HOWARD STREET

(Charlotte Street)

Howard Street is divided into a north part and a south part. Previously Howard Street North had been named Charlotte Street, after the wife and Queen of George III. There is a full length portrait of her, standing outside Buckingham House, I think, by Beechey, in the Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House, The Strand, London.(above)

Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg‑Strelitz in Germany, arrived in Britain on 8th.Sept.1761, on -board ship, - the "Royal Charlotte". She was married the very same day.*3 Her parents in law didn't wait for her to change her mind! Her first child, the Prince of Wales, later George IV, was born on 12th. Aug. the following year. She had 15 children in all, and lived at Buckingham Palace, which was then quite a small house, bought for her for 21,000 pounds in 1761 by George III. She died in 1818.*4

George III's wife evidently fell from favour in the town, and the street was re‑named, though personally I find the old name more pleasing and interesting. Howard Street South had been called "Blind Middle Street", until the creation of Regent Street, though it still had a blind end at row 90.

The Howard family have been Dukes of Norfolk since conferred by Richard III, although the conqueror made Radulph the first Earl of the East Angles, and Hugh Bigod was Earl under Stephen.*5

Thomas De Brotherton was Earl of Norfolk in 1312. After him were the Mowbrays, Thomas Mowbray being first Duke. The Howards came into the title through the female line, and by re‑creation. (See under St.Nicholas Church for details; also under Hopton Hall).

An old shop front in Howard Street.

Notoriety

Perhaps one reason for changing the name of the Street was its notoriety. A report in the Yarmouth Independent of 28th.October 1865, carried a letter from inhabitants of the Street, complaining that an article the week before had referred to the rows off Charlotte street as- "swarming with brothels". The letter writer complained that Charlotte Street should be singled out in this way, and that The Market Place and thoroughfares such as Market Row and Broad Row were just as bad (for bad language). Talk about compounding the matter! The writer says that it is fortunate that the paper only has a small circulation, yet wishes to publicise the matter again! The area was in fact only cleared of the brothels by pulling down the whole Street in the 1960's,as a result of which the whole character of the area, and the very town itself was changed. Even recently, as far away as in Scotland I have heard Yarmouth described as famous for its rowdy brawling and loose living. I have little doubt that many old Scots fishermen would imagine it as similar now to its predicament before the war. Presumably it was akin to the Bangkok of today, and I have no doubt that people came from far and wide just to see if it was like they had heard. For those who may dispute this, I also quote John Wesley, writing somewhat earlier, in 1761, on Tuesday, 20th. January, who states "I enquired concerning Yarmouth, a large and populous town, and as eminent for wickedness and ignorance as ever any seaport in England". Again, the old wooden barracks upon what is now Sainsbury's store, became a crepe factory, but was also at one time renowned as a brothel. (ref. "The Life of Robert Key" by Miss E. Goodrick; see from Hayloft to Temple by A.H.Patterson.) "A hotbed of vice, to be avoided by the young of either sex".

We have had similarly good "bad" publicity for the town in 1994, with articles in national newspapers proclaiming the "tackiness" of our Seafront with its amusements and cheap and shoddy goods. If we lose that, again we shall regret it. The message surely is to invest and improve, but not to sweep all away. (and to some extent, any publicity is good publicity!)

Below follows a description of Howard Street and some of its inhabitants:

Olive Lingwood,(now Broughton) was born on 16th. August 1919, at 51 Howard Street North, on the west side. She was an only child, born to Alfred, and Rose (nee Daniels). Alfred Lingwood was a greengrocer, and took the shop over from his father. They lived over the shop. In 1913, John Robert Lingwood was listed by Kelly's guide, and at no 50 was another greengrocer, Samuel Hales. They were friendly, although in competition. Numbers 49 and 50 became by 1926 a second hand dealer, Samuel Hales then only sold a few vegetables that had been grown on his allotment.

When Olive was 11 years old her father Alfred died, aged but 40, so that she and her mother moved to live with Olive's Grandmother in Abyssinia Road. Then, when grandmother died some two years later, they moved again to a little cottage.

Grandfather Lingwood had died at sea during the first world war. The house at 51 Howard Street was bought by Albert W.Beckett.

Deliveries were made from the grocery shop in Howard Street by an errand boy with a barrow. After the war the Becketts and the Hales were still in Howard Street, so the buildings clearly survived the bombing.

In the 20's, when Olive went to St. Andrews School, (see Row 11) on the east side, at the north end, was the chemists, Thomas John Woodcock's (the right hand end building that can be seen in the views of the Wrestlers Inn on Brewery plain). Walter Bell's Bakers was nextdoor, and fresh fish was to be bought at a fishmongers beside and past row 20. Howard Street then was full of small shops, a hive of bustling activity. Mr. Cork had the butcher's shop, and their daughter also went to St.Andrews Church School. One of Mr.Cork's daughters later married Sidney Bensley. L.P.Pagano had a fruit shop, Harrod had a general shop, and Johnson was a greengrocer, whereas Eleanor Chapman kept a wardrobe dealers.

After row 24 was Comer's shop which was at a lower level inside, there being two steps down from the doorway. Robert Love had a store, and then Dixon's was a sweet shop.

After Row 26, the pawnbrokers shop of Fred. Marsh, a very popular source of cash in those days. Items were taken in on Mondays, and redeemed on Fridays. Father's suit or coat was a popular item to pledge or pawn. Beside the pawnbrokers, Alfred Grevener was the hairdresser,next Miss Allen the confectioner, and then came Row 29. Mr.Jarvis had the Queen's Head public house. This Pub can be seen in the picture. Jarvis's daughter Freda attended St.Andrew's school.

Miles Taylor kept "Refreshment Rooms", as seen in the photograph, with the large pillars, (1927), and known as the "Sailor's Cook Shop". Morley, next door had a wet fish shop, and the smell here was quite extreme according to Gladys Chapman of Row 40 (now Plane), -although Mrs.Child's fish‑shop at the bottom of Row 40 smelled worse!

Next came Row 35, and then Ernest Liffen's sweet shop. His daughter was Mary Liffen, now deceased.

Leak's Lodgings took local people renting rooms. Gladys Plane told how Leake's was in the habit of accommodating tramps, and in an upstairs room, they all sat shoulder to shoulder round the room, (against the wall) perhaps fifteen of them sleeping in this manner there. What, if anything they paid for this privilege is not known. Leakes was opposite the St. Steven's mission. (Captain Tippler kept the mission). The other place that the tramps could go at that time, was the Northgate workhouse, but there they would have to work for their keep in the kitchen gardens.

Thomas Southgate was a butcher, and Mr. Broughton's boss, Mr. Spanton was the manager. (Broughton husband of Olive) The same firm had another shop on Albion Road, also one on Hamilton Road. The shop room in Howard Street was extremely small, only about 9 feet square. Most of the slaughter houses were outside the market gate, but Thomas Southgate had his own slaughterhouse on Southmarket Road. Next along was William Johnson a fishmonger, who sold shellfish, and other local fish.

Mc. Carthy had a fruitshop next door, whose family later moved onto the Market Place, on the east side of the Market, where they had a warehouse before the Co‑op had their store built. They also had a stall on the market.

The Edward VII Public House was kept by Mrs. E. MacDonald. Abraham Dickman had a haberdashery, and Percy Read had a Pork Butchery. This butchery had been Beck‑Bessenger's, and Percy Read had married Miss Beck‑Bessenger, and managed the shop in his name.

Allen's the Wine Merchants and wholesaler was next door, then John Mobb's, before reaching the Liberal Club, which is now Bretts Warehouse. Johnson's had these premises here in 1880, when it looks as though the current building was new, and there were the Royal Arms above the parapet, made of oak, and which pre-war (II)were preserved in the Tolhouse.*6

When the Liberal Club was here, there were public dances on the first floor, and a snooker room below. This was popular with the troops in the wartime. Jonathan Thomas Brett started his business as a furniture maker in Norwich in 1860. The house that they purchased, no.26 Howard Street North, had previously been 25 Charlotte Street, and then leased by a Mr.Phillips.*7 The original shop became a warehouse, and the furniture show rooms moved to their present site. Jonathan's son, was running the firm in 1903, and Fred Brett, Mayor of Yarmouth in 1921, decided to break away on his own. Ralph Brett joined the firm in 1922. There was a warehouse also at no. 19 North Quay before the Second World War, but that was burned out in the raids of April 1941. After the war, the premises at 14 Church Plain were demolished, as was no 15. The former Liberal Club was purchased as a warehouse in 1956, and the property in-between, in 1960. The famous public house, the "Blue House", once owned by Tommy Leake, was incorporated by Bretts after purchase at auction in 1971.*9 The Blue House had a long narrow bar with a curved end. Upstairs girls

were available. Downstairs were the "Dickie dealers", who traded in anything from a house to a shoelace. These dealers were to be found also in the Great Eastern, and the Star Hotel.

Walking back along the west side of Howard Street in the 20's, we would find Bartram's Leather Shop; F.T.Steward, confectioner; C.Lamb, Watchmaker; George Lamb, tobacconist; John Percy Parkes, hairdresser; Walter Brown the hosier; and James George Wright, the Baker. Rose the fruiterer used to attend the mission on a Sunday. William Childs was a fishmonger. The Gallon Pot public house was next (a name now carried on elsewhere). Mrs. Martha Beckett a shopkeeper, was at no. 43, and it was her son who took over the greengrocers at no.51 at a later date.

Herbert Redvers Watson was the baker at no. 44., and remarkably, this family still has a bakery on Howard Street, but on the opposite side of the road.

Harold Gooder was a dairyman, and after passing row 41 one could find William Rainer with his furniture shop.

The church mission was next along the street, of which there is a photograph. There were concert parties held there, and magic lantern shows, and there was a Sunday School. "Bright Spots Concert Party" was held there.

John Thomas Blyth the bootmaker's shop is to be seen on the photo., his two daughters are shown.

Hales' second hand shop had items such as clothing acquired from jumble sales, and general bric‑a‑brac. The Hales were elderly in the 20's, they brought up their grand‑daughter "Dolly" when their daughter died. Hales was a retired fisherman.

Next to Hales' shop were the Lingwoods, but father died as we have related, at the age of 40, and mother and daughter moved out, and sold the shop to the younger Beckett.

At no. 52 was Mrs Andrews general shop; Mrs Tennant next-door was an elderly widow, rather short and plump to look at. Then we would pass Harwood's hardware shop, Edward White, bootmaker, and row 20.

Then came Selby's wardrobe dealers, Scales fishmongers, and Arthur Harry Beevor*8 at nos. 58 and 59, with his bakery. Harry Beevor was the well known Mayor of Yarmouth, known as "Cosh", and who with the help of the Prince of Wales, opened the Haven Bridge on 21st.October 1930.

Yet another fishmonger was Fred Yaxley, and as we approach the end of the street we pass Harry Hayes' cycles, Walter White's shop, row 23, James Hewett the hairdresser, and John Hedley listed as a bookseller, but who actually sold newspapers and periodicals.

Fred Pert, paper hanger, was the last resident in the street in 1926.

*1 Palmer

*2 Johnson

*3a "History of Anna Sewell House", c.1978, owner's guide.

*3 ref. "The Royal Dukes", by Roger Fulford.

*4 There is a portrait of her and George II by George Livesey.

*5 Camden vol.III, p.98.

*6 Rumbelow, D. vol. 20, p.8

*7 Rows of Gt.Y., pt. 5, M.Teun.

*8 see under "Pubs." regarding the opening of the new bridge, also in "Row 27" regarding the "hot wall".

*9 see Bowling Green Walk.