Row 37 at the far left, between the two left buildings
ROW THIRTY SEVEN‑ GLASSHOUSE ROW *1
Glasshouse Row *2
Absolom's Row, 1790*2
Row 37 at the far left, between the two left buildings
From North Quay to
George Street, this row was so named from the glass manufactury in the row. An
advertisement in the "Norwich Mercury" in 1758 gave notice that‑
"The glasshouse in Yarmouth has been at work for some time, where persons
may be furnished with the best goods of
all sorts, which can be obtained at
reasonable prices". Lord Nelson accepted two pieces of glass of
Yarmouth manufacture on his visit in 1805. Yarmouth glass was made at a factory
in this row some 200 years ago. Many
fine specimens may be seen at the Tolhouse Museum. W.Absolom presented
two glasses of his make to Lord Nelson when
the latter visited the town.
A.H.Patterson, alias John
Knowlittle, (see Row 36) attended a school in this row.*2
"A much improved
row, the houses set back, but on the north side is a poor place and alley which should
be demolished. The lower end of
this row towards the Quay could be
opened out by reducing the yard walls. South of Row 37 is a half‑row
of very dilapidated property,
thoroughly unfit for habitation. All should be cleared away".*3
As Palmer said,
"at the north‑east
corner of row
37 there was a large house, the north part of which
was in 1825 fitted up as a chapel for Roman Catholics. The
rest of the house being occupied
by the resident priest, who was at that time the Rev. Joseph Tait. At the extreme end of the shop could
be seen two carved Corinthian pilasters of wood, which were on each side of the
recess that contained the alter. These were said to have been brought from some
other chapel, and were good specimens of woodcarving. Mass was celebrated for the first time in the town since the reformation in this house. Behind
that house there was a large garden extending about
2/3rds of the way down the row, and at
the extreme west end there was summer house. The chapel was dismantled and the
premises sold after the erection of St.Mary's church on Regent Road in 1850. The above house was depicted on
Corbridge's map, as it
appeared at the commencement of the 18th.century. It was then in the
occupation of Samuel Artis, (see Row
96) who died in 1748, aged 67.*1
At the north‑west
corner was an old house now divided into two occupations, no.51, which was the
property and residence of Christopher Eaton, merchant and maltster, who died in
1799, aged 76." (This is 51 North Quay)
This house of Eaton's
has suffered much neglect over the past five years in particular, and I first photographed it in 1987. At this time
only one of the rear tiles had slipped out of place, and a pane of glass had
fallen from the front right side
dormer window ‑ at least
ensuring adequate ventilation in
times to come. From an examination of the maps, especially comparing 1855 with 1906, it can be seen that the original front, perhaps
with the patterned brickwork seen
at the rear still, was still in
place, as the front was at that time a
foot or so further back. By 1906 this had been completely removed, and a new
front built on further forward in line
with the rest of the street, so it
appears.
A full description of
this house can be read under the heading- "North Quay".
The alley was clearly
"Glass‑House Passage", where the glass‑house once was.
The half row of very dilapidated property was "Red Lion Alley".
Red Lion Alley is the
opening with the arched top through no 54 North Quay.
This ancient wall on
the right, in Red Lion Alley was the back wall of the stable of 55 North Quay,
and I think was the last vestige of the White Friars Monastery, see under 55
North Quay.
Dr.David Stuart, who
had made a particular study of Yarmouth
glassware and the glass
industry, felt that there was only a warehouse in the row, and no furnace,
due to the fire hazard, but
although it certainly seems true that Absolom used glass
from London and Bristol, I see no reason why
there should not have been a
glass furnace here at an early date. After all, there were
such hazards as iron foundries in the rows elsewhere.
Thanks to Dr David
Stuart for allowing me to photograph his glass collection.
*1 Palmer
*2 Johnson
*3 Row survey
The Occupants, Row
Thirty Seven, 1886
(From George Street to North Quay)
Phillips, J., painter
Rowland, J., yachtsman
Gibbs, C., shop
assistant
Pottle, A., fisherman
Stewart, W.
King, J., labourer
Inchly, Mrs.
Tuttle, Mrs.
Neave, R., railway
porter
Aldred, Miss
Stanton, G.H.
Greenwood, J.,
smacksman
Miller, J., labourer
Russell, G.
Smith, B.
Balls, J., smacksman
Wright, W., maltster
Watson, Mrs.
Myhill, G., labourer
The Occupants, Row
Thirty Seven, 1913
(From 85 George Street to North Quay)
South side
5. Savory, Mrs.
6. Fuller, Mrs.
7. Munford, James
9. Saunders, Edward
10. Tite, Robert
11. Howes, Harry
North side
18. McDonald,
Frederick
19. Taylor, Mrs.
Glasshouse
Passage.....
21. Smowton, Samuel
22. Hatch, Robert
23. Balls, Walter
24. Curtis, John
25. Mobbs, Mrs.
The Occupants, Row
Thirty Seven, 1927
(From 85 George Street to North Quay)
South side
5. Spinks, Herbert
6. Cutler, Miss M.
7. Munford, James
8. Sadler, James George
9. Scott, Arthur
10. Whiley, Arthur
11. Wilson, Thomas
North side
18. Simmons, Charles
19. Taylor, Mrs.20. Harding, William
...Glasshouse Passage....
21. Bacon, Ernest
22. Shipton, Frederick
23. Platford,. Robert
24. Brown, Albert Edward
25. Mobbs, Charles
The Occupants, Row Thirty Seven, 1936
(From 85
George Street to 51 North Quay)
South side
5. Watson, James
6. Batterbee, Alfred
7. Munford, Mrs.
8. Sadler, James George
9. Scott, Reginald
10. Whiley, Arthur
11. Green, Edward
North side
18. Yaxley, Frederick
19. Stolworthy, Mrs.
20. Harding, William
....Glasshouse passage.....
21. Taylor, Robert
22. Shipton, Frederick
23. Platford, Robert
24. Scott, Ernest
25. Mobbs, Charles