ROW NINETY EIGHT ‑ (Palmer gives no name)
Urquhart's Back Row*2
"This row today, said Johnson", writing in 1927, "is
missing from the lists, as also are nos.‑ 1, 15, 16, 18, 68,
69 and 94".
Early in the 19th. century, a magnificent mansion occupied the site of
the King Street Congregational Church, and took in the row, and all the space
up to the present 91 row. Here Thomas
Penrice had a wonderful collection of art treasures including Cardinal
Richlieu's "Judgement of
Paris" by Reubens,
acquired for the national Gallery for 4,000 pounds.*2
Row ninety eight from King Street to Deneside no longer exists,*1 having
been absorbed by the mansion erected by Thomas Penrice on his accession to the
large fortune bequeathed to him by Lord Chedworth. This house which extended
from St.George's Plain to Row 94, was probably
the finest house ever erected in
a country town for the residence of a private gentleman. It was built
under the direction and advice of Mr.James Hakewill. Mr.Penrice had
previously resided in a smaller house occupying part of the same site, and in
it he was accustomed to receive for many years an annual visit from Lord
Chedworth. Mr. Penrice, having erected the house, furnished it with a valuable
and well selected library, and a
collection of pictures by the old masters, of great rarity and beauty, chiefly
obtained by the dispersion of the Orleans Gallery. He died at Narford Hall in
1816, when on a visit to his son in law Andrew Fountaine Esq., and was buried
in the church at Redenhall, Norfolk, near his father, an eminent surgeon
of Harleston.
In 1844 the house was dismantled, the library was dispersed, and some of
the pictures that had adorned its walls were sold by Christie and Manson
at the following prices:
"Israelites drawing water from the rocks", by Bassano‑ 70
guineas,
"A Market"‑ by Bassano, 90 guineas,
"The Virgin Nursing the Infant Christ" ‑ by Coello, 205
guineas,
"A view of Venice" ‑ by Canaletto‑ 200
guineas,
"A group of flowers" ‑ by Van Os‑ 190 guineas,
"A companion picture"‑ 170 guineas,
"A Repose"‑ by Titian‑ 200 guineas,
"Hawking Party", 206 guineas,
"Landscape, by Gasper Poussin, from the Lancilotti Palace at Rome‑ 390 guineas, purchased
by Mr.Ward,
"The flight into Egypt by Claude, purchased by Mr.Cope, for 360
guineas,
"Peasants before a cabaret", by Teniers, purchased by Mr
Farrer for 860 guineas.
"Lot and his daughters", by Guido, formerly in the Lancilotti
Palace, brought to England by the Marquis of Landsdown,
"The woman taken in adultery", attributed to Titian,
"The Judgement of Paris", by Reubens, painted for Cardinal
Richlieu, and formerly in the Orleans Gallery.
Just imagine if these pictures were still all on display here today.
Perhaps we should have some authentic reproductions in oil hung as a reminder
of those heady days.
In 1844,the house itself was sold and taken down, part of the site is now
occupied by a congregational chapel, and the rest by houses and shops, and
the building erected by Mr. J. H. Harrison called St. George's Hall.
Penrice was surgeon to the East Norfolk Militia. Penrice's widow remained in
the house until her death. The eldest son, John was a captain in the
15th Hussars, and kept a prisoner at Verdun for some time. He married Maria
Catherine, daughter of Herbert Jarrett of Hobland Hall, and was a county
Magistrate. He resided at Witton near
Norwich, and died there aged 57
in 1844. (So it was evidently the second son Thomas, who died in 1846, also
aged 57, who would have been responsible for having the house dismantled, and
did not live long
thereafter)
The Occupants, Row Ninety
Eight, 1886
( from Deneside to King Street ) :
no residents noted