Rosary Notables: Barnabus Leman (1744–1835)

Barnabus Leman was Mayor of Norwich twice, in 1813 and again in 1818. It was a period when political corruption was rife and elections – including those for civic office – were bitterly contested. Both of Leman’s elections to the mayoralty were strongly fought contests with the first being finally decided in his favour after a hearing at the court of Kings Bench. Leman was a grocer and salt merchant, trading from premises at 27 London Lane, who later lived in Magdelan Street. He was also one of the first directors of the Norwich Union Fire Office.

Portrait of Barnabus Leman (1744 - 1835).

His first term was remembered for him processing to the cathedral for a service of thanksgiving for a victory during the Peninsular War then being fought in Spain and Portugal. In 1818 Leman was again elected, thanks to the support of ‘the blue and white interest’ (the Whigs were known as ‘the blue and white interest’ and the Tories as ‘the orange and purple interest’). It seems the celebrations of his supporters in the Market Place, flaunting their colours and anticipating success in the Parliamentary election to be held the following year caused some tensions but fortunately they passed off without the violence that had marked other elections in Norwich. 

Leaman’s official invitation to his Guild feast, shown below, has an interesting foot note: 

"The Mayor Elect requests the Honour of Company to Dinner, at the Hall in St. Andrew's on Tuesday, June 18, being Guild Day. An early answer is desired. N.B. Proper Servants to wait at Table will be provided-and no other persons in that capacity will be admitted." 

He died at his Magdalen Street home on 26th May 1835, aged 91, leaving most of his estate, including the house he lived in, and the cottage behind, to his niece Margaret Rounce, the daughter of his brother Abraham. His portrait hangs at St Andrews Hall. It shows him in the mayoral robes and chains, whilst wearing the mayor’s sash, and appears to have been painted at the Council Chamber in the Guildhall after he was first sworn in as Mayor in 1813.

Nick Williams