ROW FIFTY NINE ‑ (Palmer gives no name)

Bailiff Woolhouse's Row (1558,1567,1579,1590)*2

Upcher's Row*2

Mitchell's School Row*2

Crown and Anchor Row*2

Lacon's Bank at the north‑west corner was the site of Ralph Woolhouse's fine mansion in the sixteenth century. Yarmouth's residences then were noted for panelling, porches, ceilings, and chimney pieces.

In 1992 the two magnificent full length chimney pieces are still preserved in this modernised building.

The Crown and Anchor was formerly "The Mitre, then "The Sun". Many large square stones in the front wall on the south indicated the remains of a former residence of importance, where there was the position of an archway bricked up. *2

Row fifty nine, from the Quay to Howard Street. At the north west corner in 1874 was the bank of Sir E.K.Lacon, Bart., : Lacons, Youell and Co., which had a modern white brick front, from a design by Mr.Phipson.*1 It occupied the site of an old Elizabethan house, in which all the principle rooms were panelled with Oak. In two of them were carved oak chimney pieces reaching from the floor to the ceiling, bearing the date 1598. That which was then in the private room of the bank bears in the frieze, the initials‑ R.W., being those of Ralph Woolhouse, Bailiff in 1558, 1567,1579 and 1590, and a man of considerable influence in his day. Mr. Le Grice, then member (of Parliament) for Yarmouth, writing to the Bailiffs in 1586 spoke of him ‑ "I have known him a long time by good experience, to be both wise, honest, and discrete, and as good a townsman as any among you, (without offence to any man be it spoken). I fear you have but few such among you. I would you had many in wisdom, government and experience to match him."

It was during Woolhouse's term of office in 1580, that Scroby sand became an island with plants and grass growing on it, and they called it "Yarmouth Island", and Bailiff Woolhouse accompanied by about a dozen knights and gentlemen from the county, the Recorder, Sub‑Steward, Town Clerk, and certain Burgesses. They fenced one end in with a hedge, played bowls, and had their supper there, and annexed the island for the town. The Lord of the Manor of Scratby however, subsequently declared this illegal, and took possession for himself, and had a timber house built there. The townsfolk visited there to picnic and play bowls, and ships were wrecked there. In 1582 sundry silks, wax, and suchlike rich commodities were found there. Shortly afterwards, the whole island was reclaimed by the sea. In the latter part of the 18th.century, before the house became a bank, the house was in the occupation of Peter Upcher, who married one of the two daughters and co‑heirs of John Ramey. It was subsequently divided and occupied by Miss Susan Mitchell, and Miss Harriet Mitchell, each of whom conducted a school.

Between rows 59 and 61 stood several very old houses fronting the Quay, of which some slight vestiges still remained in 1874, and seemly so also in 1936.

On the south side of row 59 may be seen an old flint wall in which can be traced the head of an arch now filled up. This house in the last century belonged to the Fuller family, and afterwards to the Manclarkes. The central house was an old tavern called the Mitre, and afterwards, the Sun. It had a painted sign exhibiting this luminary in all its glory, and below, the words‑ "the best beer", so that it might be read as "the best beer under the sun"! In 1811 this house was partially taken down and enlarged, the front was cased in white bricks, and brought out to the pavement. It was then called the "Crown and Anchor" and at that time tenanted by Mr. George Wicks, who had been a jockey at Newmarket.

In the Row Survey‑ "On wall south side trace the remains of a pointed archway in freestone. (There is) also very tall house of ancient walling, thick and sound. A clearing on the west side would allow extra windows to this building".

Mrs. Bream, who had a shop in Middlegate, had a house in this row, the first house in behind Lloyds Bank. It was possible to get from it into Row 57 also, from the back. There was a ground-floor living-room facing the row with a single window, and a kitchen behind. At the back of the kitchen was a yard that backed onto row 57. The lounge was quite dark. They kept barrows in the back yard that they used to convey there market produce. The family was fond of holding parties, and had a piano in the front-room. When the war came, Mrs. Bream closed her shop at no.72 in Middlegate, and left to stay with a relative in London. Kept in the front room also was a treadle sewing machine. Mrs. Bream was born into the Bowles family in row 6 in 1872. Samuel Bream's Row is no.69, and it is thought by the descendants that he was their antecedent. This Sam Bream was a subscriber to the Napoleonic Dinner on the Quay. Jack Bream has an original copy of the dinner list signed by Sam Bream.

Basilesa Bream, daughter of the above Mrs. Bream, and mother of Doris, was trained as a beatster. Mrs. Bream paid for this training. The skill involved in mending nets was evidently a valuable one. Basilesa later used to mend nets at her home, using the wooden needle. The thread was wound around a notch on the needle such that it was possible to progressively slip it off during the sewing. The skill was in keeping the holes in the net the correct size, and all with a continuous length of thread. Before the war beatsters could work at home to earn some money whilst looking after their family. Another trade carried on at home was making piece mats. These were made with strips of material on a canvas backing through which they were half pushed through, and half pulled through. The strips were packed tightly together, and each one inserted had the effect of tightening the one before it. The children cut the strips, and father worked on the mats. These floor mats were varying sizes say four feet by three. One such would often sat in-front of the cooking range on the dredger.

The Occupants, Row Fifty Nine, 1886

( from Howard Street to Hall Quay )

Ives, C., firewood maker

Browning, F.

Riches, J., labourer

Bulley, J., attendant at asylum

Simpson, J.L., mariner

Vince, Mrs.A.

The Occupants, Row Fifty Nine, 1913

( from Howard Street to Hall Quay )

North side

1. Wooden, Thomas

2. Hunter, Frederick

3. Fairhead, Charles

4. Bream, Samuel

South side

5. Westgate, Edward

7. Annison, John Samuel

9. Coleman, Arthur

10. Hunter, William John

The Occupants, Row Fifty Nine, 1927

(from Howard Street South to Hall Quay)

North side

2. Hunter, Victor, William

3. McCord, Miss

4. Bream, Samuel

South side

5. Westgate, Mrs.

6. Cook, Arthur

7. Annison, John Samuel

8. Westgate, William George

9. Coleman, Arthur

The Occupants, Row Fifty Nine, 1936

( from 70 Howard Street South to Hall Quay )

North side

2. Hunter, Victor, William

3. McCord, Miss

4. Bream, Samuel

South side

5. Tomblison, Sidney R.

6. Cook, Arthur

7. Annison, John Samuel

8. Westgate, William George

9. Coleman, Arthur