300 feet square, evidently intended for parading the troops employed in its defence. The mount is about 100 feet in height, and the circumference, at the base, 984: its diameter measures 338 feet at the base, and 81 on its summit, which is dishing or concave, upwards of twelve feet below its outer surface, owing to its probably having been once surrounded by a parapet; the top whereof may have gradually been melted away by the injuries of time and weather. The slope or ramp of this mount is extremely steep, forming an angle, with the plane of the horizon of more than forty degrees, and yet no traces remain of any path or steps for the purpose of carrying up machines or any weighty ammunition. The chief entrance seems to have been on the north side, where in the second or inner rampart a passage is so formed that troops attempting to enter must have presented their flanks to a double line of the garrison looking down upon them." The remaining ramparts are about 20 feet high, and the fossa from 60 to 70 feet wide: the slope or inclination of each vallum forms an angle of 45 degrees, with the plane of the horizon. Thetford, in its flourishing and prosperous state, had eight monasteries. The monastery of the Black friars was founded by Roger Bigod; it was finished 1114. A priory of canons regular of the order of the Holy Sepulchre, was founded in a church here, dedicated to St. Sepulchre, by Willliam, third Earl of Warren, in the reign of King Stephen. There were six religious in this house at the time of its dissolution. The gateway of this abbey yet remains, as do the foundation and some of the walls of the priory, with the houses of the canons (now barns) built of flint: there is also remaining a pointed arch, belonging to the gateway of the porter's lodge. On the Suffolk side of this town there was an ancient house of regular canons, dedicated to St. George; but being ruinous and forsaken, Hugh de Norwold, 1 2 abbot abbot of the convent of St. Edmund's Bury, in Suffolk, placed nuns here, and at the Dissolution there was a prioresss and ten black nuns. At the sup pression the site was granted to Sir Richard Fulmerston, to be held by knight's service in capite of the King. Sir Richard made this house his residence; afterwards it was let to a farmer, and some years since the greater part was taken down. A new farmhouse also has lately been built of the materials, and the conventual church converted into a barn. Some of the walls, with buttresses, windows, &c. yet remain. Without this town was an hospital dedicated to St. Mary, endowed at the suppression with only 11. 13s. 6d. per annum. Here was another hospital called, "Domus Dei," or God's House, founded as early as the reign of Edward the First. In the reign of Richard the Second there was a house of Augustine friars founded here, by John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster; the site, granted to Sir Richard Fulmerston, is still called Friar's Close. A house of Friar Preachers was also established in this town by Henry, earl and afterwards duke of Lancaster, at the beginning of the reign of King Edward the Third. Here also was a college dedicated to St. Mary, consisting of a master and fellows. There are three churches in Thetford: St. Mary's, St. Peter's, and St. Cuthbert's. St. Peter's, commonly called the Black Church, from its being constructed chiefly of flint, consists of a chancel, nave, two aisles, and a tower. The latter was rebuilt in 1789; a handsome new-built steeple was erected, with eight fine new bells, at which time the church was completely beautified, and a new organ put up. There are several stone coffin lids in this church. In the reign of King James the First an act of parliament passed for founding an Hospital and Grammar School, and for maintaining a preacher in this town four days in the year for ever. This school is on the site of a Cluniac Priory, or cathedral; a noble pointed pointed arch divides the school from the master's house. There are two Meeting-houses at Thetford; one belonging to the Methodists, the other to the Quakers. This town lay originally wholly on the Suffolk side of the river, which now contains but a few houses. On the Norfolk side are several streets of considerable extent, in which are many well-built houses; but the streets are not paved. The Old Guildhall or Council House, being in a dilapidated state, Sir Joseph Williamson, knt. one of the principal secretaries of state to King Charles the Second, erected at his own expence the present Council Chamber and the apartment for the juries. Sir Joseph also gave the corporation a sword and mace. Here is also a County Gaol, a Bridewell, and a Workhouse, and also an Hospital, for six poor men. Thetford has been much improved within the last fourteen years: a new bridge has been built, the principai streets paved, and several handsome houses have been erected, as also a neat market-cross, covered with cast iron, a portico, and a handsome pallisade in front. Thetford was represented in parliament in the reign of Edward the First. In 1573 it was incorporated by Queen Elizabeth, by which charter it is governed by a mayor, ten aldermen, twenty commoncouncil, a recorder, town clerk, sword bearer, and two serjeants at mace. The mayor, during his mayoralty, is clerk of the market, and the following year officiates as coroner. The charter of Queen Elizabeth was surrendered to the crown in the reign of Charles the Second, and in lieu of it a very im perfect one obtained; but in the reign of King William the Third an order was procured from the Court of Chancery for taking off the file, cancelling the sur 1 3 render, render, and procuring a transcript of the original charter, by which the town is at present governed. The Lent assizes for Norfolk are held at the Guildhall. The chief manufactures of Thetford are wollen cloth and paper. The lesser Ouse is navigable from Lynn, by lighters or barges, and upwards of 200 lasts of corn per week are sometimes shipped for Lynn. This town had formerly a mint, and has been honoured with the presence of our sovereigns, particularly Henry the First and Second. Queen Elizabeth and King James the First made it one of their hunting seats; and the latter monarch had a palace here, which is now called "The King's House." There is a market every Saturday at this town, and it has three annual fairs, May 14, August 2, and September 15. The mail coach from London to Norwich passes through Thetford every morning, nearly at seven o'clock, and returns every evening at eight. The inus are, the Bell, and the George. On the right, by the Market Way, there is a turnpike road to Bury St. Edmund's; on the left to Lynn, by Bury St. Edmund's Way; on the right also to Norwich; on the left to Newmarket. The late Thomas Martin, Esq. F. A. S. the historian of Thetford; and Thomas Paine, so notorious for his inflammatory political writings, were natives of this town. The mile stones from Thetford to Norwich are well adapted for travelling in carriages, having two sides towards the road, not square, but slanted so that the number may be seen at a great distance. In the vicinity of Thetford have been discovered various extraneous fossils, particularly cockle shells, or "cardii," and button fish, or "echentæ." Ray mentions a petrified curlew found here about the middle of the 17th century. Some years ago, in digging a marle pit, a perfect nautilus was found, which was deposited in the British Museum, Near this place is a mineral spring, the waters of which are reputed to possess considerable virtues. On the right of Thetford is Euston Hall, the seat of his Grace the Duke of Grafton. Near it are also Newplace, the seat of James Mingay, Esq. recorder, and Ford Place, the seat of G. Beauchamp, Esq. About a mile beyond Thetford, on the right, is Snarehill House, the seat of James Pile, Esq. and a mile and a half distant is Kelveston Hall, the seat of Jacob Whittington, Esq. Leaving Thetford, we arrive at LARLINGFOrd, about eight miles distant. This village has its name from its ford over the river; it contains about 24 houses. The church and chancel are thatched, and there are three bells in its tower. On the right of Larlingford are West Harling, the seat of J. H. James, Esq. Quidenham Hall, J. Reed, Esq. Eccles Hall, Dean Miller, and Lloyd, Esq. ATTLEBOROUGH, or Attleburgh; this is a market town and parish in the hundred of Shropham; it contains 216 houses, and 1,333 inhabitants. John Brame, a monk of Thetford, in his MSS. history, as quoted by Mr. Gough, affirms that this town was the metropolis of Norfolk, and was built by King Atlinge, against Rond, king of Thetford, from whence, he says, it received his name; but our learned antiquary explodes this idea, and more properly derives its name from having been near some ancient burgh or fortification, "Atle-Burgh." This place was formerly the seat of the ancient family of the Mortimers; from this family it descended, by marriage, to that of Ratcliffe, of whom it was purchased by Sir Francis Bickley, bart. whose descendants sold it to the family of Ash. The executors of Sir Robert Mortimer, knight, according to his will, built a chantry or college, dedicated to the exaltation of the cross, and endowed the same for a master, or warden, and four secular priests, |