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NEWMARKET in 1844, is one of the most fashionable schools of the turf in the
annals of horse racing, is a handsome market town, with several elegant houses
and public buildings, pleasantly situated on the gentle declivity of an
eminence, mostly in Suffolk, and partly in Cambridgeshire, 13 miles W. of Bury
St. Edmund's, 13 miles N.E. of Cambridge, and 61 miles N.N.E. of London. It
increased its population from 1792 souls in 1801, to 2956 in 1841. It is in two
parishes, viz., All Saints, which has 320 acres, and 714 souls, and is in
Cheveley Hundred, Cambridgeshire; and St. Mary's, which has 250 acres, and 2134
souls, and is in Lackford Hundred, Suffolk, forming, with Exning, a detached
member of the latter county. The Duke of Rutland is lord of the manor, but part
of the soil and most of the buildings belong to other proprietors. The market,
held every Tuesday, has a commodious Corn Exchange, which is well attended by
growers and buyers; and here are two annual fairs for horses, sheep, &c, held on
Whit-Tuesday, and Nov. 8th. Petty Sessions are held here every Tuesday. The town
is a great thoroughfare, and its principal street is a about a mile in length.
Most of the houses are modern and well built; and many of those which have been
erected as the occasional residences of the nobility who attend the races, are
extremely handsome. The inns and hotels are numerous, and are proverbial for the
excellence of their accommodations. The New Rooms, erected about 70 years ago,
form a large and elegant stone building, belonging to the Jockey Club, and
comprising coffee, dining, card, billiard, betting, and news rooms, all
handsomely furnished, and provided with every accommodation for the gentlemen of
the turf, when they meet to ratify their agreements or settle matches. The Gas
Works were erected in 1830, at the cost of £3000, raised in 300 £10 shares. The
trade of the town depends almost exclusively on affairs connected with the turf,
for which it has long been celebrated.
The Race Course, one of the finest in the kingdom, is on the fine sandy heath on
the north-west side of the town, in Suffolk, partly in St. Mary's, but mostly in
Exning parish. Here are seven racing weeks yearly, but the races held in Easter
week, and in the month of October, are the principal. The diversion of
horse-racing, though undoubtedly practised in this country at the time of the
Roman invasion, does not appear to have made much progress till the accession of
James I., who introduced it from Scotland, where it came into vogue from the
spirit and swiftness of the Spanish horses which had been thrown ashore on the
coast of Galloway, when the vessels of the Armada were wrecked. From this period
it became more fashionable, and Newmarket had probably some kind of a racing
establishment as early as the reign of this sporting monarch, who erected a
house here, which was destroyed in the civil wars, but was rebuilt by that
distinguished patron of the turf, Charles II., and is still dignified with the
name of Palace, being occasionally visited by royalty, but occupied by Mr. W.
Edwards, the noted trainer. The idea of improving the breed of horses, has in a
certain degree induced the legislature to encourage this species of gambling;
and even the throne seems to sanction its continuance, for, in addition to the
plates given by the nobility, the Sovereign has for many years given two
annually at Newmarket, and several at other places. A gentleman who visited the
Octoher races here in the reign of Queen Anne, said he saw "a great concourse of
the nobility and gentry from London and all parts of England, but they were all
so intent, so eager, so busy upon the shaping part of the sport," that they
seemed to him "just so many horse coursers in Smithfield; descending, the
highest of them, from their high dignity and quality to the picking of another's
pockets." He was so sick of the jockeying party, that he left the crowd about
the posts to observe the horses; "how the creatures yielded to all the arts and
management of their masters; how they took their airings in sport, and played
with their daily heats which they run over the course before the grand day, but
how, as knowing the difference equally with the riders, they would exert their
utmost strength as much as at the time of the race itself, and that to such an
extremity that one or two of them died in the stable when they came to be rubbed
after the first heat." The sport gives employment here to many trainers,
jockeys, and grooms, who, in fine weather, may be daily seen exercising their
racers upon the heath. In March, 1683, when Charles II and other members of the
Royal family, with a large concourse of nobility and gentry, had assembled to
witness the races, a fire broke out and consumed the greater part of the town.
It has been supposed that the defeat of the Ryehouse plot, may be attributed to
this accident, as it occasioned the company to depart much earlier than had been
calculated upon by the conspirators. Charles I. passed through the town a
prisoner in 1647. Newmarket gave birth to Thomas Merks, bishop of Carlisle, who
became famous from his steady adherence to Richard II., for which he was
degraded to be titular bishop of Samos. Several coins of Trajan, one of Faustina,
and one of Maximianus Herculius, were found near the heath about eighty years
ago. About two miles west of the town, is the Devil's Ditch, consisting of a
deep ditch and elevated vallum, running seven miles in a direct line to the fens
of Ely, and supposed to have been cut by the Saxons or Danes. The two Parish
Churches are neat structures, each having a tower containing five bells, and
surmounted by a small spire. St. Mary's, as already noticed, is in Suffolk, and
is a discharged rectory, valued in K.B. at £4. 15s. 2d., and in 1835 at £375,
with the vicarage of Wood Ditton, in Cambridgeshire, annexed to it. The Duke of
Rutland is patron, and the Rev. P. Wilson, incumbent. The tithes were commuted
in 1813. All Saints Church is in Cambridgeshire, and is a perpetual curacy,
valued in 1835 at only £37. It is in the patronage of the Bishop of Norwich, and
incumbency of the Rev. William Taylor. On the south side of the town are two
Chapels, one belong to the Independents, and the other to the Wesleyans. The
former was built in 1796, and the latter in 1841. The town has a school
endowment, and several charities for the poor.
Richard Pickles, at some date unknown, charged his house (formerly the
Greyhound, and now belonging to three proprietors,) with certain distributions
of beef, bread, fish, (fee, in lieu of which a yearly rent-charge of £13. 5s.
has long been paid, and is dispensed as follows:- £3. 17s. 6d. for a
distribution of bread and meat among the poor of St. Mary's parish; £10. l1s.
for a distribution of bread, meat, &c, among the poor of All Saints; and 16s.
6d. to the clerk of All Saints. In 1591, Samuel Hudson left for the poor of
Newmarket, a yearly rent-charge of 20s., out of half an acre of land, and a
house, formerly the Feathers Inn, and now the Post-office. From a distant
period, all that has been derived from this charity is 13s. 4d. yearly. Lord
AUmgton left two yearly rentcharges, viz., 13s. 4d. for the poor of St. Mary's,
and 6s. 8d. for the poor of All Saints, out of the lordship of Newmarket. The
poor of St. Mary's have 13s. 4d left by John Muckham and Walter Pratt, out of
the manor farm (now belonging to Mr. Bryant) 15s. per annum as the rent of land
at Exning, given by Mary Buck; 30s. a year out of the Greyhound Inn, left by
John Archer; and the interest of £40, left by Abraham Goodall, in 1735. Two
tenements and half an acre of garden ground, in Black Bear lane, are supposed to
have been derived from the bequests of Robert and Thomas Row, and are occupied
by poor families, except part of the land, which is let for 21s. a year. A
yearly payment of £50 (subject to a deduction of £8. 15s. for office fees,) is
made out of the Exchequer; under a donation of Queen Anne, for the support of
Charity Schools, at Newmarket. It is paid to a master and mistress for teaching
21 boys and 21 girls. They are taught at the National School, which was built by
subscription in 1826, and now affords instruction to about 90 other scholars,
for small weekly payments.
NEWMARKET UNION, formed by the New Poor Law Commissioners, in 1836, comprises
the two parishes of Newmarket, the six parishes of Dalham, Gazeley, Lidgate,
Moulton, Ousden, and Exning, in Suffolk; and the twentyone parishes of Ashley,
Boro' Green, Bottisham, Brinkley, Burwell, Cheveley, Chippenham, Dullingham,
Fordham, Isleham, Kennet, Kirtling, Landwade, Soham, Snailwell, Stetchworth,
Swaffham Priory, Swaffham Bulbeck, Westley, Wicken, and Wood-Ditton, in
Cambridgeshire. These 29 parishes comprise an area of 150 square miles, and a
population of 27,383 souls, of whom 6029 are in Suffolk, and 21,354 in
Cambridgeshire. The Workhouse stands half a mile north of the town, in Exning
parish, and was built, in 1836, at the cost of £6909. It is a spacious building
of white brick, having room for 380 inmates. The number in the house in July,
1841, was 182; and in September, 1843, 169. The average annual expenditure of
the 29 parishes for the support of their poor, during the three years preceding
the formation of the Union, was £18,191 ; but in 1838, it was only £11,541, and
in 1840, £15,062. 11s. The total number of in and out-door poor relieved in the
last quarter of 1842, was 2770. Thirty-six guardians are elected yearly, and J.
P. Allix, Esq., is chairman, and William Bryant, Esq., vice-chairman of the
Board. William Parr Isaacson, Esq, is Union clerk and superintendent registrar;
W. Bryant, Jun., Esq., treasurer; Richard Faircloth, Esq, surgeon; Rev. Robert
Whiting, chaplain; Henry Ranee, Esq., auditor; Mr. Edward Miller, master of the
Workhouse; and Mr. Chas. Clarke, relieving officer and registrar. PETTY SESSIONS
are held every Tuesday, by the Suffolk magistrates, at the offices of Messrs.
Isaacson and Gillson; and by the Cambridgeshire magistrates, at the Kingston
Room.
NEWMARKET DIRECTORY.
Post Office, High street:- Mr. William Le Pla, postmaster. Letters despatched to
London, Cambridge, and the North, South, and West, at 20 minutes past 11 night;
and to Lynn, Norwich, Bury St. Edmund's, & Co., at 3 morning.
Those marked 1, reside in Albert street; 2, Albion street; 3, Bury road; 4,
Cheveley road; 5, Exning road; 7, Kingston Square ; 8, Mill Hill; 9, Market
lane; 10, Market place; 11, Rutland lane; 12, Sandpit lane; 13, Sun lane; 14,
Wellington street; and the rest in High Street, or where specified. Those with
an * prefixed are in Cambridgeshire, and all the others are in Suffolk.
14 Andrews Fuller, sheriff's officer
4*Arnull Mrs Lucy
13*Ashford Thomas, clerk and sexton of All Saints
Aylieff Joseph. excise officer, Heath
1* Balls Benjamin, carrier
13*Barber Mrs Jane
12 Barker Mrs Mary
9 Blackwin Martin Chas. bottle mert
8 B0nnett James, coachman'
Bottom Chas Jno & William, coach proprietors
Bottom Mrs Mary Ann
3 Brown William, farmer
Bryant William Esq. banker, &c
Burchley Mrs Ann
Carey Richard, Esq.
Chapman Mr Thomas
4 Chifney Mr William
Clarke Chas. relieving officer & registrar
8 Clark John Francis, architect, &c
13*Cope Rev James (Independent)
*Cocken Mr William
*Crockford William Esq
Cross William Coichraan
4*Edwards Mrs Mary
Feist E. attorney's clerk
1*Ford George, Esq
Frye Charles, banker's clerk
8 Frye F. R. organist, registrar. of marriages, and clerk to the Provident
Medical Society
Gillson George, solicitor
Goodhough Mrs Sophia
Goodisson Mrs Hannah
9 Granger Sar. eating house keeper
10 Greata Mrs Ann
l*Groves Charles, foreman
1 Hall Henry, artist
*Hacon John, carrier
Hammond Chas. Eaton, Esq. banker
8 High Philip, gentleman
*Hilton William, bankers' clerk
2 Hodgson Thomas, brewer
Howlett James Barber, solicitor's clerk
Isaacson William Parr, solicitors union clerk, Supt. regr. & clerk to
magistrates
13*Jacob John, fruiterer
Jeffrey Richard S. constable
5 Leech William poor rate collector
Le Pla William. postmaster
*Lushington Charles, Esq
1* Manning Jas. clerk to Jockey Club
8 Manning John, clerk of St. Mary's
6 Miller Edwd. governor. Union Workhouse
1*Neale Mrs Ann
*Norton Mrs Mary
1*Paler John, foreman
*Pars Albertus Thomas, News room
l*Perren Mr John
Pavis Mrs E.
8 Perren Thomas, clerk of race course
*Piper Stephen, Esq
10 Porter Mr William
8 Prickett John, excise officer
8 Prince Mr John
Ratliff William gentleman
*Robson Martha (lodgings)
13* Smallman Fras. gent. Nunnery
South Misses Sophia and Mary
13 Stevens Hy. Rowe, registrar of Cheveley district
1 Stofer Mr Isaac
8 Stofer Mr Isaac'
Taylor Mrs My.
1* Taylor Rev William Incumbent of All Saints
l*Turner Mr John
Wallis Thomas, coachman'
* Wetherby Edward, Esq.
* Wheatley Mr William
5 Wilkinson James, gas manager
Wilson Rev Plumpton, B.A. rector of St. Mary's
HOTELS, INNS, AND TAVERNS.
Black Bear, Samuel John James
Black Bull, Thomas Smith
*Black Horse, William Barrett
Bushel and Wine Vaults, John Mainprice
Crown, Francis Linch Bloss
9 Dolphin, James Howlett
8 Five Bells, Robert Hassall
Golden Lion, Ralph Westley
Greyhound, (posting,) William Jarvis
Grosvenor's Arms, Robert Parkinson
Half Moon, Francis Day
*Horse and Groom, Charles Rayner
1* Horse Shoes, Stephen Goodall
9 Lamb, John Frost
8 Queen Victoria, Jas. Fras. Deeks
*Rising Sun, John Ashford
*Rutland Arms, (posting) Thomas Sabin
2 Sir John Barleycorn, David B. Coe
*Star, Family and Commercial Hotel, John Snell
10 Three Tuns, James Clark
2 Two Old Brewers, Oliver Hitchen
Waggon and Horses, John Martin
14 Wellington, Mary Murrells
8 Wheat Sheaf, Samuel Speechly
White Hart, (commercial. & posting house,) Charles
Bottom
White Lion, Philip Arber
10* Woolpack, Thomas Hills
BANKERS.
Bryant Robert & Son, (on Hanbury and Co.)
Eaton, Hammond, & Co. (on Cocke and Co.)
Savings' Bank, Richard Bayley, sec.
FIRE AND LIFE OFFICES.
Alfred, W. P. Isaacson
Atlas, Soloman Payne
Crown, Robert James Peck
Farmers , Charles Chapman
Free Masons', Robert Rogers
Medical and Invalid, G. B. Porter
National Mercantile, Hy. Hassell
Norwich Union, William Newman
Pelican & Phoenix, A. T. Pars
Suffolk and General, Richard Bayley
ACADEMIES.
Butt C.
8 Culmer George
8 Feist Charles
8 Frye E. F.(prepy. boarding,) Berners House
* Henderson Eliz
8 Jeffs Eliz.
Manning John
5 Medbury John
8 Prince Nancy
8 Swindell John
Attorneys.
Isaacson & Gillson
* Kitchener William Cripps
2 Phillips Chas.
Auctioneers.
Chapman Chas.
10 Stamford Simeon
Bakers.
8 Allen George
10 Andrews Fny.
I Clark William
* Claxton Thos.
* Kelleway Thomas
Newman John
8 Pond Ann
Basket Makers.
10 Cole John
9 Jarvis Robert
Blacksmiths.
Barrow William and Richard
10 King Luke & Son
* Kerry Mary
13 * Stevens Hy. Rowe
Booksellers, Printers, &c.
Rogers & Clark
lO Simpson Allen, (and news agent and librarian)
Boot & Shoe Makers.
9 Ashman Chas.
2 Craske Edw.
11* Daniels Chas.
1* Harris Samuel
9 Haylock John
8 Howlett Samuel
14 Pettit Thomas
l* Prigg Thomas
13* Purkis Jas.
6* Rayner Robert
13* Soggott Hy.
2 Utton Thomas
13* Waters Thomas.
Braziers.
8 Scott Mary Ann
10 Stamford Simeon
Brewers.
Moody Tyrell
2 Phillips Chas.
Bricklayers.
Bouttell William
13* Bye Stephen
8 Clark John
9 Hitchen William
Butchers.
Bloom William
4 Gent William
Goodchild William
10 Holmes Chas,
10 Holmes John
1O Reed Thomas
1O Wiseman Norman
Cabinet Makers and Upholsterers.
Chapman John
Hull Hy. & Son
Newman William
Chemists, Drugs, & Tea Dealers.
unning Thos.
Martin Joseph, (& hatter)
Rogers Robert
Coach Makers.
Hunnybun and Venden
Confectioners.
Derisley Mary
Porter William (& tobacconist)
Spicer Joseph
Coopers.
1* Franks Thomas
4* Franks William
9 Jarvis Robert
Corn Merchants.
Bloss Frederick Linch
10 Cole Robert Corn Miller.
5 Halls Joseph
Curriers, &c.
* Everard John Potter
Holland Horatio
Fishmongers.
14 Brown Rt. (& game, &c. dealer)
Furniture Brokers.
Brasher Joseph
Hull Hy. & Son
Grocers, &c.
Bayley Rd. & Son
Hurley William
Porter G. Brooks
10 Wiles Stephen
Hair Dressers.
10 Miller James
14 Stebbing Chs.
10 Symonds Thomas.
Hatters.
* Hassell Henry, (manufacturer)
Hassell Joseph
Ironmongers.
14 Adlard Chas. (& patten manufacturer)
Brasher Joseph
8 Cross My. Ann
10 Paul & Brown
Rowling George
Jockeys. See also Trainers.
8 Boyee William
7*Chapell James
5 Edwards Edw.
4*Flatman John
3 Pettit George
8 Robinson Jas.
8 Robinson John
Wakefield Chpr.
Joiners.
8 Frost Charles
* Parkinson John
7* Ruse John
ll* Westley Samuel
Linen & Woollen Drapers.
l* Andrews Hy.
Hurley William
Pask Thomas
Porter G. Brooks
Pratt James
10 Wiles Stephen
Machine Makers.
2 Cohen Jacob, (wire worker & cutler)
1* Holmes Abm.
Maltsters.
1 Bryant William
4*Dobede John
2 Phillips Chas.
Moody Tyrell
Milliners.
1* Arnull Susan
8 Gossling Mary
* Jennings S. M.
8 Sadler Chltte.
*Wiles Ellen
Painters, Plumbers, & Glaziers.
Clark Thomas
Kent Samuel
*Payne Solomon
Saddlers & Harness Makers.
Boyce Charles
*Holland Horatio
*Turner Joseph
*Westley William
Shopkeepers.
8 Chapman Thomas
9 Frost Charles
8 Hilton Mary
9 Le Pla Samuel
8 Mendham Thomas
Stone Masons.
Arber Philip
* Parkinson Robert (and statuaryj
Straw Hat Makers.
8 Argent Martha
1 *Balls Eliz.
* Jennings Susan Mary
14 Munnings E.
2 Utton Susnh.
Surgeons.
*Faircloth Rd.
Fyson Robert
*Page Frederick
Peck Rt. James and Son
Tailors.
14 Ayis William, (hatter and clothes dealer)
lO Bradfer Jas.
Clark My. Ann
2 Folkes Joseph
Hassell Joseph, (leather breeches)
14 Husband Thomas
14 Horsley Rt.
9 Le Pla Samuel
10 Sydenham Jn.
10 Thorns Hy.
*Wickes James
TRAINERS of Race Horses.
*Arnnll William
Berresford William
4'Bloss Frederick Chs.
4'Boyce Richard Dixon
4*Boyce Rd. junior
4*Chifney Samuel
Cooper William
12 Edwards George
11* Edwards William, Palace
12 Haylock William
4* Howe John
3 Meynell Capt Edw. Fras.
3 Pettit Robert
*Risdall William, Crockford wall
12 Robinson John
Rogers Joseph
Stephenson Chpr.
Stephenson Rt.
Veterinary Surgeons.
Barrow William & Richard
* Kerry My.(John Wells, manager)
5 Leech Joseph
13 Stephens Hy. Rowe
Watch and Clock Makers.
10 Harris William
Hull Robert
Kates James, (& glass, &c. dlr)
Wheelwrights.
8 Deeks Jas. Fras.
Hyde James
Whitesmiths.
1* Pond Chas
Rowling George
8 Scott My Ann
Wine and Spirit Merchants
*Fleming Richard (wine)
10 Mainprice Jn
2 Phillips Chas
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