Snow in Dereham Churchyard in the 1870s
DEREHAM SNAPSHOT OF 1881
The first full year for which copies of the Dereham and Fakenham Times newspaper have survived is 1881. It is interesting to see what were the major issues and interests concerning Dereham and its people just over one hundred years ago as revealed by the local paper. The Vicar, the Reverend Armstrong, was also recording the events of the year from his point of view in his diary, so sometimes two views of an event can be found.
January 1881 – a cold winter
The New Year was ushered in by the ringing of bells at the Parish Church.
The tradesmen of the town, according to custom, presented their customers with illustrated almanacs with titles such as ‘Boys will be Boys’ , ‘King Charles’ Spaniels’, and ‘HRH Princess Louise’.
On the first day of the year the editor of the Dereham and Fakenham Times began his column by quoting in full a prophecy attributed to Mother Shipton, and said to have been published in 1488. It is the final prophecy which excited his interest. “The world to an end shall come, in 1881”
He wrote, “These curious lines will be read with fresh interest on the first day of 1881. Thus far events have justified he prophetic forecasts claimed for Mother Shipton four hundred years ago.
The New Year dawns its lurid light through which few things can be distinctly seen. The newspapers record, day by day, wars, pestilences, famines, floods, accidents by sea and land, earthquakes, tribulations of nations, distresses and men’s’ hearts failing for fear. Yet, who shall say it is a ridiculous possibility that the world should end in 1881?
To some persons, not given to vagaries, but who are thoughtful and devout observers of passing events, all these things seem to indicate the near approach of great changes in the order and government of the world. This is hardly the place to discuss such questions.
The outlook may be shrouded in obscurity, and the prospect very dark, and the future unknown; but this day is ours, and while greetings of goodwill fly around the world in a twinkling of the eye, it is gratifying to wish the reader a Happy New Year.”
As January progressed the cold grew more intense and the suffering of the inhabitants, especially the poor and sick, increased. Their plight was described by the editor of the Dereham and Fakenham Times and concerned the Reverend Armstrong and the Local Board.
On January 16th the editor wrote “Winter with its pure mantle of snow has come again. Very beautiful to look upon from the windows of a warm and comfortable apartment, stimulating the warm blood of the healthy and well-clad pedestrian who with vigorous steps crunches the crisp snow under his feet, but alas, bringing great distress and suffering to the hunger pinched ones, and the sick poor. More than the usual number of industrious work people is unemployed. In too many instances their families are on the verge of starvation aggravated by bitter cold.
Now is the time when charity may find full employment for both hands. Blankets, coals, food, whatever will drive away the hunger, keep out cold, and increase strength to bear the present stress, will be well bestowed.
The distress even in this district, is simply appalling and not a few of those most deserving of help suffer the pangs of poverty and hunger. Ashamed to beg, they suffer in secret. These are persons who need to be sought after in their wretched homes, and helped over the pinching time and saved from the pauper’s unhappy lot. A gentle hint even to those who are ever ready to respond to claims upon their charity may not be out of place or ill timed.”
In the following week’s edition the paper reported:
“On Friday last, when poor people in receipt of parish relief came for their weekly allowance, Mr W S Gidney gave each one a ticket for 1 cwt coal, for which they returned sincere thanks. This generous gift came at the right moment and was much welcomed during the severe weather. There is a great call for exercising of similar benevolence at the present time, for our poor are undergoing suffering.
During January Reverend Armstrong in his diary referred a number of times to heavy snow storms and intense cold.
“The Times [Dereham and Fakenham] says that no day liker January 18th has befallen this country within living memory. At Yarmouth where 17 degrees of frost had been reported, fifty lives were lost by shipwreck, a train embedded in snow between Hardingham and Kimberley and traffic suspended between Norwich and London. No post arrived in town”
Reverend Armstrong travelled by sledge to Hoe to take afternoon service and found snowdrifts above the hedge nearly all the way. On 23rd January he wrote “there is a snowdrift from 10ft to 20 ft deep all the way from Millfield to Quebec. Congregation considerably reduced in consequence. Must consult church wardens about a relief committee.
The next entry states: “Did so [consult the church wardens] and also Mr Alexander as a churchman among dissenters and a great philanthropist. They all acknowledged the hardness of the time, but discouraged the idea on account of the numerous calls which have been made upon people for the last year, and also the fact that our ‘Great Gift’ will soon be coming up. [The Great Gift was the annual payment to the poor out of town charities].
The editor described the state of the town at the time: Is it anybody’s business in this too much governed town to see that the paths are not rendered impassable, and the roads so ploughed up by ponderous traction engines, and so choked with heaps of snow as to completely stop carriage traffic through the streets? Closed shops with significant notice posted upon them ‘To Be Let’ indicate dull and unprofitable times for trade in Dereham.
The heaviest going thing just now is the traction engine groaning all day long on its way to and from the water works, only too loudly telling of the groans of the indignant tax payers, who in these hard times see their money recklessly frittered away, or ground to powder in the streets before their doors, under the misgovernment of their ‘Sapient Home Rulers’. Too often it is their misfortune, not eh fault of Local Government, that ‘home rulers’ are simple puppets, moving any way and every way to the dire pulling of unseen hands who pick up the pence. [The home rulers in this instance means the local board] “
The business of dealing with the problems caused by the weather fell upon the shoulders of Mr Nankivell, Surveyor to the Local Board. On Wednesday 19th January, he reported that, owing to the heavy falls of snow, several of the highways were blocked, but to overcome the inconvenience to the public he has employed a large staff of men and the principal roads were cleared on Thursday. He was also ordered by the Board to see that sand or sawdust was spread upon the footpaths as they were in a very dangerous condition.
On 29th January a letter was published in the paper complaining about the methods used by the gasworks in selling coke to the public:
Sir,
The weather having been very severe this last fortnight, there has been an unusual rush for coke at the gasworks, and it is against the partiality with which the coke is served to its various customers that I protest. First come, first served is the rule in most cases of this sort, and at the same time, to use judgement so that, as nearly as possible, every applicant may have a share. We find it contrary to the rule at East Dereham Gasworks. We go or send for the coke, expecting to get treated with civility, and served as fairly as we can expect under the present circumstances. You have to wait until 15 or 20 people are present. The men employed are willing to wait upon the various customers, but they dare not until the manager appears, and then the coke is served out in 8, 10 or 12 bushels, on no apparent system, many having to take what they can get.
This wants amending, I say.
Yours truly, A Ratepayer.”
There were happier entries :
“This intense cold does some good – Mr Water’s flock of sheep (300) all were suffering from foot and mouth disease, and are cured by it.”
“During the first three days of the present week skaters had a fine time of it on the ice at Elmham Lake, and the Gressenhall river, and on the large pond of Mr Stammer’s at Hoe. The ice on Neatherd pit was lighted up and coffee supplied every night.
Dereham Families in 1881
Dereham had long been a market centre for a considerable rural area. The Hundred of Mitford had its centre there in the shape of the Bishop of Ely’s prison and courthouse, the exact location of which is nor now known. The market place lay on one of the major cross country routes which led to Norwich and had many inns and taverns where travellers could break their journey.
Elvins, Carriage and Coach Makers
In 1818 Mr James Elvin set up a business that reflected the demand for safe and comfortable travel on what were, in the main, poor roads. He began to build carriages and quickly established a reputation for quality.
In 1819 Charles Norton Elvin was born at Russell House in Commercial Road. The business must have prospered for he was educated at Gresham’s School in Holt, and then at Cambridge.
The Elvins bought a handsome brick premises facing onto the Norwich Road (now the Memorial Hall). As well as repair and hire work they built new broughams, landaus, gigs and wagonettes. They became suppliers to many of the County families in the area.
Charles Norton, who had a love of heraldry, was a much loved man in Dereham. He was a philanthropist and was known as ‘the poor man’s friend’. He built Eckling Grange and died there in 1894.
The Girlings of Humbletoft
The Girlings were a well-known and established farming family and friends of the Reverend Armstrong. They were associated with Humbletoft and Gallow Farm on the Neatherd for more than a hundred years, and owned property in Bradenham and Gressenhall.
Their way of life seems very different from the industrious Elvins, and young Barry Girling spent much of his time shooting, almost every day. There is reference to gambling parties at Mrs Bodham’s. Parson Woodforde notes of this lady: “Mrs Bodham begins to look aged, she is about 52 but having latterly lost some of her fore teeth she looks more so.” She apparently lived to be 98.
Harry Girling’s wife, Susan, had a variety of seamstresses and dressmakers, and spent nearly £30 on clothing in one year, an amount equal to a year’s earnings for a labourer.
Barry Girling did set about improving his properties, planting many trees as he did so. He became a supporter of the National School and was a member of The Bible Society.
Clubs and Societies
In January 1881 the Dereham and Fakenham Times, and People’s Journal, carried reports of meetings of the Friendly, Benevolent, Temperance, Self-Improvement, Missionary, Tailors and Goat Societies. These Societies were enjoying annual dinners and entertainments given by visiting drama groups. The Victorian ideals of self-help and independence were reflected in the support given to the various societies and the involvement of the ‘gentry’ like the Reverend Armstrong, and Colonel Bulwer of Quebec Hall.
Friendly Societies
The Friendly Societies epitomised the movement towards security which could be achieved by working men banding together to insure against the hardships caused by sickness, unemployment and death. They were encouraged by Government legislation at the same time as the Trade Unions were being discouraged. An Act of 1875 legalised the constitutions of the bigger societies and helped them with the preparation of proper insurance for members. These Friendly Societies survived into the present century but with the rising of the commercial insurance companies and with greater help from the State Social Services, their importance decreased.
There were a number of such societies in Dereham, including two which were branches of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows, the most wealthy and important of them all. These were the ‘Feeling Heart Lodge’ and the ‘Poet Cowper Lodge’ both of which met at the Lord Nelson Inn. The Feeling Heart Lodge issued its balance sheet in February 1881. This showed they had ended their year with a balance of £7,529, which gave each member’s share of the capital as £19 7s 5d. Over the year they paid out £421 1s 2d to 99 members as sick pay, £122 for funeral benefits of seven members and two wives, and £61 16s 6d for funeral levies to the district. During the year they had admitted 19 fresh members, making a total on their books of 380, with an average age of 37 years and 3 months. There were 11 honorary members.
There were other similar Friendly Societies, each having its meetings in a pub.
Some of the philosophy behind these societies is illustrated by the local paper in relation to the Green Man, one of the purse clubs of the town. “The original rules of this Society, read in the light of modern experience, form a very curious and suggestive document and we are sorry not to have space to give them in extenso. One of the rules enacts that no soldier, sailor, pensioner, bailiff nor bailiff’s follower, not any person that is in any way sick or inform, or above the age of 30 shall be admitted as a member. A further rule states that none shall be admitted unless they have had smallpox. Article XVII says that if any member of the society shall rail against any of his brother members or speak evil of him behind his back, so as to render him, or them, odious in the eyes of the world, shall for such scandalous behaviour forfeit 2d or be excluded.”
Whitsuntide was a great festival time for the societies. Members met at their various headquarters at 10.00 am and marched through the town in procession, the Forresters’ gorgeous banner being borne aloft and the Shipdham Union marching with flags and banners headed by a brass band calling upon their friends and supporters.
The day began with feasting and we know 70 members of the Shipdham Union breakfasted and dined at the Bull Inn and 200 from the Poet Cowper and Feeling Heart Societies feasted at the Corn Hall.
Temperance Societies
The Temperance Societies also took part in the Whitsun Festival. The Church of England Temperance Society, The Good Templars and The Band of Hope had met to arrange joint representation.
Ladies Benevolent Society for the Relief and the Sick Poor of Dereham
The editor devoted much space in the local paper in February outlining how this Society worked:
“Annual subscriptions are made, and each subscriber received for every half-crown contributed to the fund a ‘card of recommendation’ to be given to any sick poor person known to the subscriber to be in need of assistance. These cards bear the name of the visitors for each month of the year. When he card is presented to a lady visitor for the month, she immediately inquiries into the necessities of the case so recommended to the notice of the Society. Relief is given to such as may be found to be urgently required and best adapted to each individual case, according to the rules of the Society. IN many instances personal interest and sympathy are awakened by these visits of charity and over and above the benefits conferred by the society private assistance is frequently given to worthy suffering persons so discovered.
The 22nd Annual Report of the Sick Poor Society has recently been issued. It appears that during the year ending in October 1880 by means provided by 130 subscribers amounting to £34.1s.6d. sick poor persons to the number of 287 were visited and relieved.
In a year when frequent calls were made upon people’s generosity because of the particularly hard winter which intensified the sufferings of the poor, the paper advised that those with money to give could not do better than help this Society in its good works.
Other Social Events in 1881
Then, as now, the raising of money played an important part in the corporate life of the town. The Cowper Congregational church had been built on the site of the poet Cowper’s house in 1874. It was designed by the architect Edward Boardman, and seated 500 people. It cost £3,500 to build. A bazaar was held in the Corn Hall to raise money for the project.
An entertainment was given in New Year week by members of the Dereham Atheneum Literary Society, which took place in the Assembly Rooms. Colonel Bulwer presided and the room was crowded. The programme opened with a recitation by Mr Skinner of ‘the Execution of Montrose’, next came song ‘Darby and Joan’, other songs, a pianoforte solo, instrumental duets, and so forth.
In July there was an annual horse show, at the Old Cricket Ground. This show was held over two days.
Also in July the Athletic and Military Festival was held. This was held on August Bank Holiday and prizes of upwards of £100 were offered. The competition was timed for people to catch trains home.
There were also excursions from the town. Great Eastern ran a cheap excursion to Hunstanton, and to Cromer and Lowestoft. Another one was run to Great Yarmouth, and in spite of dull weather 250 people went.
In September the Horticultural Show was held in the vicarage grounds. The proceeds went to aid the National Lifeboat Institution. The local paper said “The exhibits which were numerous and of good quality were accommodated in a large marquee prettily decorated by C Holburn of Norwich, and in another marquee adjoining, a brass band under Bandmaster Green, and Cranmers String Band performed selections of music. The Norwich Orpheus Party gave some entertainment as well.
Unfortunately during the day rain fell in a heavy and continuous downpour thus considerably affecting the public attendance. Those however who had the hardihood to venture out were amply repaid. There were classes for flowers, fruit, vegetables, and special cottager’s prizes for appeals, beans, parsnips, cucumbers, onions, pumpkins, cut flowers and pot plants.
Queen Victoria’s reign dominated 63 years of the 19th century. Like most towns Dereham celebrated her 50th Anniversary in style.
LAW AND ORDER 1881
A glance through the section of the Dereham and Fakenham Times (D&FT) under the columns ‘Police, Petty Sessions or County Court’ gives an impression of the problems caused by law-breakers.
The Petty Sessions for the Mitford and Launditch division, some 50 parishes, was held every Friday at the Assembly Rooms, and occasionally at the Bull Inn at Litcham. The sitting magistrates in 1881 were all members of the local gentry, chosen to serve by the Sherriff of the County and approved by the Crown.
In practice it appears that a person apprehended for a petty crime was often first brought before a single magistrate who would remand him to appear at the next Petty Session. Here three magistrates would hear his case and had the power to dismiss the case, fine or imprison. The County Court dealt with civil cases resulting from disagreements, usually over money, between one person and another.
The D&FT newspaper reports a steady flow of offenders brought before the magistrates. Offences committed in the first six months of 1881 fell into the following categories: drunkenness, begging, damage to property, theft, poaching, assault, cruelty to animals, public nuisance, and contravention of bye-laws. There were also offences by children or by adults to children.
The first report was for the offence of begging. Two tramps, one unnamed, the other George Palmer, appeared before the Magistrates. The first was committed to Norwich Castle (still a prison at this time) for 7 days for begging at Little Fransham. Palmer received 14 days' hard labour for a similar offence in Dereham. John Thomas, also a tramp, was charged with ‘wandering abroad’ and begging alms at Hardingham, and was discharged with a caution.
Drunkenness, in itself an offence, quite often led to more serious charges. Robert Lucas and Henry Middleton were each fined 5/- for being drunk on the highway, plus 11/- costs. This would be more than a week’s wages. William Bowhill, alias Spinks or Stubbs, a navvy employed in the sewage works, was fined 5/- for being drunk and disorderly, with 14 days imprisonment on default.
John Watling, a brickmaker, was fined 5/- and 13/- costs for being drunk in the High Street. He was evidently rolling about, using bad language and refusing to go home. William Raven, landlord, charged him with assault. The landlord warned him for using bad language in the kitchen of his house. The defendant brushed him across the face with his hand, struck him and pushed him back into a chair. He also was charged with breaking a window, which was witnessed by Thomas Neal, the Ostler.
Vandalism or Damage to Property, as it was then called, was not unknown to Dereham in 1881. Charges included ‘Wilful damage to growing fences’ (in search of ash sticks), ‘Wilfully knocking on doors and shutters to the annoyance of the residents’ and wantonly throwing stones and knocking on doors of certain dwelling houses at 2.00 a.m.’ There was also a case of indecent exposure in the Market Place.
Seven cases of assault were reported in the first three months of the year. Fines varied from 1/- to 10/- and almost all the costs exceeded the fines. Even throwing snowballs could be expensive. John Sale was charged by Eliza Burrell with assaulting her, by throwing a snowball at her when she was going to church, costing a 5/- fine and 13/6 costs. Two men, Augustine Howard of Letton and Ernest Wyatt of Shipdham, charged each other with assault by throwing snowballs. These cases were dismissed but Wyatt had to pay 8/6 costs, and Howard 8/-.
Theft was a common crime and the newspaper had frequent reports varying from George Guymer, charged with stealing two pieces of firewood, value 1d, to Charles Middleton of Garvestone, accused of stealing five stones weight of horse bones.
Youths were not dealt with lightly, as is shown in the sentence of 21 days' imprisonment and 5 years in a reformatory, passed on Robert Skelton aged 13. Levi Everitt got a similar punishment for ‘Wilfully breaking into his dwelling and stealing there from a piece of bread and half a pound of meat to the value of 6d’. A case that now seems both harsh and sad was that of George Whealess, a drover and inmate of the workhouse, who was charged with absconding from the workhouse with a suit of clothes belonging to the Guardians, for which he got 21 days' hard labour. It would seem he was so poor he did not own the clothes he stood up in.
Poaching was another crime commonly reported, and there seems to have been a regular battle of wits between the supposed poachers and the police. For instance, Samuel Nobes, alias Roofe, or Blaer, was most put out when the local bobby confiscated his gun, for which he had a licence, when all he was doing was looking over the fence for his horse. The Magistrate seems to have known him, as there were several previous convictions, and this time poor Nobes got fined £5, plus 14/- costs and his gun was destroyed.
Other cases included trespass, cruelty to animals, and ‘Unlawfully using a dog, for the purposes of killing a hare’.
January 1881 – a cold winter
The New Year was ushered in by the ringing of bells at the Parish Church.
The tradesmen of the town, according to custom, presented their customers with illustrated almanacs with titles such as ‘Boys will be Boys’ , ‘King Charles’ Spaniels’, and ‘HRH Princess Louise’.
On the first day of the year the editor of the Dereham and Fakenham Times began his column by quoting in full a prophecy attributed to Mother Shipton, and said to have been published in 1488. It is the final prophecy which excited his interest. “The world to an end shall come, in 1881”
He wrote, “These curious lines will be read with fresh interest on the first day of 1881. Thus far events have justified he prophetic forecasts claimed for Mother Shipton four hundred years ago.
The New Year dawns its lurid light through which few things can be distinctly seen. The newspapers record, day by day, wars, pestilences, famines, floods, accidents by sea and land, earthquakes, tribulations of nations, distresses and men’s’ hearts failing for fear. Yet, who shall say it is a ridiculous possibility that the world should end in 1881?
To some persons, not given to vagaries, but who are thoughtful and devout observers of passing events, all these things seem to indicate the near approach of great changes in the order and government of the world. This is hardly the place to discuss such questions.
The outlook may be shrouded in obscurity, and the prospect very dark, and the future unknown; but this day is ours, and while greetings of goodwill fly around the world in a twinkling of the eye, it is gratifying to wish the reader a Happy New Year.”
As January progressed the cold grew more intense and the suffering of the inhabitants, especially the poor and sick, increased. Their plight was described by the editor of the Dereham and Fakenham Times and concerned the Reverend Armstrong and the Local Board.
On January 16th the editor wrote “Winter with its pure mantle of snow has come again. Very beautiful to look upon from the windows of a warm and comfortable apartment, stimulating the warm blood of the healthy and well-clad pedestrian who with vigorous steps crunches the crisp snow under his feet, but alas, bringing great distress and suffering to the hunger pinched ones, and the sick poor. More than the usual number of industrious work people is unemployed. In too many instances their families are on the verge of starvation aggravated by bitter cold.
Now is the time when charity may find full employment for both hands. Blankets, coals, food, whatever will drive away the hunger, keep out cold, and increase strength to bear the present stress, will be well bestowed.
The distress even in this district, is simply appalling and not a few of those most deserving of help suffer the pangs of poverty and hunger. Ashamed to beg, they suffer in secret. These are persons who need to be sought after in their wretched homes, and helped over the pinching time and saved from the pauper’s unhappy lot. A gentle hint even to those who are ever ready to respond to claims upon their charity may not be out of place or ill timed.”
In the following week’s edition the paper reported:
“On Friday last, when poor people in receipt of parish relief came for their weekly allowance, Mr W S Gidney gave each one a ticket for 1 cwt coal, for which they returned sincere thanks. This generous gift came at the right moment and was much welcomed during the severe weather. There is a great call for exercising of similar benevolence at the present time, for our poor are undergoing suffering.
During January Reverend Armstrong in his diary referred a number of times to heavy snow storms and intense cold.
“The Times [Dereham and Fakenham] says that no day liker January 18th has befallen this country within living memory. At Yarmouth where 17 degrees of frost had been reported, fifty lives were lost by shipwreck, a train embedded in snow between Hardingham and Kimberley and traffic suspended between Norwich and London. No post arrived in town”
Reverend Armstrong travelled by sledge to Hoe to take afternoon service and found snowdrifts above the hedge nearly all the way. On 23rd January he wrote “there is a snowdrift from 10ft to 20 ft deep all the way from Millfield to Quebec. Congregation considerably reduced in consequence. Must consult church wardens about a relief committee.
The next entry states: “Did so [consult the church wardens] and also Mr Alexander as a churchman among dissenters and a great philanthropist. They all acknowledged the hardness of the time, but discouraged the idea on account of the numerous calls which have been made upon people for the last year, and also the fact that our ‘Great Gift’ will soon be coming up. [The Great Gift was the annual payment to the poor out of town charities].
The editor described the state of the town at the time: Is it anybody’s business in this too much governed town to see that the paths are not rendered impassable, and the roads so ploughed up by ponderous traction engines, and so choked with heaps of snow as to completely stop carriage traffic through the streets? Closed shops with significant notice posted upon them ‘To Be Let’ indicate dull and unprofitable times for trade in Dereham.
The heaviest going thing just now is the traction engine groaning all day long on its way to and from the water works, only too loudly telling of the groans of the indignant tax payers, who in these hard times see their money recklessly frittered away, or ground to powder in the streets before their doors, under the misgovernment of their ‘Sapient Home Rulers’. Too often it is their misfortune, not eh fault of Local Government, that ‘home rulers’ are simple puppets, moving any way and every way to the dire pulling of unseen hands who pick up the pence. [The home rulers in this instance means the local board] “
The business of dealing with the problems caused by the weather fell upon the shoulders of Mr Nankivell, Surveyor to the Local Board. On Wednesday 19th January, he reported that, owing to the heavy falls of snow, several of the highways were blocked, but to overcome the inconvenience to the public he has employed a large staff of men and the principal roads were cleared on Thursday. He was also ordered by the Board to see that sand or sawdust was spread upon the footpaths as they were in a very dangerous condition.
On 29th January a letter was published in the paper complaining about the methods used by the gasworks in selling coke to the public:
Sir,
The weather having been very severe this last fortnight, there has been an unusual rush for coke at the gasworks, and it is against the partiality with which the coke is served to its various customers that I protest. First come, first served is the rule in most cases of this sort, and at the same time, to use judgement so that, as nearly as possible, every applicant may have a share. We find it contrary to the rule at East Dereham Gasworks. We go or send for the coke, expecting to get treated with civility, and served as fairly as we can expect under the present circumstances. You have to wait until 15 or 20 people are present. The men employed are willing to wait upon the various customers, but they dare not until the manager appears, and then the coke is served out in 8, 10 or 12 bushels, on no apparent system, many having to take what they can get.
This wants amending, I say.
Yours truly, A Ratepayer.”
There were happier entries :
“This intense cold does some good – Mr Water’s flock of sheep (300) all were suffering from foot and mouth disease, and are cured by it.”
“During the first three days of the present week skaters had a fine time of it on the ice at Elmham Lake, and the Gressenhall river, and on the large pond of Mr Stammer’s at Hoe. The ice on Neatherd pit was lighted up and coffee supplied every night.
Dereham Families in 1881
Dereham had long been a market centre for a considerable rural area. The Hundred of Mitford had its centre there in the shape of the Bishop of Ely’s prison and courthouse, the exact location of which is nor now known. The market place lay on one of the major cross country routes which led to Norwich and had many inns and taverns where travellers could break their journey.
Elvins, Carriage and Coach Makers
In 1818 Mr James Elvin set up a business that reflected the demand for safe and comfortable travel on what were, in the main, poor roads. He began to build carriages and quickly established a reputation for quality.
In 1819 Charles Norton Elvin was born at Russell House in Commercial Road. The business must have prospered for he was educated at Gresham’s School in Holt, and then at Cambridge.
The Elvins bought a handsome brick premises facing onto the Norwich Road (now the Memorial Hall). As well as repair and hire work they built new broughams, landaus, gigs and wagonettes. They became suppliers to many of the County families in the area.
Charles Norton, who had a love of heraldry, was a much loved man in Dereham. He was a philanthropist and was known as ‘the poor man’s friend’. He built Eckling Grange and died there in 1894.
The Girlings of Humbletoft
The Girlings were a well-known and established farming family and friends of the Reverend Armstrong. They were associated with Humbletoft and Gallow Farm on the Neatherd for more than a hundred years, and owned property in Bradenham and Gressenhall.
Their way of life seems very different from the industrious Elvins, and young Barry Girling spent much of his time shooting, almost every day. There is reference to gambling parties at Mrs Bodham’s. Parson Woodforde notes of this lady: “Mrs Bodham begins to look aged, she is about 52 but having latterly lost some of her fore teeth she looks more so.” She apparently lived to be 98.
Harry Girling’s wife, Susan, had a variety of seamstresses and dressmakers, and spent nearly £30 on clothing in one year, an amount equal to a year’s earnings for a labourer.
Barry Girling did set about improving his properties, planting many trees as he did so. He became a supporter of the National School and was a member of The Bible Society.
Clubs and Societies
In January 1881 the Dereham and Fakenham Times, and People’s Journal, carried reports of meetings of the Friendly, Benevolent, Temperance, Self-Improvement, Missionary, Tailors and Goat Societies. These Societies were enjoying annual dinners and entertainments given by visiting drama groups. The Victorian ideals of self-help and independence were reflected in the support given to the various societies and the involvement of the ‘gentry’ like the Reverend Armstrong, and Colonel Bulwer of Quebec Hall.
Friendly Societies
The Friendly Societies epitomised the movement towards security which could be achieved by working men banding together to insure against the hardships caused by sickness, unemployment and death. They were encouraged by Government legislation at the same time as the Trade Unions were being discouraged. An Act of 1875 legalised the constitutions of the bigger societies and helped them with the preparation of proper insurance for members. These Friendly Societies survived into the present century but with the rising of the commercial insurance companies and with greater help from the State Social Services, their importance decreased.
There were a number of such societies in Dereham, including two which were branches of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows, the most wealthy and important of them all. These were the ‘Feeling Heart Lodge’ and the ‘Poet Cowper Lodge’ both of which met at the Lord Nelson Inn. The Feeling Heart Lodge issued its balance sheet in February 1881. This showed they had ended their year with a balance of £7,529, which gave each member’s share of the capital as £19 7s 5d. Over the year they paid out £421 1s 2d to 99 members as sick pay, £122 for funeral benefits of seven members and two wives, and £61 16s 6d for funeral levies to the district. During the year they had admitted 19 fresh members, making a total on their books of 380, with an average age of 37 years and 3 months. There were 11 honorary members.
There were other similar Friendly Societies, each having its meetings in a pub.
Some of the philosophy behind these societies is illustrated by the local paper in relation to the Green Man, one of the purse clubs of the town. “The original rules of this Society, read in the light of modern experience, form a very curious and suggestive document and we are sorry not to have space to give them in extenso. One of the rules enacts that no soldier, sailor, pensioner, bailiff nor bailiff’s follower, not any person that is in any way sick or inform, or above the age of 30 shall be admitted as a member. A further rule states that none shall be admitted unless they have had smallpox. Article XVII says that if any member of the society shall rail against any of his brother members or speak evil of him behind his back, so as to render him, or them, odious in the eyes of the world, shall for such scandalous behaviour forfeit 2d or be excluded.”
Whitsuntide was a great festival time for the societies. Members met at their various headquarters at 10.00 am and marched through the town in procession, the Forresters’ gorgeous banner being borne aloft and the Shipdham Union marching with flags and banners headed by a brass band calling upon their friends and supporters.
The day began with feasting and we know 70 members of the Shipdham Union breakfasted and dined at the Bull Inn and 200 from the Poet Cowper and Feeling Heart Societies feasted at the Corn Hall.
Temperance Societies
The Temperance Societies also took part in the Whitsun Festival. The Church of England Temperance Society, The Good Templars and The Band of Hope had met to arrange joint representation.
Ladies Benevolent Society for the Relief and the Sick Poor of Dereham
The editor devoted much space in the local paper in February outlining how this Society worked:
“Annual subscriptions are made, and each subscriber received for every half-crown contributed to the fund a ‘card of recommendation’ to be given to any sick poor person known to the subscriber to be in need of assistance. These cards bear the name of the visitors for each month of the year. When he card is presented to a lady visitor for the month, she immediately inquiries into the necessities of the case so recommended to the notice of the Society. Relief is given to such as may be found to be urgently required and best adapted to each individual case, according to the rules of the Society. IN many instances personal interest and sympathy are awakened by these visits of charity and over and above the benefits conferred by the society private assistance is frequently given to worthy suffering persons so discovered.
The 22nd Annual Report of the Sick Poor Society has recently been issued. It appears that during the year ending in October 1880 by means provided by 130 subscribers amounting to £34.1s.6d. sick poor persons to the number of 287 were visited and relieved.
In a year when frequent calls were made upon people’s generosity because of the particularly hard winter which intensified the sufferings of the poor, the paper advised that those with money to give could not do better than help this Society in its good works.
Other Social Events in 1881
Then, as now, the raising of money played an important part in the corporate life of the town. The Cowper Congregational church had been built on the site of the poet Cowper’s house in 1874. It was designed by the architect Edward Boardman, and seated 500 people. It cost £3,500 to build. A bazaar was held in the Corn Hall to raise money for the project.
An entertainment was given in New Year week by members of the Dereham Atheneum Literary Society, which took place in the Assembly Rooms. Colonel Bulwer presided and the room was crowded. The programme opened with a recitation by Mr Skinner of ‘the Execution of Montrose’, next came song ‘Darby and Joan’, other songs, a pianoforte solo, instrumental duets, and so forth.
In July there was an annual horse show, at the Old Cricket Ground. This show was held over two days.
Also in July the Athletic and Military Festival was held. This was held on August Bank Holiday and prizes of upwards of £100 were offered. The competition was timed for people to catch trains home.
There were also excursions from the town. Great Eastern ran a cheap excursion to Hunstanton, and to Cromer and Lowestoft. Another one was run to Great Yarmouth, and in spite of dull weather 250 people went.
In September the Horticultural Show was held in the vicarage grounds. The proceeds went to aid the National Lifeboat Institution. The local paper said “The exhibits which were numerous and of good quality were accommodated in a large marquee prettily decorated by C Holburn of Norwich, and in another marquee adjoining, a brass band under Bandmaster Green, and Cranmers String Band performed selections of music. The Norwich Orpheus Party gave some entertainment as well.
Unfortunately during the day rain fell in a heavy and continuous downpour thus considerably affecting the public attendance. Those however who had the hardihood to venture out were amply repaid. There were classes for flowers, fruit, vegetables, and special cottager’s prizes for appeals, beans, parsnips, cucumbers, onions, pumpkins, cut flowers and pot plants.
Queen Victoria’s reign dominated 63 years of the 19th century. Like most towns Dereham celebrated her 50th Anniversary in style.
LAW AND ORDER 1881
A glance through the section of the Dereham and Fakenham Times (D&FT) under the columns ‘Police, Petty Sessions or County Court’ gives an impression of the problems caused by law-breakers.
The Petty Sessions for the Mitford and Launditch division, some 50 parishes, was held every Friday at the Assembly Rooms, and occasionally at the Bull Inn at Litcham. The sitting magistrates in 1881 were all members of the local gentry, chosen to serve by the Sherriff of the County and approved by the Crown.
In practice it appears that a person apprehended for a petty crime was often first brought before a single magistrate who would remand him to appear at the next Petty Session. Here three magistrates would hear his case and had the power to dismiss the case, fine or imprison. The County Court dealt with civil cases resulting from disagreements, usually over money, between one person and another.
The D&FT newspaper reports a steady flow of offenders brought before the magistrates. Offences committed in the first six months of 1881 fell into the following categories: drunkenness, begging, damage to property, theft, poaching, assault, cruelty to animals, public nuisance, and contravention of bye-laws. There were also offences by children or by adults to children.
The first report was for the offence of begging. Two tramps, one unnamed, the other George Palmer, appeared before the Magistrates. The first was committed to Norwich Castle (still a prison at this time) for 7 days for begging at Little Fransham. Palmer received 14 days' hard labour for a similar offence in Dereham. John Thomas, also a tramp, was charged with ‘wandering abroad’ and begging alms at Hardingham, and was discharged with a caution.
Drunkenness, in itself an offence, quite often led to more serious charges. Robert Lucas and Henry Middleton were each fined 5/- for being drunk on the highway, plus 11/- costs. This would be more than a week’s wages. William Bowhill, alias Spinks or Stubbs, a navvy employed in the sewage works, was fined 5/- for being drunk and disorderly, with 14 days imprisonment on default.
John Watling, a brickmaker, was fined 5/- and 13/- costs for being drunk in the High Street. He was evidently rolling about, using bad language and refusing to go home. William Raven, landlord, charged him with assault. The landlord warned him for using bad language in the kitchen of his house. The defendant brushed him across the face with his hand, struck him and pushed him back into a chair. He also was charged with breaking a window, which was witnessed by Thomas Neal, the Ostler.
Vandalism or Damage to Property, as it was then called, was not unknown to Dereham in 1881. Charges included ‘Wilful damage to growing fences’ (in search of ash sticks), ‘Wilfully knocking on doors and shutters to the annoyance of the residents’ and wantonly throwing stones and knocking on doors of certain dwelling houses at 2.00 a.m.’ There was also a case of indecent exposure in the Market Place.
Seven cases of assault were reported in the first three months of the year. Fines varied from 1/- to 10/- and almost all the costs exceeded the fines. Even throwing snowballs could be expensive. John Sale was charged by Eliza Burrell with assaulting her, by throwing a snowball at her when she was going to church, costing a 5/- fine and 13/6 costs. Two men, Augustine Howard of Letton and Ernest Wyatt of Shipdham, charged each other with assault by throwing snowballs. These cases were dismissed but Wyatt had to pay 8/6 costs, and Howard 8/-.
Theft was a common crime and the newspaper had frequent reports varying from George Guymer, charged with stealing two pieces of firewood, value 1d, to Charles Middleton of Garvestone, accused of stealing five stones weight of horse bones.
Youths were not dealt with lightly, as is shown in the sentence of 21 days' imprisonment and 5 years in a reformatory, passed on Robert Skelton aged 13. Levi Everitt got a similar punishment for ‘Wilfully breaking into his dwelling and stealing there from a piece of bread and half a pound of meat to the value of 6d’. A case that now seems both harsh and sad was that of George Whealess, a drover and inmate of the workhouse, who was charged with absconding from the workhouse with a suit of clothes belonging to the Guardians, for which he got 21 days' hard labour. It would seem he was so poor he did not own the clothes he stood up in.
Poaching was another crime commonly reported, and there seems to have been a regular battle of wits between the supposed poachers and the police. For instance, Samuel Nobes, alias Roofe, or Blaer, was most put out when the local bobby confiscated his gun, for which he had a licence, when all he was doing was looking over the fence for his horse. The Magistrate seems to have known him, as there were several previous convictions, and this time poor Nobes got fined £5, plus 14/- costs and his gun was destroyed.
Other cases included trespass, cruelty to animals, and ‘Unlawfully using a dog, for the purposes of killing a hare’.
Dereham in 1882
The information in this section is taken from a document written by members of Dereham WEA and the University of Cambridge Board of Extra-Mural Studies led by Chris Barringer in 1989, and given to the Dereham Archive in 1998.
The original authors were: Joan Adams, Chris Barringer, Ben Norton, Teddy O' Donnell, Brian and Ruth Warwick-Smith, with help and additional material from Colin and Anne Chambers, Joy Lodey, Sharon Lake and Beryl Flatt.
The text was prepared for this website by Steffi Spooner.
The original authors were: Joan Adams, Chris Barringer, Ben Norton, Teddy O' Donnell, Brian and Ruth Warwick-Smith, with help and additional material from Colin and Anne Chambers, Joy Lodey, Sharon Lake and Beryl Flatt.
The text was prepared for this website by Steffi Spooner.