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MELVILLE AND CO.'S Directory & Gazetteer

NORWICH, YARMOUTH, DEREHAM, SWAFFHAM, Wymondham, Fakenham, Thetford, ATTLEBOROUGH, AYLSHAM, DISS, REEPHAM, FOULSHAM, HINGHAM, &C.; IPSWICH, BURY ST. EDMUND'S, WOODBRIDGE, Lowestoft, Beccles, Bungay, HALESWORTH, EYE, STOWMARKET, NEEDHAM MARKET, &C.;

CONTAINING

A Descriptive Account of each Place, FOLLOWED BY A DIRECTORY.

PRINTED FOR THE PROPRIETORS BY JARROLD & SONS, LONDON STREET, NORWICH.

JARROLD AND SONS, 47, ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD, LONDON; AND LONDON STREET, NORWICH.

PREFACE

Messrs. M. and Co. trust that the arrangement of the Directory will meet the approbation of their supporters, as the greatest care has been taken to render it as correct as it is possible for a work of this description to be. The Proprietors are determined that neither expense nor labour shall be spared in the production of their works.

F. R. MELVILLE & CO.

PAGE Attleborough 133 Aylsham 145 Bawburgh 112 Beccles 197 Beeston St. Andrew 112 Bixley 113 Blofield 113 Bowthorpe 113 Bradestone 114 Bramford 253 Bramerton 115 Bromeswell 258 Buckenham Ferry 115 Bungay 202 Bury St. Edmund's 259 Caistor 115 Carlton St. Mary 116 Catton 116 Copdock 256 Costessey 117 Cringleford 117 Dereham 152 Diss 148 Drayton 118 Dunston 118 Eaton 118 Eye 211 Fakenham 142 Foulsham 163 Freston 256 Halesworth 207 Hellesdon 119 Hethersett 120 Hillington 120 Hingham 135 Honingham 121 Horsham St. Faith's 121 Intwood 122 Ipswich 227 Kesgrave 254 Keswick 122 Ketteringham 122 Kirby Bedon 122 Lowestoft 189 Marsham 123 Martlesham 255 Melton 119 Melton 123 Melton, near Woodbridge 257 Mulbarton 124 Needham Market 218 Norwich, History 1 ,, Directory 17 ,, Public Offices and Institutions 105 Panxworth 124 Plumstead 119 Plumstead 123 Rackheath 125 Reepham 161 Rockland St. Mary 125 Rushmere 254 Spixworth 126 Stowmarket 214 Strumpshaw 126 Swaffham 157 Swainsthorpe 126 Swardeston 126 Sutton 258 Thetford 137 Thorpe 127 Trowse Newton 128 Tuddenham 256 Washbrook 257 Watton 164 Westerfield 255 Wherstead 256 Whitton 254 Witton 128 Woodbridge 221 Wramplingham 128 Wymondham 129 Yarmouth 166

NORWICH.

Norwich is a city and county of itself, and the largest on the eastern side of England. It is distant 108 miles N.E. by N. from London; 43 miles N. from Ipswich; 42 miles E. by S. from Lynn Regis; 19 miles W. from Yarmouth; and 72 miles N.E. from Cambridge. Its population, according to the census of 1851, was 68,195 inhabitants, and it has 36 parishes.

Next to Manchester, London and Glasgow, Norwich is one of the largest seats of the weaving trade. The previous remarks shew that it is of great antiquity; and the trade has taken fresh vigour from the introduction of the factory system. The chief productions are bombazines, crapes, gauzes, challis, mousselin de laine, fillover shawls, silk shawls, bandannas, camlets, mohair, paramattas, poplins, bareges, glove cloths, sewing cotton, coach lace, horse hair, sacking, sailcloth, &c. There are also dyeries, foundries, machine works, tanneries, breweries, maltkilns, coach works, rope works, chemical works, soaperies, paper mills, pianoforte and organ works, and the boot and shoe trade employ several hundred hands. Norwich has a Chamber of Commerce.

The city and county of the city are governed by a corporation, consisting of a mayor, 16 aldermen, and 48 councillors, with a sheriff, under-sheriff, recorder, judge of the borough court, town-clerk, clerk of the peace, coroner, jailer, superintendent of police, four sergeants-at-mace, water-bailiff, bellman, &c. There is a separate commission of the peace, with 26 justices, holding quarter sessions and daily sessions. The Borough Court is held every day. There is also a Court of Pleas and Court of Conscience. The revenues of the corporation are about ?15,000 a year. The city returns two Members to Parliament. Assizes and quarter sessions for the county and city are held at the usual periods. There is a County Court; Will and Ecclesiastical Courts are held for the diocese and archdeaconry. There is a large fair for horses and cattle, called Tombland Fair, held on the day before Good Friday, and pleasure fairs at Easter and Whitsuntide.

The castle was originally defended by three walls and ditches; each ditch having a bridge over it. The outer ditch has been filled up from time immemorial. The middle one was levelled in the last century: traces of it may be discovered on the north side, where the yards of the houses are often from 18 to 20 feet below the road. The inner ditch extended round the bottom of the hill upon which the keep is standing, and is now a tasteful plantation with a gravelled walk in the centre, bounded by an iron palisading. It is worthy notice that the space within this palisading, although in the centre of the city boundary, is the property of the county. The bridge which crossed the inner ditch is still standing, and consists of one large circular arch, 40 feet in span. It is supposed that this is the original bridge erected by the Saxons: at its termination upon the hill are the remains of two circular towers, which are believed to have flanked the portal of the ballium wall. Upon this bridge the county criminals are executed: the thoughts of the visitor will probably recur to one, who a few years since suffered for crimes unparalleled in atrocity.

The fine panoramic view which a walk round the summit of the hill affords, will not soon be forgotten by a stranger. We may venture to assert that no town in the kingdom contains in its centre an elevation which affords so extensive and agreeable a promenade. All the churches and public buildings in the city may be distinctly seen, bounded in the distance by Mousehold Heath, and the pleasant villages of Costessey, Thorpe, Catton, Bixley, and Whitlingham.

At the east end of the castle stands the NEW COUNTY GAOL, erected in 1824 upon the site of a less convenient building, pulled down for the purpose. It is surrounded by a high wall cased with granite, and surmounted by battlements. The interior is commodious, well adapted for the health of the prisoners, and in every respect suited for proper prison regulations. The governor's house faces the entrance, and commands an entire view of the various parts of the building. Besides the family apartments, it contains a committee-room for the visiting magistrates, and a chapel for the prisoners. From this, branch three wings, each of which contains a double row of cells upon the upper and ground floors. Crossing these, are single rows of cells, and an arcade for the perambulations of the prisoners when the weather will not allow their walking in the yard. Behind these are three other wings with arcades below, and upon the upper floor, double rows of cells: in all there are 225 cells, and the average number of prisoners is about 120. The tread-mill here is not altogether "labour in vain;" for attached to it is a machine for raising water. Not only is the silent system adopted, but at the mill each prisoner is separated from his neighbour by a wooden partition. Industry is the order of the day; mat-making--oakum-picking--carpentry--shoe-making, and other useful occupations, tend to make the prisoners contributors to the cost of their maintenance. A schoolmaster is kept, and every official is considered his auxiliary. The chaplain and governor are both known to be indefatigable in their efforts to create in the minds of the prisoners a distaste for vicious pursuits; and in not a few instances have they been attended with complete success.

On the north-east side of the castle, at the bottom of the hill, stands the SHIREHALL, erected in 1822, and opened in the following year. It is an imitation of the later period of the pointed style of architecture. The County Assizes and Sessions are held in this building, which by a subterranean passage and ascending shaft, communicates with the castle above. There are two courts, and other convenient rooms. In the Grand Jury Chamber is a full-length portrait of one of Norfolk's most celebrated worthies--the late Thomas William Coke, Esq., Earl of Leicester; and also one of Lord Wodehouse. Upon the spacious plain, fronting the Shirehall, is held the Annual Fair, which commences on Maunday Thursday, and terminates upon Easter Tuesday. The newly-erected building to the north-west of the Shirehall, is the COUNTY POLICE STATION.

The Court in which the Assizes are held is upon the ground floor toward the west; and there are several smaller apartments in the building devoted to municipal purposes, in some of which are the regalia of the corporation, including the snap or dragon, formerly carried before the mayor on his election; the gold chains worn by the mayor and sheriffs; the sword of state, presented by St. George's Company in 1705: a curious mace of silver gilt, with beautiful crystal, presented by Queen Elizabeth; two maces of silver gilt, presented by the Duke of Norfolk and Sir Robert Walpole in 1670 and 1734, with other civic paraphernalia.

ST. ANDREW'S HALL is a very noble structure, and is in the pointed style of architecture. Its length is 124 feet, and there are two aisles 70 feet broad. The roof is supported by twelve pillars, and there are fourteen windows on each side in the upper tier, and six in the lower, two in the east, and three in the west end, which were formerly decorated with stained glass. Originally there was a handsome steeple in the centre, which fell down in 1812. The Hall is principally used for the festivals, concerts, public meetings, and various other purposes.

The PUBLIC LIBRARY is opposite the Guildhall. It is a handsome edifice, with Doric portico, and contains about 30,000 volumes, including a valuable collection of books, called the City Library. The library is open from ten in the morning till nine in the evening, except from the first of May till the end of August, when it closes at eight, p.m. There is a reading-room attached for the convenience of readers.

The CORN EXCHANGE is situated in Exchange Street, which commences at the north end of the Gentlemen's Walk. It is a large structure erected in 1828, at a cost of ?6000. It is about 120 feet long, 90 feet broad, and 27 feet high, and is supported by two rows of pillars. The building is principally lighted from the roof. At the east end are portraits of John Culley, Esq., the originator of the building, and Thomas William Coke, of Holkham, afterwards Earl of Leicester, justly regarded as the father of Norfolk agriculture.

The CHAMBER OF COMMERCE is situated at a short distance from the Corn Exchange. It is a handsome building, ornamented in front by Corinthian columns and pilasters, surmounted by an entablature. It contains a well-supplied Reading-room, which is open to strangers gratuitously.

The POST OFFICE is situated in Post-Office Street, which is approached from the Market-Place, by Exchange Street. It is a convenient though not an attractive-looking building. There are two London deliveries daily.

The NORFOLK AND NORWICH MUSEUM is in St. Andrew's Broad Street. It is a handsome building, with commanding exterior, erected in 1839. Its contents are varied, extensive, and complete. The birds especially are very numerous, a large portion of them being foreign. The mammalia include many valuable specimens; and one of the largest provincial collections of animals from Australia is to be found within these walls. Amongst the fossils are some rare specimens of animals long since extinct. The shells and minerals are deserving attention, as is also the entomological department. The antiquities exhibit many remarkable articles; the coins and seals are particularly worthy the attention of the curious. There is also a valuable botanical collection, which contains the Herbarium of the eminent botanist, Sir James E. Smith. The Museum is open free every Monday, and on other days visitors are admitted on the production of an order from one of its members.

The LITERARY INSTITUTION. This society occupies several rooms in the same building as the Museum. It contains an excellent and rapidly increasing Library of about 15,000 volumes.

Adjacent to the Museum is the FREE LIBRARY, a spacious and convenient building, erected in 1856, upon a part of the site of the ancient palace of the Dukes of Norfolk.

The BAZAAR is a handsome structure, in St. Andrew's Broad Street, erected in 1831, by a company of shareholders, and now let for various purposes. One portion of the building is occupied by the Government School of Design, in which instruction is given in drawing, painting, modelling, and designing.

The ASSEMBLY ROOMS are at the south end of an open plain, in the parish of St. Stephen, and were erected in 1754 upon the site of the College of St. Mary in the Fields. Public meetings are occasionally held here, and the proprietors of the leading exhibitions of the kingdom, during their stay in this city, generally fix their paraphernalia in one or other of the convenient compartments of this spacious building.

The THEATRE ROYAL is situated at a short distance from the Assembly Rooms. It is a well-built though somewhat plain-looking edifice, erected in 1826, adjoining the site of the old theatre, which was built in 1757. The interior is upon the model of Drury Lane, the embellishments are both chaste and handsome, and the arrangements are well suited to public convenience, being upon the same plan as those of the metropolitan theatres. The building is but rarely used for other than dramatic entertainments.

The BETHEL HOSPITAL FOR LUNATICS stands in the street of the same name, upon the site of the old City Committee House. The building is well adapted for the purpose for which it was designed. There is a handsome committee room containing several portraits, one of which is that of the worthy foundress, painted in 1724.

The CITY GAOL is at the end of St. Giles' Street. It was completed in 1827, from a design by Mr. Philip Barnes, a native of Norwich, at a cost of ?30,000. The front elevation is massive, and is supported by rusticated Tuscan columns. In the wings are niches with cross arrows. The building encloses an area of 1A. 2R. 34P., and contains 114 cells. The governor's house stands in the centre, and commands a view of the entire prison, which is well ventilated, and supplied with water pumped by the tread wheel.

The NORFOLK AND NORWICH HOSPITAL, founded in 1771, for the relief of the sick and maimed poor, is an extensive brick structure, situated without St. Stephen's Gates. It deservedly ranks as the most useful institution in the county, and is supported by donations, legacies, and voluntary subscriptions, and also by a large proportion of the proceeds of the Norwich Musical Festival. Since its foundation, it has admitted about 45,000 in-door, and 35,000 out-door patients. Three physicians and four surgeons regularly attend gratuitously. The Hospital contains 144 beds for the reception of patients.

ST. GILES' HOSPITAL, commonly called the Old Men's Hospital, is situated in the parish of St. Helen. It was founded as early as 1249, by Bishop Walter de Suffield, for maintaining four chaplains to pray for his soul; and also to be an asylum for the aged, decrepid and infirm clergy of the diocese of Norwich, and to support 13 old people, who were to have their lodging, and one meal a day for life. It subsequently received considerable augmentations, and can now accommodate 200 persons.

The CAVALRY BARRACKS are situated in Barrack Street, in the Hamlet of Pockthorpe, on the site of the Old Manor House of that hamlet. They were erected by the Government in 1791, at an expense of ?20,000. The buildings are of brick, and form three sides, the centre being for the accommodation of the officers; upon the upper part of this are the national arms sculptured in stone, and surrounded by military trophies. The wings are appropriated to the reception of the soldiers, and are capable of containing 320 men and 266 horses. The high wall which surrounds the entire barracks encloses an extent of about ten acres.

The DUNGEON TOWER is opposite the Cavalry Barracks, upon land called the Hospital Meadows. It is a large round tower of brick, originally surmounted by a battlement.

The INSTITUTION FOR THE INDIGENT BLIND is situated in Magdalen Street. The establishment is devoted to two objects--a hospital for the aged blind, and a school for the instruction of blind children, who are taught the manufacture of baskets, mats, and other articles, by which they may obtain a livelihood. These may be purchased in a shop adjoining the institution.

DOUGHTY'S HOSPITAL, in Calvert Street, was founded in 1687, by William Doughty, who bequeathed ?6000 for building and endowing it, for 24 poor men and 8 poor women, of the age of 60. Since its foundation, the hospital has been augmented by several benefactions. It is a square building of almshouses, with a garden in the centre. Each inmate has a tenement of one room for his or her own use, and there is one of two rooms, the residence of the master. There is now accommodation for 28 men and 16 women, who each receive 5s. 6d. per week, and the master 11s. per week. Each has also a supply of coals, and a suit of purple clothing annually, with other advantages.

The FREE GRAMMAR SCHOOL is situated near the western door of the Cathedral, and was originally a chapel dedicated to St. John. It was erected about 1315, by Bishop Salmon, lord chancellor, who endowed it with four priests, one of whom was to sing mass for his soul, those of his parents, and of all his predecessors and successors. The portico, which is singular in construction, was built by Bishop Lyhart in 1463. The buttresses at each end of the south side are especially worthy notice; they are ornamented with rich columns representing the trunks of trees, from the tops of which spring imitations of branches. In this grammar school, in addition to many eminent scholars, were educated the celebrated Hero of the Nile and Trafalgar, Lord Viscount Nelson, and Sir James Brooke, the Rajah of Sarrawak. The celebrated Dr. Valpy was once head master.

PARISH CHURCHES.

'ALL SAINTS', situated at the east end of Westlegate Street, is a small structure, with a square tower, and three bells. The font is very ancient, and curiously carved with figures of the Twelve Apostles, St. Michael and the Dragon, &c. The living is a rectory, in the gift of Mrs. Sculthorpe. Rev. Thomas Gurney, M.A., is the rector.

ST. AUGUSTINE'S, situated in St. Augustine's Street, is an unpresuming edifice with a square tower, containing a clock and three bells. The tower and porch were partly rebuilt of red brick in 1726. The living is a rectory in the gift of the dean and chapter. Rev. M. J. Rackham is the incumbent.

ST. BENEDICT'S, Upper Westwick Street, is a small structure, with a tower, round at the base and octangular above. The patronage is in the gift of the parishioners. Rev. W. Goodwin, incumbent.

ST. CLEMENT'S, Colegate Street, is one of the most ancient churches in the city. The venerable structure consists of a nave and chancel, and has a square tower, in which are three bells. It was thoroughly repaired in 1845, at a cost of ?430. In the churchyard is the "Leper's Tomb," which, tradition says, was raised over the remains of a leper, who, being permitted burial here, bequeathed his lands to the church: but Blomfield discredits this legend, and conjectures that the leper died in the lazar house, without St. Augustine's gate, which entitled him to burial here, that building being in one of the detached parts of this parish. The living is a rectory in the gift of Caius College, Cambridge. Rev. R. Rigg is the rector.

ST. EDMUND'S, in Fishgate Street, a small structure, founded about the time of William the Conqueror, has a tower and one bell. Among the relics formerly preserved here, was a piece of the shirt of St. Edward the King and Martyr, kept in a box of crystal, and visited with great reverence. The living is a rectory in the gift of the Rev. C. Brereton. The Rev. J. Pearson is the rector.

ST. ETHELRED'S, in King Street, is a small fabric, with a short tower and one bell. In the burial ground was formerly an anchorage, which continued till after the Reformation. Rev. J. Deacon is the incumbent.

ST. GEORGE'S COLEGATE, a large handsome gothic structure, rebuilt at different periods, has a lofty tower, in which is a clock and three bells. The interior is neatly fitted up, and there is a good organ. In the chancel is a fine altar tomb to Robert Iannis, a great benefactor to this church and the city; and near it a beautiful mural monument to John Herring, Esq. The window over the communion table is beautifully adorned with stained glass. The churches of St. Margaret at Colegate and St. Olave, in Cherry Lane, were taken down, and their cures consolidated with St. George's; the former in 1349, and the latter in 1546. The dean and chapter are patrons. Rev. A. W. Durdin, incumbent.

ST. GEORGE'S TOMBLAND consists of a nave, chancel, and side aisles, has a handsome square tower, which contains five bells, and was erected by the parishioners in 1445. In the interior are several spacious galleries, and many monumental inscriptions. Rev. K. Trimmer is the incumbent.

ST. HELEN'S, Bishopgate Street, belonged to the monks who demolished it, and consolidated the cure with the church of St. Giles' Hospital, now called the Great Hospital. The whole of this hospital church, which serves also as the parish church of St. Helen, and is partly converted into lodgings for the almspeople, is still standing. It has a square tower at the south-west corner, with one bell; the choir is turned into lodgings for the almswomen, and part of the nave and aisles is divided into apartments for the men. The church is neatly fitted up with open seats, and opposite the altar stands a modern seat of gothic carved work. Rev. W. F. Patteson is the incumbent.

ST. JAMES', Cowgate, includes within its parish the hamlet of Pockthorpe, and part of Mousehold Heath. It is a small structure, with a tower, rebuilt in 1743, and contains three bells. It was re-pewed in 1842. This was a well-endowed rectory till 1201, when it was appropriated to the cathedral priory, and is now a peculiar of the dean and chapter.

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