by a clanging horn  and the thunder of heavy wheels

upon the pavement. There was  also the “Telegraph”  night mail, through Wangford to  London; the
“Accommodation” with its unicorn team, kept up a sort of intercourse with Wst Suffolk.

 
 

The  principal  streets  of  the  town  were  then  almost  all  paved  with  flints,  every  cart  that  passed
denying the slandrous charge of undue quietness. In the dark evenings a few oil lamps, fixed to the

houses, spread such dim light as emanated from the Corporation of those times.
Eastward from the New Market was “Blower’s  Lane”  now Market  Street, but  not  half  its present
width;  and  on its  left side the  gloomy  looking house in which the poet Crabbe  had  visited,  and  in

 
 

which some of his wife’s relatives still lived. Further on, past the Assembly Room, the view of what
is now the approach to the Railway Station was blocked by the line of Newgate Street. On the site of
the  Council-room  [now  the  Glennie  Schhol  of  Dancing]  was  the  ancient  timbered  “Feoffment

Chamber” where Justices  justice was log  administered. This  chamber was  used  at one time for the
Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
16

Fauconberge School. ....
[The  Manor  House]  the  picturesquely  projecting  upper  storey,  the  high-pitched  roof,  the  massive

 
 

chimneys, and the iron studded door of the old hall.
Beyond  the  Gaol  front,  near  the  White  Lion  Gardens  was  a  plain  field-gate  leading  into  a  large

 
 

enclosure of ploughed land known as Fair-Close, because a yearly cattle fair was held there.
There was  no  direct access in that direction to the Common;  its approaches being by the dirty lane

 
 

through  Ravensmere,  or  by  the  equally  circuitous  Common  Lane  on  the  south.  The  site  of  the
Railway Station was a meadow ... More pastures, with patches of ozier ground, and parted by peaty
ditches or crooked fences. ...

 
 

The south side of Peddar’s Lane was then a meadow; and Frederick’s Place and St George’s-terrace
were undistinguished among broad acres. The old wooden Pound of the Manor was standing in that
direction.

 
 

The Municipal Reform Act ...  gave  no better  drainage  and management of the Fen, more  efficient
police, macadamized streets, gas lighting public and private ...
The Petty Sessions were held at one of the prncipal inns and the Quarter Sessions in the Town Hall.

 
 

The Chairman was usually Sir Thomas Sherlock Gooch, many years MP for Suffolk. ...
The interior of the Parish Church, as I saw it on my first Sunday in Beccles, was in a transition state
between rush-stren floors and the restoration of 1859.

 
 
 
 

The organ at the west end, on a gallery shutting out the finest window in the church, with a standng
place underneath for the parish fire engines; high unsightly pews; a vast brass chandelier; the pulpit in
the  centre of the nave; the  vestry at the  east end, crested  by wooden  urns, with  gilded imitation of

flames, in commemoration, it was said, of the great fire of 1586. a gallery built by a former Rector
with a worthy desire to provide more sittings, but with sad disregard of architectural taste.
I think there was no evening service. The church rate was made at Easter as from the beginning. A

 
 

bell in the steeple was tolled every morning at five o’cock to call up the artisans to their work, and
again at eight in the evening, the latter probably a vestige of the Norman curew.

 
 

The Independent Church rebuilt in 1812, retained its old front, was somewhat smaller than at present.
It  was  plain  and  respectable,  with  sanded  aisles  and  painted  pews.  There  were  three  services  on

Sunday,  of  which  the  afternoon  was  the  most  important.  The  Baptist  Meeting  House  was  a  still
humbler  building. The Methodist Chapel was hidden  behind  houses on the east side of Northgate.

Primitive Methodism ... had no local habitation. The Friends though nearly extinct held occasionally
... a meeting  for speaking,  of which notice was  usually  given by handbills. ... It was not until  1835
that the present Public Library was established. [this was a different library - not the County Library]

 
 

Little was heard in those days of choirs and choral societies and concerts. The stirring drum and fife
had died away with the fresh memories of Waterloo ... Instead of cheerful military bands, the drowsy
burgesses had to be content with a stray hand organ on the rare visit of a band of French-horn.

 
 

Some public amusements periodically relieved the momotony; but in now vanished forms. The Fair
at Whitsuntide, the Races in the autumn and the temporary opening of Fisher’s Theatre . They have
been succeeded by athletic sports, reading roms, penny readings and musical entertainments.

 
 

The  general  habits  of  society,  among  all  classes,  leaned  far  less  towards  abstemiousness  than  at
present. ... and the free outpourings of the bottle.
A  few  days  after  I  came  to  Beccles  a  great  inauguration  dinner  was  gven  by  the  newly  chosen

 
 

Portreeve  to  200  or  more  of  the  inhabitants  and  others.  Many  were  the  speech  and  mighty  the
feasting. But I think it was a year or two later that a few choice spirits actually spun out a Portreeve’s
feast from Thursday evening to Saturday morning.

1881
1881

SALE of FURNITURE: HUNGATE: Mr Samuel Alecock leaving the town
SALE or TO BE LET: GOSFORD ROAD: Igate Lodge, with Stable, Coach House, Vinery & large
Garden.

East Suff Gaz 29 Mar      
East Suff Gaz 29 Mar      
1881

ACCIDENT: Mr John Boutell was driving round the corner of Northgate into Old Market when he
came  into  collision  with  a  horse  &  cart  moving  in  the  opposite  direction.  No  one  was  hurt.  The

East Suff Gaz 29 Mar      

incident serves to show the necessity for driving slowly when turning corners in the town.
RAILWAY: The Great Eastern has decided , owing to the depression in trade, to slightly reduce the

1881
East Suff Gaz 29 Mar      

present number of passenger trains. The decrease is caused partly by the continuance of the restriction
on the movement of cattle.

1881

1881 CENSUS: Preparations being made. In the course of the present week schedules will be left at
every house. The  enumerators for Beccles will  be: AG Love, HW Cutting, AE King, JS Branford,
RW Snell, HW Bellward, JH Sharman, James Bardwell & RW Copeman.

East Suff Gaz 29 Mar      

1881
1881

ROOS HALL DAIRY: now free from Foot & Mouth Disease.
FAUCONBERGE SCHOOL: JD Kerrich Open Scholarship at Trinty Hall, Cambridge. He is the son
of Captain Kerrich of Geldeston Hall.

East Suff Gaz 5 Apr      
East Suff Gaz 5 Apr      
 
 
RK  Edwards  a  Mathematical  Rustat  Scholarship  at  Jesus  College,  Cambridge,  value  of  £40  pa.
Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
17

Edwards is the nephew of Mr Raven, the Headmaster.
LITERARY  INSTIUTE:  AGM: The  Annual  subscriptions  had  fallen.  Mr  Samuel  Parkhouse,  the

1881
East Suff Gaz 5 Apr      

President resigned after several years in the office and Mr John Clarke  elected.
LORD WAVENEY has left town for his seat in Ireland.

1881
1881

East Suff Gaz 12 Apr      

CHEAP PHOTOS: An opportunity is  now  offerred to  get one’s  image photographed  very  cheaply
through the American Gem Company, whose visit to Beccles closes on Easter Saturday. One decided

East Suff Gaz 12 Apr      

advantage of the process is that portraits are taken and finished in a few minutes.
1881 CENSUS: On 4 April,  a  good-sized  army of people was  engagaged  in the  enumeration. The
spread  of  education  is  helping  the  enumerator  greatly,  and  in  many  cases  where  the  fathers  and

1881
East Suff Gaz 12 Apr      

mothers  do not  comprehend what  is to be  done, the sharp youngsters who  have been through our
schools are now able to understand.
In our neighbourhood there has been a very satisfactory increase in the population. Twenty years ago

 
 

the record was adverse, the population being reduced, in the ten years previous, beteen one hundred
and  two  hundred  -  a  state  of  affairs  which  gave  rise  to  gloomy  forebodings.  Is  Beccles  indeed
dwindling  down to the  condition  of the  once flourishing Blythburgh? was asked with sadness; and

will the dissolution of the Gaol establishment be, as it was there, the knell of our prosperity? Has our
proverbial “dulness” already produced desertion? Is the process of decay to go unchecked? What are
we doing to arrest its progress and to bring about a revival of our status as “third town in Suffolk”,

the “fairest  gem  on the Waveney”? What can be  done? The figures we publish today answer such
questions.
Beccles 1851:  4398;    

 
1881

 
1861:  4266;   
1871: 4844 
1881: 5725

THE TOWN CLOCK: The attention of the caretaker of the town clock should be publicly called to
the  time  kept.  May  I  ask,  indeed  if  any  time  whatever  is  correctly  kept  ?  Complaints  have  been
frquent of late on this score, and personally I know of several cases in which persons have lost trains

East Suff Gaz 12 Apr      

in consequence.
BECCLES HOSPITAL: Tenders for new Accident Ward to J Clements, architect.

1881
1881

East Suff Gaz 19 Apr      

WESLEYAN CHAPEL: After a sermon, a public Tea was provided in the Town Hall. In the evening
there was an address on “influence” by Mr Jones. Mr AK Hockey presided.

East Suff Gaz 19 Apr      
1881

CO-OP:  Balance  for  the  sixth  quarter,  goods  sold  £990  an  increase  of  £171  on  previous  quarter.
Number of members : 160, an increase of 18. Dividend 2s in the Pound.

East Suff Gaz 19 Apr      
1881

CONREGATIONAL:  Rev  Robert  Mobbs,   late   of  Nottingham  College   ordained  to  Fakenham
Congregational Church.
TOWN COUNCIL: Discussion: Night soil had to be removed by six o’clock in the morning, but cow

East Suff Gaz 19 Apr      
1881
East Suff Gaz 19 Apr      

manure did not have to be removed by that time.
Medical Officer: Death Rate above average for this season, principally due to the continuance of the
hopvery cold north east winds.

 
 
 
 

Town Clerk kept very busy during foot & Mouth disease,  he  had issued 500 endorsements & 1500
licences. To be paid an extra 40 gns.
VESTRY    MEETING:    Read    Crisp    the    Rctor’s    Warden;    Mr    Houghton    elected    People’s

1881
East Suff Gaz 19 Apr      

Churchwarden.
The  Rector  suggested  that  there  should  be  a  Parochial  Church  Council  but  not  approved  by  the
meeting. Mr Rix said such a Council would prove a hot- bed of dispute.

 
 

1881
1881

DEATH of Charles Horsley (of the firm of Horsley & Sons). An upright man of business.
SCHOOL BOARD: 60  applicants for post  of Mistress  of the Girls’  School. Miss  Emily Brett,  of
South

East Suff Gaz 3 May      
East Suff Gaz 3 May      

 
1881

 

Repps appointed at £80 pa.
SALE:  BALLYGATE:  Freehold  Residence,  Confectioner’s  and  Earthenware  Shop,  with  suitable
offices & large Garden, now occupied by Mr George Kerridge.

East Suff Gaz 10 May      
 1881

ROYAL  ACADEMY:  Mr  Parsons  Norman  exhibiting  “A  view  near  Beccles,  on  the  Waveney”
Catalogue number 410. “A very characteristic piece of local scenery”.

East Suff Gaz 10 May      
1881

ACCIDENT: Mr Barber of the Bear & Bells driving down Hungate, the horse shied, tripping up, fell
upon the plate  glass windows  of Messrs Kent’s shop. The two windows were smashed but neither

East Suff Gaz 10 May      

horse, nor man, hurt.
CONCERT by Congrgational Church  Choir in aid of the Organ Fund, in the Town Hall. Conductor

1881
East Suff Gaz 10 May      

Mr Corbyn, Mrs Corbyn & Miss Kerridge on the piano. Mr AH Livock also rendered good service by
supporting  some  of  the  choruses  on  the  harmonium.  Dr  Burnett’s  sacred  Cantata  performed.also
works by Mozart, Stainer, Handel, Mendelssohn etc.

1881

ARTILLERY  VOLUNTEERS: marched to the Common to be  instructed in  guard  mounting. After
drill the battery marched through the town, headed by the band.
On  Sunday  the  battery  attended  Worlingham  Church.  The  journey  to  and  from  this  pretty  little

East Suff Gaz 10 May      
 
 
country church was much  enjoyed. There was a full muster. The  band wore new helmets, with red
Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
18

rdrroping plumes  for the  firt time. The  new  head-dress  is  a  great  improvement on the busby. The
service commenced by singing “Onward, Christian  Soldiers”. The prayers were read  by the Rector

(Rev A Aldred), who preached the sermon. The service was of a very hearty character.
FORESTER’S  ANNIVERSARY:  The  22nd  anniversary  of  Court  “Pride  inthe  Forest”in  the  Red

1881
East Suff Gaz 10 May      

Lion. A substantial dinner provided  by J Barkway, the host. The Chair  occupied  by EB Crowfoot,
who praised the Friendly Societies for their work. The  Secretary H Woolner had been in office 12

years. The court paid £157 to sick members in the year, some receiving 2s, others 1s and yet others
6d a day.
BECCLES FESTIVAL 1814. description of events

1881
1881

East Suff Gaz 10 May      

LIQUIDATION: Edward Bailey, butcher, a first & final dividend of 4s 3d in the pound.
BOWLS: The White Lion Bowling Green opened. Chairman AE King
ROYAL REVIEW of VOLUNTEERS in June at Windsor.

East Suff Gaz 17 May      

1881
1881

East Suff Gaz 17 May      
East Suff Gaz 17 May      
1881

CHORAL  SOCIETY  in  the  Town  Hall:  Overture  from  “Messiah”  Soloists,  Rev  JH  Raven,  Miss
Ferrier, Mr Howell. Mr AH Livock conducted as usual. The hall was quite full, the attendance larger
than any previous concert

East Suff Gaz 17 May      
1881

ACCIDENT: Mr RJ Read, miller, was upset while driving to Ingate Mills in Mr Legrice’s cart. He
had passed through Ingate, when the horse, resenting the discipline its driver thought needful, kicked
its legs over the dashboard. As a result the cart was smashed, but Mr Read was not hurt.

East Suff Gaz 24 May      

1881
1881

VOLUNTEERS. The last Volunteer Review was held in June 1867.
MORMON EMIGRANTS: The scene witnessed on Thursday morning at the Railway Station was a
mournful  one  in many respects. A party of  18, the  lders  having  embraced the Mormon  faith  had

East Suff Gaz 24 May      
East Suff Gaz 24 May      

assembled  here with their scanty baggage to  commence  a  journey  of many thousands of miles  in
order  to  enter  a  new  life.  All  the  adults  in  the  party  associated  in  any  way  with  religion  were
connected  with  Nonconformity,  as  Independents,  Baptists  or  Primitive  Methodists.  I  noticed  two

strangers, said to be Mormon agents.
LIQUIDATION: Arthur B  Worthington &  William Julius Marshall, Beccles  & Commercial  Street,

1881
East Suff Gaz 31 May      

London, brewers.
ORATORIO  at  the  Parish  Church  on  Ascension  Day:  John  Farmer’s  “Christ  &  his  Soldiers”,

 1881
East Suff Gaz 31 May      

precentor:  Rev  JH  Raven.  Soloists:  Mrs  Crowfoot,  Miss  Ferrier<  E  Marshall,,  HE  Harmer,  AW
Cattermole,  W  Balls,  HK  Edwards  &  Reynolds.  The  organ  accompaniment  by  AH  Livock  was

beautiful and effective. There was a large congregation.
NEW  INGATE  PARISH  ROOM  erected  by  the  Patron.  Rev  E  Hollond,  of  Benhall  Lodge.The
foundation  stone  was  laid  by  Miss  Francis  Harvey  of  Ingate  House.  Mr  TA  Woodroffe  &  Mr H

1881
East Suff Gaz 31 May      

Hopson entrusted with the work.
It will be of red brick, relieved by black bands, 50ft by 20ft  , in the Gothic style of architecture, and
is intended for use chiefly as a  Sunday School and for holding services on Sundays and weekdays.

 
 
1881

DEATH of Miss Harriet Cooper; Buried in south-east corner of the churchyard near the tower. The
churchyard  has long  been  closed  as  a  burial  ground,  and  it is understood that the number of those
priviledged to be buried there amongst departed relatives has been reduced to one.

East Suff Gaz 7 Jun      
1881

THEATRE: DIPLOMACY COMPANY: gave a series of dramatic entertainments in the Town Hall.
“Lady Audley’s Secret”; “East Lynn”, “Lady of Lyons”, “Ticket-of-leave Man”
TO BE LET: A Post Windmill, near Beccles, with House, granary, Stable, Cart Shed & Piggeries, in

East Suff Gaz 7 Jun      
1881
East Suff Gaz 14 Jun      

good repair, with full trade, apply Robert Youngs.
TO BE LET: BALLYGATE: House & Shop in Ballygate lately occupied by Mr RS Norman - Apply
D Jude, Beccles.

1881
East Suff Gaz 14 Jun      
1881

DEATH of Rev JOHN FLOWER, for 40 years pastor of the Congregational Church which took place
at his residence at Nottingham on Sunday 12 June
SCHOOL APPOINTMENT of Mr Walter Boyce, St John’s College, Cambridge, for 3 years a Master

East Suff Gaz 14 Jun      
1881
East Suff Gaz 14 Jun      

in Harrison’s College, Barbados has been elected to a Mastership at Reading School
SCHOOL APPOINTMENT: Miss MG Pirie, late Mistress under the Board School appointed to the

1881
East Suff Gaz 14 Jun      

mistress-ship of the Girls (Board) School at Littlehampton, Sussex.
BANKRUPTCY  of  AB  WORTHINGTON  &  Marshall,  brewers  of  Beccles  &  141  Commercial

1881
East Suff Gaz 14 Jun      

Street, London. Liabilities of £24,000. Assets: a brewery, public houses, plant, stock in trade & other  
property  in  Beccles,  besides  public-houses  at  Yarmouth,  Ipswich  &  other  places.  Debts  include:

Horsley & Co £10; E Masters £19; EW Hindes £79; JM Brundell £51, GB Angell £2; NW Pels £10;
N Pells & Son £10; FS Rix £10; Churchwardens £33.
RIFLE  BAND  to  play  in  the  New  Market  next  Friday  evening  &  make  a  collection  for  Beccles

1881
East Suff Gaz 21 Jun      

Hospital.
FAUCONBERGE SCHOOL: TE Hillier of Trinity Cambridge formerly of this school elected to the
Medical Tancred Exhibition of £100 pa for 7 years.

1881
East Suff Gaz 21 Jun      
 
 
C Thorp, of Highgate School, formerly the Fauconberge School elected to open Classical Exhibition
Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
19

at St Catherine’s College, Cambridge.
RM Brown, formerly of the Fauconberge elected to Natural Science Scholarship at Downing College,

 
 

Cambridge.
OLD MARKET: (LETTER): Will you grant me sufficient space to suggest  the planting of a number

1881
East Suff Gaz 21 Jun      

of suitable trees on the south side of the Old Market. It is very pleasant to catch sight of bits of green
here  and  there  about  the  town,  and  I  think  a  few  trees  in  the  Old  Market  would  have  a  nice

appearance and be in nobody’s way. It would not cost much. What do the Corporation say ?
BATHING PLACE: (LETTER):  Some years  ago  a spot about 300 yards  up the river was the  only
recognised place for bathing, but it was hampered by a halfpenny fine to reach it, for ferrying across

1881
East Suff Gaz 21 Jun      

the  river. There was  difficulty  about  getting  a right  of way to the Bathing place. The Corporation
decided  upon  making  a  new  bathing  place.  They  purchased  property  alongside  the  river,  but
unfortunately  a  bungle was made  of the  scheme,  and the  outcome was  an old  granary fitted  up in

rough and ready style, and a limited quantity of enclosed water. This was all very well for youngsters
learning to swim, but the grand mistake was in ignoring the large number of persons who can swim,
and to whom it is no pleasure to be conined to a small breadth of filthy water.

 
 

The oldbathing place  is still  used by  many who  desire to  enjoy  a wholesome  bathe. A  better  spot
could  not be found  for miles  around. Until within the  last two or three years the  ground shelved
gradually down to the middle  of the river, which  is deep,  free from weeds,  and  suitable  in  every

respect  for  the  swimmer.  Now  holes  have  been  dredged  in  the  shallow  side,  and  it  is  positively
dangerous. Only the other morning a lad, trying to swim, got into one of these holes and was nearly
drowned.

1881

OBITUARY: Rev JOHN FLOWER:  He was the eldest son of Rev John Flower, for more than forty
years a Congregational Minister at Tichfield, Hants. He became a student at Highbury College, from
whence he came to Beccles to supply the pulpit of that excellent man, Rev Isaac Sloper. Mr Flower

East Suff Gaz 21 Jun      

first  preached  here  on  15  September,  1833,  and  in  the  following  February  he  succeeded  to  Mr
Sloper’s long ministry.

 
 

He  had an early and  alarming  interruption  by  illness -  but laboured on with quiet  and  exemplary
earnestness and wih much success, in the duties of his sacred office and in the furtherance of every

good work among the people to whose service he had devoted his life. It was mainly to his zeal and
perseverance that the town was  indebted  for the  establishment  of the British  Schools, which were

here, as in many other places, the chief pioneers of popular education.
During Mr Flower’s ministry the Congregational Chapel (which had  been  built in  1812) was much
improved and enlarged to accommodate the growing numbers who came to hear him; and what was a

 
 

still  greater  joy to  him, “many were  added to the  church”. As  a preacher  he was  solid  and  useful
rather than what  is  called  eloquent.  If he did  not  aim  at brilliancy  in the pulpit, in  social  life  his
conversation was always cheerful and instructive, and not infrequently sparkling with humour.

 
 

His seasons of relaxation were  often devoted, in distant parts of the kingdom, to the service of the
Religious Tract Society and the Peace Society; and both found in him a judicious and trustworthy as
well as competent expounder of their views and objects.

 
 

Mr Flower’s personal influence in this town and neighbourhood, during so many ummed up by any
human pen, To whatever duty he was called  he  always  broughtyears of upright,  intelligent,  godly,
discreet  and earnest walking  among us,  cannot  be  adequately  summed  up by  any  human pen. To

whatever duty he was called he always brought a genial bearing and a sound judgment. In whatever
circumstances of perplexity, he was unruffled and sober; never committing himself, but speaking and
acting with wisdom and sincerity.

1881

BANKRUPTCY  of  AB  WORTHINGTON  &  Marshall,  brewers  of  Beccles  &  141  Commercial
Street, London. Liabilities of £24,000. Assets: a brewery, public houses, plant, stock in trade & other  

East Suff Gaz 14 Jun      

property  in  Beccles,  besides  public-houses  at  Yarmouth,  Ipswich  &  other  places.  Debts  include:
Horsley & Co £10; E Masters £19; EW Hindes £79; JM Brundell £51, GB Angell £2; NW Pels £10;
N Pells & Son £10; FS Rix £10; Churchwardens £33.

1881
East Suff Gaz 25 Oct 
SALE: Brewery House, Northgate; Furniture
1882 BECCLES from East Suffolk Gazette

1882
1882

Beccls Paper,3 Jan 

BUCKENHAM family being traced. £5 reward for finding marriage of William & Sarah c 1740
ADVERTISEMENT: Mrs C Chase  opend Haberdashery, Fancy Drapery &  Stationery Business  in

Beccls Paper,3 Jan 
Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
20

Ballygate in the premises recently occupied by J Hamon.
ADVERTISEMENT: Samuel Parkhouse, Drapery, reductions. next door to the White Horse.

1882
1882

Beccls Paper,3 Jan 
Beccls Paper,3 Jan 

THE  OLD  YEAR  was  played  out  by  the  Rifle  Band  &  ushered  in  by  the  chimes  of  the  bells.
Watchnight services at the Baptist & Primitive Methodist Chapels

1882
1882

Beccls Paper,3 Jan 

SOUP KITCHEN commenced. &50 pints distributed. Not so much money subscribed this year.
DEATH: Mary Ann Lillistone, spinster.

Beccls Paper,10 Jan 
1882
Beccls Paper,10 Jan 

PARTY by girls and their friends in the bookbinding department at the Caxton Press in the evening in
the Orderly Room of the Artillery Volunteers. More than 70. Had singing & recitations
LIQUIDATION: Edward Alecock of Beccles, watchmaker

1882
1882

Beccls Paper,17 Jan 
Beccls Paper,17 Jan 

NEW  YEAR’S  PARTY  On  Wednesday  evening  in  the  Town  Hall  more  than  100  of  Mrs  Hayes
Dancng Class & visitors. Dancing was kept up until 5am on Thursday morning. Music supplied by
Mrs Hayes & Mr G Hussey.

1882
1882

Beccls Paper,24 Jan 

LOST Fox Terrier by Mrs Pickthall, Waveney House
COUNCIL:    1)   Building   in   Mr   Hockey’s    occupation    be   repaired   under   Mr   Crowfoot’s
superintendence. Work to be done by Fisk & Cutler

Beccls Paper,24 Jan 
 
 

2)  GOSFORD ROAD: Connection of the new houses to the sewer laid in the road were bein made,
but the sewer was not connected to the main sewer and lead nowhere. Action necessary. Raised by
Mr Masters.

1882
Beccls Paper,31 Jan 

BREWERY: Employees of Messrs Harwood & Beaman’s Brewery dined at the Hermitage Inn, Mr &
Mrs John Darby  catering. 26 sat down to  dinner, Mr Hallam, foreman in the Chair. After supper
joined by Samuel Darby.

1882
Beccls Paper,31 Jan 

MENAGERIE of Bostock & Wombell in Old Market. Monkeys the principal attraction including the
Sacred Baboon  captured on the Congo River, There were leopards,  hyenas, tigers &  lions  & huge
dancing bear & two elephants

1882

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE:Henry Harper, labourer of Ellough failing to send his daughter to school.
He had 11 children,  eight at  home,  and three  could not dress themselves. One little boy was  badly

Beccls Paper,7 Feb 

ruptured, and requred nursing, or he was constantly shrieking & made himself worse. His wife ciould
not  do  with  so  many  children  single-handed,  so  the  little  girl  was  kept  at  home  to  prevent  him

shrieking.
Fined 2s 6d and were Magistrates very sorry to do this. Newspaper commented: “the Bench seem to

 
 

have overlooked the fact that magistrates possess a discretionary power to inflict fines. If there is any
virtue in the “reasonable excuse” permitted under the Act, its plea should carry irresistible force in an
exceptional case of this kind.

1882
Beccls Paper,14 Feb 

NEW  RECTOR:  Rev  John  Rowsell,  minister   of   St  John,  Beverley,  Yorkshire   accepted   after
resignation of Rev FF Tracy.
DEATH: Mrs John Tracy at home in Exchange Square. Apoplexy killed in three hours from first She

1882
Beccls Paper,14 Feb 

was sister-in-law to the Rector. symptoms. Leaves 6 young children, one of whom is blind.
LIQUIDATION: James Moore, butcher, Bridge Street
THEFT: Charles Westhorpe, carter  employed by J & JE Crisp, merchants stole sack of corn meal ,

1882
1882

Beccls Paper,14 Feb 
Beccls Paper, 21 Feb 

valued at 1s  4d.  Evidence from Henry Toll, clerk to the Crisps & PC Fairweather  hidden  in chaff
house  caught him removing sack.  Six weeks hard  labour. [The next week further  evidence came to
light  that   WWesthorpe  had  taken  the  meal  for  the   company   horses  in  Blyburgate.  He  was

immediately released.]
TO LET: The Larches standing in its own grounds of about one acre, tastefully laid out with flower
gardens, ornamental trees & shrubs. Tennis Ground. In the rear is is profitable kitchen garden planted

1882
Beccls Paper,7 Mar 

with choice frit trees, also a well-built vinery.
The Residence comprises entrance hall, drawing room with glass door opening into a newly erected
conservatory. two kitchens, tradesman’s room, store room, pantry & larder, Good ale & wine cellars

 
 

n the basement. 6 bedrooms with WC upon the second floor. The House stands upon an elevation on
the south  entrance  of the improving town  and borough  of Beccles, within ten  minutes walk  of the

Great Eastern Railway Station and of the River Waveney, much famed for its excellent fishing. The
Stabling & Carriage House, etc. are newly erected, and are approached by a private carriage entrance

from the London Road.
Rent £75 per annum. Apply JD Eastaugh, The Larches

 
1882

 
Beccls Paper,7 Mar 

BECCLES HOSPITAL: thanks Mrs Henry Read for old linen. We are requested to sate that further
gifts of old linen will be most thankfully accepted.
LIQUIDATION: Jonathan Lockwood, carpenter.

1882
1882

Beccls Paper,7 Mar 
Beccls Paper,14 Mar 

TO  BE  LET:  Providence  Lodge,  London  Road,  cotaining  Drawing,  Dining  &  Breakfast    Rooms,
seven sleeping  chambers  etc,  Stable  & Chaise House,  Large Garden well stocked with fruit trees.
Rent £50. Rev SK Bland.

1882
Beccls Paper,21 Mar 
TO BE  LET: House,  Shop   & Premises  in Newmarket  in the occupation of   Mr Alecock, watch
Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
21

maker. Apply Mr Mayhew, Lacon’s Bank.
HOUSEBRAKING: Mrs Gooch’s house in Denmark Road broken into over a weekend when she was

1882
Beccls Paper,21 Mar 

away. House ransacked. Not much stolen?
FIRE at the Railway Station in the north end Signal Box. (Newspaper comment:What is wanted is a

1882
Beccls Paper,28 Mar 

more  powerful  engine,  with  good  serviceable  apparatus  &  a  crefully  drilled  fire  brigade.  No  one
seemed to  know how to act. Although there was  an  abundant supply of water within  80 yards, the

engine was first taken to a ditch which contained more mud than water. From thence a tiny stream of
liquid mud was played upon the signal-box. When at length the pump was thought of it was found the
hose was  not half  long  enough,  and the  engine had to  be supplied  by pails from hand to  hand.  In  

consequence the water  could only be played on the  fire  intermittently  and  in  a  feeble stream. The
hose was also out of repair, and one man was noticed stopping a leak with a pocket handkerchief. The
building was burnt to the ground.)

1882
1882

Beccls Paper,28 Mar 

BRICKLAYERS: Several good trowel men wanted. Apply EW Hindes, Builder, Beccles
TOWN CLOCK:  The clock is an old one; but what prevents its being regulated daily, at a fixed hour,
as the Post Office and  railway clocks  are done? The railway and town times  vary very much.  Last

Beccls Paper,28 Mar 

Thursday there were twelve minutes difference between the two clocks.
CHURCH: The clergy and lay representatives of the  Ipswich  deanery met to  consider whether any
practical measures could be devised to mitigate the growing neglect of public worship on the part of

1882
Beccls Paper,28 Mar 

the masses. If services could be shorter and more attractive
encouragement of congregational worship in prayer  and praise  - many persons would  be  drawn to
church or chapel who now habitually absent themselves.. This non-attendance can be overcome and

- not so much by ritual display as by the

met to a large extent by more personal contact with people on the part of the clergy. 
NEW RECTOR: Rev John Rowsell, preached his  farewell  service  in Beverley Minster, where for
three years he has been perpetual Curate, and will be instituted to Beccles next Friday and preach at

1882
Beccls Paper,28 Mar 

Beccles on Easter Sunday.
VESTRY MEETING:  Mr Houghton, chirchwarden in the Chair. Overseers: death of Thomas Easter.

1882
Beccls Paper,28 Mar 

Nominated: JM Brundell, RA King,  TA Woodroffe, A Pells.
FURNITURE  SALE:  BLYBURGATE::  Sale  of  Drapery  &  Haberdashery  of  Edgar  Balls,  who  is

1882
Beccls Paper,4 Apr 

leaving the town.
FURNITURE SALE SMALLGATE:: Jonathan Lockwood, carpenter (in liqidation)

1882
1882

Beccls Paper,4 Apr 
Beccls Paper,4 Apr 

FURNITURE SALE, Ravensmere: Mrs Rogers
DEAD GIRL BABY found in the Corporation Cut . Coroner’s enquiry adjourned. [Police could find
no further evidence on 18 April and an open verdict? was recorded]

1882
Beccls Paper,4 Apr 
1882
Beccls Paper,4 Apr 

MARKET TEA:  Great  agricultural  depression lasted for  last 7 years. There had  been bad seasons
and low prices. The Americans came in, sold their produce, and cut the English farmer out. But this
year the prospects were better than for 100 years. The wheat looked grand and barley even better. Mr

Eastaugh said he was intending to leave the town and the Corporation. The Chairman, Mr Beaman,
gave  an  invitation  to  visit  the  Brewery  in  Beccles.  Mr  Read,  who  managed  estates  sp;oke  of  the
depression. He had 5 or 6 farms on his hands, and would soon have 1 or 2 more. He hoped they he

would have better weather and create more prosperity..
NEW  RECTOR:  The  new  Rector  was  welcomed  on  his  arrival  at  Beccles  by  train  on  Saturday
evening by a joyous peal of the bells. On Sunday evening he preached his first sermon. There was a

1882
Beccls Paper,11 Apr 

large congregation.
VESTRY   MEETING.   Rev   Rowsell   in   the   Chair.   Read   Crisp   &   Houghton   reappointed
Churchwardens. Read Crisp paid tribute to former Rector: “always found him most ready to attend to

1882
Beccls Paper,11 Apr 

any suggestion from them and was most kind.”
TOWN COUNCIL: Sanitary Ctte: 1) Spread Eagle to abate nuisance on pavement arising from want
of a urinal..2) grass in Fair Close Road be taken up and gravel laid. 3) Mr Harmer at the Crown inn to

1882
Beccls Paper,25 Apr 

provide a urinal.
POOR RATE: A rate of 2s in the pound was made for the half year. £709 for the Guardians; £800 for

1882
Beccls Paper, 2 May 

Beccles Corporation; £200 by the School Board; £50 by Burial Board.
WORLINGHAM  HALL  taken  for  a  lease  of  5  years  by  Mr  Frederick  Farrer,  the  well-known

1882
Beccls Paper, 2 May 

solicitor. The estate comprises about 3,000 acres.
RATIONAL SICK & Burial Society: in Cross Keys. 28 members to dine. Henry Edwards, Secretary

1882
Beccls Paper, 2 May 

in Chair. Vice Chairman: S Sarbutt.
PRIMITIVE METHODIST Band paraded the streets  before  Services on  Sunday evenings. Idlers in
street jostled the band. Las Sunday disorder occurred. Somebody pushed Sampson against Vyse who

1882
Beccls Paper, 2 May 

was in the procession.  Vyse pushed  him  away.  Sampson struck him  in the face and chest  3 times.
Sampson arrested, but the crowd tried to rescue him.  Stones thrown at the police, a window of the
chapel broken.

1882
Beccls Paper, 2 May 
VICTORIA ARMS: Alcohol being served at 1.30am. William Warren the landlord & John Playford,
Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
22

chimney sweep, both drunk.. Case dismissed.
SALE: Property of late Harriet Meen:

1882
 

Beccls Paper, 2 May 
 

LOT  1:  Blyburgate:  A  comfortable  residence  lately  occupied  by  Miss  Meen,  with  large  and  well
planted walled-in garden 1 Rood 2 perches exclusive of the site of the house & buildings [Sold to Mr

A Dixon £435]
LOT  2:  Blyburgate:  A  block  of  four  Tenements  occupied  by  John  Copeman,  Mrs  Green,  Mrs

 
 

Browning,  &  Mrs  Gooding,  with  large  &  well  planted  Market  Garden  occupied  by  J  Copeman,
containing 2 roods 14 perches exclusive of site of buildings. [Rental £36-10s] [purchased W Wright
£500]

 
 

LOT 3: Bridge Street: a well-accoustomed brick & tiled Beerhouse the “Malster’s Arms” with large
Yard,  Stable, Cow House & Cart  Shed,  approached from  Fen  Lane,  now  occupied  by Mr Robert
Page. [£20 Rental] [withdrawn at £525]

 
 

LOT 4: Bridge  Street: A brick & tiled Cottage  adjoining the Maltster’s Arms, two Cooper’s  Shops
with loft over, Cart Shed & Yard occupied by Philip Hayward. [passed over]
LOT 5: Bridge Street: A brick & tiled House & Shop, with Yard & Shed at back, adjoining Lot 4, at

 
 

the junction with Fen Lane, now occupied by Mrs Neech [passed over]
LOT  6:  Ballygate:   a  block  of   brick  &  tiled  Cottages  in  three  tenements  with   entrance  from
Puddingmoor, in occupation of Alfred Cobb, Edward Weavers & Matilda Spalding. [Rental £12-15s-

 
 

8d] [Mr Walton £105]
POST: Instructions have  just been  given that  in  future all rural  messengers  are to  be  allowed  one
week’s  leave  of  absence  in  each  year.  In  previous  years  only  town  postmen  have  been  granted

1882
Beccls Paper, 14 May 

holidays.
CHORAL  SOCIETY  Concert  in  the  Town  Hall  [Public  Hall];  Soloists:  Mrs  Marriott,  Mrs  WM
Crowfoot, JW Meers,  assistant  organist  & AS Kinnell, both of Norwich Cathedral. Mendelssohn,

1882
Beccls Paper, 14 May 

Haydn, Handel.
POLICE  COURT:  Charles  Beales,  labourer  charged  with  neglecting  to  maintain  his  wife  and  3

1882
Beccls Paper, 14 May 

children. They were in a destiute and starving condition. Sent to the Workhousde. He was sentenced
to 3 months hard labour.

1882
Beccls Paper, 23 May 

BOATING ACCIDENT: Some of Caxton Rowing Clubwere pracising in their four-oared gig, hit one
of the rowlocks struck the buttress of the bridge, overturning the boat and the whole of its occupants.  

Only one member could swim, but the others managed to cling to the boat, and plenty of assistance
was at hand, they were speedily rescued.
The  Volunteers  of  the  town,  the  Artillery  &  Rifles  met  together  for  the  first  time  under  Major

1882
Beccls Paper, 23 May 

Crowfoot of the Rifles. They marched to the Common and drilled together, about 200 in number.
Rev  Samuel  Smith, curate,  in  charge  of the Mission Church  in Ingate  given presentation  of £26 on
leaving the town.

1882
Beccls Paper, 23 May 
1882
Beccls Paper, 30 May 

MONEY: Fourpenny pieces are to be withdrawn from circulation. Tradesmen should pay them into
banks..
BANK HOLIDAY celebrated in the town and there was ageneral exodus to the seaside or elsewhere.

1882
1882

Beccls Paper, 30 May 
Beccls Paper, 30 May 

BMA East Anglian Branch, met at Beccles in the Rectory Room under presidency of WM Crowfoot,
MB.. From Beccles: RI Metcalfe, MD, EB Crowfoot, MB, W Mc Comb
THEFT:  Benjamin  Ward,  labourer,  Beccles,  accused  of  stealing  a  cabbage  worth  3d  from  Mr

1882
Beccls Paper, 30 May 

Garrod’s garden in Northgate in his kitchen garden by the river. As a result of continuous losses the
police watched the garden. A policeman heard someone walk in the direction of the cauliflowers, and
then go down to the river. On the way the man turned his face so that the policeman was able to see

who it was. He dropped the  cauliflower before  getting  into the boat  and rowing  off. David Tuthill,
gardener to Mr Garrod said the kitchen garden was exposed to the river, and there had been losses of
several things this year.

1882
1882

Beccls Paper,6 Jun 

SALE OF FURNITURE: late Miss Frances Cattermole in Smallgate
FOOT & MOUTH DISEASE two cattle affected at battisford Hall.

Beccls Paper, 6 Jun 

1882
1882

Beccls Paper, 13 Jun 

ADVERTISEMENT: The Breery Beccles: Harwood & Beaman’s Ales & Stouts.
BREWERY: Messrs Tacon, brewers & malsters of  Eye  have sold their whole  concern to  a firm of

Beccls Paper, 13 Jun 

Brewers of Beccles.
MAYOR  of  BECCLES  [WM  Crowfoot]  attended  banquet  in  the  Egyptian  Hall  of  the  Mansion

1882
Beccls Paper, 20 Jun 

House. The  Prince of  Wales present with Mayors of  over  200 towns, who wore  scarlet  robes  and
massive chains.
HOSPITAL FUNDS: To raise money the Artillery Band played in Newmarket on Friday evening &

1882
Beccls Paper, 20 Jun 

the Rifle Band played  on Saturday evenings.
CHURCH  BUILDING  SOCIETY:  Since  the  founding  of  the  Society  1893  grants  given  for  new
churches  &  5224  for  enlargement,  rebuilding  &  rearranging  churches..  1,727,870  new  seats  in

1882
Beccls Paper, 20 Jun 
churches.
Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
23

1882
 

Beccls Paper, 11 Jul 

FAUCONBERGE CRICKET TEAMS:
HT Clowes, FF  Edwards, H Brereton, AW Dixon, TP Angell, C Metcalfe, AJ More,  LE Williams,

 

GS Marshall, RW Mann, P Grain
COLLEGIATE SCHOOL CRICKET TEAMS

1882
 

Beccls Paper, 11 Jul 
 

JB Smith, H Easun, A Denton, B Welstead, C Hockey, W Thurtle, T Frost, EL Porter, B Dobby, G
Wright, C Balding, Wigg, W Balls, DA Soanes, EH Jones,

1882
Beccls Paper, 1 Aug 

SALE;  Land  of John Copeman  at Rigbone Hill: 8a  2r 2p;  bounded  on one side by the road from
Swine’s Green to Ellough and on the other by the road from Casle Hill to Ellough.
About 5 acres is occupied by Mr E Masters whose tenancy expires at Michaelmas, and the remainder

 
 

is occupied by the vendor as a market Garden, well planted with fruit trees and bushes, about half an
acre of which is planted with strawberries. All the Fruit trees and bushes will be included in the sale.
A considerable sum is received annually by the Sale of Sand and Clay from a Pit by the side of the

road.
As Mr P Youngs with his three daughters, was returning home on Wednesday night from a drive in a
four-wheeler, his white mare bolted, and crossed Gillingham dam at a great pace. The occuppants of

1882
Beccls Paper, 1 Aug 

the carriage were naturally much alarmed, as the road, bounded on either side by a ditch, offered no
defence whatever in the event of the mare taking  a turn. Fortunately it kept straight  ahead until the
malting gates were reached, just before the bridge. A rein had broken, but Mr Youngs succeeded in

pulling the horse up close to the wall and stopped it without accident to life or limb.
SALE of FURNITURE: in Station Road, 4 Norfolk Terrace: of late Thomas Easter
TO BE LET:  Station Road: 4 &  5 Norfolk Terrace,  also  accommodation Meadow  of  1  acre,  also

1882
1882

Beccls Paper, 8 Aug 
Beccls Paper, 8 Aug 

Garden, Stable & Coach House.
LIQUIDATION: James Aldred of Beccles, baker
FAUCONBERGE SPEECH DAY: Mr Raven, Headmaster spoke of introducing a class in Chemistry

1882
1882

Beccls Paper, 8 Aug 
Beccls Paper, 8 Aug 

next year. The Mayor, WM Crowfoot applauded this, but considered classical education the basis for
teaching.

1882
Beccls Paper, 8 Aug 

PUBLIC HOUSE Assessments: Appeals made by Morse & Wood, brewers, Lowestoft, against  Rates
charged.  The  Ship  raised  to  £30  p.a:  Bell  the  oiccupier.  appeal  failed.  Crown  described  as  a

“wretched House” in bad condition. rate reduced.
LIQUIDATION: Robert Lockwood, general shopkeeper

1882
1882

Beccls Paper, 15 Aug 
Beccls Paper, 22 Aug 

Sir  E  Watkins  and  his  co-directors  are  very  angry with the Government for putting  a  drag on the
Channel  Tunnel  scheme,   and  can  be   only  moderately  consoled  by  the  fact  that  the  work  is
progressing rapidly on the French side.

1882
Beccls Paper, 22 Aug 

A dateachment of Army Reservists en route for Egypt, on arrival at Beccles Station, jumped out of
the window and made off as quickly as he could along Station Road. The Corporal in charge follwed
to where the man formely lodged in Hungate Lane, and found him there, but he refused to return with

him. The police caught him later in the day and an armed escort took him to Colchester as a deserter.
SALE: In liquidation: Trustees of Mr James Aldred, baker and confectioner. Household furniture &
baker house fittings.

1882
East Suff Gaz 24 Aug 
1882
Beccls Paper, 29 Aug 

ADVERTISEMENT: Anglers: Fishing Tackle: Bamboo Rods from 9d to 12s 6d. A large assortment
of artificial pike baits in stock. Geo Stevenson, Birmingham Lamp & Oil Stores, [27] Northgate,

1882
1882

Beccls Paper, 29 Aug 

GAS COMPANY DIVIDENDS: In 1858: £2 5s %; 1864 £4; 1882 £8.
PUB LICENCE: Application for transfer of licence of unused public house in Horse & Groom Lane
[not used for 5 or 6 years] to premises in course of erection opposite Mr Boutell’s sale meadow, near

Beccls Paper, 29 Aug 

the railway station Opposed by licensees of  Star Inn (Mrs Spencer)  & Railway Hotel. (Mr Church).
53  signatories,  including  the  Rector,  Deputy  Mayor,  Rev  J  Calvert,  Churchwardens  Houghton  &
Laws & residents of Caxton Road etc opposed. Not granted.

1882
Beccls Paper, 29 Aug 

BECCLES REGATTA on Monday, 28 Aug.:  Two sailing matches and for jolly boats, river fishing
boats,  four  men  in  each  boat.  The  Band  of  G  Company,  2nd  NRV  played  a  long  and  varied

programme near the committees barge, on which Mr Youngs of the King’s Head, catered for lunch.
On  the  Quay  were  steam  horses,  swing  boats  and  stalls..  These  were  liberally  patronized  by  the

youngsters, while their  elders refreshed themselves  at the drinking  booths in the  intervals  between
watching the progress of the competing boats.

1882
Beccls Paper, 29 Aug 

COUNCIL: (1) Cottage to be built near the Sewage Works for the foreman. (2). Charles Betts built 3
cottages  on  land  formerly  George  Fenn’s  without  proper  drains..  Proceedings  to  be  taken.  (3).
Application by Mr Gibbs to build new building in [31] Smallgate 6ins nearer the street than the old

building. Agreed.. (4) Suggested extension of town sewer to Puddingmoor. (5) Market Tolls and Free
Rents collected of £9 18s 2d.  (6) Offer to supply electricity by the Brush Company, 17 August 1882
and light the streets by arc and incandescent lamps. An experimental period of a month would cost

£30 for 6 lamps and dynamo etc. ( 7). Painting of Town Hall: £17 by Mr Poll. A dado of a red colour
Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
24

with a brown band.
ADVERTISEMENT: William  Loades, Newmarket,  Locksmith, Bell Hanger, Gas Fitter & Brazier.

1882
Beccls Paper, 5 Sep 

Taken over business of late William Welch.
FOOT & MOUTH DISEASE at Stradbrooke

1882
1882

Beccls Paper, 5 Sep. 
Beccls Paper, 12 Sep. 

SUDBURY first town in Suffolk to have electric lighting.  Five large globes instead of 32 gas lamps.
The novel mode of lighting is a great attraction, especially to the country people,m and at night the

streets are thronged with spectators.
Opening  of Halesworth  Patrick  Stead Hospital. Patrick  Stead  left  £26,000  for this on  his  death  in
1869, having lived in Halesworth 27 years. Designed by Henry Hall, architect of London.

1882
Beccls Paper, 12 Sep. 
1882
Beccls Paper, 12 Sep. 

SALE or LET: 1. Freehold Family Mansion, with Coach House, Stabling, Brewhouse, Laundry, large
Garden & five Glass Houses in [12] Northgate.
2. A Freehold Residence in the Newmarket with Stable & Coach House in Smallgate.

 
 

 
 

3. Freehold  Dwelling House with Shop & Bake Office in Blyburgate. Apply E Masters, ironmonger.
PIKE caught by Mr Balls of London Road weighing 19lbs
ELECTRIC  LIGHT:Experimental trial.  6  arc  lamps  each  of  2000  cadle power, to  illuminate  both

1882
1882

Beccls Paper, 17 Sep. 
Beccls Paper, 19 Sep. 

market  places,  Exchange  Square,  patrs  of  Hungate,  Blyburgate  &  Saltgate,  Smallgate  &  Station
Road..  The  engine  etc  is  in  Mr  Wiggate’s  Yard,  Newgate.  The  novel  spectacle  attracting  a  large
number of people.

1882
1882

Beccls Paper, 26 Sep. 

P Hayward, cooper, moving from Bridge Street to Fen Lane next to Mr Toll’s Mill
ADVERTISEMENT: William Spear, Locksmith, Bellhanger, Gasfitter, late Newmarket, established
18 years. Blyburgate

Beccls Paper, 26 Sep. 
1882
Beccls Paper, 26 Sep. 

LEMAN  SCHOOL:  New  scheme.  Governors  to  prescribe  subjects,  the  terms  and  vacations  and
payment of day boys. Also sanitary problems. Head: method of teaching, arrangement of classes &
hours & discipline. Master to receive between £50 & £100 p.a. and capitation for each boy of £1 to

£3 per year. Tuition fees: £2 to £5 pa. Ages 7-15.
TO BE  LET:   House  containing parlour,  Sitting  Room, Kitchen,  3 Bedrooms,  large Garret,  good

1882
Beccls Paper, 3 Oct 

Garden, pleasantly situated in London Road. Apply Samuel Gibbs Smallgate.
WILLIAM ALECOCK: Shoeing Forge, Owing to failing health disposed of business to EO Chenery,

1882
Beccls Paper, 3 Oct 

who has had 20 years experience in London.
FEOFFEES LANDS: Leading article points out that new legislation reqires that all land managed for

1882
Beccls Paper, 3 Oct 

the poor must be made available to let as allotments to the poor at market rents.
WHITE HORSE: Licence to Tom Tandy of Lowestoft.
TO BE LET: Three Villas,  Salisbury Place,  Station Road,  each  containing Drawing Room, Dining

1882
1882

Beccls Paper, 17 Oct 
Beccls Paper, 24 Oct 

Room, Kitchen, Scullery, 4 Bedrooms. Rent 18 gns pa. Apply Robert S Block.
RETIREMENT  of  Postmistress  soon,.  Miss  Ottey.  ...  obliging  manners  &  chherful,  assiduous
attention to duties. Post Office should be moved to more commodious premises.

1882
Beccls Paper, 24 Oct 
1882
Beccls Paper, 24 Oct 

ROADS:  The   condition   of   our  roads  in  this   neighbourhood   has   been   gradually   and   almost
imperceptibly growing worse and more dangerous to the traveller for the last few years.
COUNCIL: No contest: FS Rix, S Darby, C Smith. nominated. J Eastaugh has left the town, and T

1882
Beccls Paper, 24 Oct 

Pert has taken his place. FWD Robinson was asked to stand, but refused.
SALE:  Station Road: Two pleasantly situated semi-detached Villa Residences,  1 &  2 Hollyhedge
Villas.  Each  contains  Entrance  Hall,  Drawing  Room  with  bay  window  and  fitted  with  Venetian

1882
Beccls Paper, 24 Oct 

Blinds), Dining Room, (these rooms being separated by Folding Doors)  Entrance passage to Garden,
Kitchen fitted with Cooking  Stove,  Storeroom,  Scullery,  fitted with rain water pump, Copper  and
sink, with water  company’s water  laid on, wc,  and three  bedrooms. The front room  is  fitted with

spacious wardrobe. In the front is a flower Garden, in the rear are coal house and bin, and a walled-in
Garden, having a separate entrance from the back road.
Substantially erected, white brick front and slated. In the occupaston of Henry Lawrance & William

 
 

Rose, Esq. Rents £18 p.a.
EARLY CLOSING: On Friday shops should close at 8 pm instead of  9 pm.

1882
1882

Beccls Paper, 31 Oct 
Beccls Paper, 31 Oct 

THE MAYOR’S CONVERSAZIONE: instead of the Mayor’s Dinner. Wives also invited for the first
time. Guests: Members & Officers  of the Corporation, the Rector  & Churchwardens, Ministers  of

Religion, Head Masters of the Fauconberge, Leman & Collegiate Schools, officers of the Volunteer
Corps,  auditors,  assessors,  overseers,  guardians, Hospital Committee, Burial Board,  School Board,

Collector of the  Feoffees, with wives  and  families  and  a few personal  friends  of the Mayor (WM
Crowfoot)..
SALE: Junction of Smallgate & Old Market. Owner: Suggate. [No 36 Smallgate]

1882
 

East Suff Gaz 7 Nov 
 

Spacious white  brick  fronted Residence  consisting of  Entrance Hall, Dining & Drawing Rooms,  2
smaller  Sitting Rooms, six Bedrooms, Dressing Room, Kitchen, Pantry, Wash-house, Coal  and two
other Cellars, with Yard & small Garden  at back. Coach House &  Stable; now occupied  by Miss

McCulloch, whose lease expires 1883. Rent £21.
Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
25
 
 

ALSO  Residence   adjoining   consisting  of  Passage,   Sitting  Room,  Tailor’s   Shop,  Kitchen,  two
Sleeping Rooms  & three Attics. Occupied  by Robert Buck,  a quarterly tenant  Rent £7 [No  2 Old

Market]
ALSO Brick & tiled Cottage containing Sitting Room, Kitchen, Three Bedrooms with Wash-house &

 
 

Coal-house in Back Yard. Occupied by William Charlish, a quarterly tenant £7. [No 4 Old Market]
Pump  of  excellent spring water in Old Market belongs to the property. Water from Waterworks is

 
 

also laid on to property of Miss Mc Culloch.
Purchased by Nathaniel Shade of Halesworth for £450.
MEETING  of  INHABITANTS:    to  consider  if  it  is  advisable  to  invite  the  Suffolk  Agricultural

 
 

 
1882

 
East Suff Gaz 7 Nov 

Association to Beccles in 1883. 
LANNER HAWK shot on Beccles Marshes, strayed from Iceland.
YARMOUTH GAZETTE: “The ‘hard-worked’ shop assistants of the lethargic town of  Beccles are

1882
1882

East Suff Gaz 7 Nov 
East Suff Gaz 7 Nov 

agitating for an extra hour’s leisure. One may fire a cannon in the streets of the little borough without
the  risk  of  killing  anybody,  and  trundle  a  hoop  in  most  of  the  business  establishments  without
tripping up  a soul. And yet the assistants affirm that they are ‘hard worked’!  kicking  up their heels

behind the counters with little or nothing to do.”
NARROW  ESCAPE:  William  Pitchers,  attendant  at  the  Corporation  drainage  mill,  was  walking
home by the line in consequence of the marshes being flooded. At 4pm the Yarmouth train came up

1882
East Suff Gaz 7 Nov 

and knocked him off the line. He was taken to Beccles Station, but was able to get home. He is over
70 years of age.
G Company, 2nd Volunteer Battalion, Norfolk Regiment.: The annual distribution of prizes was held

1882
East Suff Gaz 7 Nov 

in the NEW DRILL HALL by Major WM Crowfoot
ELECTRIC  LIGHT TRIAL:  Successful  but too  exopensive. The  cost   to  run  of 15  electric  lights
(£320) instead of 80 gas lamps (£120). They were very satisfied with the illumination. Committee set

1882
East Suff Gaz 7 Nov 

up to make further enquiries. The Council decided to apply for a licence to run their own electricity
undertaking which would cost £300 to obtain.

1882
East Suff Gaz 14 Nov 

SUFFOLK AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION: A meeting of only 20 people held. Agreed to invite
the Association to hold meeting in Beccles.

1882
East Suff Gaz 14 Nov 

COUNCIL: (1). Councillor Walton elected Mayor. after only a year  on the Council.. (2). Thanks to
Alderman Crowfoot, the  former Mayor: “There was nothing  lukewarm  about Alderman Crowfoot;

whatever he took in hand he did thoroughly.” (3) Flooding of Marshes: Serious concern over recent
floods. Needed flood gates at Mutford and to support parliamentary “Flood Prevention Bill”. (4) New
Bridge  required  at Beccles.  (5) The walls supporting the paths  on  both the  north & south sides  of

Ingate  be repaired. (6)  W Alecock to mend th  clock for  £3  & wind  & light the clock  on previous
terms (7) Much offensive matter left as a result of the recent floods in Bridge Street & Fen Lane (8)
In the Town trhere were 42  cowkeepers and 222  cows. (9)  Salvation Army  asked to hire the Town

Hall every Sunday and every evening. Refused. (“Absurd”) (The Mormons had been refused its use
in earlier years).
BANQUET FOR EX MAYOR: Crowfoot: “ (1). He thought the Council had gained a certain kudos  

1882
East Suff Gaz 14 Nov 

from having been one of the first towns to try the electric lighting. After all they were not quite such a
sleepy and  dull  and benighted people as was  usually supposed.  (2) The  sewage  farm started  a few
months agowas likely to prove a success. Although it might not prove a great financial success, it was

the most satisfactory way of dealing with a very uinpleasant material. (3) The debt of the Town had
largely been cleared off.
The Mayor said it was cheaper to produce electricity from gas than by steam - some consolation to

 
 

those with shares in the Gas Company!
DEATH OF COWS: Mr James Bullen, copwqkeeper turned out 5 cows & 3 heifers upon a meadow
adjoining his premises in Ravensmere. They all died that afternoon.

1882
East Suff Gaz 28 Nov 
1882
East Suff Gaz 5 Dec 

SALE  OF  FURNITURE:  By  order  of  the  executors  of  Robert  Goldsmith:,  deceased,  Tinman  &
Brazier. Fender & Fireirons, 3 Arm-chairs, 5 Birch chairs, Dining Table, Tea Caddy, npair of brass

Candlesticks,,  8-day  Clock,  24  hour  Cuckoo  Clock,  Duth  Clock,  Chest  of  Drawers,  2  Stump
Bedsteads, 2 Mattresses, Bolsters, Pillows, etc.

 
 

Trade Tools and other effects consist of Brazier’s Working tools, Scissors, Grinding Machine, Keys,
Lead Pump etc In the Yard of the Black Boy.

1882
1882

East Suff Gaz 5 Dec 

ACCIDENT to Mrs Corbyn, who fell down the stairs carrying some linen.
SUNDAY  CLOSING  MOVEMENT:  In  Beccles  meeting   suppoprted  by  the  Rector  and  other
Ministers.

East Suff Gaz 5 Dec 
1882
East Suff Gaz125 Dec 

RESIGNATION of Rev AH Mackonochie as Perpetual Curate of St Albans, Holborn. His successor,
Rev AJ Suckling, Vicar of St Peter’s, London Dock.
COUNCIL:  Electric  Light:  decided  to  abandon  application  for  electricity.  If  they  obtained  it  the

1882
East Suff Gaz 26 Dec 
would be obliged by law to carry it through, whatever the cost.
Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
26
EAST SUFFOLK GAZETTE 1883
1883
East Suff Gaz 2 Jan 

TO LET: House & Carpenter’s Premises  opposite the  White  Lion,  SMALLGATE; Apply Charles
Lockwood, Old Market

1883
East Suff Gaz 2 Jan 

REVIEW OF THE  YEAR 1882: The  Living  of the Church  had been  vacated  in  September 1881.
New Incumbent Rev Rowsell  instituted  at  Easter, who  has proved to be a kindly  and sympathetic

clergyman of liberal views. The services are well attended.
SALVATION ARMY:  Like  many  other places, Beccles  has witnessed  an  attempt to stir “the dry
Bones” on the part of an excrescence of the Salvation Army. The peculiar yet characteristic way in

 
 

which  this  movement  among  the  masses  was  commenced,  occassioned  many  misgivings  to  those
who  value  the  precept  of  the  Apostle,  “Let  all  things  be  done  decently  and  in  order.”  The  noise
perambulations  in  the  public  thoroughfares  provoke  much  opposition  from  the  rougher  classes,

always  glad  of  a  pretext  for  mischief;  and  the  streets  soon  became  the  arenas  of  blaspemy  and
disorder.
It was not until theJustices had shown a determination to maintain the peace by strictly enforcing the

 
 

law,  and  had  sentenced  one  lad  to  a  term  of  imprisonment  as  a  caution  to  others,  that  hostilities
ceased, and the “Salvation” band was allowed to pursue its course unchecked
ELECTRIC  LIGHT:  The  experiment  for  a  month  proved  the  superiority  of  the  lighting,  but  the

 
 

present  costs  were  too  high.  The  Gas  Company  continues  to  put  up  its  prices,  despite  investors
getting 8% interest.

 
 

FLOODS again on the Corporation Marshes. The Bridge continues to impede the flow of water and
application is being made to the County Councils for the construction of a new BRIDGE.

 
 

THE CLOCK: The Chairman of the Sanitary Committee reported that it was beyond repair, but the
official timekeeper repaired it at a trifling expense.

 
 

THE RAILWAY  bridge in Ravensmere  according to the Corporation was dangerous and should be
substituted with a level crossing. But business of this kind is not easy of accomplishment. Not only
the Railway company, but the Board of Trade have to be consulted.
RIFLE CORPS;  The drills were all well attended; and the members - increased to 152 - are generally

 
 

very efficient. Major Crowfoot has every reason to be proud of them.
THE FREE SCHOOL or LEMAN SCHOOL: Governors to offer scholarships of not more than £5 a
year,  and  must provide at  least  £25 for this.  In return for the  additional  advantages  afforded  as  a

 
 

middle-class school, the fees are to be increased to not less than £2 nor more than £5 a year.
A rare MERLIN HAWK was  shot  at Burgh  by Mr C Chase,  and  has been sent to Mr Tilney for
preservation.

1883
East Suff Gaz 2 Jan 
1883
East Suff Gaz 2 Jan 

WILL  of  SIR FRANCIS GOOCH, Bart  late of Benacre Hall (died in August 181)  valued  at  over
£11,000. Estate left to Anne Elizabeth Shippey.
PARISH CHURCH MAGAZINE to be published every month costing 1d. A Scripture Reader is now

1883
East Suff Gaz 2 Jan 

working in the Parish. He will assist in the Mission Room services. His salary of £70 mostly met by
donations.
FOOT & MOUTH DISEASE: Decrease in the number of beasts suffering.

1883
1883

East Suff Gaz 2 Jan 
East Suff Gaz 9 Jan 

POLICE COURT: Jacob Jacobs, fisherman  [probably  lived in Northgate]  charged with refusing to
quit  the  Royal  Oak  on  26  December  when  requested  by  the  Landlord.  He  arrived  about  twelve
o’clock, and as he appeared to be the worse for drink witness objected to his coming in. Defendant

asked to be allowed to enter that he might pay a debt of 2s, and no sooner had he got in than he used
most filthy expressions, and was too disorderly that witness had to summon the police. The defendant

was further  charged with maliciously  and wilfully breaking  a window  at the same time  and place.
This was done after he had put the defendant out of the house. Defendant deliberately thrust his fist

through  a window in the door, with the threat the he would “do” for the defendant. He was sent to
prison for 14 days hard labour.

1883
East Suff Gaz 9 Jan 

BECCLES BRIDGE considered by Quarter Sessions in both Norfolk & Suffolk. Arguments for and
against were given.
MESSRS DARBY’S BRICKMAKERS upwards of 20 sat down to an excellent dinner provided by

1883
East Suff Gaz 16 Jan 

the Hermitage Inn.
THREE COWS POISONED belonging to Mr James Bullen of Beccles, cowkeeper.
SCIENCE & ART CLASSES. Mr Fraser appointed head master of the ladies’ Art Class held at the

1883
1883

East Suff Gaz 16 Jan 
East Suff Gaz 16 Jan 

Rectory Room and all the art classes held at the Collegiate School.
[Jan  30 Mr Fraser came from Clonmel  School  of Art,  Ireland where he  had been teaching twenty
years, and which closed on his departure.]

 
 
1883
East Suff Gaz 16 Jan 

BAND OF HOPE children met in Town Hall. The meeting was quite a success, to give the children
an hour’s enjoyment, to interest and instruct them and the truth that total abstinence from all strong
drink  is  a safeguard  in their early  caqreer from temptation and trouble  and sorrow,  and the way to

Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
27

health and peace and happy homes.
FOOT & MOUTH DISEASE NOTICE. Animals may only be moved into Beccles by licence

1883
1883

East Suff Gaz 23 Jan 
East Suff Gaz 23 Jan 

POLICE COURT John Goffin, labourer [lived in Jones’s Score] accused of Assault on Robert Brook,
coal dealer, [of Blyburgate]  who he met  in  Smallgate about quarter to seven  in the  evening  and

without any provocation took hold of him by the collar of his coat, and after threatening him, gave
him  a  push.  The  defendant  complained  that  he  had  been  round  the  public  houses  abusing  him.

Fined 5s.
TOWN COUNCIL: Discussion about Mr Eastaugh’s Granary on the Quay side. Grain damaged  by
floods. Could floor be built higher? Proposal defeated.

1883
East Suff Gaz 23 Jan 

 
 

 
 

PATHWAY in NORTHGATE said to be a disgrace.
BECCLES BRIDGE: Alderman Crowfoot said that the Magistrates of both Counties seemed to agree
that it was time a new Bridge was built at Beccles.

 
1883

 

Corporation agreed to count the traffic on a Friday for three weeks between 6 am & 8pm.
SALE by MORTGAGEES at SWINES GREEN of Double Cottage and productive Garden occupied
by George Soanes & John Hume; ALSO buildings and nearly an acre of Arable Land well adapted

East Suff Gaz 30 Jan 

for building occupied by John Prime. [Purchased by Mr W Larke for £375.]
SNOWFALL: Bye-law: The occupier of any premises fronting, adjoining, or abutting any street shall
at  least  once  in  every  day,  Sunday  excluded,  cleanse  the  footways  and  pvements  adjoining  such

1883
East Suff Gaz 30 Jan 

premises. On Thursday morning pavements were covered with slush and it was instructive to observe
the  action taken.  Shopkeepers, mindful of their customers, were the first to cleanse their frontages;
private  occupiers the  last, some  of the  more influential  being particularly remiss.  Still some  of the

streets were  brushed  and  cleaned, the Corporation  by their servants setting the  example. The most
notable  exception was  Station Road where the paths  needed  cleaning  more than  anywhere  else.  It
does not seem to have occurred to one occupier to use the brush.

1883
East Suff Gaz 30 Jan 

THE SHAKESPEARIAN DRAMATIC COMPANY will visit Beccles this week to present three of
Shakespeare’s plays

1883
East Suff Gaz 30 Jan 

RAILWAY ACCIDENT between Worlingham and North Cove two carriages and the brake left the
track and fell over trappig the guard, who was injured.

 
1883

 

EMIGRATION TO CANADA increasing by 65% compared with 1881.
READY MONEY for purchases promoted by Co-Operatives now spreading.

East Suff Gaz 6Feb 
 
 

DEATH of Mr W Godbold,  a foundation member  of the  Froresters “Pride of the Forest”  group in
Beccles. Treasurer for 20 years.
MARRIED WOMENS’ PROPERTY Amendment Act makes  it possible for  married womn to own

1883
East Suff Gaz 6Feb 

their own property, but would make debts to shopkeepers etc run up by married women more difficult
to obtain.
FARMING: Ten years  ago I  hired  a farm, when  farming went well. I paid  35s per  coomb for seed

1883
East Suff Gaz 6Feb 

wheat, and 27s per coomb for seed barley. I bought four good young horses  at fifty guineas each. I
broke the land up deep, and my crops did well for the first five years. Then I was able to pay the rent
at the time in April  and October. Then the floods  came  and rain  spoilt the sale  of the  corn. I  had

eighteen  acres  of  marshes  at Norton.  I put eighteen bullocks on them. The  river wall  broke  in  and
flooded them. The  bullocks  became  ill from  eating the  grass,  and  one  died.. The others  I  kept all
winter, and was obliged to sell at £1 per head less than they cost. That prevented me having any fat

bullocks to pay the April rent.
My landlord came just as I began harvest. I met him at twelve o’clock the same day. He told me if I
did not pay by five  o’clock that day he would put a  distress  on the premises. I said “If you wait  a

 
 

fortnight I will thresh and pay you.” Behold, the next morning there were the bailiffs on. So I sad “If
that is what you mean, I must sell off, and I will pay everyone and have some to spare.”
I had all new harness, all new implements, chaff-cutter, and fyeing machine., None of that made half

 
 

what they cost me. The valuation was not so much by £50, and there were twelve acres of marsh hay
extra. Now came the pain. The lawyer’s bill was £65, the auctioneer and valuer’s  bill £39, and the

bailiffs and various other charges took nearly half what there was.
I had two prime young cowsdirectly after I took the farm. My wife was proud of them. She went one

 
 

day to look at them with pattens on. One made a run at her. She ran away and fell down and broke her
arm in two places, which she never recovered from. After a few months lingering she died. So I have

lost my wife and a good house of furniture. Everything was sold. I have no house or home, I should
be thankful if any kind friend will help me. I will make myself generally useful. I am now hard up.
My address is John Barber, Kirby Kane, Bungay.

1883
East Suff Gaz 13 Feb 

CARD PLAYING  in public houses in Beccles. A correspondent believes that there is hardly a public
house in Beccles in which it is not permitted.
“I and my children have suffered untold misery, for I am sorry to say my hiusband - at one time free

 
 
of  any such vice - is dearly fond of  card playing. Nearly every night he  goes off, directly after tea,
Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
28

and  
can always tell  in  a moment whether  he has  been  losing or winning. If  only this shameful  gaming

I see nothing more of him till past eleven, when the publican is obliged to send him off. I

could be stopped I should be so glad!” 
BECCLES BRIDGE The Surveyors of Suffolk (Mr HM Eyton said that the bridge would last many

 
 
1883
East Suff Gaz 13 Feb 

years for county purposes, but was inconveniently narrow.
Mr Brereton, Surveyor for Norfolk said it was structurally sound, but as the approaches were so very

 
 

steep it was  an  expensive  bridge to keep up, there  being  a  good  deal  of  heavy cartage over  it. He
considered  the  question  of  building  a  new  bridge  more  one  for  the  town  than  either  county,  and
pointed out the necessity for something being done to improve the approach from Gillingham. It was

necessary to consult the Admiralty to see if they required the bridge to be of any particular height.
MARKET TEA in the King’s Head, Beccles: Mr Beaman said “He could not say much about trade;
in fact the less he said the better. With a few excveptions the trade had been bad; he might say very

1883
East Suff Gaz 27 Feb 

bad. He supposed the bakers and butchers had done the best; the millers must have found their trade
nearly all profit;
PRAYERS FOR FINE WEATHER. Long continuance of unfavourable weather following upon the

1883
East Suff Gaz 6  Mar 

general failure of the autumn seed time, and so near to the spring seed time isv a cause of very serious
anxiety to the whole country, - Bishop of Norwich.
NEW STREETS: Why do not the Corporation put up lamps in the new streets? Because the roads are

1883
East Suff Gaz 13 Mar 

private and the power of the Corporation over them is limited to sanitary matters. If the owners put
the roads  into  good  repair,  and then  ask  leave to  hand them over to th Corporation,  no  objection
would  probably  be  offered.  Caxton  Road  isn  particular  is  used  by  passing  traffic.  Could  not  the

Corporation pay some of the cost of improving the road?
DEATH  OF MISS  OTTEY  former  postmistress  who  spent  much  of  her  life  looking  after  her  ill
mother. She had moved to the Isle of Wight.

1883
East Suff Gaz 13 Mar 
1883
East Suff Gaz 20 Mar 

POLICE COURT: Mr Albert Livock, professor of Music & Church Organist found guilty of failing
to purchase a ticket at Beccles on his journey to Bungay. Fined 5s & 9s 6d costs.

1883
East Suff Gaz 20 Mar 

NOMINATIONS OF PARISH OFFICIALS: Overseers: JM Brundell, TA Woodroffe, RA King, A
Pells;  Guardians:  R  Block,  J  Boutell,  JK  Garrod,  H  Cunningham,  B  Woolnough  &  WR  Clarke.

Assessors & Collectors of Taxes: James Mullet & Jonathan Nobbs
TO  LET:  Stable  &  Coach  Houses  with  pump  and  water,  WR  Clarke,  Twyford  House,  Exchange

1883
East Suff Gaz 27 Mar 

Square.
CHURCH A pair of handsome new gates have been erected at the entrance to the south porch of the
parish church. The gates are made of oak and wrought iron, Mr Woodroffe and Mr Delf being jointly

1883
East Suff Gaz 27 Mar 

concerned in the work, which cost £38 10s.
NATIONAL  SCHOOLS  Mr  Ashby,  formerly  an   assistant  master   at  the  Priory  School,  Great
Yarmouth elected Master of the Boys’ School, in place of Mr Balls who is leaving.

1883
East Suff Gaz 27 Mar 

 
1883

 

Mr Read Crisp taking over the Treasurership from Mr Beaman who is leaving Beccles.
VESTRY MEETING: Balance  avalable for the  fabric of the  church  £80. The Churchwardens  had
received £14 for a piece of Land known as the Clerk’s Piece. [was it sold? or is it rent?] Read Crisp

East Suff Gaz 27 Mar 

retires from being Rector’s Churchwarden  and  WM Crowfoot takes his place.Mr Crowfoot said  he
had grave doubts of his accepting the office as he had already more work on his hands than he knew
very well how efficiently to accomplish.

 
 

Mr WM Crowfoot retired from the Burial Board (of which he was Chairman) after thirty years. Mr
JK Garrod appointed in his place.
LITERARY  INSTITUTE  Mr  John  Clark  resigned  from  Chairmanship,  Mr  Thwaites  elected.Mr

1883
East Suff Gaz 3 Apr 

Masters, Vice President; AE King, Secretary, in the place of MF Buck who had held the office for 6
years; W Flower, Treasurer; JS Blranfod, Librarian. Committee: A Block, MF Buck, TH Pearce, W
Read, HG Read, HB Smith & W Steer.

1883
 

East Suff Gaz 3 Apr 

POLICE COURT: LICENCE: Britannia Shades to Edward Chatten of Saxmundham.
LANGUAGE:  James  Beales,  bill-poster  using  bad  language  in  HUNGATE  at  the  Ale  Stores.

 

Inspector Bardwell ejected him. On getting into the street he used thye most filthy language he had
ever heard. He was  not sober. The  Inspector said he  had  had more  complaints of  his bad language

than of all the other people in the town put together. Fined 30s.
ASSAULT:  on  Jacob  Borrett,  labourer,who  was  unloading  malt,  in  the  employmentv  of  Messrs

 
 

Crisp, when he spoke to Frederick Warnes, labourer, about his being late. Warnes struck him on the
mouth, knocking out one of his teeth, and afterwards dealt him several blows about the head and face.
James  Goffin  corroborated.  Charles   Smith,  a   clerk  also   gave   evidence.  He  had  two  previous

convictions. Sentenced to six weeks imprisonment with hard labour.
SALE IN INGATE: Four Brick built DWELLING HOUSES, with a SHOP and LAND, late Robert
Goldsmith, deceased, near St Anne’s Bridge:

1883
East Suff Gaz 10 Apr 
 
 
HOUSE occupied by Sarah Smith with 2 Bedrroms & 1 Stiing Room;, Rental £5 10s;
Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
29
 
 

HOUSE & SHOP occupied by Mark Turner containing Shop, 2 Sitting Rooms, 4 Bedrooms, Stable
& Shed, Rental £10 5s;

 
 

 
 

HOUSE in occupation  of John Greengrass: Sitting Room & Bedroom, Rental £4 11s;
HOUSE occupied by Henry Farrow, Sitting Room & 2 Bedroms, Rental £4 19s 8d.

1883
East Suff Gaz 10 Apr 

BECCLES BRIDGE: The Norfolk Magistates of Norfolk &  Suffolk  agreed to  each provide  £500
towards the cost of the Bridge which was expected to cost about £3000. In Norfolk an entirely new

road would have to be made.The Suffolk Magistrates voeted in favour of the £500 expenditure by 15
votes to 13.
LIQUIDATION BY ARRANGEMENT: W Woolnough, Beccles, fish merchant

1883
1883

East Suff Gaz 10 Apr 
East Suff Gaz 10 Apr 

SUFFOLK AGRICULTURASL SHOW:Tenders are invited for erection of shedding, for the canvas
covering to sheds, for the supply of tares, hay and straw, and for the rght to provide refreshments, at
the Suffolk Agricultural Show at Beccles in June.

1883
East Suff Gaz 10 Apr 

EASTER FAIR: Last week a fair was held on a vacant lot near the Station. It was largely attended,
the attractions being two fat women, steam horses, swinging boats, shooting galleries, stalls etc.
SUICIDE of George Riches, labourer, aged 58, of Ingate

1883
1883

East Suff Gaz 10 Apr 
East Suff Gaz 10 Apr 

SOUP  KITCHEN  In  15  weeks  18,374  pints  of  soup  sold  1/2d  a  pint  to  about  300  families.
Distribution being twice a week.
FATAL ACCIDENT AT STATION Frank Aldous, aged 17, railway lamp cleaner, tried to jump on

1883
East Suff Gaz 10 Apr 

the  step  of  a  moving  carriage,  missed  his  hold  and  fell  between  the  carriages.  He  died  later  in
Hospital.
REDUCTION IN GAS PRICE: by 6d per 1000 feet. In  1876 6s was charged, noe 4s 6d.

1883
1883

East Suff Gaz 17 Apr 
East Suff Gaz 17 Apr 

GAS WORKS inadequate to meet demand, a new gas-holder, a new scrubber, and an exhauster to be
added. This will increase the value of the ammonical liquor, and to produce from every ton of coal
carbonized about 1000 cubic feet of gas more than at present. Cost will be £1500 to be added to their

present capital of £7100 by the issue of 150 new £10 shares.
EXCURSION  TRAIN:  On  Tuesday  evening  150  people  from  Beccles  took  the  cheap  evening

1883
East Suff Gaz 17 Apr 

excursion to Norwich to go to Hengler’s Circus.
WAVENEY VALLEY BICYCLE CLUB, 20 Members of the Club had a successful supper at King’s

1883
East Suff Gaz 17 Apr 

Head. Spoke of immense development of cycling over the last ten years.
FAUCONBERGE SPORTS DAY held on 9 April.

1883
1883

East Suff Gaz 17 Apr 
East Suff Gaz 17 Apr 

POLICE  COURT:  William  Sampson,  [aged  39,  married  with  one  son,  lived  in  Swine’s  Green]
labourer, & John George [aged  25, married with  no  children,  lived  in  Swine’s Green], labourer  &
Barrington  Copeman,  [aged  37,  lived  in  Swine’s  Green],  married  with  two  children,  hay  dealer

charged with  being disorderly  and  refusing to  quit the Red Cow when  requested by the  Landlord,
John Hubbard.. The three men were in the house about 5 o’clock on Thursday.  An old man called for
half  a pint  of  beer, which was  accidentally knocked  off the table,  and the handle  of the mug was

broken.  Sampson picked it up,  and then smashed it on the floor, which naturally  made him  angry,
and he told him to leave the house or he would call the police. The two other defendants also behaved
badly, and he told them to go. They remained, however, drinking other people’s beer, and otherwise

behaving in an improper way. On eof them threw a piece of coal at him and injured his hat: all three
annoyed him for two hours. As they had been previously convicted tey were each fined 18s, incuding
costs, or seven days. Thirteen days allowed.

1883
East Suff Gaz 17 Apr 

POLICE COURT Alfred Drew aged 13 [lived in Dacre Place, Newgate, father a labourer, family of 6
children] & William Preston, aged 13 [lived in Dacre Place, father a Pressman, family of 5 children]  
charged with stealing a purse valued at 6d and half a soverign from Arthur Stimpson, tailor [aged 25,

lived in Fair Close]
Frances  Stimpson sent her little boy aged  6 with half  a sovereign to the Co-op to buy some bacon.
When he came home he had nither purse, money nor bacon. Drew said he had “picked the little boy

 
 

up and carried him because he was afraid of some dogs. The purse dropped out of his pocket. I picked
it  up  and  changed  the  half  soverign,  gave  half  to  Preston,  the  otherv  is  at  my  house.”  Thomas

Nightingale [41Smallgate], baker, had changed the money. Prisoners remanded for seven days.
1 May: they were  sent to prison  for ten  days  and afterwards to the  reformatory  at Buxton for five

 
 

years each.
Joseph  Walton,  the  Mayor  presents  the  Council  with  a  Chain  of  Office  for  the  Mayor.  He  was

1883
East Suff Gaz 24 Apr 

surprised that there had not been one previously. It was made of silver gilt. He handed it round for
inspection, after which he put it on, remarking that as he had presented the chain in order that it might
be worn, he presumed the Council would wish him to put it on. (Applause).

 
 

Alderman  Crowfoot  thanking,  said  that  last  year  he  attended  the  large  gathering  of  Mayors  at  St
Paul’s, and he had the opportunity of seeing a very large number of municipal chains. He did feel it
very desirable that the Mayor of Beccles should be  decorated in that way. One Gentleman who sat

next to him  at dinner felt it so very keenly. He  did not know whether he should be admitted to the
Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
30

Lord  Mayor  without  a  chai:  so  he  had  gone  to  the  expense  of  getting  a  Court  dress,  and  a  very
comical figure he managed tocut.

1883
East Suff Gaz 24 Apr 

TOWN COUNCIL i) Attention of Major Crowfoot drawn to the want of repair of the rifle stands on
the Common.

 
 

ii) Alderman Masters complained about the state of the Common. It should be a place of recreation,
but the sweeping of the streets and the night soil were carted there and created a great nuisance. The

same concerned the holes on the Common, which ought to be filled up as much as possible, and some
effort to make it look more like a park. At present it was the receptacle for the rubbish of the town.
Reply: The Common was little else but holes; but the holes made for getting out gravel must be filled

 
 

up. Councillor Read said that only a short time ago he had the misfortune to lose a cow owing to its
falling into one of those holes. Not long after he saw two ponies galloping in play, and one of them
had afterwards to be shot.

 
 

 
 

iii) At times there had been a very objectioable effluvia about the town
iv) A piece of pavement 30 yards long near Mr Knights, baker in Northgate be raised 4 inches if it
can be done without interfering with the houses.

 
 

v) The Town-Crier  has  been fined  for  using obscene  language,  and  is perhaps  unsuitable for that
office. A vote of censure was passed against him, but he was not sacked.
vi) An application from Mr Shade applying for leave to case his house on the Old Market. Agreed. [2

 
 

or 4 Old Market]
vii) A new  large  lamp had  been put  up in the Newmarket  by the Gas Company. The Councillors
generally deemed it a success. But would electric lighting be better, even if slightly more expensive?

 
 
1883
East Suff Gaz 24 Apr 

LETTER: WATER SUPPLY: A sediment is invariably formed when the water is allowed to stand in
a  vessel for  any length  of time,  and numberless  foreign substances  can readily be  seen  in  a  glass.
One’s temperance views are sorely tried at times owing to the condition of the water.

1883
East Suff Gaz 1 May 

The Rector returned  home  on Friday  evening  after  his month’s  holiday. To signalize the event the
flag was hoisted on the steeple, and the bells rang out a joyous peal

1883
East Suff Gaz 8 May 

SALE: BLYBURGATE: A large SHOP in Blyburgate with plate glass front & Sitting Room, Pantry,
3 Bedrooms, 2 Attics and range of offices, all used as Warehouses) ALSO a well planted productive

Garden. The SHOP & Offices are occupied by the BECCLES WORKING MEN’S CO-PERATIVE
Association  under  a  lease  3  years  of  which  are  unexpired.  The  Garden  is  occupied  by  Mr  JL

Wilkinson. Annual Rent £35.  [No Sale}
SALE: INGATE: A Block of Four Freehold Tenements with Wheelwright’s Shop in the occupation
of John Spinlove, Clement Dennington, James Turrell & Lydia Balls. Aggregate Rental £32 10s.

1883
East Suff Gaz 8 May 

 
1883

 

[Withdrawn at £350; later purchased  by Mr WH Cook for £380]
TOWN COUNCIL authorise the lending of the Common to the Agricultural Show on 27th & 28th of
June.

East Suff Gaz 8 May 
1883
East Suff Gaz 15 May 

LIQUIDATION BY ARRANGEMENT: James Potter, publican, Beccles [The Crown  & Ancor, 7,
BALLYGATE]
MISS McCulloch  is  recovering from the  sprain  she  accidentally  met with  a short time since,  and

1883
East Suff Gaz 22 May 

hopes to be able to meet her pupils again on 28th May.
IN LIQUIDATION: AW Burnham, hatter of Blyburgate.
POLICE COURT: late of  Shipmeadow Workhouse  and  just  out of Norwich Castle, where he  had

1883
1883

East Suff Gaz 29 May 
East Suff Gaz 29 May 

been  committed  for  misbehaviour  in  the  workhouse,  was  charged  with  having  assaulted  Police
Constable Caley.in the Court. He  refused to take  off his hat,  and when the constable took it off  he
struck him.  After his conviction Wright assaulted and kicked Inspector Bardwell in the legs. When in

the train he bit and struck the Constable. He was sentenced to six weeks hard labour.
NEW POST OFFICE: Mr Stephen Thompson, the new Postmaster entered on his duties on  1 June
and moved into his new office, which is next but one to the old office, near the church. It has been

1883
East Suff Gaz 5 Jun 

fitted up with allthe latest improvements.
FOXHOUNDS: The Suffolk pack composed of 31 couples, the property of Mr EW Grene, were sold

1883
East Suff Gaz 5 Jun 

at Rugby fetching from 22 to 45 guineas, totalling nearly1000 guineas.
SALE OF FURNITURE: Newmarket [The Walk] late Miss Otty, late the Post Office.

1883
1883

East Suff Gaz 12 Jun 
East Suff Gaz 12 Jun 

DEATH of WILLIAM CLOWES, the eldest son  of William Clowes who in 1803 laid the foundation
of the business. He entered the office in 1823. His father was amongst the first to commence steam

printing, and was called upon to defend an action of nuisance brought by his neighbour, the late Duke
of Northumberland. This led to the business inm Northumberland Court being removed to the present
site,  in  Duke  Street,  Stamford  Street,  whence  have  emenated  some  of  the  most  important  works

which the present  century has produced.  Specially may be mentioned the  appearance  of the  Penny
Magazine, which did so much for the cause of cheap, wholesome, and popular literature. The Penny
magazine,  it is believed, was the  earliest instance  of the successful printing  of woodcuts  by aid of

steam machinery.
Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
31
 
 

Mr  Clowes,  besides  controlling  the  destinies  of  the  business  left  by  his  father  to  himself  and  his
brother, Mr Gerge Clowes, was ever conspicuous for the interest which he took in the welfare of the

operatives  in  his  craft.  For  thirty  years  he  was  a  trustee  and  Treasurer  of  the  Printers’  Pension,
Almshouse.   and  Orphan  Asylum  Corporation.  the  building   and  subsequent  endowment  of  the

Printers’ Almshouse at Wood Green greatly occupied his attention, and he always evinced a kindly
zeal for the comfort of the inmates.

 
 

Mr  Clowes  was  born  on  15th  May,  1807  and  his  remains  were  followed  to  the  family  grave  in
Norwood Cemetery by the members of his family, by about sixty of the employees of the firm, and
by the Secretary of the Printing Trade Charities, and many other friends.+

1883
East Suff Gaz 12 Jun 

FAUCONBERGE  SCHOOL Mr RM Brown,  od Downing College, Cambridge,  late  of this school
has gained a First in the Natural Science Tripos.
NEW  WATER CART: The Sanitary Authority have just purchased  a new wate cart which was out

1883
East Suff Gaz 12 Jun 

for the first time on Saturday. They have now two carts for watering the streets and roads, which will
avoid  the complaints of clouds of dust made in all parts of the town.
POLICE COURT: LICENCES

1883
 

East Suff Gaz 12 Jun 

 
 

Benjamin Revell tranfer of licence from James Potter of Crown & Anchor.
Tom Tandy to sell wine, beer & spirita at the Agriculural Show.
BAPTIST CHURCH: Meeting of Baptist Association: The Beccles Pastor has resigned. Baptised 3,

 
1883

East Suff Gaz 12 Jun 

dismissed to other Churches 2; died 2; present Members 163; Scholars 140.
INSPECTION of RIFLE VOLUNTEERS by Col Buxton. 130 of al ranks present on parade including
Major WM Crowfoot & Capt Robinson. Congratulated on their Battalion & Company movements.

1883
East Suff Gaz 12 Jun 

1883
 

East Suff Gaz 12 Jun 

HOSPITAL SUNDAY: Collections at all places of worship:
St Michael’s: £21  12s  10d; Congregational: £12 5s 7d; Baptists £4  2s b 6d; Wesleyan £1  9s  3d;
Primitive Methodists 18s

 
1883
East Suff Gaz 12 Jun 

RECTOR of SOTTERLEY, Rev  SS Warmoll,   accused of being  drunk during a  Service before the
Ecclesiastical Commission.. Defence was that he was old and ill. He was advised to appoint a Curate

to take his place. The charges were not brought. [The Curate appointed was himself sent to prison in
1885!]

1883
East Suff Gaz 19 Jun 

EDUCATION: The National Schools propsed to be enlarged to meet increasing requirements. £700
will be needed. £300 already promised.

1883
1883

East Suff Gaz 19 Jun 

page missing
POLICE  COURT:  Sarah  Mills,  married  woman,  living  in  Dacre  Place  charged  with  maliciously
broken  a window  in the house  of Mary Ann Goffin, married woman, who  lives on the  corner  of

East Suff Gaz 26 Jun 

Manor House  Lane. Mrs Goffin said  she was unable to  go  out of  her  house without the  defendant
insulting or abusing her.
On 2 June she heard some0ne throwing stones at her door at quarter to twelve at night,, and looking

 
 

out saw  it was the  defendant. The  defendant threw  a stone  and smashed the window, saying “She
would soon settle her.” A neighbour, Charles Minns  corroborated the story. .She said  her little boy
did it  accidentally, in trying to hit the  door. The Bench werre  quite satisfied she was  guilty of this

offence and in consequence of her previous character she would be Fined £1 or 14 days hard labour.
She asked for time to pay. “Not a Day” said the Chairma, “Not an hour” said Mr Crisp.
RETIREMENT of MAJOR ALLEZ: He  had  been Deputy Chief Constable for 40 years,  and  being

 
 

now in his 75th year, and finding that bodily infirmities began to interfere with the efficient discharge
of his duties, he thought it best to apply for superannuation. The Bench thanked him and wished him
a happy retirement.

1883
East Suff Gaz 26 Jun 

THREATENING LETTER sent to the BISHOP  of NORWICH, Rt Rev John Pelham in which  he
threatens  to  murder  him  if  he  does  not  relinquish  his  salary  of  £5,000.  Joseph  Betts,  (aged  31)
labourer of Norwich accused. Case to go to Assizes.

 
 

At the Norwich Assizes on 14 August the Bishop withdrew the case as he believed that the prisoner
did not intend to murder him, but a stop must be put to people sending threatening  letters. He was

released on surety of £100 & bound over.
SALE  late William  Suggate:  LOT 1: A Block of THREE COTTAGES  & Gardens  in  PEDDAR’S

1883
East Suff Gaz 26 Jun 

LANE occupied by James Stratford, George Pratt & Thomas Gardiner
[purchased Mr Nicholson £303]

 
1883

 
East Suff Gaz 26 Jun 

SALE  of  FURNITURE  of  Mrs  Boatwright,  who  is  leaving  town:    No  1  Wellington  Terrace,
STATION ROAD:
BECCLES HOSPITAL. Criticisms that there was an unfair charge made on working men going into

1883
East Suff Gaz 3 Jul 

Hospital. This was denied. The circumstances were very carefully looked into and people who could
not afford to pay were not charged.
SUFFOLK AGRICULTURAL SHOW  Held  at BECCLES It was  12 years ago that the  Show last

1883
East Suff Gaz 3 Jul 
came to Beccles, when  africulture was prospering,  and trade  generally  good. Times have  changed
Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
32

since 1871, and Beccles has shared in the depression. At first when it was suggested, there was a col
response,  but for the importunity  and resolution  of  a few,  no invitation would probably have  been

given. The Corporation gave the use of a portion of the Common, and a more suitable site could not
be desired.

 
 

Decorative archways were built on Station Road, the Railway Station & the Avenue, giving the town
a holiday appearance.. Fewer Horses than in 1871, but more sheep & cattle.

1883
East Suff Gaz 10 Jul 

TO LET: BRITANNIA WINE  SHADES, BLYBURGATE, immediate possession. Apply Harwood
& Co, The Brewery, Beccles.

1883
East Suff Gaz 10 Jul 

PARTNERSHIP   DISSOLVED   -   Harw0ood   &   Beaman,   Beccles,   brewers,   maltsters   &   wine
merchants
WORKERS’ TREAT  65 men &  apprentices  employed by Mr Horsley’s Carriage Works started  at

1883
East Suff Gaz 10 Jul 

6am  in three pair-horse  breaks & three  single horse waggonettes for  Yarmouth. They reached the
Bridge Hotel at 9.30, had breakfast, returning to the Hotel at 2.30 had bountiful lunch & started for
home at 9.30, arriving at 12 midnight.

1883
East Suff Gaz 10 Jul 

QUARTER  SESSIONS:  Beccles  Bridge:  The  plaqns  for  this  were  approved,  allowing  £500  from
their  funds  &  £500  from  Norfolk.  The  existing  bridge  would  not  be  interfered  with  during  the
construction of the new bridge [I think it was], which would start from almost absolute contact with

thje old one, and would cross the river directly at waterings, which were considered public ground on
either side. The width would be 20ft (11ft at present) and the span 70ft.
The  outlay would  be  £2,000  for the bridge,  £100  for the  architects,  compensation  claimed by Mr

 
 

Darby of £170. The Beccles Navigation Commissioners had £1,658 in hand.
STRUCK by LIGHTNING: At Beccles there was a storm  in the  morning on  Saturday. Mr Allen,
stonemason was injured by lighning while in his garden in Fen Lane. His neck was scorched, and he

1883
East Suff Gaz 17 Jul 

felt so much pain in his legs and body, with headache, that he was obliged to keep to bed for the rest
of the day and onm Sunday. On Monday he was much better..

1883
East Suff Gaz 17 Jul 

OUTING 60 employees of Mr Garrod had their annual treat on Tuesday, leave Beccles by the 9am
train to Thorpe Station. They had dinner at the George Inn on the Haymarket. Returned home at 9.30.

1883
 

East Suff Gaz 24 Jul 

POLICE COURT: LICENCES: the Crown & Anchor, Ballygate to Benjamin Revell
The Spead Eagle, Northgate to William Martin

 
 

 
 
 

The Falcon, New Market to Frederick Hall
The Angel, Ballygate to Henry Oakley
The  Fox  &  Hounds,  New  Market  to  James  Potter,  as  manager  for  executors  of  Philip  Jarman,

 
 

deceased.
FAUCONBERGE SCHOOL Prize Day;  Speaker The Rector (dull speech)
DANGEROUS CHARACTER: On Friday a Policeman arrived from Woodbridge to take custody of

1883
1883

East Suff Gaz 31 Jul 
East Suff Gaz 31 Jul 

Stephen Oxborough, a ticket of leave prisoner, who failed to report to the police every month. He is
wanted for robbery at Wickhm Market.
7 August: There was insufficient evidence for theft of 7 pairs of boots at Wickham Market.

 
 

 
 

 But  for  failing  to  present  himself  he  was  returned  to  Wormwood  Scrubbs  (where  he  had  been
convicted for 7 years hard labour)
STRAWBERRIES: Very prolific Crop: John Crisp’s gardener 614 pints from land 22yds x 10yds

1883
1883

East Suff Gaz 7 Aug 
East Suff Gaz 7 Aug 

LEMAN SCHOOL PRIZES: Rector presents
GIRLS’ FRIENDLY SOCIETY annual Treat to Kessingland
BAND OF HOPE chilren have Summer Treat to Castle Farm

1883
1883

East Suff Gaz 7 Aug 
East Suff Gaz 7 Aug 

1883
1883

East Suff Gaz 7 Aug 

INSPECTION of No & (Beccles) Battery
BUNGAY RACES revived on Bank Holiday after 27 years. 6 events. Grandstand erected by S Darby
of Beccles for 800 people. 7,000 present. Trains from Norwich, Yarmouth, Ipswich etc. Special train

East Suff Gaz 7 Aug 

from Beccles.  (JL Garden on Committee: His horse “My Uncle” won The Waveney Stakes & The
Licensed Victuallers Stakes

1883
1883

East Suff Gaz 14 Aug 

TO BE LET: House & Shop in Newmarket - Apply RC Houghton
FOOT & MOUTH DISEASE again broken out in Suffolk near Halesworth.

East Suff Gaz 21 Aug 

1883
1883

East Suff Gaz 21 Aug 

WORKING MEN’S CLUB to Harwich for outing.
BANKRUPTCY LAW changed. Liquidations which are five times more common than Bankrupcies

East Suff Gaz 21 Aug 

will be abolished.
THE  SALVATION ARMY : This  little  band  of religious zealots had  rather rough time of  it  last
week.  When  they  went  out  on  Wednesday  &  Thursday  evenings,  they  were  mobbed  and  hissed,

1883
East Suff Gaz 28 Aug 

stones were thrown, and even knives, it is reported, were drawn, threats being  freely used. Several of
the members of the Army found it necessary to secrete themselves until the fury of the mob had spent
itself.  Some  harsh  and uncharitable public  comments  on the future of  certain  deceased  individuals

seem to have provoked the disturbances.
Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
33
1883
East Suff Gaz 28 Aug 

TOWN COUNCIL: Property Plans Approved:  Rev SK Bland for additions to his house occupied by
Mr Robson;  HL Robbins new office in Gosford RoadNew Gas Holder at Gas Works. The plan for a

new house for  WK Larke on Swine’s Green must have specifications given.
Agreement with the Gas Co & its Managing Director, CF Parker for supply of gas for next year.

 
 

 
 

THE BRIDGE: Alderman reported his meeting with the Magistrates about the bridge. He said that the
JPs  of  East  Suffolk were  in favour  of  spending money on  it,  but those  of  West  Suffolk were not

interested. Councillor  Smith said the new  bridge would be too low.  It needed to  be  aq  foot  or  18
inches taller. This would cost £1,000 more it was understood.  
LADIES’ Class for Drill & Calisthesics. Sergt- Major Barkham, RA in Town Hall 12.15 Tuesday 4

1883
East Suff Gaz 28 Aug 

Sept
CAXTON ATHLETIC SPORTS 
NEW HOSPITAL at Norwich opened, a magnificent building, provides bedding accommodation for

1883
1883

East Suff Gaz 28 Aug 
 
East Suff Gaz 28 Aug 

1,500 patients instead of 100 in the old hospital. Seventy additional beds are kept for an emergency.
To render the hospital free from any possible risk of disease a quarter of the available space is always
to be  kept empty, with the doors  and windows  open. Munificent  gift of  £15,000 from the  Earl  of

Leicester.
SALE  FURNITURE:  Miss  Gammidge  who  is  leaving  Beccles,  The  Walk  Household  &  School
Furniture, 3 Pianos,  12 iron bedsteads, forms, maps etc

1883
East Suff Gaz 4 Sep 
1883

SCHOOL: It has been decided not to reopen the Elementary Schools today owing to the epedemic of
measles & hooping-cogh, from which so many children have been suffering.  [Reopened 10 Sept]
POLICE COURT:Mark Peat, labourer,  disorderly, put out of The Duke pub by the  Landlord, Luke

East Suff Gaz 4 Sep 
1883
East Suff Gaz 4 Sep 

Smith, but returned and  police called. Fined 10s.
LICENCE TRANSFER: Horse  & Groom  in New Market to new pub in Caxton Road  by Messrs
Morse & Woods. Built recently by TA Woodroffe, cost £500, well worth £15 a year. James Sampson,

1883
East Suff Gaz 4 Sep 

landlord.    Good  cart  shed  &  stables  for  7  or  8  horses  provided.  Approved  despite  objections  by
inhabitants of Caxton Road, Denmark Road, Avenue Cottages & Waveney Terrace

 
 

Mr S Reeve, who was putting forward the application on behalf of Messrs Morse & Woods, brewers,
remarked: “There were persons who drank cold water and liked it above everything. By all means in

the world let them drink as much as they liked; but it was not everybody who liked to swallow the
pump handle.” (Laughter)

1883
East Suff Gaz 4 Sep 

LICENCE:  William  Warren of the Victoria,  LONDON ROAD applied  for wine  licence. Refused.
Only allowed with meals.
LICENCE: Britaania Shades, BLYBURGATE: John Harrison, 28 years a soldier. Granted

1883
1883

East Suff Gaz 4 Sep 
East Suff Gaz 4 Sep 

LICENCE: George & Dragon, HUNGATE LANE: licence to RB Snowden approved.
THEFT: Henry Cole of Westminster found guilty of entering the Town Clerk’s  office (Mr Angell)
when no one was around & stealing  a velveteen coat, a  clothes brush  and pens. He was afterwards

1883
East Suff Gaz 11 Sepl 

observed wearing the coat and nonchantly smoking about the streets, somewhat the worse for drink.
TENDERS for rebuilding the Brick Pinning to the raised Path on the South Side
REDIHAM HALL ESTATE Sale of 440 Oak, Ash & Elm timbers & trees.

1883
1883

East Suff Gaz 11 Sepl 
East Suff Gaz 11 Sepl 
1883
East Suff Gaz 11 Sepl 

COUNCIL MEETING: The New Bridge. Members of the Council complained of the ugliness of the
new  bridge  designs,  saying  more  ornamentation  was  required.  They  also  wanted  it  more  than  18
inches  higher than the  old  bridge. Nevertheless eventually they agreed to the  begrudging terms  of

theJustices and that the Council would give £50 towards the Bridge.
SCHOOL: Miss Gammidge, of the Walk,  leaving the Town. Sale of School Furniture etc. 3 Pianos.
EARLY  CLOSING:  Letter  from  Secretary  of  the  Early  Closing  Association,  London,  noting  that

1883
1883

East Suff Gaz 18 Sepl 
East Suff Gaz 18 Sepl 

Beccles  does  not have a mid-week half holiday, whereas  in  a very large proportion of the towns in
England and Wales there is a half day holiday..
TROUT put into the Waveney  at Ellingham a year  ago  have  attained  a  considerable size and have

1883
East Suff Gaz 18 Sepl 

been seen near Beccles bridge.
LIQUIDATION James Potter, publican, Beccles. DEividend of 4s 6d in the £.

1883
1883

East Suff Gaz 18 Sepl 
East Suff Gaz 18 Sepl 

BARSHAM HALL FARM. Mr Whitting gave his labourers his usual feast. About 40 sat down to a
substantial dinner.

1883
East Suff Gaz 18 Sepl 

POLICE COURT: Harriet Ling found guilty of assaulting 81 year old Sarah Knights, wife of Thomas
Knights, cowkeeper. Mrs Knights was agent for a house in which the Lings lived, who had not paid

the rent for eight weeks and were moving to Burton on Trent. Mrs Ling pushed over Mrs Knights,
dislocating her wrist. Mrs Ling was arrested at the Railway Station, gaily bedecked in her finery. She
was sentenced to 14 days imprisonment.

1883
East Suff Gaz 18 Sepl 

SALVATION ARMY (leading  article) : “For the second time the Justices  of the Beccles Division
have made it plain that they intend to  deal stternly with  all personal  assaults upon members of the
Salvation Army.  Whatever provocation may  be  given  in  a  general way in the noisy  and  offensive

perambulation of the Army through the streets of the Town, there can be no excuse for resorting to
Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
34

personal  violence  ...  The  disorder  in  the  streets  at  night  is  becoming  intolerable  ...  blashemy  &
wickedness were never so openly displayed as now ...”

1883
East Suff Gaz 18 Sepl 

POLICE COURT John Bell, brewer’s drayman sentenced  to 14 days hard labour for knocking down
Ellen Philpot [aged 18, living in Suffolk Inn in Newgate] with his fist at 8pm in Manor House Lane

when she was out wth the Salvation Army. [The Hall seems to have been in the Lane]
Lieut Maria Peters & Lizzie Spalding [aged 21, living in Rook’s Lane] came to her when she fell. She

 
 

screamed and they carried her into the Hall. Walter Taylor said he was in the ranks behind this young
woman. This man  knocked her down & trampled on her. He was not really the worse for drink, but
he had some.

 
1883
1883

 

“Outside the Court the Salvationists were hooted, and some indecent remarks were made use of”
SALE of FURNITURE: late Mr James Wolltorton. STATION ROAD
St MICHAEL’S HARVEST FESTIVAL: Prayers by Rev JH Raven. Collection £15  2s for District

East Suff Gaz Octl 
East Suff Gaz 2 Oct 

Visiting Society
RUNAWAY  HORSE:  Mr  Brewster   of  Wrentham   sent   his  son  with   a  load   of   corn  to  Mr
Haddingham’s Mill in the London Road. A valuable mare, four years old was put in a stable on its

1883
East Suff Gaz 2 Oct 

own,  but  unfastened  the  door,  ran  int  St  Mary’s  Road  and  into  the  pailings  of  the  Fauconberge
School, knocking down twelve yards, as well as two large posts. She fell over, but was secured within
a few yards of Mr Raven’s drawing room.

1883

CO-OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION 4th AGM at Town Hall There are now 229 members.. About 150
attended the Tea at 6.30pm. Public Meeting 8pm. WM Crowfoot presides. He hopes more of profit
will be devoted to education of the Working Classes. Secretary E Neal reports that in 1880 out of a

East Suff Gaz 2 Oct 

Trade of £1500 with  a net balance of £75  12s  10d,  and the dividend was 100%. The business now
increased to £5,600 & the Association paid £854 in dividends, being 2s in the £ to members & 1s to
non-members

 
1883

 

Vocal & instrumental solos & trios were given by G Hussey, T Saul, G Pye, H Pye & J Holmes.
TOWN CLOCK In view of the erratic performances of the town clock, it will not surprise our readers

East Suff Gaz 2 Oct 

to learn that at 3 o’clock this morning it struck 94 times. The fact is, the town clock is a barefaced
deceiver, and has been for many years back.

1883

PHRENOLOGY  LECTURE in the Town Hall  by W Cross: “We strongly  advise  our  readers,  and
especially those  who  regard the phrenological science  as a species of  humbug  akin to  alchemy, to

East Suff Gaz 16 Oct 

pay a visit to Mr W Cross, an Essex man, who is at present engaged in giving audiences at Mr Delf’s
Temperance Hotel,  Exchange  Square. The  marvellous  accuracy with which he  deliniates  character
has received abundant testimony. His powers as a lecturer and mimic also appear to be of no mean

order.  parents  who  are  anxious  to  decide  upon  professions  and  occupations  for  their  sons  and
daughters  may  receive  valuable  advice  by  submitting  the  heads  of  their  offspring  to  Mr  Cross’s
inspection.

1883

 SCIENCE & ART CLASSES: Mr J Hooker will re-open his class on Magnetism & Electricity in the
Old Library Room of the Town Hall every Tuesday & Thursday 8.15 to 9.30 pm, until end of April.
5s

East Suff Gaz 16 Oct 
1883

TOWN  COUNCIL:  The  Mayor  (Joseph  Walton)  in  disagreement  with  the  Magistrates.  Says  that
when Beccles concerns arise at the Magistrates’ Court the Mayor should be Chairman of the Bench.
Unlike other towns this does not happen. For instance he knew nothing about a case brought that very

East Suff Gaz 16 Oct 

morning until after the Magistrates Court, because he had not been informed.  The Mayor wishes that
a Commission of the Peace be established for the town chaired by the Mayor..
Aldeman  Crowfoot,  Deputy  Mayor  spoke  for  an  amendment.  He  wished  to  have  the  Borough

 
 

Sessions restored (like Chipping Norton) where the Mayor always took the Chair, and were assisted
by the County magistrates if need be. The County Magistrates are willing to reconsider the situation
at their next meeting, and at least  one  of their  number would support the reintroduction of Borugh

Sessions.
The meeting was adjourned until a later date, the proposition having been passed by the casting vote

 
 

of the Mayor. Crowfoot, Masters  & Mayhew did not vote.
MAYOR as MAGISTRATE from Samuel Steel [He died in 1908 aged 91]  In the Municipal Reform

1883
East Suff Gaz 16 Oct 

Act of 1835, it is enacted that “The Mayor shall preside in all Borough cases”, the county magistrates
havin concurrent jurisdiction, while contrariwise the Mayor and other borough magistrates, in those

of the conty, have not  any. When  I  had the honour to  be Mayor  of Beccles,  it was usual in  Petty
Sessions (then held weekly) for the county business to be taken first, under the presidency of a county
magistrate;  atits  conclusion  the  borogh  cases  came before the Bench, when  as Mayor  I invariably

presided, as did the late George Fenn, who had preceded me in the office.  There was no friction or
uneasiness in the practice, being in accordance with thelaw.
There can be no question  that in the Mayor is vested the right to preside in all borugh cases.

 
1883

 
BECCLES BRIDGE: Letter from James Bullivant, Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, Considers
East Suff Gaz 16 Oct 
Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
35

the destruction of Beccles Bridge would be a piece of vandalism.
“So  ancient is the town’s  existence that  even Heinhof,  a  Swedish poet  of the tenth  century, in  his

 
 

pastoral epic “Wogohotilmorin” alludes to Beccles as a “pleasant hamlet on an arm of the sea”.
ALLEGED ASSAULT on Harry Harmer,  aged  13.  William  French,  assistant master  at the Board

1883
East Suff Gaz 16 Oct 

School   accused   of   hitting  Harmer,  who  was  throwing  stones   and   striking  some   girls   in  the
playground. Harmer was  abusive to French  and  another teacher, Thomas Alexander. Mrs Harmer,

mother  and publican  of the Crown  in Blyburgate said that  her son had  bruises from being hit  by
French.  Mr  Bscal,  Headmaster  said  the  boy  made  no  complaint  when  he  spoke  to  him  after  the
incident. Case dismissed.

1883
1883

BOARD SCHOOL: The salary of Miss Chastney raised from £70 to £80 pa.
BECCLES COLLEGE: Matriculation  Edinburgh:  Ernest W Rahn passed preliminary exams  in arts
for medical & science degrees. Distinguished in Latin & French, passed in maths, Greek, mechanics,

East Suff Gaz 23 Oct 
East Suff Gaz 23 Oct 

logic & natural philosophy.
MAYOR  as  MAGISTRATE:  The  Mayor  read  a   letter  written  by  Alderman  Crowfoot  to  the
Magistrates asking them to confirm that when borough business came up the Mayor would take the

1883
East Suff Gaz 23 Oct 

Chair. The Council posponed  a decision  on the sending  of  a letter  asking  for  a Commission of the
Peace for the town. It was decided that this should not be read at the Meeting.
MAYOR as MAGISTRATE:  Statement at the Police Court by the Chairman, WE Crowfoot: “The

1883
East Suff Gaz 30 Oct 

busness to be transacted at petty sessions, that the borough business  be taken after the conclusion of
the County business. And that the Mayor, if present, takes the Chair, in right of his office, during the
business of the borough business.”

1883
 
 

POLICE COURT: LICENCES:  The Suffolk Beerhouse, Station Road to Elizabeth Driver, Weshall
The “Wine at Shop” licence held by CF Parker to Samuel Le Grice
The Britannia Shades, Blyburgate to Robert Bird, Westhall

East Suff Gaz 30 Oct 

 
 

 
 

 
 

The Angel alehouse, Ballygate to James Cutler
The Queen’s Head, Newgate to Samuel Carsey.

1883

BECCLES  BRIDGE:  Meeting  of  Beccles  Navigation  Committee.  A  temporary  bridge  capable  of
carrying five tons would be built by 1 April 1884. The new bridge should be ready by 1 August 1884.

East Suff Gaz 30 Oct 

Compensation  should  be  considered  for the Hermitage & the  Ship yards.  It was thought the pubs
woud  greatly benefit from trade  and  lodging those  concerned with the  bridge. Tenders were to  be

invited for the work.
SALE  of BUSINESS: No  2 The WALK: Mr CF Parker  sold Old  Established Drapery & Grocery
Business to Mr S Le-Grice, with whom he formerly lived. Has thorough practical knowledge of each

1883
East Suff Gaz 23 Oct 

Department
COUNCIL ELECTION: elected: WP Garrod 307;  FJ Allen  229;  RJ Read 219; JM Brundell 219;
Not elected: NW Pells 173.-

1883
 

East Suff Gaz 6 Nov 
 

1883
 

East Suff Gaz 6 Nov 

SALVATION ARMY: Petition by the Salvation Army to use the Town Hall, signed by:
HJ Harvey, J Hunn, E Fairweather, J Kemp, JG Balls, J Youngman, A Fisk, Jeremiah Lockwood, R
Harvey,  J  Hamon,  E  Cook,  Wm  Knights,  A  Bobbett,  WE  Mills,  WW  Woodward,  E  Jordan,  C

 

Petersen, T Nightingale & Frankland.  There would be no procession through the streets.
 Councillor WP Garrod was opposed, he said they already had a Chapel, but he did not know where.
He said he did not wish to interfere with any religious body or sect; but he believed there was more

 
 

 
 

blasphemy than religion attached to the Salvation Army. If Alderman Mayhew’s house was siuated as
his was, in the Old Market,  and he  heard the rough  element challenge the  religious sect,  he might
think as he did that blasphemy overruled the religion, and as such the sooner they died a natural death

the better for the town (applause). The Mayor decided to approve their request.
DISTRESS LEVIES: Bailiff appointed: Henry William Cutting.
DIPTHERIA OUTBREAK: Several cases in the town & one death has occurred.

1883
1883

East Suff Gaz 13 Nov 
East Suff Gaz 13 Nov 

1883
 

East Suff Gaz 13 Nov 

ELECTION of MAYOR: Mr Walton was re-elected Mayor & WM Crowfoot & Masters, Aldermen
Crowfoot was Deputy Mayor.

 
1883
East Suff Gaz 13 Nov 

BANQUET to the MAYOR: The Chairman (Alerman Mayhew)  in  giving  a toast to the Bishop &
Clergy said of the [new] Rector “what they had seen of the Rector had endeared him to them all. He

had earned at once, and very quickly, the esteem and regard of all the parihioners and inhabitants of  
Beccles - not only belonging to the church, but to other bodies. They discovered in him a simplicity

of intention and an earnest desire to be of use to the town which they fully appreciated.
CURATE formerly of Beccles, Samuel Smith, to be Rector of St Margaret & St Swithin, Norwich
page missing.

1883
1883

East Suff Gaz 20 Nov 
East Suff Gaz 20 Nov 
1883
East Suff Gaz 27 Nov 

PETTY SESSIONS: James Woolner, 13, employed as a baker’s boy, guilty of disturbing Mrs Maria
Whitehead,  by wilfully knocking  at her front door.  Inspector  said the  boy was not brought before
them  because  he  was  worse  than  other  boys;  but  the  police  had  a  great  deal  of  complaint  about

knocking at doors, ringing of bells, and other annoyances. Mrs Whitehead was an infirm old lady, and
Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
36

had  been  much  annoyed  - her windows  being broken, stones thrown  into the  house,  and  door  and
window smeared with mud. She was not the only one; indeed the complaints were general, and some

seemed to think the police could be at all their doors.
Robert Harper, a carpenter, said the boy was dependent on him since the death of his parents. He had

 
 

always been a very good boy, and he did not believe he had been in the habit of knocking at doors..
Guilty, fined 3s 6d, but the next boy who might be brought before them on such a charge would be

severely punished,  as they  could  not  have  inhabitants annoyed in this manner. Mr Harper paid the
money.
HENHAM HALL: FESTIVITIES: November 19th was the 21st anniversary of the birth of Viscount

1883
East Suff Gaz 27 Nov 

Danwich, son and heir of the Earl of Stradbroke, Lord Lieutenant of the county, and in honour of the
event the Hall was last week the scene of high festivity.
Monday morning was  ushered  in  by the ringing  of bells,  and  at Henham, and in the  neighbouring

 
 

towns and Parishes, daylight had scarcely dawned before the health, happiness, and prosperity of the
heir to the Henham Hall estate had been drunk in a bumper, though in regular-going and less exciting
times it might scarcely he considered proper to crack the bottle so eatly in the day. But if the bounds

of every-day custom were slightly exceeded in this respect, did not the occasion justify it? From the
high position in which Earl Stradbroke’s name is held in the county, not only iii his official position
as the representative of the Sovereign, but as a landlord and resident nobleman, the coining of age of

his  son  and  heir  very  naturally  called  forth  the  hearty  and  respectfull  congratulations  of  the  in
habitants of the county at large.
A deputation representing the town  of Haleswoeth  had the  honour  of  presenting the  first formal

 
 

address of congratulation ;  which was read by Mr F Cross. senior churchwarden, who alluled to the
circumstances of Lord Stradbroke having, 73 years ago, been a pupil of His (Mr Cross’s) father, and
having left the latter’s house in January, 1811, to join his regiment. Lord Dunwich returned thanks in

kindly terms,  and the venerable  Earl  also thanked the  deputation  for the trouble they  had taken to
come over. It had been his lot to reside at henham for 56 years, and he believed that during that long

time he had never made an enemy. Before leaving the deputation drank the health of Lord Dunwich,
and inspected the numerous and valuable presents which were displayed in theb breakfast room.

 
 

At noon an address and some handsome gifts were presented from the servants of the household, as a
token of their  love  and  affection  of the young  lord. Between  30  and  40 servants  assembled  in the

breakfast room at the presentation. Amongst them  was one servant of 40 years standing, another of
36, and a third of 32 years. As the wine was being seved round with which to drink the health of Lord
Dunwich, Lady Stradbroke  addressed some kind of observations to the servants, especially to those

who had been many years on the estate.
The servants of the Household had scarcely left the breakfast room before another deputation entered
representing  the  Hall  works,  and  the  tradesmen  of  Wangford.  they  were  represented  by  Mr  C

 
 

Woolnough,  Mr  Chambers  (Wangford)  and  Mr  Stagoll,  also  of  Wangford.  Mr  Chambers  read  a
congratulatory address, and  intimated that a  carved  cylindrical writing table, fitted with cabinets on
each side, the centre one fitted up complete  as  a  gun  cabinet, was  in preparation as  a  gift from the

Hall  and tradesmen. Mr J  Stagoll, who  had been  on the  estate more than  50 years, said  he  could
remember  the  time  when  Lord  Stradbroke  himself  came  of  age,  though  he  could  not  recall  the
circumstances  connected with the  celebration.   Lord Dunwich,  in returning thanks, said it was  his

earnest desire that the good feeling that had exited at the Hall and the residents in the locality might
continue to exist. Earl Stradbroke acknowledged the feeling manner in which they had come forward
to show their attachment to his son, who he hoped would prove himself worthy of the good idea that

had been formed of him.
Shortly after, another deputation visited the Hall. It consisted of a majority of the Guardians of the
Blythburgh Union, of which Lord Stradbroke has been for so many years chairman. Mr White, clerk

 
 

to the Board, read an address of congratulation, which was suplemented by some appropriate remarks
by Mr Thomas Lomax, who spoke of Lord Stradbroke as having gained the confidence and respect of

the Guardians  of the Blythng Union, over which  his lordship had presided so many years with so
much  advantage to the Union. It was much to  be  hoped that  his  Lordship’s  health might  admit of

presiding at the meetings of the Board for some years to come, and when in the Providence of God,
Lord Dunwich succeedd to his noble inheritance, might he live amongst them to promote the well-

being  and  happiness  of  all  classes,  and  earn  for  himself  the  respect  and  esteem  which  was  so
generally felt towards Lord Stradbroke. Lord Stradbroke responded to the kind wishes expressed on
his behalf  and that  of  his son,  after which the  company partook of luncheon in the  handsome  and

spacious drawing-room. The Countess of Stradbroke, who very kindly consented to be present a short
time, thanked the company for the hearty and sincere congratulations that had been offerred to Lord
Stradbroke  and  Lord  Dunwich;  and  expressed  a  sincere  hope  that  her  son  might  prove  a  worthy

successor  to  a  noble  father  and  an  ancient  family,  and  that  he  would  ever  take  “duty”  as  his
Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
37

watchword.
In  the  evening  there  was  a  privte  dinner  party,  incuding  Lord  Waveney,  Lord  Rendlesham,  Mr

 
 

Dundas, etc.
A  distribution  of  beef,  plum  puddings,  and  beer  to  the  labourers  and  cottagers  and  their  wives

 
 

(upwards  of  200)  on  the  estates  at  Bruisyard  and  Dennington,  also  marked  the  birthday  of  Lord
Dunwich.

 
 

In the evening his lordship attended a dinner given to the Southwold Artillery Volunteers, of which
he is the captain. There were great rejoicngs at Southwold, and a huge bonfire blazed on the Common
in  honour of the occasion. After the  dinner  a handsome epergne  of  cut  glass on an  electro  and  gilt

stand, of a highly ornamental style, was presented to Lord Dunwich by the corps.
On  Tuesday  the  Magistrates  of  the  county  and  the  tenants  of  Lord  and  Lady  Stradbroke,  were
entertained  at a princely banquet,  in the temporary ballroom  erected on the lawn at the side of the

 
 

Hall...
Lord Stradboke commenced his career by assisting to hurl back on the French soil the invading hosts,
and in driving them over the Pyrenees after they got there. when crossing the Pyrenees a soldier by

 
 

his side fell, and was obliged to relax his hold of the colours of the Coldstream Regiment he carried,
Lord  Stradbrooke  took  it  up,  and  carried  it  safely  through.  Accident  alone  prevented  him  being
present at Waterloo. After passing through such stirring scenes, their noble host settled down to the

quiet life of a country gentleman.... He had been Lord Lieutenant of the county for nearly 40 years,
his  great  object  had  been  to  select  gentlemen  of  ability,  character,  and  good  business  habits  to
undertake the arduous duties of magistrate in Suffolk.

 
 

On Wednesday there was a less prestigious gathering, but one which was equally enjoyed. About 500
labourers  and  workmen    were  on  that  afternoon  entertained  at  a  meat  tea,  Mr  thurton  gave  his
celebrated “Old Folks” entertainment and created great amusement.During the repast the band of the

Southwold Artillery played. The Countess of Stradbroke and her daughters, Lady Augusta Fane and
the  ladies  Rous,  were  present.  Each  guest  had  placed  before  him  a  silk  banneret,  on  a  gilt  pole,

suitably inscribed, as a memento of the festival.
For Thursday evening Lord and Lady Stradbroke issued invitations for a county ball and entertained a

 
 

large and distinguished company. Thos accepting included Mrs Farrer and party [first on the list], Mr
and Mrs Crowfoot, Col Barne, Mp, Mrs Bence & party, Mr Crowfoot.... The Ballroom was a brilliant

spectacl. The room and the corridors connected with it were lighted by as many as 1,000 candles, and
together with buffet and supper rooms, was elegantly decorated. Dancing was commenced about 10
o’clock. Corti’s band was engaged. Supper was served in the Ball-room of the mansion, and was of a

very elegant character.
On Friday evening there was a second ball for the servants and tradesmen, and on Saturday the school
children and children from the Blything Union Workhouse were bountifully entertained. During the

 
 

week  distribution  of  meat,  Etc,  have  been made to the cottagers  and  labourers  on the Darsham  &
Carlton  estates,  and  thus  every  class  of  society  has  shared  in  the  rejoicings,  which  will  be  a
memorable event in local history.

1883
East Suff Gaz 4 Dec 

PETTY SESSIONS: William Pearson, formerl a groce of the town, but now of no occupation, found
guilty of beating his wife, Emily. She said he came home about 2pm, and began using bad language.
She talked to him and begged him to leave off; but he took up a brush and struck her. On the previous

day he knocked her down backwards, and hurt her back. He was very much the worse for drink both
times. He was committed to gaol in Norwich Castle for a week..  
SALE: [24] NEWMARKET: Freehold Greengrocer’s Shop with Fruit Room over in the occupation

1883
East Suff Gaz 27 Nov 

of
Benjamin Barber Balls a yearly tenant at £5 Rent pa. [purchased Mr D Jude £78.]
SOUP KITCHEN: Last year 18,374 pints of soup distriubuted. Mr Copeman undertook to attend the

 
1883

 
East Suff Gaz 18 Dec 

distribution on Tuesdays;  and as Mr Mullett declined to take part  owing to  increasing  age [he was
76],

 
 

He had taken part in the management of the soup kitchen for the last ten years, Mr Laws [he was 74]
was asked to find assistance on Fridays.

.1883
East Suff Gaz 18 Dec 

ENTERTAINMENT for HOSPITAL FUNDS. The third  entertainment organized  by Mr AE King,
that maintained  a standard of  excellence. The principal  attraction was the singing of Miss  Luckett,

who has had the advantage of training in the Royal Academy of music. She possesses a beautifully
sweet  soprano  voice,  of  wide  compass,  and  perfectly  under  control.  Mr  AH  Livock  was  the
accompaniest.

 
 

The programme inclused: Piano duet from “Ruins of Athens” (Beethoven): Miss Oliver & Miss Rose
Kerridge.  Song “Golden  Love” (Welligs) by Miss Marie  Luckett. Piano solo,  Scherzo Trio, March,
Allegro” (sonata in Ab) (Beethoven) Miss Kerridge. Piano duet from “Rip Van Winkle” (Liebech)

Miss Oliver & Miss Kerridge.
Beccles, Newspapers, from 1880 
David Lindley, May 2002- Jan 2004 
38
1883
East Suff Gaz 18 Dec 

SCHOOL BOARD: HM Inspector to be informed of ilness of mistresses and successive epidemics of
measles, whooping cough and dipthereia, which have prevailed in the town for six months

1883
1883

East Suff Gaz 18 Dec 

ARTILLERY PRIZES distributed. Capt Wilson praises the Volunteers.
ARTILLERY BAND will give a Promenade Concer on Thursday & Saturday evenings at 10pm. On

East Suff Gaz 18 Dec 

Thirsday  in the New Market &  on  Saturday in  Exchange  Square. Among music to  be performed
Selections from “Patience” (Sullivan) & a Waltz by Strauss.

1883
1883

East Suff Gaz 25 Dec 

RENT AUDIT: Tenants of JL Garden, Esq allowed a 15%abatement on their rens.
BECCLES BRIDGE: The tenders exceeded the amount contemplated, no tender was accepted. It is
proposed to amend the plans, with a view to reducing the cost which would otherwise be incurred for

East Suff Gaz 18 Dec 

piling.
COUNCIL MEETING: Northgate Brewery:  Mr Harwood wished to sell some land at the Brewery to
the Council  at the corner of Northgate & Bridge Street to improve the approach to the new Bridge. It

1883
East Suff Gaz 18 Dec 
is understood that the Brewery is to be pulled down and a Malting erected in its place.
1884 NEWSPAPERS MISSING
1885 NEWSPAPERS

1885
1885

paper missing
page missing

East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 
East Suff Gaz 13 Jan 

1885
1885
1885

SALE of FUNITURE: South Villa, St George’s Road, late Mrs Rabett
EDUCATION: Mrs Hayes hopes to receive her pupils on Monday, 15 January. Northgate
EDUCATION:  Miss  Ecclestone,  Norfolk  House,  Station  Road  hopes  to  receive  her  pupils  on

East Suff Gaz 13 Jan 
East Suff Gaz 13 Jan 
East Suff Gaz 13 Jan 

Monday 19th January
EDUCATION: Belmont House,  School  for Young  Ladies. Home comforts, Moderate Terms.  Lady
Principal. School work will be resumed 23 January

1885
East Suff Gaz 13 Jan 
1885

BAPTIST CHURCH Mr WH Colls   of Bunwell Attleborough  accepted  a three month  call  with  a
view to the Pastorate.
CRICKET; Decided to engage a Professional Bowler, to be shared with the Fauconberge School &

East Suff Gaz 13 Jan 
1885
East Suff Gaz 13 Jan 

Harleston Club.
ACCIDENT: Wiliam Beckett,  carpenter, working  at Kirkley,  mounting to the  roof  he  had  got  one
foot on a joist, the other on the scaffolding, when he overbalanced & fell turning over two or three

1885
East Suff Gaz 13 Jan 

times in descent. Fortunately his fall was broken and despite the 23 ft drop, escaped with bruises.
CLOWES PRINTERS. Two column history of William Clowes & printing. Born 1779 etc.
QUARTER SESSIONS: Beccles BRIDGE: County Surveyor HM Eyton Balance equird £476-7s-5d

1885
1885

East Suff Gaz 13 Jan 
East Suff Gaz 13 Jan 

for each county, but on top of this interest on money lent By Messrs Gurney. Norfolk advanced £375
on completion of the Bridge.

1885

DEATH: Rev CB  Leupolt, Rector of Brampton,  of which  he  had  been the Rector  for the last ten
years. He attained the good old age of 79 years, and was  as usual visiting his parishioners on the 11th

East Suff Gaz 13 Jan 

of  December,  and  died  on  the  16th.  The  earlier  portion  of  his  life  was  spent  in  India.  Charles
Benjamin  Leupolt was born at Reichenau in Saxony, October 21st, 1805, the day on which Nelson