ROW SIXTEEN - LACON'S BREWERY ROW
Row 16 ran from George Street to Church Plain, and was
absorbed by the adjacent brewery.*2 In
1756 this appears to have been a densely populated area with open spaces,
either yards, or gardens between the buildings, or perhaps more likely is that
these buildings and yards were the previous breweries of the likes of Fisher,
Meadowe and Browne. This certainly appears possible with regard to the space
between Rows 15 and 19, and enclosing Row 16.
Known in 1928 as Lacon's Brewery Row, it had actually passed from
existence some sixty years previously. The fishermen used to consume quantities
of beer, and apparently the boats were supplied with quantities for their
voyages, accordingly there was scope for the large number of small breweries that existed within the rows. At
the same time they supplied the yeast to the housewife, who used to bake her
own bread at home. On the brewery plans for 1883 and on those for 1890, the
site of the row was marked as being between two long tun rooms, and west of the
old hop store. It was referred to as "covered row".
In the brewery residence died John Lacon in 1811, who
bequeathed the residence and 200 pounds to the Fisherman's
Hospital. His sister, Miss Judith Lacon, died there in 1817. Later Matthew
Gunthorpe lived there, before moving to Theatre Gate. He had been most
successful in operations against local smugglers. On one occasion he took a
prize containing 40 casks of spirits and 500 lbs. of tobacco, and in 1792 he
took another craft with 240 casks of spirit and tobacco aboard. His ship was
called the "lively", and apparently he was too. He was also an
officer in Sir E.K.Lacon's troop of cavalry. Lacon was given his knighthood for
quelling a riot whilst Mayor in 1795.
The houses in this row in common with others, had
rainwater cisterns sunk in the front or back yard. These it appears were
sometimes used to hide the smuggled goods of brandy and tobacco, weighted down
under the water.*2 The old house of
the Wards can clearly be seen on the 1668 plan, and it should be noted that
whilst some pleasant gardens were visible, rows 15, 16, and 19 were not then in
existence, so Row 16 was created after 1668, and had disappeared again by
1886.*2 Harry Johnson, Yarmouth Mercury, October 1928
The Occupants, Row Sixteen
In 1886 and later, there were no occupants, as the
brewery was here.
