Norwich, in 1713, in pursuance of his will and instructions, for the convenient reception and habitation of lunatics, and not for natural born fools, or ideots. A committee room, and other additions, were made to the building, 1807. A Benevolent Associ ation was instituted for the relief of decayed tradesmen, widows, and orphans, in the year 1790. There is also a charity for clergymens' widows, &c. The society of Universal Good Will, an amicable society of attornies, for establishing a fund for the relief and benefit of the widows and children of attornies, was instituted, 1784. The Norfolk Benevolent Medical Society, of a similar nature, was instituted, 1786. The society for the discharge of persons imprisoned for smali debts, a most excellent institution, was established, 1774. The Dukes of Norfolk formerly had a magnificent palace in this city. It was made a ducal residence, in the reign of Henry the Eighth, but pulled down in 1602, when a new palace was erected by Henry, duke of Norfolk. The whole site where this palace stood, one of the largest in England, has been built upon by different proprietors. St. Andrew's Hall is a noble building, and was formerly a church belonging to a monastery of Black Friars. It was first began in 1415, by Sir Thomas Erpingham; it had an handsome steeple, which through decay fell down, 1712. At the dis solution of the monasteries it was given to the mayor and citizens, for a ball to repair unto as a common assembly. In 1544, the first mayor's feast was held in this Hall, now denominated St. Andrew's Hall. In 1774, this building underwent alterations, and received some additions; in the year 1796, the Hall was opened as a corn exchange, for which purpose it is used every Saturday. There are numerous paintings embellishing this hall, among which are those of Queen Ann and Prince George of Denmark. In the centre is an admirable likeness E of of that immortal hero, Lord Nelson of the Nile, painted by Sir William Beechey. The assizes for the city were formerly held in this hall. The Bridewell, or House of Correction, is built of black flints curiously squared. The tower in the Hospital Meadow, called the Dungeon or Low Tower, is a circular building, with a round spiral staircase leading to the top; it is stated to have been built 1390, at the expence of the city. The Palace of the Bishop was built by Bishop Salmon. The Great Hall, 110 feet by 60, was pulled down, and the whole palace repaired at the Restoration; four gates of the close remain, the great one, Erpingham's, and two more. Opposite St. James's Church is an old house called "Fastolfe's Palace," as once being the residence of Sir John Fastolfe, of Castor. In this city there is a public library, instituted 1784, as also a society of artists, who make an annual public exhibition of their works. In a valley under a hill, out of the bishop's gate, is the spot where Mrs. Cicely Ormes, and various inhabitants of this city and county were burnt, in the sanguinary reign of Queen Mary, for professing the protestant faith, through the bigotted exertions of John Hopton, then Bishop of Norwich, who died on the accession of Queen Elizabeth, as was said, through fear of retaliating vengeance. Among the illustrious, natives of this city were William Bateman, bishop_of Norwich, founder of Trinity Hall, Cambridge; Dr. Parker, archbishop of Canterbury; Dr. John Kaye, the founder of Caius College; Dr. Cosin, bishop of Durham; the celebrated Dr. Samuel Clarke; Dr. Edward Brown, the physician, son of Sir Thomas Brown; Dr. John Goslin, twice vice-chancellor of Cambridge; and Dr. Thomas Legg. Many martyrs suffered in this city, as we have before observed, among whom was the famous Mr. Thomas Bilney. The markets of Norwich are thought to be the greatest greatest in England; they are furnished with a surprising stock and variety of goods and provisions.-The market days are Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday; the fairs Maunday Thursday, and Saturday before and after Whit-Sunday. The mails from London arrive every forenoon, Monday excepted, about eleven o'clock, and are dispatched every afternoon, Saturday excepted, at half past four. The Post-office is open for the delivery of letters an hour after the arrival of the different mails, and is shut half an hour before their departure. The mails from Huntingdon, Cambridge, Newmarket, Bury, Thetford, &c. arrive and are dispatched at the above times. The mails from all the intermediate places between London and Ipswich, and likewise between Ipswich and this city, arrive every day at twelve at noon, and return again at half past three in the afternoon. The mails from Cromer, Aylsham, and North Walsham, arrive Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, at two in the afternoon, and are dispatched to those places Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, at twelve at noon. There were five banks; but one of chief celebrity, not only in this city, but throughout the county, recently failed; there are also various fire insurance offices. The principal inns are the King's Head, Maid's Head, Angel, and White Swan. On the left, a‹ljacent to the city, is the seat of Alderman Ives. Journey from Norwich to Lynn Regis. About four miles from Norwich, on the right of Easton, is Costessy, or Cossey, the situation of which is in a great hole by the river side; it is reckoned one of the largest manors in the county of Norfolk, extending itself into upwards of 20 parishes. This manor has long been in possession of the family of the Jerninghams, of which family is that elegant poet, Edward Jerningham, Esq. Weever says, that the Jerningham family were of exemplary E 2 note note before the Conquest, and that in 1030 Canute, after his return from Rome, brought divers captains from Denmark, of whom Jerneyan or Jerningham was of most esteem with him. Sir William Jerning→ ham, who was lord of the manor, is very recently deceased. The lord of this manor has a right of free-warren over most of the adjacent villages, because the manor has the superiority as much as the lord of the hundred hath over the rest. The plantations and pleasure grounds are, in point of rural elegance, worthy the attention of travellers. Cossey Hall is partly ancient and partly modern; it contains several good and convenient apartments, among which is a well-stocked library. "Among the pictures (says the intelligent Mr. Britton) is a portrait of Queen Mary, said to be by Holbein, and a very curious drawing, by Ph. Fauytiers, dated 1640, representing the celebrated Earl of Arundel, his Countess, and three children. This picture was designed by Vandyck, as a sort of companion to his much admired painting of the Pembroke family, at Wilton. Contiguous to the house is a modern chapel, built under the direction of Mr. Jerningham, the poet, whose exquisite taste in the polite arts is well known. It is built in the Gothic style, and the windows are filled with painted glass. EASTON, five miles from Norwich, is in the hundred of Fosehoe; it contains 29 houses, and 217 inhabitants. We then arrive at Honingham, on the right of which is Honingham Hall, the seat of C. Townsend, Esq. Five miles from Hockering, a small parish, is EAST DEREHAM. East Dereham, or Market Dereham, is thus named to distinguish it from a village of the same name near Downham. This is a market-town of great antiquity, and is situated near the centre of the county. This town extends nearly three miles in length, and three in breadth, and comprehends in that space several pleasant greens, at a small distance from the market market-place, and contains 2,505 inhabitants; it consists partly of arable and partly of rich meadow and pasture land, the soil whereof is various and of a fine kind. This town is of great antiquity. A nunnery was erected here in the time of the Saxons, by Withburga, daughter of the King of East Anglia. This building was destroyed by the Danes; the church was made parochial 798. The same princess, who in those times of superstition was denominated St. Withburga, was first buried in the church-yard at the west end of the church, over whose tomb a chapel was erected, of which there are few remains now existing; afterward her remains were removed into the body of the church, and again interred. But the prior and monks of Ely, to whom the convent at that time belonged, out of extreme attachment to this sacred relic, made use of one of those pious frauds which were then so frequently practised by the monks. While the inhabitants of East Dereham were feasting at their guild-hall, the monks stole away the body and conveyed it to Ely, where it was enshrined at the east end of the cathedral. From the grave of this princess there sprung up a very fine spring of water, which now is formed into a bath. Great miraculous powers were attributed to the waters flowing from this spring; and the good people of East Dereham had some consolation that in losing the body of this dear royal saint they had found a spring of such miraculous efficacy. Out of gratitude to the memory of this princess, and to perpetuate the virtues of this spring, the ruins of the tomb were repaired and converted into a bath for public use in 1752, again in 1786, and finally in 1793. The church is a very ancient structure, and built in the collegiate stile; it is supported by pillars of various forms, some being round and others octangular. It has in the middle a steeple, open to the body of the church, after the manner of the old ca thedrals; |