ROW THIRTY TWO
KINGS HEAD ROW*1
Kings Head South Row*2
Queens Head South Row*2
map
- Swinden, left part, annotated with row numbers
This ran from Howard Street to the Market Place. The
row was named after a tavern at the south‑east corner. At the second
house on the south‑east corner lived Josiah Curtis, town crier for 32
years from his appointment in 1786.*1
In 1995, row 32 can be approached from the Market
Place, where the east end is to be found intact, lying along the south side of
the Market Tavern. Measurement of the maps indicates that the Market tavern has
absorbed the site of Josiah Curtis' house, it would have been within the rear
of the modern building. A plaque should therefore be erected here, on the right
hand side of the modern photo. The old west end has been identified as lying
beween the two very grand buildings in Howard Street shown on the photo of
Elsie and Hilda Blyth with the cart outside their father's shop, perhaps about
1910. Now the row entrance would lie in the rather less grand entrance to the
Police Station.
H.B. Johnson, writing in 1927, wrote "The richly
designed teak front of the Kings Head Tavern at the N.E. corner excites attention. In the coaching days when cock
fighting was general, this hostelry was rendezvous for the Gentlemen of Norfolk
versus Suffolk. The last of the robed town
criers or Bell Men, Josiah
Curtis resided in this row for many years, he died in 1818
aged 74. There were some lofty flint and brick houses on the south side, and
the six light mullioned window on the north side of no. 18 Market Place is the
envy of the antique dealer." (and
where did THAT go to ?)
No mention is made of this row in the 1936
survey.
There was a John Plummer living in this row from 1927
through 1936. It is not known whether this man would be any relation to John
Plummer the dental Surgeon, now practicing in Queen Street. Nor would it be
known if he could be related to an earlier John Plummer who was convicted of
theft and at first sentenced to death and later pardoned by George IV.
Nevertheless, this seems an appropriate place to record the document.
This is a transcript of a Royal Pardon: (with
illegible words in dots)
Whereas John Plummer was at the General Session of
Dire and ...mina and of the peace and jail livery holden for Borough of
Yarmouth. 13th Day of September instant.
Tried and convicted of stealing in a dwelling house to
the value of 40/-, no person being therein, and had sentence of death passed
upon him for the same.
Know we ... in
consideration of some favourable circumstances, ...bly represented unto us in
his behalf are graciously pleased to respond .... grace and mercy write him and
to grant find in condition of his being transported to the coast of new south
wales or some one or other of the islands adjacent for and during the term of
14 years Mr ..... and pleasure
therefore is that you do give the necessary directions accordingly and that he
be inserted for his said crime on the said condition in our first next general
pardon that shall ... out for the Norfolk Circuit did for so doing this shall
be your warrant
Given at our court at .... house the 21st September
1821, in the second year of our reign by his majesty's command,
Sidmouth.
signed by King George (IV).
N.B. Mr. Charles Sharpe, who photographed the
document, says "for stealing £6 from South Quay, where employed (as) a
weaver". But the above document of pardon clearly says 40/-.
*1 Palmer
*2 Johnson