ROW SIXTY ﷓ DENESIDE AUSTIN ROW*1 Deneside Austin Row*2

At the south‑west corner of this row where in the thirteenth century the Augustine Friars had a cell, the Quaker Meeting House is still now upon the site. There is a burial ground here. George Fox, founder of the Quakers came to Yarmouth in 1655, and the Yarmouth adult school held their meetings here. The Oxford sign displaced the White Horse at the south‑east corner. Ostend Row this has been called, being a corruption of Austin. *2

Row 60 from Howard Street to the Market Place. At the south‑east corner is a liquor shop called "The Oxford", formerly "The White Horse", which in 1757 was described as abutting upon the Dene, there being then no houses eastward. This row was called Dene‑side Austin Row, because it led from the Denes or Dene‑side to a building belonging to the Austin Friars, to whose convent, on the confines of Southtown and Gorleston, this was a cell. The arms of the cell were three cross keys, and above, three dolphins enbowed. John Pulham, described as a learned friar of this house, died in 1304. Herman Pulham was Bailiff in 1450 and 1459. Some remains (of this cell) are still to be seen fronting Howard street, having a cut‑flint front with stone dressings, the whole now disfigured by whitewash. *1

An arched doorway with a square heading, having quatrefoils in the spandrils, all of Caen stone, led to an apartment measuring sixty five feet from north to south, and eighteen feet from east to west, with several splayed windows towards the west, all of which are now bricked up. The upper part of this doorway, (an engraving of which is in the perlustration) may be seen from Howard Street, but the floor of the apartment is now some feet below the external level. (This equates to the street level originally, and is a vivid illustration of the built up soil and sand layers, like the situation of the Tolhouse)

In a house in Row 60 resided for some years, Mr.Josiah French, who was born at Norwich, where his parents were dissenters, and in a very humble position. He was apprenticed to a stocking weaver, but found the occupation quite repugnant. He was noticed by William Palgrave because of his fine singing voice, and was obtained a job as a clerk at the customs house. He became well known at musical meetings, and was appointed in 1821 to be a lay clerk in the choir at St.George's Chapel, Windsor. He had a passion for autographs, acquired from a friendship with Dawson Turner, and a volume of his most valuable autographs he presented to the Prince Consort, by whom he was much noticed. He died suddenly of heart disease in 1850, unmarried, aged 53, and was buried in St.George's Chapel Windsor. There is an engraved portrait of him by Dawe. *1 There was a great fire at Windsor Castle last month ‑ Nov.1992.

On the south side of the row was early in the seventeenth century a weaving shop, possessed by a family called Theobald. Priscilla Theobald, widow, married, prior to 1778, Samuel Jay, shipmaster. *1

The Row Survey of 1936 says‑ "Dene Side Austin Row. A pair of 3 storey houses over cellars, moulded brick string course over first floor, sash barred windows replacing earlier casements. These two houses are said to have been built by the Duke of Norfolk (1690‑1700). In one, most of the rooms are panelled in large squares with Bolection mouldings, in the other house one room on the first floor has one side retaining panelling and chimney‑piece. The staircases, though rather dark now and perhaps narrow, are good with bold ballusters, newels and rails. Light could be admitted. In this row no.14a should be taken down to disclose a fine old house in its rear. Also nos.16 and 16a should be demolished."

The deeds of no.3 Row 60: The property was conveyed May 1876, between Arthur Henry Jenny of Ditchingham Lodge, Bungay, and Thomas Topps, fishmerchant. On 25th. and 26th.January 1819, was an indenture between Edward Crabtree, Robert Cubitt, Edward Crabtree the younger, and David Absolon, also John Watson and Thomas Watson. David Absolon was the second, and youngest son of William Absolon, the china merchant of 25 Market Row, and was a woollen draper and freeman of the town. Then in 1838, between William Absolon, (David's son), the Rev Fisher Watson, and Samuel Tolver; Ann Hannant, Edmund Preston, Edward Harbord Lushington Preston, also. There were other sales until Jan 1868, when George Gooding, publican, and Arthur Heaney Jenney of Shadingfield lodge, who had been married since 1st Jan 1834, bought it for a price of £130.

It is interesting that so many well known persons in the history of the town all had shares in small row properties such as this. There are inevitably recorded the signatures of these people *3, and there is a plan of the site of the dwellings, including the yard, wash‑house and privy. A poster of sale for auction on Thursday July 19th. 1888, of two houses and fish Office, in rows 51 and 60.

No. 3 Row 60 was described as having a large sitting‑room, panelled walls, store closet, small yard, and cistern of soft water, wash‑house, and two bedrooms. There were also particulars of sale of six freehold cottages on 28th June 1906. At that time these were let for 14 pounds, six shillings per annum, and then had four bedrooms, sitting‑room, landing and kitchen. There is also a plan of the interior of the dwelling, showing stairways, windows, and the general layout.

No.4, Row 60, has a wealth of deeds. In common with no.3, it was at one time owned by Albert English Kerridge, and purchased in 1874 by Lovewell Blake, chartered accountant, and Henry Edmund Buxton Frederick Palmer, and Garwood Burton Palmer, trustees of the Norfolk and Suffolk Permanent Benefit Building Society. It was purchased for 95 pounds. Alfred Kerslake was buried March 7th 1871, having married on Jan 3rd.1850, Frances Elizabeth Hopkins, spinster, of St.Mary Street Melcombe Regis. Her father was John Hopkins, cornfactor. Alfred Kerslake's father was Joseph Kerslake. They were married at the Holy Trinity Church Weymouth in Dorset. The property was sold in 1874, when Charles John Palmer was the vendor's solicitor, for 78 pounds. Although Palmers have had possession of this property since 1874, there is a deed of security from Lovewell Blake for three shares in the property secured to Norfolk and Suffolk Building society, and I wonder if in fact Lovewell Blake, or his descendants, actually have an interest unredeemed in this land to this day? There seems nothing to the contrary.

In the deeds of 12 and 12a row 60, sold 17th April 1961, between John Leslie Smith, of 85 College Road Margate, and Palmers Gt.Yarmouth: Mary Ann Smith of 85 College Road had died 16th. Sept 1960. The property then was sold for 100 pounds, and comprised two messuages or dwelling houses, with outbuildings, yards and grounds. The earlier deeds had been lost and could not be found. Mary Ann Smith had been at 38 Beatty Road Gt.Yarmouth, was a spinster, and had inherited 12 and 12a as part of the estate of John Charles Drake. What the relationship was, is not known.

Miriam King moved with her family into number twelve in row 60 in 1915, having been born that year on 28th. January, in Elsie Road. Their house here survived the war, only to be demolished in 1961 by Palmers store to create their car park. Miriam's father, Andrew Kidd Mair, was a cooper, ex. Peterhead, who lived until 1939. He married Harriet Eliza Mollet of row 142, daughter of the Salvationist "Blue Ribbon Jimmy". Miriam was later to marry George Arthur King, who worked at Norman's furniture shop in the Market Place. Their children , Daphne and Stuart, were to become a social worker and a teacher.

At number twelve, thirty six steps led to the top of the house, and then a further ten took one to the attic, and a flat roof. Although the house had a large cellar,entered from the yard, so the coal was stored in a cupboard beside the range. The front door led straight from the kitchen into the row, and the On the other side of the range another cupboard held father's coopering tools. Another cupboard contained Miriam's books, and her brother's train set. Above the range in a a further cupboard, could be found the best china. On hooks on the wall were hung the everyday cups. A window with heavy shutters looked out into the row. Through into the sitting room, we would find a large round table and a piano. The main room at number twelve was let in the summer to visitors. Cooking and attendance were included at a price between one pound and thirty shillings a week.

Nearby in the row, Roger the cabby's house was a "one up one down". It was next door to the Freind's Meeting House. In the row infront of number twelve stood the gas lamp. To the side was found a yard, in which two small houses were occupied by Hales the cobbler, and Claxton, also a cobbler. Further along the row, William Chipperfield was known as the "Umbrella Man"

At no.10 in row 60 was, in 1936, Harry William Pitchers, who had come from Beccles, the brother of Gertrude, who lived in row 58 somewhat earlier. Harry Pitchers was listed as a clothier. He had a second-hand clothing shop. He also made wooden toys, and he had roundabouts on the beach, underneath the revolving tower. His wife was Ada, and they had three children, Ruth, Olive, and Georgie. Olive took over the second hand clothing business. There was a big room and workshop here. Olive now lives in Granville Road. (Olive Parker)

*3 there is David Absolon's signature a deed of 26 Jan 1819

in the garden at the friends meeting house

beams in th cellar at the friends meeting house

upstairs in the friends meeting house

The Occupants, Row Sixty, 1886

( from Market Place to Howard Street )

1. Randell, S., tailor

2. Abigale,C., lightsman

3. Cooper, Mrs.

4. Frost, Mrs.

5. Leak, T.

6. Amos, Mrs.

7. Green, J.

8. Green, W.

9. Bean

10. Dye, B.

11. Jenkinson, W.

12. Ward, Mrs.

13. Briggs, J.

14. Burgess, Mrs.

15. Curtis, J., shoemaker

16. King, Mrs., dressmaker

17. Shrimpling, R.

Burgess, D., bricklayer

Lucas, C., insurance Agent

FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE

18. Nicholls, E.

19. Lawson, ., dressmaker

Gurney, J.

Jermey, R. (Jermy?)

Grimmer, S., and Co., wholesale wine and spirit stores, agent- Starling, W.

20. Hall, N., fisherman

21. Palmer, J.

22. Angel, Mrs.

23. Lucas, C.

24. Blagg, F., chimney sweep

26. Bates, R.

27. Read, R.

The Occupants, Row Sixty, 1913

( from King Street to Howard Street South )

North side

3. Penney, George Edward

4. Johnston, Arthur

5. Newson, James

6. Nichols, Mrs.

7. Bitton, Mrs.

8. Chaplin, A.

9. Phillips, William

10. Dye, Benjamin, Baker

11. Palmer, William George

12. Amis, Mrs.

12a, Hales, Herbert, boot maker

13. Huggins, Harry

14. Vince, James Henry

14a. Mann, Henry

15. Scarell, William

16. Newby, Henry

South side

17. Warren, Frederick

19. Beck, James

SALVATION ARMY HALL

Wright, Mrs.

Woolbright, Henry

Blake, S.C. and co., printers

Norman, William George

Mobbs, Edward

Harvey, Mrs.

Kerridge, Henry E., ironmonger, workshop

The Occupants, Row Sixty, 1927

( from King Street to Howard Street South )

North side

2. Short, Charles

3. Peach, Edward

4. Harmer, Albert

5. Newson, James

6. Cockrell, Robert

7. Coleman, Mrs.

8. Harvey, Robert

9. Phillips, William

10. Pitchers, Harry William, clothier

11. Larn, Mrs.

12. Mair, Andrew Kidd

12a. Hales, Herbert, bootmaker

13. Turner, Charles

14. Read, William

14a. Scott, Mrs.

15. Scurl, Mrs.

15a. Chipperfield, William

16. Newby, Mrs.

South side:

17. Partridge, Frederick

18. Clayton, Mrs.

19. Beck, Mrs.

20. Dodson, George Frederick

21. Roll, Mrs.

Boning Bros., furniture factory

22. Grimmer, Robert

23. Tubby, Alfred

24. Harvey, Mrs.

The Occupants, Row Sixty One, 1936

( from 68 Howard Street South to Hall Quay)

North side

2a. Smith, Edward

3. Smith, Albert

South side

6. Cutting, Mrs.

7. Cubitt, Henry

8. Smith, Stanley

9. Nash, William, apartments

11. Stanford, Mrs.P.