It was also a time of notable improvements, with the river significantly improved for larger craft, allowing more than half of the total output of the textile industry to be exported by river. The roads were also being improved, and by 1783 there were eight coaches providing twenty-five departures weekly to London. It was a town of narrow streets, many still unsurfaced, without pavements and lit by oil lamps. Many of the courtyard developments, poor in their day, were foul slums by the beginning of the ninteenth-century. The gates through the city wall were demolished between 1791 and 1801 in order to try and improve the standard of health by increasing the circulation of air. The Improvement Act of 1806 allowed for the streets to be cambered and paved (cobbled), which by 1850 were lit by gas. At the start of the nineteenth-century the dominant industries were the worsted and new mixed fibres, with the Norwich shawl industry achieving world renown. The trading of worsted fabrics to its markets was disrupted by the Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars which ended in 1815. The century saw the development of a factory economy, with the Silk Yarn Mill and the Albion Worsted Yarn Mill being built around 1834. In 1838 over 80% of looms were still in weavers' cottages, but the factory output far outweighed that which could be produced by hand.

William Henry 1791 -

William was born in 1791 in Norwich, Norfolk. There is no record of a Baptism for him in the Norwich Parish Records, either of those covered by the IGI or those that had been excluded, namely; St. Lawrence, St. Margarets, St. Michael at Thorn, St. Peter Hungate & Swithians, or of the non-conformist registers comprising the Quakers, the Old Meeting House, St. Mary's Chapel and the Octagon Chapel. He went to sea in October, 1806 at the age of 15, and served an Apprenticeship with the Merchant Navy. He also served in the Royal Navy for seven and a half years. There is no record of William in the Apprenticeship Tax Ledgers. There was a wide range of exemptions granted automatically by the regulations then. These covered all apprenticeships where the premium charged was only a nominal one because the Master was a close relative, or where a parish or charity had arranged the apprenticeship. Frequently, apprentices at sea came from sea-going families, and also some charities sent all their young male charges to sea.There is no record either of his Royal Navy service as it appears he did not apply for or receive a pension.He married Sarah Jennings November 17, 1827 at the Parish Church of St. Mary's, Rotherhithe. He was 36 years old and Sarah 30. Sarah was born in Middlesex in 1797. Witnesses were Richard Cooper and William (?). They had 2 children. William was born June 19, 1829 in Marigold Street, (earlier Marygold Street), Rotherhithe, Southwark and Alfred February 10. 1833 in Russell Street, Rotherhithe. Both children were Baptised at the Parish Church of St. Mary's. In June, 1841 (Census) William age 12 and Alfred age 9, were living in Clarence Street, Rotherhithe together with Mary Henry age 40. It is not clear what relationship Mary was to the boys. Neither William or Sarah appear on the 1841 Census for Rotherhithe, not those of Bermondsey (St. Mary Magdalen, St. John Horselydown, and St. Olaves). There was however a Sarah Henry living in Royal Street, Lambeth of the correct age - 45. In March, 1851 (Census) William and Sarah, together with Alfred, were living at 67, Clarence Street, Rotherhithe. Alfred was working as a Mastmakers Apprentice. His brother, William had married in 1849.