ROW NINETY SIX ‑ OLD WILDGRES' NORTH ROW*1
FULLER'S NORTH ROW*1
OLD MEETING HOUSE SOUTH ROW*1
BUSH TAVERN ROW*1
Town
Arms Row, 1642*2
Bailiff Harmer's Row, 1652*2
Wildgres North Row*2
Fuller's North Row*2
Old Meeting South Row*2
Bush Tavern Row *2
From South Quay to Middlegate
Street:
In a former house at the south‑west corner the Harmer and
Fuller families resided in Cromwellian
and Charles II 's time. This fine mansion,
later destroyed by fire,
had it's porch, an imposing
feature with most houses fronting the
Quay. The large doorway leading to a spacious garden at no.7 was
typical of many to be met within the
rows. Some of the houses in this row
had large arched recesses in the cellars. *2
Row 96 to the left of the taller building in the centre of the photo.
The space between
this row and row 100 was occupied by a large house
fronting the quay, which in 1650 was purchased from Robert Lambert of Erpingham, Norfolk, by Robert
Harmer, merchant, Bailiff in 1652. He was succeeded by his son
James Harmer, who, in 1666 sold the
house on to John Fuller, who was one of those who signed the address to Richard
Cromwell in 1658, and the house was passed on in the Fuller family. *1
Opposite the house in 1734, a poor fisherman named John Darby threw a
stone at Lord Hobart's carriage, which
led to him being apprehended and taken before the Mayor, Samuel Artis, and a magistrate, who ordered his head and hands
to be placed in the stocks, and
he was whipped. He was then kept six days in the Bridewell (the old
dungeon under the
tolhouse), lying upon straw in
severe weather, with
iron bars only to the
window of his
cell. The severity of his punishment excited
the indignation of the Tory
party in whose favour the stone had been thrown. An action was brought against the committing magistrates and the keeper of the Bridewell, and at the trial, before Lord Hardwicke, it
was proved by Darby that Artis took
hold of him and put him in the stocks. Artis had then
incited him to be whipped, saying‑ "whip him, a dog, whip him,
and after the
punishment was inflicted, the Mayor made him kneel down and ask pardon. Lord
Hardwicke declared the conduct illegal
(a brave statement even for a judge then) and arbitrary, and he was awarded 15
pounds damages.
Fuller's house is depicted on Corbridge's map, as a large quaint‑looking structure with dormer windows. In front was a porch with
a bench on each side, where Fuller used to sit, arrayed in his
velvet coat and ruffles, quietly
surveying the company passing up and down the Quay.
After Fuller's death
the house was passed to John Baker, merchant, who died there in 1792,
aged 65. It was conveyed by the Rev.John Baker to John Sayers,
merchant, who died in
1795. Some years
after when in
the occupation of Mrs
Holden, the old house was burned
to the ground, and in 1800 the site was purchased by Timothy Steward Esq.,
who erected on part thereof, the house, no.17, which he sold to
the Rev.B.Salmon, and on the remaining part he built in 1811, a house,
no 16,
for his own abode, in which resided until
his death in 1836, aged 74.
Row 96 on South Quay, from the left edge o the building at the EXTREME RIGHT of the photo.
There are several pages about the
Steward family in P.P. Vol II commencing page 152. The Rev.C.J.Steward was Rector of Somerleyton in 1870. Timothy Steward of Wells, born there
in 1696, came to Yarmouth to marry Hannah, the only child of Christopher
Harbord, and with her acquired some
property in the town and became the founder of
a family who
attained considerable
wealth and importance. He died in 1769 aged 73, leaving a son, Timothy
Steward, to whom his uncle, Tobias
Harbord, left a
ship called the "Two brothers". This Timothy Steward commanded
a private vessel of war called the
"Dreadnought", with which in 1781, he captured a Swedish vessel,
named the "Sophia", on
a passage from Stockholm to Bordeaux, and brought her into Yarmouth,
where she was condemned as a lawful prize. At the north west corner of this
row fronting the
Quay, is a public house, which
in 1814 was
called the "Peace and plenty", but has now resumed the old name of the "Bush", and this row is called
"Bush tavern Row".
At the south‑east corner
fronting Middlegate Street, no.171, was
an old tavern which had been re-fronted, called the "Turks
Head", it was erected upon the site of the Conventual buildings belonging
to the Greyfriars, and when the
latter came into the possession of the corporation, this house was called the "Town
Arms". It was subsequently called the "White Bear",
exhibiting a painted sign of
that animal, and afterwards "The Dolphin". Beneath this house were
extensive vaulted cellars of a very ancient date. The "White
Bear" was kept at one time by a
man called Osborne, who had been a
wherryman. One day in a
storm he rescued the famous John
Horne Tooke the philologist, from the
river, saving his life, although his
servant was drowned. Osborne it is said, was rewarded
with a pension for life.
The 1936 Row Survey says ‑ "A good sound house at Quay Court which
has a Stuart entrance on the south side
of this row. There is a cottage tenement
of some interest in the same row,
which is in
fair condition, but some outbuildings
should be removed to admit light and air".
Fred Pillar of this row wrote to me from Guildford, Surrey (aged 70,
26th.July 1993). He is still a member of the Red Cross, and teaches First Aid.
Fred was born here on May 14th.1923. His maternal Grandfather was a billiard
marker on the top of Diver's public house. One daughter became Mrs.Brunning of
Row 51, one Mrs.Capstaff, and the other was Fred's mother. This family,
surnamed Seago, lived at no.7 in row 51.
In the living-room at 9a, was a coal range, beside which was a larder
that should have been a hot (linen?) cupboard, as it was rather warm next to
the range. One hopes that they didn't get food poisoning. The coal was kept
indoors under the stairs, creating a lot of dust. The table was scrubbed wood,
and very white. Furnishings were a couch, four wooden chairs, and very little
space around them. Mother took in
washing- there was a copper in the scullery, and a mangle. Father did the
mangling, Fred ran errands for neighbours. On Sunday he would go to the baker
in Northgate Street with a plate to collect dumplings, costing a halfpenny
each. The baker would also cook a dinner and cakes.
Mrs.Pillar worked for Bloom's Haberdashery at the end of Kittywitches
row, whose daughters included the Miss Bloom that I knew myself, who with her
sister moved the business to Northgate Street. Fred
joined the Navy in the war but did not return after as the house had been
bombed.
Fred's father came from row 132. The house at no.9a had a toilet and tap
in the yard that were shared with the Muffetts at no.9b. The house had just the
living room on the ground floor, and bathing was in a tin bath in front of the
range, and filled with kettles of hot water off that same range. There was no
privacy if someone should chance to call!
Row 96 was opposite to Kitty Witches row and one day a cow escaped from
its owner on the way up King Street to the slaughter house, and became stuck
fast on its way down that row.
Fred has reported that Mrs Scarles (no.13) had an underground kitchen; as
we see from Johnson, there were extensive underground vaults at the Turks Head
public house, possibly these had a connection, as the Scarles' house was not
far behind the Turks Head.
Mr. Wilsher at no.10, was a Trinity House Lightshipman. The Tungate's
house (no.9) had a back-door into the Pillar's yard. Mr.Tungate was a member of
the crew of the tug "Tactful". The ship was often called at the dead
of night to haul some stranded vessel off Scroby. "Ben, Ben," the
shouting for Mr.Tungate often woke young Fred at night.
Mrs.Darn from across the row helped young Fred into the world as an
unpaid untrained midwife. Young Fred was a frequent attender at the Salvation
army soup kitchen, and suffered from consumption (T.B.)
The old row post is still present on the side of the wall. At one time
down the row Mr. and Mrs. Daniels made a living as morticians, fishing any
bodies from the river they carted them to the mortuary at north quay. He attended the men, and she the women.
At no.3, George Barnard was on the steamers. At the outbreak of war he
served on the boom defence vessels at Scarpa Flow. The Pillar family briefly
lived at no.3 before the Barnards.
Old Mrs.Whittleton would wear a cabbage leaf on her head to keep off the
gas from the gas lights! The Pillars
had no gas, and depended on paraffin.
During the fishing season young Fred played on the quayside and would
cadge ships biscuits, and after school hours he worked for Mickey Black the
barber, near to the Gallon Pot. At the age of 13 he worked as a lather boy from
5pm to 8 pm. in the week, and 8 am. to 8 pm. on Saturday, for three shillings a
week, which went towards food.
At the end of the fishing season, near Christmas, there was a box for the
boy, and as the season was good, the fishermen were generous, so Fred received
£2-10/- , and was able to buy his first suit with long trousers, in Navy serge.
Row 96 was destroyed by bombing during a sustained attack in the early
morning of Wednesday July 9th. 1941. The raid started at 1 in the morning,
continuing until 4.15, a.m. Rows 92 and 100 were also largely destroyed.
(P.Flatman, Diary, Vol.IV, p.4.) This was the same raid that destroyed the
Unitarian Church and unearthed the many coffins as described by Arthur Postle.
Some flaxen haired children were seen in some of these coffins who, as dry as
dust, fell apart at the slightest touch.