1837 Victoria I reign begins
1837 Election, Lord Douro (Tory) and Benjamin Smith (Liberal) elected to represent Norwich.
Freemen of St George Tombland –
- John Darken, Princes Street
- William Samuel Ling Princes Street
- William Rackham Princes Street
- John Ninham Princes Street
- Reuben Widdows Princes Street
- Thomas Wilson jnr Princes Street
Residents
- James Colthorpe
- Robert Drake
- John Ninham senior and junior
Occupiers
- William Jary Cubitt, Princes Street
- William Feek, Princes Street
Freeholders – William Warren
1837 freehold put up for auction of 22 – late property of Gibbs Leeds, deceased, now in the occupation of Mr Mounsear, upholsterer
“late the property of Gibbs Leeds, deceased, and now in the occupation of Mr Mounsear, upholsterer; comprising a sash fronted Shop, keeping-room, several bed-rooms, two large and commodious work-rooms, with coalhouse, wash-house and part of the yard as staked out adjoining.
The Property has a frontage of 18 feet 6 inches towards Princess-street, and 23 feet backward and extends from North to South including the yard a distance of 65 feet.
The Purchaser is to have the right of using the privy and bin standing and being in the said yard, paying a proportionate part of the expense of keeping the same in repair, and of emptying the said bin. And also a right of way from Princess street aforesaid, along and through passage leading therefrom into the said yard.”[1]
The property was bought by Robert Wortley, gent., who then sold “a messuage or dwellinghouse and shop in the Parish of St George Tombland, “bounded by King’s Highway towards south and the Plumbers Arms towards west”, on to Robert Mounsear, an upholsterer. [2]
[1] Norfolk Chronicle, 29 April 1837 p 1
[2] Additional abstract of title to estate in St George Tombland 1837-1851, MC 3089/7 1035X3 Norfolk Record Office
1839 Waggon Horse Lane name first used
1838 Chartist meetings in Norwich to 1848
- Thomas Allwood Cabinet Maker St George Tombland Church Yard
- Ann Buttifant, turner, St George Tombland Church Yard
Princes Street
- James Aldis, brick layer
- John Baker, boot and shoe maker
- Francis Bush, dyer
- George Chater, surgeon
- King & Sons, glass stainers, house painters
- George King, White Lion
- Henry Line, master of National School
- William Samuel Ling, tailor (St George Tombland voter)
- William Salter Millard, Suffolk Amicable, Protector. Fire & Life agent
- Mary Ann Moore, pawnbroker
- Robert Mounsear, upholsterer and paper hanger
- John Ninham, painter (St George Tombland voter)
- Abel Towler Tillett, carpenter and joiner
- Hannah Maria Vyall, milliner
- George Warne, music teacher
1840 Charles Chaplin licensee for the Plumbers’ Arms (20)
1841 census:
- 20 Princes Street – Charles Chaplin, 38, Publican, Maria Chaplin, 25, Maria Love female servant 18
- Mounsear’s Yard
- Ainger? Lush? 25, male servant, Louisa Lush 25, Thomas Price 12
- Sarah Ives, 60, Ann Andrews, 75
- Edward King, 22, woolcomber, ELizabeth King 24
- Francis Coggle 67, Mary Coggle 60, Mary Coggle 15
- 22 Robert Mounsear, 40, Mary Ann Mounsear 39, George Mounsear, 12, Edward Mounsear 9, Mary Mounsear 8 months
- 24 Samuel Love, 45, plumber, Sarah Love 45, Charlotte Love, 20, Milliner, Mary Love, 15, Sarah Love, 10, Valentine Love 3
- 26 Charles Raven, 45, Ann Raven, 30, Henry Raven 11, Ellen Raven, 10, Susan Raven, 9, Anna Raven 7, Charles Raven, 5, John Raven, 1.
- Churchyard:
- Henry Stearman, 40, carpenter and Susanna Stearman, 50
- Ann Buttifant 45, Betsy Buttifant 3, Mary Heanes 65, female servant, Thomas Williams, 25, carpenter, Benjamin Eldrich, 30, house painter
- William Dewing, 52, weaver, Elizabeth Dewing, 15
- Elizabeth Dewing 70, Filler?, Susanna Howth, 60, charwoman
- Francis Sweatman, 25, butcher, Edward Sweatman, 15, male servant, Philis Sweatman, 50, Wash woman, Phillis Sweatman, 30, Charles Porter? 2
- Joseph Gill, 65, Silk weaver, Ann Gill 6
1845 railway reached Norwich
1845 Waggon and Horses Lane name first used
1845 William Middleton licensee for Plumbers’ Arms (20)
1845 White’s Directory
- Francis Bush, dyer
- Ann Buttifant fruiterer
- Plumbers Arms – William Middleton
- Protector (Life) WS Millard & Son, Fire & Life office, Suffolk (Fire)
- Robert Mounsear cabinet maker
1846 Joseph Hewing is licensee for Plumbers’ Arms
1847 election – Samuel Morton Peto (Liberal) and Marquis of Douro (Tory) elected
1847 riots
1847 August – IN PRINCES’ STREET, near ST. GEORGE’S TOMBLAND CHURCH. Lot 5, All that neat convenient DWELLING- HOUSE, next the street, in the occupation of Mr. Cogman, and the Dwelling-house adjoining, in the occupation of Mr. Pigg, with an ample and convenient Yard and Workshops therein, capable of being adapted to any mechanical art or trade.
1850 cholera epidemic hits Norwich
1850 October – A GOOD DWELLING HOUSE, situate in the passage leading from Prince’s Street to Prince’s lnn Lane in the occupation of —— Rushmore, at the yearly rent of £4.
1851 April – 24 and 26 Princes Street and the synagogue in Tombland Alley (following death of William Rackham) put up for sale

1851 Census:
- Princes Street:
- 20/Plumbers Arms – Joseph Hewing, Innkeeper, 41, Jane, wife, 35. Ellis Garrach, visitor, 23, HM 98th Regt Foot. William Yaxley, 36, HM 52nd Regt Foot, George Coleman, 29, HM 9th Regt Foot. Elizabeth Hales, 23, dressmaker, Hannah Catchpole, 20, shoebinder, Elizabeth Hunt, 23, dressmaker, Elizabeth Hunt, 3.
- Mounsears Yard:
- John Lingwood, 50, servant, Elizabeth, wife 41, Susan Dyer, 29, nurse.
- James Ruper, 67, weaver, Mary, wife, 64, Elizabeth, daughter, 38, silk mills
- 22 Princes Street – Robert Mounsear, 50, paper Hanger, mary A wife, 50, Edward son, 20, paper hanger, Mary A Mounsear, daughter, 9, Fanny Durrant lodger, 28, milliner
- 24 Princes Street – James Cooper, 42, operative stone mason, Mary A wife, 43, green grocer, William son, 16, stone mason’s apprentice, Ellen, daughter, 11 scholar, Charlotte Meany visitor, 5, Maria Larkman, lodger, 28, silk filler, Emma Johnson, visitor, 11, scholar
- 26 Princes Street Fred M. Smith, 24, clothier and draper, Mary A, wife, 20, Mary A, daughter, 6 months, Jane Parnall, servant, 19.
- Churchyard:
- Henry Stearman, head, widower, 45, carpenter, Hannah Barratt, servant, 23. Ann Offord, 46, upholsteress.
- John Norton, widower, 46, hawker draper, John Norton, son, 17, errand boy, William, son, 15, Errand boy, Margaret daughter, 16.
Congregationalist chapel on Princes Street sat almost a thousand and held Norwich’s third largest morning congregation (573 with 191 children) and second largest evening congregation (452) – Norwich Since 1550 p 415
1852 poll book
Princes Street:
- Frederick Cogman – house
- James Cooper – house
- Robert Edward (church yard)
- Isaac Gooch – House
- Joseph Hewing – house
- John William Johnson – house
- William Ling – house
- William Salter Millard – counting room
- Charles William Millard – house
- Charles Mallows – house
- Henry Stearman – church yard – house
- Henry Thorndick – house
1858
Freemen:
- Charles Blyth Church Alley,
- Simon Burrows Church Alley,
- Charles William Millard Princes Street.
- Occupier
- Frederick Cogman, Princes Street,
- James Furse house and shop, Princes Street,
- Henry Hubbard, Public House, Princes Street
1858 Roger’s Directory of Norwich and Neighbourhood
Prince’s Street
- Jane Aldis, stay and corset maker
- Marcus Gill Bardwell, printer and bookbinder
- John Crawford Bell, surgeon
- Frederick Edward Clarke, tunist
- Emma Cogman, dressmaker
- Frederick Cogman, tailor
- William S Copland, solictor’s clerk
- George Crowfoot, baker
- William Dewing, messenger at Gurney’s bank
- George Dye, tailor
- Ann Everitt
- Robert Fickling, solicitor
- James Thomas Furse, cabinet maker and upholsterer
- Maria Gaul
- Joseph Hewing, Plumbers’ Arms
- Eliza Houghton, dyer
- Henry Hubbard, Coopers’ Arms
- William Jackson, musician
- George King, White Lion
- James King, plumber and glazier
- Camille Louis Lantenant, teacher of languages
- Robert Mandell, Model School Yard
- William S Millard, land agents and surveyors
- Joshua Morse, green grocer
- Mary Pentney
- James Read, joiner and builder
- Robert Rust, Elm tavern
- Fidelis Joseph Spaul, carver
- Samuel Steward, bookbinder
- Elizabeth Taylor, dressmaker
- William Henry Taylor, surgeon
- William Samuel Taylor, tailor and draper
- Thorndick and co, printers and paper bag manufacturers
- Joseph Wilkinson, solicitor
- Theophilus Woolnough, stationer
- George Crowfoot
1859 Freemen:
1860 poll book of freemen – Charles William Millard and Joseph Wilkinson on Princes Street. Charles Blyth on Church Alley, Henry Thorndick, Princes Street.
1861 census:
- (20)/Plumbers Arms – John Hewing, 50, publican, Sarah, wife, 35, Looey Worton, lodger, 49, agricultural labourer
- (22) Princes Street – Sarah Garner, widow, 47, greengrocer, Frederick Garner, son, 24, cordwainer, George, son, 22, carter, John Tuddenham, boarder, 23, bricklayer, John Pooley, visitor, widower, 47, commercial traveller, James Marshall, boarder, 17, groom
- Mouncear’s yard:
- Sarah Cubitt, 34, weaver
- Mary Grimmer, 65, dressmaker, Rachel Dugdale, boarder, 60, dressmaker, James Dugdale, boarder, 11, scholar
- Ann Buttifant, widow, 64, tailoress, Elizabeth, daughter, 22, upholsterer
- Elizabeth Johnson, 60, formerly housemaid, Kate Dady, 2, Amy Mendham, boarder, 64, barmaid
- (24) Princes Street – James Furse, 37, uphosterer, master employing 2 men and 1 boy, Elizabeth, wife, 37, William, son, 5, Ellen, 10 niece, Keziah Thompson, servant, 14
- (26) Princes Street – Frederick Cogman, tailor, 39, master employer, Emma, wife, 49, dressmaker, Lewis, son, 15, clerk at factory, Sidney, son, 11, Walter, son, 10, Arthur, son, 8, Eliza, daughter, 4, Frederick, son, 2, Emma Warren, servant, 15, Rebecca Campling, servant, 20.
- Church Alley:
- Henry Stearman, head, 55, carpenter, Ann, wife, 57, upholsterer, Walter Newall, boarder, carpenter.
- William Dewing, head, 25, local porter, Sophia Dewing, daughter in law, 22, tailoress, Eliza Dewing, widow, 52, errand woman, Frederick G Dewing, son, 20, photographer.
- Bridget Cox, 64, widow, washerwoman, Caroline Rylance, unmarried daughter, 23, brace maker, Caroline Rylance, grand daughter, 2 .Joseph Rylance, grandson 6 weeks.
- Charles Blythe, widower, 52, silk weaver
1861 St George Tombland population 687, property £4,865
1864
- John Blyth lived on Quayside, owned a property on Princes Street,
- Richard Catton living in Sprowston, owned a property on Princes Street,
- Robert Rolfe Cremer living on Magdalen Street, owned a property on Princes Street.
- Henry Stearman living on Church Alley owned a property in Church alley.
- Thomas Batcheler living on Princes St owns a property in Princes Street,
- James Bennett living on Princes Street owns a property on Princes Street,
- Frederick Cogman living on Princes Street, owns a property on Princes Street,
- Robert Thorndick Dawson living on Princes Street, owns a property on Prince Street,
- Joseph Hewing living on Princes Street, owns property on Princes Street, public house,
- John Grimwood Lacey, lives on Princes Street, owns property on Princes Street.
- Charles Blyth freeman, living on Church alley.
1866-1911 George Barrett is minister of the Congregational Chapel
1867 Reform Act vote extended to nearly all male householders and lodgers in boroughs who paid a certain amount in rent.
1868 register of electors: Princes Street: Thomas Batchelder (house), Robert Baldry (house), Frederick Cogman (house), George James Havers (house), Joseph Hewing (public house), John Hewitt (public house), John Grimwood Lacey (house), John Blyth freehold house (lives on Quay side), Richard Catton freehold house (lives in Sprowston), Robert Rolfe Cremer freehold house (lives on Magdalen Street) Church alley: Thomas Fox (house), Henry Stearman (freehold house)
1869 Municipal Franchise Act gave vote to some women ratepayers in local elections and also enabled women to serve as Poor Law Guardians
1869 Edward Boardman rebuilds Congregational Chapel – now United Reformed Church
1870 Married Women’s Property Act allowed married women to keep their own earned wages, money from literary, artistic, or scientific skills, and deposits in savings banks as their separate property, rather than it belonging to their husband.
1870 Poll book: Princes Street – Arthur William Brown, Thomas John Batchelder, Frederick Cogman, Robert Thorndick Dawson, George James Havers, Joseph Hewing, Joseph Hewitt, John Grimwood Lacey, Fidelis Spaul, John Henry Thorndick. Freeholders: Henry Stearman (Church Alley). William Dewing on Church alley. Richard Catton and Robert Cremer own freehold houses on Princes Street but live in Sprowston and Magdalen Street respectively.
1871 register of electors: Princes Street: Thomas Batchelder (house), Arthur William Brown (House and shop), Frederick Cogman (house), George James Havers (house), Joseph Hewing (public house), John Hewitt (public house) John Grimwood Lacey (house), Fidelis Joseph Spaul (house), Church Alley: William Dewing (house). Freeholders Richard Catton (living in Sprowston), Robert Rolfe Cremer (living on Magdalen Street), Henry Stearman Church Alley.

1871 Census:
- (20) Princes Street/Plumbers Arms – Joseph Hewing, 60, publican, Sarah Hewing, 44
- (22) Emily Brown, milliner, James Brown, 24, son, solicitor’s clerk, Frederick Brown, 23, son, stone mason, Arthur, son, 22, gas fitter, George, son, 16, printer’s assistant, Mary Minns, mother, widow, 83, annuitant.
- (24) Fidelis Spaul, builder’s clerk, 36, Anne wife, 47, Frances daughter, scholar, Elizabeth Porath, lodger, drapers assistant, Fanny Newman, lodger, 24, drapers assistant, Mary Porath, lodger, 21, draper’s assistant
- (26) temporarily absent
- Mounseer’s yard
- Sarah Cubitt, 44, weaver, Maria Harper, lodger, spinner, 52
- Ann Inwood, widow, 62, charwoman
- Pleasance Oliver, 48, charwoman
- Church Alley:
- Sarah Harrison, 46, dressmaker, Charles, son, 16, porter, Fanny, daughter, 9, Clara, daughter, 7, Arthur, son, 5
- Henry Stearman, 65, carpenter employing 2 men 1 boy, Ann, 67, wife
- Harriett Steward, shoebinder, 22, Harriet Steward, daughter, 18, fitter, Robert, son, 16, errand boy, William, son, 13, errand boy, Edward, son, 4.
- Jemima Denny, silk winder, 51, Jemma Cocks, niece, 16, piece mender
- Elizabeth Fox, widow, 77, Sarah Dorkins, lodger, 73
- Jane Clarke, unmarried, 37, James Lewis, lodger, 33
- Eliza Starling, widow, 49, charwoman
1872 – July – British Workman coffee/public house opens at 22 Princes St. Club room used for meetings, singing and phonetics classes, readings, recitation, bible reading classes.
1872 poll book:
- Princes Street freeholders – Robert Rolfe Cremer (living on Magdalen Street), Richard Catton (living in Sprowston), Occupiers: Thomas Batchelder (living on Tombland), Arthur Brown, house and shop on Princes Street, where also lives. Frederick Cogman, Robert Thorndick Dawson, George James Havers, Joseph Hewing, public house. John Hewitt, public house. John Grimwood Lacey, house, Alfred George Page, Fidelis Joseph Spaul.
- Church Alley freeholder – William Dewing, owner and occupier of house.
- Monsier’s yard freeholder – John Oliver, owner and occupier, house
1873 register of electors: Princes St: Arthur William Brown (shop), Frederick Cogman (shop), Robert Thorndick Dawson (House), George James Havers (house), Joseph Hewing (house), John Hewitt (house), John Grimwood Lacey (house), Fidelis Spaull (house), Walter Watts (shop), Thomas Warren (house), Church Alley: William Dewing (house), Ann Stearman (house), Thomas Wade (house),
1879 foundation stone laid for new lecture hall and Sunday School rooms on Princes Street, by Jeremiah James Colman MP
1879 Norwich Improvement Act passed – compulsory notification of the existence of infectious diseases
1879 Kelly’s Directory,:
- Philip Impson British Workman No1. Also Sick and Funeral Society.
1881 Temperance Hall opens in the room previously used by the Prince’s Street congregation as a school – purchased and redecorated by the Norfolk and Norwich Temperance Society. Also smaller rooms used for meetings of Templars’ lodges, secretary, committees. Norwich Parliamentary Debating Society.
1881 April Census:
- (20) Princes Street/public house – Sarah Hewing, widow, 59, publican, Robert Wigg, nephew, 27, moulder, Sarah Wigg, niece, 29, Alice Hayes, 19, dressmaker, Ellen Grand, servant, 17
- Mounseer’s yard:
- Walter Eastwick, 22, labourer, Eliza Eastwick, wife, 24, charwoman, Harriet, 3
- Charles Batley, 32, bill poster, Jane, wife, 33, silk weaver, Alfred, son, 4, Jane, daughter, 2
- James Mileham, 26, brewer’s servant, Mary, wife, 24, James, son, 3, William son, 1
- William Mileham, 28, brush maker, Elizabeth, wife, 29, charwoman
- (22) Princes Street – Philip Impson, 55, proprietor of No1 British Workman, Charlotte, wife, 53, Charlotte, daughter, 21, Mary, daughter, 18, Elizabeth, daughter, 16, dressmaker.
- (24) Princes Street – Reginald D Brett, 32, greengrocer, Elizabeth, 40, greengrocer
- (26) Princes Street – Fidelis Spaul, builder’s clerk, 46, Anne, wife, 47, Frances, sister in law, annuitant, 33
- (26) Princes Street – Anne Palmer, lodger, annuitant, 49, Susan Massey, 68, sister, annuitant
- Church Yard
- William Gaskin, 32, bailiff, Anne, wife
- Robert Tyler, 32, painter, Mary A wife, Alfred Carter, step son, confectioner, Florence, step daughter, 14, William step son, 12, John step son, 8, Charles Kidd, 26, lodger, carpenter, Rosa Vincent, visitor, dressmaker, 18.
- Thomas Wade, widower, 60, turner, Jemima Dewing, widow, 60, work at silk factory, Susan Hoply, lodger, 27, brush maker, Fred Betts, 50, shoe maker, Mrs Betts, widow, 73, washerwoman, Walter Starling, 21, bricklayer’s labourer, unemployed, Mrs Starling, widow, 70, washerwoman.
- Mary Hayes, 61, lodging house keeper, Murrells, (female) lodger, 70, annuitant, Harry Tomson, 12, scholar
1881 July – Sarah Hewing charged with keeping a brothel at the Plumbers’ Arms, 20 Princes Street
1882 Register of electors for Princes Street – Frederick Cogman (house) Fidelis Spaul (house), Reginald Daynes Brett (house and shop), Robert Thorndick Dawson (house). Robert Cremer living on Magdalen St, qualifying property in Princes Street

1884 Ordinance survey map
1887 electoral roll
- Henry Allen 4 Church Alley,
- Ernest Arthur Betts 27 Princes Street,
- Reginal Daynes Brett 33 Princes Street house and shop,
- George Colby F(reeholder?) 34 Princes Street (successive 2 houses?) ,
- Robert Rolfe Cremer 35 Princes Street,
- William Dewing dwelling house, Church Alley,
- William Fransham* 22 Princes Street,
- John Hewitt 24 Princes Street, Public House,
- John Hurn 25 Princes Street,
- Philip Henry Impson 31 Princes Street,
- John Mickleburgh Dwelling House Mounsier’s Yard,
- James Milchier, dwelling house, Mounsier’s Yard,
- Henry Spilling Church Alley dwelling house, Freeman:
- Thomas Wade, Church Alley.
Not voters, but are citizens
- Mary Coggle, Mounsier’s Yard dwelling house,
- Jemima Denny, Church alley dwelling house,
- Ellen Havers 1 Princes St,
- Maria Middleton Church alley,
- Maria Palmer Church alley.
1889 Norwich Corporation Act regulating every aspect of public administration: sewerage, drainage, control of infections diseases, police and fire services, street work, employment of children. Council revenues all pass into hands of the Board of the Guardians of the Poor.
1890 The Temperance Society sells off the old Temperance Hall on Princes Street. It was purchased by the Junior Institute for Working Lads and became a lecture hall, classroom, gymnasium and recreation and reading room

1891 Census:
- 29 (20) Princes Street – Rebecca Levine, living on own means, widow, 58. Reuben, son, 24, dealer in antiquities, Minnie, daughter, 22, Amelia, daughter, 19
- Monser’s yard:
- Mary Coggle, widow, 75, own means
- Martha Carter, widow, 68, charwoman
- John Higgs, widower, 90, watchman
- 31 (22) Princes Street – Philip Impson, 65, Charlotte, wife, 63, Mary, daughter, mission worker, preacher
- 33 (24) Princes Street, Reginald D Brett, 42, General Shopkeeper, Elizabeth, wife, 50
- 35 (26) Robert R Cremer, widower, medical practitioner, retired, Harriet, daughter, 41
- Church Alley:
- Joseph W Howard, 45, bricklayer
- Sophia Dewing, widow, 52, tailoress, Edward Jarrett, 38, carpenter, lodger
- Henry Allen, 48, chimney sweep, Clara wife, 44, John son, 20, shoe maker, RG son 8, R daughter, 4
- Monser’s Yard:
- Susannah Murrell, widow, 64, parish relief
- Elizabeth Clark, 40, charwoman, Frederick son, 8, Alice, daughter, 6
- Robert Walpole, 42, ball maker
- Mary Comer, widow, own means
- Jemima Dewing, widow, 71, charwoman, Eleanor Brown, lodger, 38, charwoman
- Alfred Palmer, 42, fine art dealer, Kate, wife, 40, Beatrice, daughter, 13, Alfred, son, 11, Charles, son, 9, Margery daughter, 8
