ROW ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE ‑ THE GUN
ROW
(Palmer)
Gun Row
Mack the tin maker's Row, 1867 (Johnson)
Allon's Row, 1927 (P.Howkins)
Row One Hundred and Twenty Five map
From
Middlegate Street to King Street:
Many
and varied are the reasons given for (the name of) the gun row, says
H.B.J., One is that formerly two upturned cannon were to protect the walls
from original cart wheels at the east entrance. Another theory is that a large
gun was once taken through the row, this being the widest, and measuring 9 feet
in parts. Another suggestion was that a
foundry in this row made guns. Others state that probably a tavern named
"The Gun" was formerly near at hand. It had a covered west
entrance.
the sign is of
Christopher Allman’s Bakery
Called
gun row from a very early period. A
shop up at the north‑east corner was used as a district polling place in
the general election in 1859, also as a polling place in municipal elections until 1872, after which, the
ballot having been introduced, it became necessary to erect booths especially
designed for secret voting. This shop
was the provision dealers listed in 1927 that gave the name "Allon's
Row", as related by Peter Howkins in 1992. The adjoining house to the
south, fronting King Street, no.122, was for about a century in the possession
of the Norfor family. John Norfor, ropemaker, married Elizabeth, daughter of
William Dowson, for many years an Alderman. He died in 1752, and his widow in
1755. John their eldest son, filled the office of Mayor in 1765, leaving three
sons. John, the eldest, was a captain in the first regiment of Europeans
serving in India. He fell off a veranda in Calcutta, and died of his injuries.
His next brother, William, had a daughter Martha, who was an accomplished
artist and musician, and married Thomas Gent, who came to Yarmouth to establish
an agency business, having his office at the south‑west corner of Regent
Street, upon the site of which, part of the London and Provincial Bank now
stands. In 1808 Gent published a small volume of poetic sketches. There is a
portrait etched of him by Mrs Dawson Turner, which is scarce.
Between
rows 125 and 127, fronting Middlegate there was a public house called the
"Gallon Pot", formerly the "Tumble-down Dick". Some said that this sign alluded to the fall
of Richard III at Bosworth field, others to the fall of Richard Cromwell,
eldest son of Oliver, who was fond of the bottle. The sign was a painting of a
man falling from a beer barrel upon which he had been dancing.
Richard
Westgate moved with his family into the row in c.1915, from his shop at 137
Middlegate Street. They moved into no.7, Row 125. Later they were to move
again, into no.13 on the opposite, south side, and Arthur Westgate then moved
down to the centre of town. Mr.Westgate (snr)'s wife and Arthur Westgate's wife
were sisters but otherwise the two men were not related. There was also a Lenny
Westgate, who was a councillor, who was a relative, and nicknamed
"wacky". For a while in the first war they lived at 13 with Dick
jnr's aunt. They then moved to 6, then to no.7, and later, back to no.13. No 7 had a kitchen and yard at the front,
and the dwelling actually belonged to Sam Brewster's grandfather‑ see
under row 120. The kitchen was very small, and there was a bedroom over that
was jettied. There were two stories to this building, whereas no 13 was three
storied, having three bedrooms in all. There was a cellar at no 13, and a wide
gate which had been put there by the previous tenant, a German ice-cream
salesman who brought his barrow into the yard. The entrance was through the
scullery beside the row. Mr.Hammond of Apsley Road owned this dwelling then,
smoked cigarettes with gold tips and was not a helpful man. He promised various
repairs, but none were done. The family remained here until the early part of
the second war, after which it was not re‑occupied.
A
lady in the row made "all round", which was a herbal medicine. Others
included- Albert Butler at no.2; an
elderly gentleman; Mrs Buckingham, a cousin of Mrs.Westgate's - there were two
houses here - the other was occupied by Dick Jnr's grandmother. (4a) William
Liffen at no.5 kept a stall on the beach, a retired postman, he had a tea
stall, and was a batchelor. Henry Cohen was a coal-merchant, who used to go
down to the trucks on the quay, and then sell coal off his barrow in the rows,
delivering to his customers. The coal from the trucks was 10 pence a
hundredweight, bought by purchasing a ticket at the coal office. There was a
simpleton called Lenny Brown of row 120 who would fetch any number of barrow
loads for 2 pence a time.
Arthur
Westgate was a foreman at Sutton's fish‑house. Minnie Blyth lived at
no.8, and had a daughter called Gwen, still living now in the Blackfriars area.
At no.9 at that time was Josh Lee (a nice house there).
Darn
the Baker was at no.10. This is the bakery in the photograph with the sign
saying "C.Allman". Darn was known as the "midnight baker",
starting at 4 in the afternoon!, and going on until 10pm. Dick Westgate's mother was born in the
bakery. Darn had previously had a bakery shop at Rainbow corner. At one time,
prior to Darn a man called Boast had this bakery, and used to burn a lot of
paper in the oven, obtained from Wolseley and Wolseley when they had their
premises in Middlegate Street. Darn would bake your dinner in his oven for a
penny or tuppence, whereas in Allman's day it had been a fee of a farthing. The bread, buns, men on a stick, would be
delivered by barrow through the rows.
Rosa Allman/ Westgate
Christopher
Allman was Rosa Westgate's father, nicknamed "Cutty" Allman. Allman
had a white beard, and was a friend of Arthur Patterson. After retiring from
the bakery, he lived with his other daughter at no.13. At some time after Darn had taken over,
William Allen (who married Doris Wilmot, ex row 108) had a job here selling
rolls hot from the oven. He had no boots then and was sent to the Town hall
with a docket to get a pair. He didn't like the job and stayed only a week.
This was in about 1930, whilst he was still at school, aged 13. Doris Allen
went to school with Rose Westgate at the Nelson School who was a quiet girl,
and to me looks a bright young thing in the coronation party photo, but she was
killed in an air‑raid. Rose sat in-front of Doris in class. They also
played as a group with Gwenny Blyth, in the row or down on the beach. Billy
Blyth her brother, was known as a bit of a bully, and bullied his sister.
James
Audley was a smacksman living at no.12 on the south side, who had also married
one of Allman's daughters. He later worked at Vauxhall station as a stableman.
Charles Brown at no.14 worked at the waterworks. He had several sons. One, Joe,
had a leg amputated and also worked at the waterworks. Another son emigrated to
Australia. Two of the daughters were Rosie and Ethel. Their house faced the
row, and beside it was an un‑numbered building that was a fish‑house.
There were three smoke houses there. The Brown's house opened out directly onto
the row. Henry Watson's house was down
a passage, and was a tall thin man with a son and a daughter. Albert Quinton's wife Gladys at no.16 was
a cousin of Dick's. Her maiden name was Spurway, her father was a Trinity man
(working for Trinity House), who died of T.B. after an injury from a gun recoil
on board ship in the first war. Albert worked at the amusements (Barrons). Bob Howlett was good for an argument, an old
man who lived at no.17. Robert John
Parker was at no.18. His family had a bakery in South Middlegate. Again this
house was down a passage through a covered entrance. Thomas Playford was a
little man at no.19. During the second war he would sit on his broad window
ledge and say that the Germans would never knock their houses down! Here there
were passages to either side of his house.
Thompson down the passage at no.20 had a horse drawn lorry carrying
herring in the season. Thompson was such a huge fellow that they reckoned he
could have pulled the cart over the bridge instead of the horse! Mrs.Patterson was the lady who made the
"allway". Jackson had a very large family, all in another passageway.
Charles Arbon at 23 had the Jockey Scales on the sea front. The jockey scales
are to be found there in the season to this day. This was the last house in the
row. There was a stable behind no.121
King Street, between nos.1 and 2 in the row. Rudrum had a provisions shop at
no.1, and 121 King Street was a bacon curer's shop. It cost 3/6 or 4/6 for a
whole leg of bacon covered in breadcrumbs.
In the next row was Brett's foundry, but also, at Row 118,
"Jiggy" Hall had a blacksmith's shop. Boys then making a cart out of
old pram wheels and a box, old "jiggy" would cut and weld the axle
for them to fit, and charge sixpence.
None
of the Allman family, including Rosa, went to school, and couldn't read or
write. If Rosa watched father's shop, a lot of business was done on tick,
(credit), and so she would draw a picture of a loaf or whatever was sold, in
the book. When young Dick grew up he
had a paraffin business, and they kept a large tank of paraffin in a shed at
the back of no.13. (such a fire hazard wouldn't be permitted now, I think.)
Dick (junior) and
May, wedding day photo
He
married May Taylor, who had been born in Belfort Place in 1924, when Dr.Blake
was the doctor at her birth, then working with Dr.Ellis. Mr.Taylor was an
engine driver, shunting the trucks up and down the Quay. Blake was the doctor
for the railway company. Valentine Blake's practice was taken by Dr.Milner, and
then by Dr.Rutter, and then by Dr.Cubie, until he retired in 1995, and his list
was split between me and Drs Gtould and Lal.
In
the photo of Allman's shop, Rosa Allman is the small girl, and her mother is
shown also. The row was concreted by Cockrill, and had gas lamps. There was a
small boy who often followed the gas lighter with an upturned old cocoa tin on
a stick, playing at being a gas lighter, and holding his tin up to the lamps as
they went round. Rosa Allman at one
time went to lessons in a small school run by an old lady in ?row 123. One day
there was an old wreck blown up in the roads, and the tremor caused the floor
to collapse in the school house. After that Rosa never attended any more, and
her schooling ceased. Her brother in later years had a fruit shop in Regent
Road next to Pownall's fishing tackle shop, but his education suffered the same
fate as his sisters, and he could not read or write either. Charles Allman his
son later took over his fruit business.
The
paraffin tank at no.13 held 50 gallons, and deliveries were made every day by
motor cycle and sidecar. There was a warehouse that they used on Mariners Road,
owned by Charlie Websters boat owners. Part of this was war-damaged and then
patched up.
Later
Richard Westgate acquired a van to replace the motorcycle. After the war father
worked for Norton's of Northgate Street with a barrow, still delivering
paraffin. After retiring from the
paraffin business at age 65, Richard worked on the seafront for another nine
years, with deckchairs and also at the old Marina when they had the cowboy
shows that were still there at the end of the 70's.
In
the photo in the yard at no.7, is seen Richard and two cousins, on the left
Arthur and Tom the orderly. In the
photo on the seafront Richard is in the middle, with the manager Joey Moore, on
the left. It was 2 shillings and sixpence to get into the Marina open air show.
The
boy in the centre of the carnival photo is Christopher Audley, a cousin of the
Westgates, who had a fish house and cured herrings, but ended up as a police
inspector. To the left is Lilly, and Flo Sparkes with the light dress on. At
the back under the flag, with his father on the left peering over a head with a
hat on Dick's right, is his sister Rose Westgate. At the left hand side of the
photograph, holding a child, is George Sparkes (holding Marlene), also the
father of Flo. Josh Lee is to be seen on Sparkes' left. Arthur Westgate and
Ern. Arthur being foreman in Sutton's fish‑house are to be seen, also
Rosie Brown at the bottom left, with a hat on. On her left is Lilly Audley,
just beside the table. Sitting down on the right side is Tom Audley, another
cousin of Dick Westgate's. At the bottom right is one of the Mitchells who
lived in row 124. In that family were three, including Peter and Victor. Old
Mrs Lee (Josh Lee's wife) is to be seen with on the right, the lady peeping
behind the baby. Minnie Blyth is on the left of the photo in-front of Josh Lee.
On the right with white dress and white hat
is Ivy Beckett, and her daughter Ivy is the girl with a hat on, two to
her right, just beyond the baby. Peggy Sparkes is just below her on the right,
and Mary Sparkes looking over the top. They were sisters to the other Sparkes,
and daughters of the gentleman with the baby on the right.
Lilly
Audley married Byron Jackson (no.22), and his daughter Rose (Rosemary Sahota)
has been working with me at the occupational Health Department of the James
Paget Hospital (1980=1991). This
Jackson had three wives. There was another Jackson in the row, who however was
no relation.
The Occupants, Row 125, 1886
( from King
Street to Middlegate Street)
Riches, R.
Allman, C., baker
Godfrey, S., labourer
Bowles, J., labourer
Plummer, H., labourer
Hook, W., mariner
Pitcher, Mrs. M.A.
Easter, E.
Liffen, J., fisherman
Godfrey, Mrs.E.
Brown, Mrs. M.A.
Clapp, W., basket maker
Preston, R., gardener
Scott, J, lightsman
Bulley, R., mariner
Houghton, T.G.
Simmons, B., labourer
Moore, J., hawker
Stimpson, Mrs.M.
Holdsworth, M., labourer
Riches, W.
Buckingham, J., shoemaker
Parker, T., shipwright
Jacobs, W., mariner
Lovett, T., smacksman
Gooderham, J., guilder
Clough, T., fish curer
Mills, A., labourer
Ward, Mrs.E., charwoman
The Occupants, Row 125, 1913
( from 120 King Street to 48 Middlegate Street)
North side
2. Desmond, Mrs.
3. Myhill, Benjamin George
4. Barnes, Henry John
4a. Carr, Mrs.
5. Liffen, Mrs.
6. Coen, Henry
7. Littlewood, Henry Alfred
8. Hogg, Mrs.
9. Farrow, Mrs.
10. Beckett, Frederick Bush, baker
South side
12. Hemp, Mrs.
13. Mills, Alfred
14. Knowles, Mrs.
15. Wiseman, Mrs.
16. Mayes, George William
17. Houghton, Arthur R.
18. Parker, Robert John
19. Brackenbury, Bertie George
20. Thompson, William
20a. Lee, Joshua
21. Kightley, Mrs.
21a. Duck, Frederick
21b. Howlett, Robert William
22. Playford, Thomas
23. Arbon, Charles
The Occupants, Row 125, 1927
( from 120 King Street to 48 Middlegate Street)
North side
2. Butler, Albert Arthur
3. Taylor, Miss D.M.
4. Buckingham, Mrs.
4a.Westgate, Mrs.
5. Liffen, William
6. Coen, Henry
7. Westgate, Richard
8. Blyth, Mrs.
10. Darn, Samuel, Baker
South side
12.Audley, James Samuel
13.Westgate, Arthur
Westgate,
D., fruiterer
14. Brown, Charles
15. Watson, Henry Robert
16. Quinton, Albert Arthur
17. Howlett, William Robert
18. Parker, Robert John
19. Playford, Thomas
20. Thompson, William
21. .Patterson, Mrs.
21a. Jackson, Geoffrey
21b. King, John
22. Jackson, Byron
23. Arbon, Charles
The Occupants, Row 125, 1936
( from 120 King Street to 48 Middlegate Street)
North side
2. Butler, Albert Arthur
3. Taylor, Miss D.M.
4. Sparks, George Joseph
4a. Buckingham, Mrs.
5. Liffen, William
6. Coen, Henry
7. Thaxter, Harold James
8. Blyth, Mrs.
9. Lee, Richard
10. Darn, Samuel, Baker
South side
12. Audley, James Samuel
13. Westgate, Richard, oil merchant
14. Brown, Charles
15. Watson, Henry Robert
16. Quinton, Albert Arthur
17. Howlett, William Robert
18. Wright, Robert
19. Farrow, Mrs.
20. Thompson, William
21. Beckett, Wilfred Robert
21a. Jackson, Geoffrey
21b. King, John
22. Jackson, Byron
23a. Waterson, Roy