ROW ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY SEVEN ‑
THOMPSON'S ROW
FOUNDRY ROW (Palmer)
Thompson's Row
Yetts' Foundry Row
Scott the Baker's Row, 1829
Foundry Row (Johnson)
Row One Hundred and Twenty Seven, Iron Foundry
From Middlegate to King Street:
In 1927, there still existed many a lofty residence in
this row. William Yetts J.P., was an iron founder and ship owner, residing at
the south‑east corner. A lover of art, he had amongst his valuable
collection, old Crome's "Mousehold Heath", which later was purchased
for 400 pounds for the Kensington Museum. *2
St
Peter’s Iron Works
Formerly called Thompson's Row, and afterwards Foundry
Row, because here the late Mr.William Yetts established an iron foundry. He was
the only child of Andrew Yetts who died in 1823, aged 79, and married
Elizabeth, only daughter of Joseph Muskett of Intwood Hall. In this house, which is now converted into
two shops, nos.118 and 119, Mr. Yetts made a collection of pictures which was
disposed of after his death. Amongst others was a view of Mousehold Heath by
old Crome. This picture after Crome's death was purchased for 12 pounds, and
passed from hand to hand until it found a resting place in Mr.Yetts collection.
He sent it to the international exhibition in 1861. It was subsequently
purchased from Mr.Yetts for the Kensington Museum for four hundred pounds.
Mr.Yetts himself was an amateur artist of some considerable taste. At the north‑west corner of row 127
fronting Middlegate Street, is an old house having ornamental ironwork on the
front. It was the property and residence of William Boult, who died in
1804. At no.116 resided Tipple Gooch
Esq., who married a daughter of Thomas Watson.*1
The 1936 Row Survey says ‑ "no.14 in this
row, together with the house adjoining on its east side, which is un‑numbered,
are sound, but ill lit tenements dating from before 1800 (say 1775). Both have
good features in entrance doors and windows, and substantial walling, and good
roofs, and are capable of reconditioning".
Joan Ellis, was born Joan Brett, on 12th.July 1921 at
37 Century Road, Cobholm. Her father was Walter Francis Brett, himself born on
23rd.April 1897, at Elsie Road, one of eleven children of Walter Swithin Brett,
who was born at Tinkler's Lane, Norwich 15th.July 1846. (St.Swithin's Day)
Walter Brett and his brother Arthur ran the foundry
when their Grandfather died in 1914. Grandfather had taken the foundry over
from Mr.Yetts, the original owner. He had been an iron moulder in his initial
employment. Charles Brett his father
was a millwright, and came to Yarmouth when Walter Swithin was 8 years old.
(c.1854) Nine generations further back
from Charles Brett, Dionis Brett of Sall in Norfolk, a yeoman, was buried in
1602. Walter Swithin Brett married
Harriett Sarah Harbord, and they had 11 children, the first born in 1867, the
last in 1893, when Mrs.Brett was 43.
Initially they lived at Elsie Road, but later moved to Alderson
Road.
When Walter Francis Brett, the ninth child, was married,
he moved into a new built house, no. 10 Stanley Road.
There is a photograph taken outside no.10 on their
wedding day, 16th.October 1912. At the back from the left is Rose Chaston,
married to John Chaston, brother of the bride; (now 80 years old, living in
Bradwell) Their son is on the bottom left of the picture. Next at the back is
Lucy, married to Walter's brother Charles, one of the engineers; third is
Harriet, then is Grandmother ‑ Harriett Sarah Brett, Grandfather was not
present as he was working, and only offered Walter one day off for the wedding,
though Harriett insisted on two. Next is Charles Brett, he was a marine
engineer. Beside him is Grandmother Chaston, and Grandfather Chaston. They
originated from Yarmouth and Stokesby respectively. Her maiden name was
Caroline Tooley Grimmer. The little girl perched beside the grandfather is not
known of. On the front row was the boy as mentioned, then Maud, daughter of
Ada; the lady in the big hat is Maud Brett; Laura Chaston, sister of the bride
next, another girl with hat, then the daughter of Lucy and Charles Brett.
There are two photos taken in 1910, of the family of Charles Walter Swithin
Brett, and his wife Harriett. One photo is with the boys of the family, and one
with the girls.
The picture of the boys, from the left shows Walter
Francis; Horace; and William, father of Ronnie, the swimmer seen in the photo
of the opening of the original Marina swimming pool on Marine Parade. (councillor Brett) Walter and
Horace worked in the foundry. William and Charles were both marine engineers.
Arthur also was an iron and brass founder.
On the front bottom left of the picture we see Charles; and on the
bottom right, Arthur. Charles was in the Boer War as a private, his name is on
a tablet in the Town Hall commemorating those who served in that war. Horace
went in the army in the first world war, but the others were in reserved
occupations.
In the photo of the girls, we see‑ from back
left: Harriett; Agnes; Florence; Maud; and in front‑ Alice; Edith. Alice,
the eldest, married first, a man called Wyatt, and they had two sons, Fred and
Arthur. Wyatt was in the Navy, and drowned at sea. Later she married again to
cornelius Horton, who went through all her money. She kept a guest house in
Ipswich. She herself died at the young age of 43. Agnes married Tom Tripp, and they were publicans at Gorleston.
Harriett married William Salter. Florence married Harold Hardy, and had two
sons. Maud married a sailor called Charles Jennings, who served in a submarine
in the first world war, and who was taken prisoner and interned in Holland. It
is said that he was allowed home on condition of returning to Holland, and was
extremely well treated. Florence Married Robert Hubbard as his second wife, who
being the only tax collector in Yarmouth at that time, had people call at his
house to deliver their taxation. (on Victoria Road)
The foundry was very dark inside, the sand on the
floor was jet black from the iron, which sparked everywhere as it was poured. The
walls were white-washed to improve the light.
The foundry was destroyed by bombing in the second war, on 7th.July
1941. It had been one of several foundries in the town. Others had been
Webber's in Cobholm, and Pertwee and Backs, and Crabtree's. Many of Brett's
staff worked for Crabtree after the bombing, although initially Walter Brett
was offered part of Webbers. The foundry was bombed in the night, and eight
houses were also destroyed, but the inhabitants are thought to have been
evacuated. The letter heading of the
foundry states that it commenced business in 1835 (as Yetts).
Herbert Powley, a bargee, at no.11, married the sister
of Jane Maddeys who married Victor Palmer of Row 129 in his second marriage.
Powley had a boy, George who worked for Davies the painters, of Selby Place,
and a girl, Vera. Arthur Palmer of Row 129 also worked at that shop for several
years, prior to the war.
The Occupants, Row 127, 1886
(from King
Street to Middlegate Street)
Prime, S., labourer
Osier, J., smacksman
Bishop, Mrs. H.
Collingsgay, H., fisherman
Durrant, R.
Howes, Mrs. C.
Robinson, W., mariner
Kirkham, C.M., iron founder
Garrod, Mrs. D.
Butler, W., shoemaker
Mann, G.
Malton, Mrs.
Ives, E., fisherman
Hales, J., fisherman
Page, R., shipwright
Mann, J., fish hawker
Smith, B., engine driver
Palmer, E., shipwright
Huke, J.R., carter
Ulph, H., labourer
Meadows, W., pavior
Sutton, H., shrimper
Prime, S.
The Occupants, Row 127, 1913
( from 116 King Street to 51 Middlegate Street)
North side
1. White, Mrs.
2. Ives, Elijah
3. Carter, William Ernest
4. Snowling, William James
5. Shreeve, Martin
6. Howes, Mrs.
7. Dambrook, John Henry
8. Nudd, George
9. Hewitt, Mrs.
South side
10. Burgess, Mrs.
11. Shutford, Robert
11a. Waters, James
12. Westgate, George
13. Cooper, Robert
14. Allman, Christopher
15. Briggs, Frederick
15a. Weston, Ernest
Brett,
Walter Swithin, iron founder
The Occupants, Row 127, 1927
( from 116 King Street to 51 Middlegate Street)
North side
1. Lawson, James
1a. Smith, Stanley William
1b. Shreeve, Mrs.
2. Bunnewell, Arthur Lewis
3. Read, Mrs.
4. Fitt, Thomas Henry
6. Patterson, Henry William
7. Wigg, Mrs.
8. Nudd, George
9a. Collison, Miss B.
9. Freeman, Frederick
10. Westgate, Mark Alfred
South side
11. Powley, Herbert
11a. Waters, James
12. Bowles, William
13. Cooper, Robert
14. Westgate, Mrs.
15. Bartram, Mrs.
15a. Sampson, Bertie William
Brett,
Walter Swithin, iron founder
The Occupants, Row 127, 1936
( from 116 King Street to 51 Middlegate Street)
North side
1a. Wilkinson, William Ernest
2. Bunnewell, Arthur Lewis
3. Read, Mrs.
4. Fitt, Thomas Henry
5.Nudd, Herbert John
6. Webb, Thomas
7. Patterson, Henry William
8. Nudd, George
9a. Collison, Miss B.
9. Thurtle, Reginald
10. Westgate, Mark Alfred
South side
11. Powley, Herbert
11a.Balls, Henry
12. Bowles, William
13. Porter, Robert Frederick W.
14. Westgate, Mrs.
15. Bartram, Mrs.
15a. Darby, John
Brett,
Walter Swithin, iron founder