ijawT NORFOLK PHOTOGRAPHICALLY ILLUSTRATED. BY R. H. MASON. il^HOTOGRAPHED ANI) PUBLISHED BY MASON AND CO.. 1 I !>8, 01,11 BO.ND SIBEET, LOXTION, ASD 20, ST. GU.ES' STREET. NORWICH. 1 In presenting this volume of Photographs to the Subscribers, 1 wish to record my obligations for the facilities I have received from most of the Nobility and Gentry in the County. It has been well said, that “Great Britain may justly boast her decided superiority over every other State in Europe, in the gi’and display of its numerous Country Seats, presenting a succession of variety in the architectural embellishments, and surrounded by a landscape smiling with cultivation and it may be truly said that Norfolk occupies a proud position among English Counties in this respect. The magnificent Mansions here represented are a proof of the fact; and whilst Photogi-aphy has faithfully represented their general appearance, I can but regret that it fails to convey any idea of the beautiful scenery by which these palatial residences of our County Families are surrounded. Many of them are also the depositories of most valuable collections of works of art and relics of antiquity. It has been my desire to make this work as complete as possible, and I believe no place of importance has been omitted. There are some few Ruins in the County not here illustrated, but that arises from the fact that though in themselves they may possess a good deal of interest, yet they are so situated that no photograph could give an adequate idea either of their beauty or their extent. I may say of them generally, as Mr. White in his “Eastern England” says of Beeston Priory in particular, “The ruins are picturesque only in some of their accidents and details, not as a whole ; here and there a buttress arrests your eye, or a sweep of mouldings, or the fragments of a cloister-hke range, or the broken ivy-capped walls that environ an old tower and gaping east window.” The letterpress descriptioir of the several places, whilst it has no pretensions to originality, being chiefly compiled from sources well known and available to every one, will in all cases, I believe, be found con-ect, as 1 have spared no pains to secure accuracy in all the details. R. H. M. Nove7nber, 1865. CONTENTS. Norwich Cathedral — Exterior. Norwich Cathedral — Interior. The Ei-pingham Gate, Norwich. St. Ethelbert’s Gate, Norwich. St. Peter’s Mancroft Chmxh, Norwich. ' St. Nicholas Chiu’ch, Great Yarmouth. St Margaret’s Church. King’s Lymi. Wymondham Church. Binhain Abbey. - Castle Acre Priory. North Creake Abbey. Walsingham Abbey. The Abbey of St. Beimet at Holme. Castle Rising Castle. Norwich Castle. St. Andrew’s Hall, Norwich — Exterior. St. Anchew’s Hall, Norwich — Interior. Bishop’s Bridge, Norwich. The Nelson Monument at Yiuinoutli. The Coke Monument at Holkham. ■ The Town Halt, Lynn. The Grey Friars’ Tower, Lynn. An Ancient Doorway at Armiughtdl. Ashwellthoipe Hall. Baminghain HaU. East Barsham Hall — The Gateway. East Barsham Hall. , Bawdeswell Hall. 'U ' Bhckhng Hall — 'Two Views. BoyLand Hall. 'W Buckenham-Tofts Hall. • . Burlingham HaU. Bylaugh HaU. Cossey HaU — Two View's. Crainuer Hfill. Cromer HaU. . Elmham Hall. Elsing Hall. ' Felbrigg HaU, ' Gunton Hall. ■■ Haverland HaU. Heydou HaU. Hillingtotr HaU. ' Holkham Hstll. Honingham HaU. Houghton Hall. Hunstanton HaU — The Gateway. Hunstanton HaU. ' Inglethorpe Hall, 'h Ketteringham Hall. Kimberley House. Langley Hidl. ' ^Lovell’s HaU, King’s Lynn, ' ^ St. Mary’s HaU. King's Lynn. ' Lynford HaU. • Mannington Hall MiU'ham House. ■ Melton Constable. ' Groat Melton HaU. '(v Merton HaU. Middleton Tower. Narborough HaU. ‘'v ^ ' Necton Hall. ')v ' Oxburgh Castle. ' Quiddenham HaU. Rackheath HaU. Ravnliam HaU. SaU HaU. ' . Sandringham HaU — Two Views. • Taverham Hall. ' Tlmrsford HaU. ''' "Wostacre High House.' ' , , Weston House. \ , ■ Westwick House. ■ Great tVitchingham HaU. B NORFOLK PHOTOGRAPHICALLY ILLUSTRATEH. NORWICH This, though neither the largest nor the finest of our cathe- drals, and though its parts are of very different dates and styles, is a truly magnificent and imposing edifice. It consists of a nave and aisles, a transept, a choir, a chancel, with aisles continued round the semicircular east end, and four chapels. From the intersection of the choir and nave springs the tower and the spire. On the south side is a nearly perfect cloister. The entire length of the church is 411 feet, of the transepts 178 feet, the breadth of the nave and aisles is 72 feet, the height to the top of the tower is 140 feet, to the top of the spire 315 feet. When examined closely there is found much to admire in the exterior. The choir lias a fine appearance ; the light cleres- tory, with its rich perpendicular windows and bold flying but- tresses, and semicircnlar teimination rising out of the massive Noraan base, has a very pieturesgue effect ; as have also the Norman transepts. The tower is the most elaborate and loftiest of the Norman period remaining in England, and the spire is the loftiest in the kingdom, with the exception of that of Salisbury Cathedral, to which it must also yield in grace of proportions. Of this cathedral we are enabled to trace the erection of all the principal proportions. The oldest part is as old as the see of Norwich. Herbert de Losinga, snmamed the Liar, on account of his flattering propensities, having been deposed fi'om his bishopric of Thetford on account of some naughty doings, • undertook a pilgrimage to Rome, in order to induce his Holiness to restore him to his office. He succeeded ; and on his return, in 1094, Losinga, as he had obtained power to do, removed tlie see from Thetford to Norwich. For the site he purchased from the citizens a low piece of marshy ground, called the Cowhohne. This tract he carefoUy drained ; and, in 1096, laid the foundation of his cathedr^, and close by that of a palace for himself, and a priory, which was to contain a principal and sixty monks. He hved to see a good part of the church erected, and died in 1119. It was com- pleted by Ids successor, Eborard, who died in 1149, but had been deposed from his office four years previously. An old account, however, delays the completion of the cathedral till the time of Jolm of Oxford, who died in 1200 ; but it is more probable that he only restored a pai-t of it wluch had been injured by fire. Of this original church the choii’, nave, aisles, transepts, and tower, with a couple of chapels attached, yet exist, though considerably altered by the iusertiou of more modem windows. In 1271, on St. Peter and Paul’s day, whilst the monies were at early service the cathedral steeple was violently stmek hghtning, several large stones being tlirown down, causing the worsldppei's to flee for tear, “the quire being full of stench and smoke.” In 1272 the cathedral, church, and monastery were set on fire by the citizens, in consequence of some disputes with the monks, and much injured. The citizens were excommunicated, and their liberties restrained. For this freak Edward I. suh- CATHEDRAL. sequently decreed that the citizens should pay 3,000 marks, in six years, to rebuild the church, by instalments of 500 marks a-year. That they should give to the use of the church a pix, or cup, weighing ten ponnds in gold, worth a hundred pounds in money, to serve at the sacrament at the high altar in the cathedral. The fabric being restored, on Advent Sunday, 1278, William de Middleton was enthroned Bishop of Norwich ; and, on the same day the cathedral was consecrated in tlie presence of King Edward I. and Queen Eleanor, the Bishops of London, Hereford, and Waterford assisting, and there being present “ many other earls, barons, and nobles.” Bishop Walpole, Richard de Uppenhall (a builder), Bishop Salmon, Henry dc WeU, John de Hancock, Bishop Waliering, Jeffery Symonds, and others, did much t-o extend and carry on the works. Bishop Walpole built a spire, which was blown down, whereupon the present one was built, about Jan., 1361. Under Bishop Percy’s auspices the west end, with the great window, was built by Bishop Alnwych, about 1430. In 1463 Bishop Lybert raised tlie splendid stone roof of the nave, repaved other parts of the cathedral, and erected a tomb over the founder, which was demolished daring the great Rebelhon. In 1488 Bishop Goldwell built the roof of the choir, similar, but inferior work to the nave, adding the upper windows and flying buttresses. In 1509, transepts injured by fire ; repaired by Bishop Nix. In 1601 the author of the Norvyich Roll tells ns, “ That on Wednesday, 29th April, a sudden storm of hail and rain fell, about 5 o’clock in the afternoon, which caused a great dark- ness, and a shock of thunder and lightning followed, with a noisome stink of brimstone, and in a moment the upper part of the spire of the cathedral was struck down, which, not long before, was finished, with the fane thereon. The stone and woodwork therein, for 20 feet in height, was cast down on the north roof of the church, which it brake down, shaked the walls and roof of the quire, and spht the spire from the soutli- east part from top to bottom, causing about twenty holes that men might creep through on the north-west side ; divers stones wliich foU out of them sunk above half a yard into the ground in the Bishop’s garden ; the damage of all parts of the roof about the steeple being estimated at .£500. It was after evening servicci else many had perished. William de Borne, who, with Sir John Colne, was walking in the nave during the storm, saw that at the flash the whole church trembled, and the glass in the windows cracked; and, at a httle hole in the west window, towards the north, fire entered, with a stink of brimstone, which, though small when it entered, grow large in the church, and smote down Colne to the ground, so that he had much ado to recover himself again ; and that, though he was much terrified, he saw the fire go to the steeple the whole length of the church, and ascending there, saw it no more, but feared to be killed by the fall of tlio .8 church, the spire falling soon after npon the roof, as aforesaul ; and the Rector of Thorj)©, -who had been at evening prayer, and sheltered in the gate-house, saw the Hghtning fall in a round baU of fire upon the church, and the spire and fane faU tliere- upon, and smelt a sulphurous stink. The fire in the steeple •was extinguished, but -was watched all night, and when the watchers were just gone, it broke out, about 4 o clock in the moming, in a buttress of the cloister wall, and one of Rr. Suckling's servants narrowly escaped with his life ; but it was soon extinguished. No other part of the city received any damage by this violent shock.” In 1361, January 16th, a “ prodigious wind” from the south-west blew down the tower of the cathedral, and^ that beat do- 5 TO gi'eat pai-t of the chofr. The gale lasted six or seven days. In lr54G, the cathedral, tliough dedicated to the Holy Trinity, about tliis time began to be named Christ Chm-ch. The Pmitans treated the cathedral very badly. We learn from Sir Thomas Browne’s Bf.pcrtorium, that in adapting the cathedral to their service the Puritans, pretending to show their ahhoirence of superstition, placed the seats of the Aldermen at the east end of the choir, and the Mayor’s seat in the middle, at the high altar, and removed the piilpit, and altered the whole arrangements of the sittings of the congregation. At the Restoration the cathedral was, of course, in some measure, repaired, and a new organ was erected. Since then, it has been at different times repaired or restored in parts; but it still bears strong e'videncG of the disgraceful treatment it received. The cathedral is situated so low, and is so much surrounded by buildings, that it cannot he viewed as a whole from any near point ; and the position chosen for our photograph ofthe exterior (the garden of the residentiary house, at present occu- pied by Canon Heaviside) is the only spot where a satisfactory view can he olitained without going a groat distance, and so losing much of the beauty of the details of tliis glorious edifice. ERPINGHAM GATE, NORWICH ; The north-west entrance from the city to the close. It bears the name of the Erpingham Gate from ha-ying been erected by Sir Thomas Eiiiingham, about the year 1400, at the instance, it has been said, of the warhke Bishop Spencer, to atone for the favour he had shown to the doctrines of Wickliffe. An interesting description of it is given by Blomefield ; but what is there said ofthe word “ Pena” being to be found in various ])laces, and its being an act of penitence, is more ingenious than well-founded. The word is “Yenk,” e(juivalent to THINK, or EEWAnE, wliicli last is to he foimd as a motto to the crest of Sir T. Erpingham. His statue, in the attitude of praying, is still to be seen, in a state of good preservation, above. Sir Thomas has been described as “ a good old com- mander and a most kind gentleman;” ho is mentioned by Shakespeare as lending his cloak to Henry V. on the eve of A"iucourt ; and as Froissart tells, had a cliief share in winning that fa.mous victory. ST. ETH ELBERT’S GATE, NORWICH. This building, now the south-west entrance to the close, occupies a place originally filled by a parochial chapel, wliich, according to Blomefield, was, in its foundation, anterior to the Cathedral, hut was hm-ned doivn in the great conflicts of 1272. After the appeasing of the tumults, the citizens, in part of recompense for the injury done the convent, built the present gate, and over it a large handsome chapel, dedicated to St. Ethelhert ; hut, in process of time, the congregation falling off, it ceased to bo applied to sacred pm^ioses ; and, even before tbe Reformation, was let for a private dweUing. It is at present used cliiefly as a porter’s lodge, this being the only place of egress or ingress to the close dm'ing the night. ST. PETER’S MANCROFT CHURCH, NORWICH, Is a large, regular, handsome building, and, next to the Cathedral, the leading ecclesiastical edifice in Norwich. It is well placed at the south-west corner of the market-place. According to Blomefield, it was finished and consecrated in the year 1455. It consists of a square tower at the west enil, 100 feet m height, imil a hodj composed of » ooTe, choir, and chancel, measuring 212 feet In length by 70 fee m ■ On the north and south side arc cntrimce porches. Ihe altar is ornamented mth a painlmg representing f “ St. Peter from prison. It ms oxeented hj Catton, and gi to the chnrch by Alderman Starling, m the year 17'>“' ‘ the chnreh, amongst other monnmonts, is one to the renowned Sh- Thomas Browne, the learned doctor, whoso Vm Burial, and other works, will long perpetnato his name and tame. The peal of hehs in this chnrch are yery famous. ST NICHOLAS CHURCH, GREAT YARMOUTH. Though BO hn-go a place, Yarmouth is but one palish, and, until 1714, had only this one chnrch, which is largest in the kingdom. It was origmally hmlt by Seibert de Losinga in 1123, and greatly enlarged m 1250 by BiAop Walter de Southfield, and dedicated to St. Nicholas, the patron saint of fishermen. The transepts were added by Bishop Middleton, about 150 years after ths origmal foimdation. Ihe building suffered much damage at the hands of the Puritans, and, dm-ing the Cromwellian period, the chancel was separated from the nave, one portion being used by Independents, and the otlier by another sect. The old spire was much injured bv Imhtning in 1683, hut it was not removed till the com- mencement of the present century, when, in 1808, the present one, 168 feet high, was substituted. The ehui-ch has frequently undergone repairs, at considerable expense. ^ So recently as 1848 neaidy i£6,000 were expended on the mterior ; and repairs commenced a year or two since, and continued at tliis time, are estimated to cost ^16,000 more. The nave of this church is 150 feet and the chancel 80 feet long, so that tlie extreme length of the fabric is 230 feet. The nave, or central aisle, is the narrowest, being only 30 feet wide, wliilst the side aisles are each 39 feet wide. The transepts are 154 ST. MARGARET’S CHURCH, KING’S LYNN. The chief architectural attractions of are its churches, of which it possesses several. The principal one is St. Mar- garet’s, of wliich our photogi’aph shows the west end. It was founded by Herbert de Losinga, Bishop of Norwich, in the reign of Wilham Rufus. The two towers are each eighty-six feet high; both stand upon the original Nonnan foundation, and tlie interior of the south-west tower has a rich display of Norman columns, arcades, and ai’ches of very early date. This tower has externally three stages of different styles of architecture, the basement being transitional Norman, the second story early English, and tlie upper part Decorated. The buttresses at tlie angles are square, and very massive, and consist at the base of a series of lofty hut slender clustered columns, with pointed arcades above. This tower is now embattled, and has crocheted pinnacles at the four comers, but was formerly surmounted by a spire, 258 feet liigh, which was blown down oh the 8th September, 1741, destroying in its fall the nave, and also the lantern-tower, wliich rose from the four main arches at the intersection of the transepts with the nave and chancel. The north-west tower is all in tlie peipeudicnlar style, and of four stages. It is terminated by a battlemented parapet, enriched with quatrofoii panels, and has eight crocketed pinnacles. There is a small porch over the western door, above which is a large seven-light window, of the perpendicular period ; and in the gable is a niche contain- ing a time-worn statue of St. Margaret. The length of this beautiful chm-ch is about 240 feet, and its width 132 feet. It is lighted by above seventy rviudows, nearly all of which were formerly filled with stained glass, and its roof is supported by twenty-two clustered columns, from which spring depressed arches. The interior contains much that is interesting, and, on the whole, it must be considered one of the finest churches in the kingdom. WYMONDHAM CHURCH Originally formed part of a monastery, founded 1130 by >Villiam de Albiui. MTien the monastery was destroyed, the south aisle, over which were lodgings for supemumerarymonks. 9 was demolished. Anxions to save their noble church — erected in 1130, — a handsome crucifonn building — the inhabitants obtained permission to use the abbey steeple, monks’ lodgings over the south aisle, St. Margaret’s Chapel, the chapel of the Virgin and St. Thomas d Beckett, and the choir. However, the sacrilegious injustice of Mr. Seqeant Plowerdew defeated this intention, upon which the people took do^m the residuary buildings, and contented themselves with erecting the new aisle. The present church consists of a nave with aisles, a large western tower, and another at the intersection of the nave with the transepts. The ancient parts of the building display semicircular arches, with short columns and large piers, which appear to be part of the original structure. At the east end, and on the south side of the church, ai-e some fragments of walls. The north aisle, porch, and tower, are of a much later date than the nave and south aisle ; altogether, the church is an interesting and curious pile. It contains a large font, ornamented with bold sculpture, and elevated on steps. B[NHAM ABBEY. All that is known of the origin of tliis building is, that Peter, Lord Valoines, nephew to the Conqueror, founded here a priory of Benedictine Monks, dedicated to St. Mary, as a cell to the Abbey of St. Alban’s, but that it was not finished till the reign ofHenry I. Theinterior, which is full of Norman arches, may probably be of the earliest of these eras. The west front, represented in the photograph, is evidently the work of the beginning of the thirteenth century ; and, as is observed by Mr. Britton, in its arches, columns, mouldings, &c., nearly resembles the same features in the gable of Ely Cathedral, and in the western front and chapter-house of Salisbury Cathedral, all nearly of the same era. Though the priory is generally in ruins, the nave of the conventual church has been preserved, and still serves for the parish church. The font in it is highly ornamented. CASTLE ACEE PRIORY. Our photograph represents, probably, one of the finest and most perfectly preserved pieces of min in the kingdom, and though it is undoubtedly the best specimen of the remains of Castle Acre Priory, it by no means gives an idea of the extent of these ruins. This Prioiy was founded by the great Earl Warenne, in 1078, for monks of the Cluniac order. NORTH CREAKE ABBEY. In the year 1206 there was a church founded in a place called Lingerscroft, lying between Creake and Burnham. In the reign of Henry II. there was mass said in this church ; but Sir Kobert de NoaTord, being Constable of Dover Castle, under Hubert de Burgh, Chief Justice of England, and obtain- ing a victory over the French at sea, with the assistance of Alice, his wife, bmlt a chapel to St. Bartholomew, with an hospital for thirteen poor lay brethren, four chaplains, and a master, or head. The walls of this abbey ai'e shown in our general view; the choir is perfectly distinguishable, and the whole forms a tine, venerable ruin. The abbey estate is now held of Christ’s College, Cambridgeshire, on a lease, renew- able every seven years. The abbot and canons were of the order of St. Augustine. WALSINGHAM ABBEY, The most celebrated shrine in England in Eoman Catholic times, was founded in 1061 by the widowed lady of Ricaldi Faverches, as a smaD chapel in honour of the Virgin Mary, Bunilar to the Sancta Cass, at Nazareth. Sfr Geoffirey, her son, confirmed the endowment, made an additional founda- tion of a priory for Augustine canons, and erected a conventual church. It was enriched by the piety or the superstition of succeeding generations, and at the dissolution, its annual revenues were valued, according to Speed, at .£446 14s. 4d. The present remains of this once noble monastic pile, is a portal, or west entrance gateway, a richly ornamented lofty arch, sixty feet high, which fonned the east end of the church, supposed to have been erected iu the timA of Henry VII . ; the refectory, seventy-eight feet long, and twenty-seven broad, and the walls twenty-sis and a-half feet in height ; a Saxon ai'ch; part of the original chapel, which has a zig-zag moulding ; part of the old cloisters ; a stone bath, and two uncovered wells, called Wishing WeUa. The view we have selected for illustration is the great arch, sixty feet iu height, the remains of the east window of the ancient priory. The list of royal personages who came to this remote village includes Henry III., Edward I. and II., Henry VII. and Vni., David Brace, King of Scotland (with twenty knights), and Queen Catherine. THE ABBEY OF ST. BENXET AT HOLME Consists only of a pai't of the old gate bouse. It was one of the twenty-nine mitred abbeys whose abbots, according to Tanner, statedly and constantly enjoyed the privilege of being called to Parliament. It is, moreover, remarkable, in conferring upon the Bishop of Norwich a title home by no other person. On Febraary 4th, l.'iSS, Hemy VIII., under the specious pretence of advancing the See, which in reality was greatly damaged, severed the ancient barony and revenues from it, and annexed the Priory of Hiekliug, and the barony and revenues of the Abbey of Holme, in lieu thereof. In right of this bwony the Bishop of Noiwieh now sits in the House of Lords as Bishop of Holme ; the barony of the bishoprick being at present in the king’s hand, and the monastery being never dissolved, only transfen-ed by the statute. The Bishop of this See is the only Abbot at this day in England. Its foundation is traced as far back as the days of Canute, by whom, and Edward the Confessor, it was richly endowed. In Dugdale’s Monnslicon is given a plate of the church from a MS. in the Cottonian Library, wliich may afford some idea of the nature of the fabric. These rains are in the parish of Honiiug, distant nine miles from Norwich. CASTLE mSlNG CASTLE Was erected by William de Alberic, the first Earl of Essex, some time prior to the year 1176, on a hill to the south of Castle Eising. It was a noble pile, built on a similar plan to the Castle at Noiwieh. Tho square keep is in a hollow area, surrounded by a liigh bank and deep vallum. This bank was, however, formerly surmounted by a fortified waU, and its entrance formed by a bridge across the vallum and a lower gateway. To the east of these was an outer area, enclosed with a liigh bank and deep vaUum, foiToing a sort of bastion to tho citadel. The shell of the keep tower remains, with walls nine feet thick, and displays some orna- mental windows, doorways, &c. The size of the great hall may still be ascertained. In this forti’ess, Isabel, Queen of Edward II., after the death of her favourite, Earl Mortimer, was confined fr'om 1330 till her death in 1358. Here she was visited by her son, Edward III., accompanied, on one occasion, by his consort Philippa. The lordship of Eising afterwards fell to the Black Piince, aud in the reign of Homy Vni. it became a possession of the Howards, who still retain it. THE CASTLE, NUliWlCH, Claims, according to some, a Danish origin. Blomefield imagines that the present structure was erected by Eoger Bigod, in the time of William Eufus, and that it occupies the site of a brick building which was raised by Canute. Li the reign of Henry II., it is stated by some writers, that Eoger Bigod, who then possessed this fortress, materially altered the castle, and that the present keep tower is pai4 of the work then erected. It occupied a considerable site of gi-ound. Blomefield says, “ The extent of the outennost ditch reached on the west part to the edge of the present market-place ; on the north to London Lane, which it included ; and on the east almost to Conisford Street. The postern, or back entrance, was on the north-east part for a communication to the site of the Earl’s Palace, the precinct of which adjoined and contained the whole space between the outward ditch and Tombland. The southern part reached to the Golden Ball 10 Lane, where the gi-ancl gate stood.” Over each foss was a hridge ; one of them which remains, Mr. Willdn says, “is the largest and most perfect arch of Saxon workmanship in the whole kingdom.” At the inner extremity of it are the foundations of two circular towers, of 14 feet in diameter, one of which was appropriated to condemned criminals till 1793, when the new buildings were erected. Near the south-west angle of the inner vallum is the square keep tower, the anti- quity and arcliitecture of which have afforded a very fertile theme for disputation. The interior of the keep is now an unroofed area, but was formerly divided by floors, covered in at the top, and separated into several spacious apartments. The basement floor appears to have been vaulted over with stone, some vestiges of which are still to be traced. It is conjectured that the well was situated in the middle of the keep. Within this fortress there was formerly a royal chapel, exempt from all episcopal Jurisdiction. In the year 1793 a new gaol was erected for the county, and it was resolved to build it on the Castle Hill, and attach it to the eastern side of the old edifice. Sir John Soane, tlie architect, was officially engaged, and the building was completed from bis designs. The Castle Precinct contains 6 acres, 1 rood, and 13 perches, and the summit of tlie hiU is in circumference 360 yards. The whole of the latter is enclosed with iron pahsades and iron gate. Under an Act of Parhament, passed in 1800, the Castle and its limits are vested in the Justices of the Peace for the County, in tnist, by which they are empowered to rebuild, repah, or alter any part belonging to it, as they may think proper. ST ANDREW’S HALL. This noble fabric was fonnerly the conventual church of the Benedictine llonastery of Blackfriars. Blomefield says it was begtm in 1415 by Sir Thomas Erpingham, Knight, and finished by bis son, Sir Robert, who was Rector of Bracon, and one of the fraternity. But otlier authorities have placed the date sub- sequent to 1450. It consists of a nave and two aisles, which remain nearly perfect. Formerly it had a handsome steeple, which stood in the centre between the nave and the choir, but it was neglected, and fell down in 1712. The aisles are.separated from the nave by six elegantly proportioned columns, which support the roof. They are half the breadth of the nave, and of the same length. The whole is about 120 feet long and 70 feetwide within the waUs. There are fourteen windows on a side, in the upper tier and six in the lower, two at the east, and three at the west. These were formerly ornamented vith painted glass. Ultimately, the HaU passed into the hands of tlie Corporation ; but before then it had been the domicile of the G-iuld of St. George the Martyr. Queen Ehzabeth, and Finn Charles II. and his Queen, have here been feasted and honoured. In the hall are more than fifty pictures of interest !ind value. At the east end is a full-length portrait of Queen Anne, and another of her Consort, Prince George of Denmark. There is also an admirable portrait of Nelson, with this inscription, “The best likeness of this illustrious hero, and the last for which he ever sat, was painted after liis return from the Battle of the Nile, in the year 1801, by Sir William Beechey, and confers additional lustre on the professional abilities of that artist.” There are also portraits of Robert, Earl of Oxfdrd, Horace Walpole, Lord Hobart, &c. It is in tins noble ball the h-ienuial musical festivals are held, and the Church Congress of 1865 was held here. But it is often used for very ignoble purposes. BISHOP’S BRIDGE, NORWICH, Says Blomefield, was so called because it led directly to the Bishop’s palace, and in 1249 belonged to the see, it being then repahed by the priors of Norwich and St. Leonard ; hut afterwards, being a general inlet into the city, it was resolved to place it in the citizens’ hands, and accordingly it has belonged to and been maintained by the city ever since 1393, and they always appointed a porter to hve near and keep the gates ; but the hermit, which dwelt by them, was always nominated by the prior, and the hermit’s house at the dissolu- tion was assigned to the church. THE NELSON MONUMENT AT YARMOUTH Stmtls on tlio South Doncs, nhonl a mile from the toim, an J TOS oreotod from a design by Mr. Wffliam Wilkins, an architect. The first stone was laid by the Hon. Colonel Wodehouse, on the 16th ol Angnet, 1817, and the colmnn is 144 feet m height. Upon the plinth are the names of the four flag-ships on hoard which Nelson commanded at the battles of Aboiikir, St. Vincent, Copenhagen, and Trafalgar ; and the names of these victories are inscribed on the coping of the terrace. The roof is sm-moimted by caryatides, sunnounted by a statue of Britannia holding a trident in one hand and a wi-eath of laurel iu the other. The foUowing inscription appears on the west side of the monument : — HOBATIO, LORD KELSON, ■Wliom, aa her first and proudest champion in naTal fight, Britain hononred, while living, with her favonr, and when lost, with her tears ; Of whom, signalised hy his trinmphs in all lands, the whole earth stood in awfl on account of the tempered faimoss of his connsols, and the undaunted ardour of his oonrago; This great man, NORFOLIC boasts her own, not only as horn thero of a respectalle family, and as there having received his early education, but her own also in talents, manners and mind. The glory of so great a name, though sure long to outlive all monuments of brass and stono, bis fellow-cotmtrymtn of Norfolk have resolved to coi^omorate by this column, erected by their joint contributions. He was bom in the year 1758 ; Entered on Hs profession in 1771 ; and was concerned in nearly 150 naval engagements with the enemy ; Being conqueror, among various other occasions, At Abonkir, August, 1798 ; At Copenhagen, April, 1801 ; And at Trafalgar, October, 1805 ; . Wliich last victory, the crown of so many glorious achievements, he consecrated by a death, equally mournful to liis country and honourable to himself. THE COKE MONUMENT AT HOLKITAM. T1u 3 cohmm, 120 feet in height, was commenced in 1846, and has on the four corners of its pedestal a Devon ox, a Southdown sheep, a plough, and a drill ; wlnlst on three sides of the pedestal are bas-reliefs representing Mr. Coke granting a lease to a tenant, the HoUdiam sheep-sheai'ing, and irriga- tion ; and on the fourth side the foUowing inscription : — This column, in memory of THOMAS WUhLIAM COKE, EARL OP LEICESTER, For more than half a century the faithful Representative of this County in the House of Commons, erected liy suhsoiiption originating with the Yeomanry, and supported by the Noblemen and Gentlemen of all parties, Records a life devoted to the welfare of his Friends, Neighbours and Tenants. Of such a man Contemporaries needed no memorial ; his Deeds were before them ; his Praises in their hearts; Bnt it imports Posterity to know that he pre-eminently combined Public Services with Private Woith ; aflording an illnstrious example of hirth and station, actuated by Duty and inspired by Benevolence. Integrity and Independence marked his political career ; Love, Honour, and Regret attend the Father, Friend, and Landlord ; The Arts lament in him a liberal and fostering Patron ; and Agriculture, to which from early manhood to the close of life, ha dedicated Time, Energy, Science, and Wealth, Crowning his Cenotaph with her emblems, cherishes the precedent and commends the practice of her great Promoter and Benefactor. THE TOWN HALL, LYNN, Or Trinity Hall, is an ancient building of stone and flint. It consists of apartments, the first of which is the stone haU, in which the County Quarter Sessions and Town Sessions are held. Tins hall is 68 feet long and 27 feet wide, and proportionately lofty. It contains the portraits of Sir Robert Walpole, fuU length ; Sir Thomas White, the liberal benefactor to young tradesmen, hah length : Sir Benjamin Keen ; George II., a fuU length ; and Lord Nelson. In 1698, portraits of Edward VI. and James I. were presented to this haU by Aid. Robinson. 11 GREY FRIARS TOWER, LYNN. The Grey Friars, Friars Minn, or Franciscans’ ConTent, ■was founded about 1264 by Thomas Feltham. It was built in Fuller’s Row, near St. James’s Street, near the present Min Lane. The remains of this building, a hexagon tower, with pointed windows, which is well represented in om' photo- graph, serves as a good landmark to vessels entering the harbour'. AN ANCIENT DOORWAY AT ARMINGHALL. The only account left us of tlie building to which tliis beautiful porch belongs, is derived from Blomeficid ; and states no more than that it was erected by Nicholas, son of Nicholas Heme, of Tibenham, who settled here, and who was clerk to the Crown. This would bring the date to about 1600, but Cotman is not satisfied with placing it so late. “ The pointed arch, and en-niched saints do not at all correspond with the areliitecture, and particularly the domestic ai'cliitecture, then in use. I am rather, therefore, led to suppose the porch a rehe of one of the dissolved religious houses, or, perhaps, of one which endeavoured again to raise its head in the days of Maiy. From its being made of wood, and from the general character of its ornaments (the latter I think most probable), I would date it about 1555. The supposition of its having belonged to some monastery, is still fiuther strengthened by a tra(Htion which I have lately understood to exist, that it was brought from the ruins of Carrow Abbey, by which it is believed that various parts of the siUTOunding country were enriched.” As tending to illustrate the sculpture of the times, this porch is a particularly valuable relic. The figures over the inner door, which is richly carved, appear to have relation to some legeudai-y tale, and have, probably on that account, been so mutilated as to be no' longer distinguishable. The doorway under the porch is perpendicular, with the original oak door, having carved upon it, “ Pray* for the soul of Wdliam Ely, 1487.” Over the nortli door is a coat of arms, and round it nms a beautiful wreath of vine-leaves. The house is occupied by a fanner. ASHW'ELLTHOKI’E HArX. Situated about nine miles from Norwich, is the property of Lord Berners. The view given in this work represents the modem part of the hall, built in 1881, on the site of the old hall, which had a moat and (frawbridge, and of which a small part still remains. Fiu'ther additions were made in 1845. BARNINGHAM HALL, The Seat of -John Thomas Mott, Esq., Is eight miles from Cromer, and situated in the parish of Boraingliam-Winter, so called from the family of the Winters who held tliis lordship in the reign of Edward III. In 1381, and again in 1393, (the 4th and 16th of Richard II.) Wil- liam Winter of Bomiugham-Winter, Armiger, was sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk. In the latter part of the reign of Elizabeth, it was possessed by the Fastens, and the older house, which stood on a lower site, being pulled down, Sir Edward Paston, Knight, in 1612, huUt the present mansion, as appears by the arms of Paston impaling Bemey, in a shield over the entrance-porch, witli this date ; Sfr Edward bavino- monied for his second wife, Margaret, dangliter of Hem-y Bemey, Esq., of Reedham. About the year 1756, Thomas Paston, Esq., fifth in descent from the above, sold the property to William Russell, a London merchant, from whom it passed into the hands of Thomas Lane, Esq., and he, in 1775, sold it to Thomas Vertue Mott, Esq., grandfather of the present owner. The house was much enlarged, and the south or garden front altered, in 1807, under the direction of Mr. Humphrey Repton, architect j but the west, or entrance front, a fine example of the time of James I., remains in its original state, in which the lofty double dormer is a peculiar feature. EAST BARSHAM HALL. This fine old Manor-house, situated three miles from Fakeuham, is the property of Lord Hastings, and is one of tlie most interesting specimens remaining of the domestic! architecture of the reign of Henry VII. It was biuTt by Sir William Permor in 1538, and afterwards become the seat of the Calthorpes. It is ornamented with moulded brick, in bands of panels charged with various shields and heads, ogee canopies with crockets and finials, hollow mouldings filled with roses, octagonal and round turrets, and handsome chimnies, enriched with ticur-de-iis and roses. Over the gate- way are the royal arms, supported by the gi'eyhound and the griffin, with tlie portcullis in the comers. BAWDESWELL HALL Is on the turnpike road from Norwich to Fiikenliam, and occux>ied by Clarke Stoughton, Esq. It is a red brick mansion, of Elizabethan arcJiitectnre, built in 1633, and has been recently restored. BLICKLING HALL, The Seat of the Most Hon. the Marquis or I^othian. Before the Norman Conquest this manor was held by Harold (for a short time king) ; but at the Domesday suiwey, it was held in two moieties — one by the Crown, and the other by the Bishop of Thetford. The Conqueror settled the whole on the see ; and .after the foundation of Nonrfcli Cathedral, the bishop of the diocese had here a palace or country seat. In 1431, Bliekling became the property of Sir Thomas Erping- ham, who sold it to Sfr Jolm Pastolff, of whom it was purchased in 1452, by Sir Geoffrey Bulcyne, who was Lord Mayor of Loudon in 1457. It next passed to Sir Thomas Boleyn, fatlier of the unfortunate i\nne Boleyn and Viscount Rochford, both of whom were born here, and who were beheaded in the reign of Henry VIII. From the Boleyns the manor passed to the family of Cleves, one of whom sold it to Sir Henry Hobart, Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. His son, Sir John, rebuilt the hall in 1620, which remains till this time. One of His descendants, John Hobart, was created Earl of Buckinghamshire in 1746. On the death of the second Earl of Bucldnghamshfr'e, without male issue, in 17!)3, tills estate passed to his second daughter, Lady Cai'oline Hans Hobart, who married the second Lord Suffield, and died with- out issue in 1850, when she was succeeded by her grand- nephew, the present Marquis of Lothian. Bliekling Hall is situated little more than a mile from Aylsliam, and its ground-plan is quadrangular, with two open courts in the centi'c. At each angle of the edifice is a squai-e tun'et, tenrunated by a vane, wliile over the entrance is a clock- tower of more modem character. The entrance from the court in front formed by the stables and offices, is over a bridge, witli two ai'ches, that spans a moat. Upon tlie ancient haH-door is the date “ Ano. Di. 1020.” In the upper story of this noble mansion is a large window, with twelve compart- ments formed by stone mulfrons. The haU, which loads to the antechamber, is forty-two feet long, thfrty-three feet wide, and the same in height. It opens on the great staircase, which branches off to the right and loft, conducting to a grand gallery of communication. In tliis are full-lengrii statues of Anne Boleyn and Queen Elizabeth. In the librai-y are 10,000 volumes. Bliekling has been twice visited by royalty. In 1071, King Charles and his Queen were there. Stevenson has thus attempted to treat the subject poetically: — “ BlickEng, two munavclis, and two queens has soon; One king fetched thence, another brought a queeu." BOYLAND HALL, The Seat of Fredebick William Irby, Esq., Is in the pai'isb of Morningthorpe, eleven miles from Noi-wich, aud was formerly a moated house, haviug a drawbridge, Ac. As the photograph shows, it is a handsome Elizabethan man- sion. It was built in 1571, and was thoroughly repaired aud restored in 1804 by Admiral the Hon. F. P. Irby, who collected on the coast of Africa a lai'ge (juantity of co^e shells, with which he studded the interior of an alcove, in a slirabbery adjacent to the hall, which has over its entrance porch a fine bust of Queen Elizabeth, removed from a ifrche at the demolition of Tilbury House. There are a number of very valuable royal portraits proseiwed in tliis hall. 12 BUCKENHAM-TOFTS HALL, The Seat of the Right lion. Lord Ashburton, Is distant from Thetford eight miles, and is a convemently- arranged mansion, originally founded, in the reign of Charles the Second, by a Mr. Vincent. burlingham hall, The Seat of Henry Negus Bureoughes, Esq., As the photograph shows, is a plain modem mansion, sitnatod about eight miles frnm Norwich, and has no preten- sion to architectural merits. It is the seat of a fiimily that has long been influential in the county, and the present occupier represented the Eastern Division of Norfolk in Parliament for several years. BYLAUGH HALL, The Seat of the Rev. Henry Evans Lombe, Is a fine modem mansion, built of stone, and well represented in our view from the garden terrace, from East Dereham. It is distant six miles COSSEY HALL, The Seat of the Right Hon. Lord Stafford, Is situated about five miles and a-half from Norwich. The old hah, which is chiefly shown in one of our views of tliis magnificent building, is in the plain Tudor style, with battle- ments and square windows. It fomis three sides of a quad- rangle, and the projecting wings are terminated by corbie- stepped gables, crowned by square pinnacles. This house was erected by Sir Henry Jemingbam in the reign of Ehzabeth, and whl he removed when the new and splendid mansion (commenced upwards of thirty years ago) is completed. The manor of Cossey, or Costessey, was given by the Conqueror to Alan, Earl of Eichmond. After passing from him through various families, it was granted by Queen Maiy to her Vicc- Chamherlaiu, Sir Henry Jemingbam, mentioned above. The family of Jemegam, or Jemingbam, was famous even before the Conquest, one of its members having obtained several manors in Norfolk from Canute, as a reward for the services he had rendered to Sweyne, King of Denmark, when he invaded England. Henry Jemingbam was created a bai'onet in 1621. His descendant, the late Sir George Jemingbam, was heir-general of the bodies of Sir William Howard and Mary Stafford, his wife. This Sir William Howard was created Baron Stafford, after espousing tlie heiress of the Stafford family, in 1640 ; bnt being iniquitously attainted as a conspirator in the Popish plots, he was beheaded in 1678. By the reversal of this unjust attainder in 1825, the father of tlie present Lord Stafford succeeded to the title. Among the pictures in this hall is a portrait of Queen Maiy, by Holbein, and a very curious drawing by Philip Fraytius, dated 1640, representing the Earl of Arundel, his countess, Alethea, and three children. There are also portraits of James II. and his family. Close to the house is a modem chapel, built under the direction of Edward Jemingbam, Esq., in the Gothic style. It has lofty windows, with pointed arches, muUions, &c., each of which is filled with stained glass, of great value, collected from various continental monasteries. The whole produces a beautiful effect. CRANMER HALL, The Seat of Sir Willoughby Jones, Bart., Was Lnilt in the eaidy part of the eighteenth century. The estate was purchased by Mr. Jones in 1751, and has since coutiuued in the present family. The Jones’ of Cranmer were originally a Welsh family, from Ceermarthenshire. Sir John Jones, who was created a baronet for his mihtary services, was a distinguished engineer officer, who received a gold medal for the capture of Badajos, which has since been home by the family in their coat of arms. The present baronet, who is now engaged in making considerable improvements m_ the HaU, especially in beautifying its interior, was High blmntt ot the county in 1851, and has been Chairman of the Lonnty Sessions since 1856. Cranmer Hall is situated m the pansh of Sculthorpe, distant about two mUes from Fakenham. CROMER HALL, The Seat of Benjamin Bond Cabbell, Esq. This Hall formerly belonged to the Windham family, but some time since became the property of Mr. CabheU, who occasionally resides here. It is situated nearly a mile from the town of Cromer, on the road to Felhrigg ; and from the grounds of the house beautiful views are obtained of the surrounding scenery and of the German Ocean. ELMHAM HALL, The Seat of the Right Hon. Lord Sondes, Is situated a few miles from East Dereham, and, as the photograph shows, is a large family mansion, designed rather with a view to domestic convenience than architectnral preten- sions. It was built about the year 1725, by Richard Warner, Esq., and since its possession by Lord Sondes has received considerable additions. ELSING HALL Is an ancient moated mansion, at present occupied by Eiehai'd Charles Browne, Esq., who is Lord of the Manor. It was the property of the Fohots, until Sir Richard Foliot’s daughter Margery married Sir Hugh Hastiugs, commander of the army of Edward III. iu Flanders ; and it was the residence of the Hastings family, until it passed, by the marriage of Anne, eldest daughter and co-heiress of Sir Hugh Hastings, to William Browne, shortly before the year 1564. The hall appears to have been originally erected in the thirteenth centm 7 , as the foundations and some fragments buht into tlie walls, are believed to be of that date ; but it was probably rebuilt, or considerably altered, about 1550. During the last two centuiies, it has suffered much from alterations and destruction, though it still retains some features of consider- able interest. FELBEIGG HALL, Three miles from Cromer, — the seat formerly of the Wind- ham famil y — stands at the eastern extremity of a high tract of land, called Felhrigg and Sherrington Heaths, and is generally considered to be one of the finest situations in the whole comity. It is an Elizabethan structure, which has been much enlarged at different times, and is now not only commodious, but elegant. This fine estate was recently sold to Mr. Kitton, a merchant, of Norwich. GUNTON HALL, The Seat of the Right Hon. Lord Suffield. This Hall, which has long been the seat of the Harhord family, was much enlarged, under the direction of Mr. Wyatt, in 1785, and now presents an extensive range of commodious apartments. The haU is situated about five miles from Cromer, and an equal distance from Aylsham. HAVERLAND HALL, The Seat of Edward Eellowes, Esq., M.P,, Is situated nine miles from Norwich. It is a fine specimen of Italian architecture, from designs by Mr. Blose, and was built by Mr. Fellowes in 1842. HEYDON HALL, The Seat of W. E. L. Bulwer, Esq., Is six miles from Aylsham. The house is an Elizabethan structure, built iu 1684, and is situated upon an elevated table- land, from which circumstance it has evidently derived its imm 13 name — higli down corrupted into Heydon. It was formerly possessed by tbe Earles, having been purchased by the dis- tinguished lawyer, Erasmus Earle, own Serjeant-at-Law to Oliver Cromwell. By the marriage of the eminent lawyer’s descendant with WiUiam Bulwer, Esq., of Wood Dalliug, and Guestwick, Heydon came to the family of the Bulwers, who have held lands, [and resided at W'ood Dalliug since tlie Conquest. The eldest son of the marriage with the heiress of Heydon, was William Earle Bulwer, Esq., a Brigadier- General in the army, and Colonel of the 106th Foot, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Warbm-ton Lytton, Esq., of Knebworth Park, Hants, and died in 1807, leaving three sons, WiUiam Earle Lytton Bulwer, Esq., now of Heydon Hall; Sir Hemy Lytton Bulwer, K.C.B.; and the distinguished novelist and statesman, Sir Edwai-d Lytton Bulwer Lytton, Bart., of Knebworth. HILLINGTON HALL, The Seat o/SiR W. Hovell Brown Ffolkes, Bart., Situated about seven miles from Lynn, was built in 1627 by Richard Hovell, upon a manor belonging to the Abbot of Dereham. In 1669, Sir W'^Uliam Hovell dying without male issue, this estate devolved to one of his daughters, who married Martin Ffolkes, Esq., an ancestor of the present owner. Within the last few years the haU has been much improved. It now presents a handsome elevation, in the Gothic style. HOLKHAM HALL, The Seat of the Right Hon. the Earl of Leicester. The manor of Holkham was held by the Boleyns,tUl 1504, when it passed to Lady Ann Gresham. A capital messuage at Holkham Staith, with lands in Holkham, were for many generations held by the ancestors of one Edmund Newgate, who in 1652 sold all Ids property to John Coke, Esq., fom-th son of Lord Chief Justice Sir Edward Coke, who had pre- viously purchased the manor and aH the other land in the parish. His successor, Thomas Coke, was, in 1728, created Baron Lovel, of Minster-Lovel, Oxfordshire, and in 1744, Viscount Coke, of Holkham, and Earl of Leicester ; but dying without issue in 1769, his titles became extinct. This Earl it was who converted the barren heath of Holkham into a beautiful estate. He commenced the erection of the present haU (or House, as it is sometimes called), in 1734, and it was finished by his widow in 1760. This mansion may he said to consist of five quadrangles; that is, of a large central building and four wings, so that each side presents a regular and perfect front. W^ith some trifling variations, this resembles Palladio's plan of a villa, designed for the Cavalier Leonardo Morenigo, upon the Brenta. The extent, including the wings, is 334 feet by 180 in depth. In the house is a splendid collec- tion of pictures. The names of some of the leading artists will alone suffice to give the connoisseur au idea of what is to be seen at Holkham. Lanfrane, Guido, Titian, Carlo Maratti, Rubens, Annibal Caracci, Vandyke, Sebastian Concha, Canaletti, Gaspar Pouissin, Raphael, Parmegiaus, Paul Veronese, Leonardo da Vinci, Claude Loraine, Ac., besides some antiques and choice pieces of sculpture. Holkham also has a fine library, and a valuable collection of MSS. The late Mr. Coke, who, after representing the county in parlia- ment for fifty-seven years, was created (in 1887) Earl of Leicester and Viscoimt Coke, was the son of Wenman Roberts, Esq., who assumed the name of Coke on succeeding to the estates of his maternal uncle, Thomas Coke, Earl of Leicester, mentioned above. Holkham Hall is distant from Wells two miles, and is thirty-two miles from Norwich. HONINGHAM HALL, The Seat of the Rev. Lord Bayning, Was built in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, by Lord Chief Justice Richardson, with the exception of the more modem south front. It is situated seven miles from Nonvich. HOUGHTON HALL, The Seat of the Most Hon, the Marquis of Cholmondelev, Is a truly sumptuous pile, intimately connected with the fame and fortunes of Sir Robert Walpole. The original designs were fiiraished by Colin Campbell, author of “ Vitruvius Britannicus ; ” hut the mansion was erected by Thomas Ripley. It was commenced in 1722, and finished in 1735. The princiqjal front is towai'd the west. The main building is quadi’angular, and 166 feet square. The basement stoiy is rustic ; this is ascended by a double flight of steps, with a balustrade. The pediment over the entrance is supported by Ionic columns. The wings, containing the offices, are con- nected with the main body of the edifice, by a Tuscan colonnade, and the extent of the whole front is 450 feet. The interior contains a suite of magnificent apartments, adorned in tlie most sumptuous manner. The great hall, a cube of forty feet, is certainly a veiy noble room. The drawing-room is thirty feet long by twenty-one feet wide. In the library, is a whole length portrait of George I., in Ids coronation robes, by Sir Godfrey Eueller ; tlds is the only picture for which that monai'ch ever sat in England. Paintings and sculpture of great value adorn more or less the apartments. Though tiiought its chief boast, its large and celebrated collection of pictures was sold iu 1779, by George, Earl of Ortbrd, to Catherine, Empress of Russia, for ;£45|500, a sum far below their real value. Houghton is thirteen miles from Lyim, and teu miles from Fakenham. HUNSTANTON HALL Has for many ages been the seat of the distinguished family of Le Strange, it having originally come into their possession by the marriage of Roland Le Strange, in the eleventh ceutmy, to the sole heiress of the original Saxou possessors of the manor. The most ancient portion of Hunstanton Hall now remamiug is the north-west augle, which dates back to the reign of Edward IV. The gateway was erected by Sir Roger Le Strange, who died in 1509, and who was “ Esquire of the body” to Henry VII. It was oiiginally quite distinct from the rest of the edifice; but in 1623, Sir Hamon Le Strange added the two wings, together with the north and south sides of the inner quadrangle, and thus united it with the inhabited j)art of the hall. He also bnilt the embattled wall round the outer court, as well as the gateway to it, and the doorkeeper’s lodge in the park. The hall was well restored in 1836 ; but a fire having broke out in 1853, entfrely destroyed most of the principal rooms, among others, the ancient baronial dining- hall. This haU is situated about seventeen miles from Ljum. INGLETHORPE HALL, EMNETH, The Residence of Charles Metcalfe, Esq., Is a modem structure, erected by the present proprietor iu the year 1857, and is a good specimen of the adaptation of the Tudor style of architecture to the requirements of modem con- venience. It is constructed of a richly-coloui-ed red brick, and the ornamental moulded brickwork may hear eompaiison with the old manor-houses of early date. The ancient manor of Bellasis, or Ingoldesthorpe’s Manor (modemly written Ingle- thorpe,) as weU as the manor of Hagbech, in Emneth, camo into the possession of the present family in the year 1805, by purchase from Sir Henry Peyton, Bart., whose ancestor, Sfr Thomas, purchased both manors, with otlier estates, from Hewar Oxburgh, Esq., in 1720. Hagbech Hall, a residence of the Peytons for eighty-five yeai’s, and the original manor- house of Hagbech, was taken down in the year' 1806. The land surrounding luglethorpe Hall was formerly a race-ground, and being, iu the year 1817, allotted on the inclosure of the commons as the manorial allotment, it has been appropriately selected as a site for the manor-house of both manors. KETTEIUNGHAM HAIX, The Seat of Sir John Peter Boileau, Bart. At the time of the Conquest, the Ketteringham estates, now held by Sir John Boileau, j)assed to Roger Bigod and Ranulph Peverel, and from them to the Vaux, Vere, and other families. 14 In 1261, tlie manor came by marriage to the Argentines; and it aftenrords became the property of the Grey, He-vening- ham, Heron, Atkyns, and Peach families. In 1836, Ketter- ingham was conveyed to John Peter Boileau, Esq., of Tacolnestone Hall, who, in 1838, on the coronation of Queen Victoria, was created a baronet. The Hall, the front of which is shown in onr photograph, is a handsome castellated Tudor mansion, of ancient foundation, has been considerably enlarged and improved by its present owner, especially by the erection of the spacious Gotliic banqueting-hall. The house is richly stored with paintings, books, and choice monuments of antiquity, including a fine collection of arms and armour : it is situated about seven miles from Norwich. KIMBKRLEY HOUSE, The Scat of the Right tIoN. Lord Wodehouse. This estate was formerly the property of the family of Eastolff, when the hall stood on the west side of the village of Kimberley. In the reign of Henry IV., it was pulled down by Sir John Wodehouse, who had manicd the heiress of Sir John Eastoiff, and a noble mansion, called Wodehouse Tower, was erected, where the family resided till the middle of the seventeenth century, when it was pulled down. The present seat was erected by Sir John Wodehouse, 1712, andfourrooms (one at each angle), were added by Sir Ai-mine Wodehouse, who also made several other improvements. The house, which is built of brick, contains many convenient rooms, a spacious library, and offices detached. The park is a fine one, richly ornamented with wood and water, and stocked with deer. In the house is preserved a fine portrait of Vandyck, painted by liimseH when young, also a coral rosary, given by Catherine, Queen of Hemy V., to the wife of John Wodehouse, who was esquire of the body to Henry V., and who distinguislied himself at Agincourt. Queen Elizabeth lodged here in 1578, on her jonmey from Norwich to Cambridge, and part of the dress wliicb she wore on that occasion is still in the possession of the family. Kimberley House is situated about four miles from Wymondham. LANGLEY HALL, The Seat of Sir Thomas William Brograve Proctor Beauchamp, Baht., Is near the small town of Loddon. The date of this house is imcertain. It was bequeathed with a considerable estate, by George Proctor, Esq., in 1744, to his nephew, Sir William Beauchamp, the tii'st baronet, who added the name and arms of liis uncle to his own. Sir William Beauchamp Proctor, was a Knight of the Bath. He represented the County of Middlesex in Parliament from 1747 to 1768, having success- fully contestedtho seat on various occasions with the celebrated Wilkes, for which he was honom-ed with tlie friendship of the king, George III., who presented him with his portrait, which is amongst the numerous pictures in the haU. Langley Hall is a magnificent structure, but it is difficult to say to what style of architecture it exactly belongs. Perhaps the term Anglo- Itolian may be most appropiiate. The centre, or main bmld- ing, is in five divisions, with a portico of Doric order ; but the two original wings have been pulled down and rebuilt. Few FrtgbRb seats are richer than Langley Hall in works of lu-t, of the very highest order. We have only to name Michael Angelo, Salvator Bosa, Nicolas Bergem, Canaletti.Vandervelde, Andre del Sarta, Wonverman, Teniers, Vandyck, Leonardo da Vinci, Claude, Albert Durer, the two Pouissins, Murillo, Cor- nelius Jansen, besides numerous antiques, marbles, rare china, and many paintings of the best English masters, such as Gainsborough, Wilson, and Sii' Joshua Reynolds. LOVELL’S HALL, KING’S LYNN, The Seat of the Eev. Thomas Thoeogood Upwood, Is situated in the parish of Terrington St. Clement, aud is distant foui- miles from Lyim. It is believed to have been of very considerable extent, and to have been built in 1543. It has been inhabited by the Upwood family for many generations. One of the apartments contains a large piece of beautiful Gobelin tapestry, representing, in all the richness of a painting, a numerous group of figures from. Orlando Furioso, some of them as large as life. ST. MARY’S HALL, KING’S LYNN, The Seat of Gdstavus Helsham, Esq., Is situated in the parish of WiggenhaU St. Mary the Virgin, about foul- mties from King’s Lynn. The present residenee has been erected at different periods, the centre having been originally the embattled gatehouse of a more ancient hall or manor-house, which was a very extensive brick building, erected, no doubt, by the famtiy of Kervile, or Capervill. whose arms, ivith those of the Plowdons’, were to be found thereon. The name of the parish is said to date from the thirteenth cen- tury, when one “ Wiggenliale,” a follower of the Conqueror, became owner of the estate of which the pai-ish formed a part. The Kerriles were lords of the manor from the time of Richard L, till the year 1624, when the family became extinct. It then passed to the Berners, and in 1727 was sold to Sir Robert Brown, who was created a baronet in the fifth ye^ of the reign of George II., and who was successively the king’s resident at Venice, and paymaster of his Majesty’s works; and also member of parliament for the borough of Ilchcster. Sii- Robert died, leaving no issue, and bequeathed the estate to his "wife, Lady Brown, who was a member of the old Anglo- Irish family of Helsham, of the County of Kilkenny. From her the estate has passed through several members of this family to its present owner, who has made extensive improve- ments in the hall, and'on the demesne generally. LYNFORD HALL, The Seat of Mrs. Lyhe Stephens, Is a splendid mansion, only recently completed. It is of Elizabethan style of architecture, and constructed of red brick and Little Casterton and Retton stone. It was erected by the late Stephens Lyne Stephens, Esq., from the designs of Mr. Williqm Bum, the architect; commenced in 1857 and completed in 1862. 'The cliimney-pieces of the dining and drawiug-rooms, the librai 7 , the carved doors, and much of the decorative work, were executed in Paiis. Lynford HaU is distant about eight miles from Thetford. MANNINGTON HALL, The Seat of the Right Hon. the Earl of Orford. This manor was conveyed to the Walpole family about the year 1736, after the death of Sir Charles and Lady Potts, whose family had been settled here since the year 1270. The present Earl of Orford has considerably improved and added to the old manor-house, which now contains many portraits and pictures of great historical interest. Mannington is five ntiles from Aylsham. MARHAM HOUSE, The Seat of Henry Villebois, Esq., Situated about seven mUes from Swaffham, is a neat and commodious mansion of modem constmetion. MELTON CONSTABLE, The Seat of the Right Hon. Lord Hastings. This princely estate has been held by the Astley family for many centuries, and here was a fine old haU, said to date from the time of the Conquest, a portion of which stiU forms port of the offices to the present haU, which was buUt by Sir Jacob Astley in 1680, and to which many additions have been subsequently made. It is a noble square building, of brick and stone, with four fronts ; and the chapel, grand staircase, and many of the apartments, ceilings, &c., are highly finished. In this haU are moat valuable coUections of articles of vertu, aud antiquities. Melton Constable is situated about six and a-haU mUes fr-om Fakenham. GREAT MELTON HALL, The residence of the Rev. Henry Evans Lombe, is an ancient Elizabethan mansion, built in 1611 by one of the Anguish family, and is situated about six miles from Norwich. 1 ll MERTON HALL, * The Seat of the Right Hon. LO110 Walsinoham. In the time of Edward the Confessor, this estate belonged to the Saxon chief, Ailid ; hut at the time of the Norman Con- quest it was seized by the victor, and by liim bestowed upon Ealph Baynard, a companion in liis invasion. The heiress of Ralph Baynard married Sir Thomas de Grey, who settled here in 1337. His descendant, Sir William de Grey, was bom at Merton in 1719, and after having successively filled the offices of Solicitor-General, Attomey-Goneral, and Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, was, on October 17th, 1780, created Baron Walaingham. Merton HaU is a fine Elizabethan brick mansion, which was rebuilt in 1610, thoroughly repaired about thirty years ago, and has since been enlarged by the present Lord Walsingham. It is distant about two miles from Watton. MIDDLETON TOWER, The Seat of Lewis Whincop Jarvis, Esq. The ancient and celebrated family of Scales, who founded this castle, were Lords of the Manor of Middleton at a very early period, and probably in the reign of Henry II. erected the building then known as Tynington Hall, of which the gate-house, shown in our riew, is probably a portion. This Tower is a lofty and massive brick pile, with stone quoins, seventy-two feet in height, fifty-four in length, and thirty-three in breadth. Lord Scales obtained the manor in marriage with the heiress of Jeffery de Lisewis, and the family were seated here till the reign of Edward IV., when their heiress married Earl Rivers, horn whom the estate passed through various families to its present owner, who has restored and added considerably to its magnificent appearance. It is situated about four miles from Lynn, and seen from the railway station at Middleton, it has a very attractive and imposing appearance. NABBOROUGH HALL, The Seat of R. IVIarriott, Esq. Tliis Mansion was built by Judge Spelman, in the reign of Henry VIII., and had formerly a moat surrounding it. It was once famous for the large collection of ancient and modem coins and medals it contained, which was said to he the most valuable in Europe. It is situated about five miles from Swaffham. NECTON HALL, The Seai of Colonel Mason, Is distant from Swaffham four miles. The Mason family have been settled here since 1462. OXRURGH CASTLE, The Seat of Sir Henry Bedingfeld, Bart., Is a fine specimen of the architecture of the olden time. It was built in the latter end of the IStli century by Sir Edmund Bedingfeld, who was knighted at the coronation of Richard IH. in 1483, and who had the previous year obtained a grant or patent from Edward IV., dated July 3, 1482, to erect a manor-house with towers, battlements, machicolations, &e. It is built of brick, and was originally of a square fonn, environing a court 118 feet long and 92 feet broad, round wliich the apai-tments were ranged. The entrance is over a bridge (formerly a drawbridge), through an arched gateway between two majestic octagonal towers, eighty feet high. In the western tower is a winding staircase, beauti&Uy turned, and lighted by quatrefoil eyelet-holes. The other tower is divided into foui’ stories, each forming an octagonal room, with ai’ched ceilings, stone window-fi-ames, and stone fire- places. The archway between the towers is supported by numerous groins, and over it is a large and handsome room, thirty-tliree feet long by twenty feet broad, called the “ King’s Room,” having one window to the north, and two bay windows to the south ; the floor is paved with small, fine bricks, and the walls are covered with very curious tapestry, which exhibits several figures of princes, and ladies and gentlemen, of the time of Henry VIL, who is supposed to have lodged in this apartment when he visited Oxhurgh. Queen Elizabeth once visited this famous hall, and lodged in the apartment over the king’s room. The great banqueting-room, which stood on the south side of the quadrangle, was tidien down in 1788. It was fifty-six feet long and twenty-nine feet wide, and had an arched oak roof, resembling that in West- minster Hall, and two oriel windows. The outer walls of the hall stand in the broad and deep moat, fifty-two feet in breadth, and ten feet in depth, which is well supphed ft'oni the ad.jaeent ri\Tilet. Oxhurgh is distant tliree miles from Stoke Feny. QUIDDENHAM HALL, The Seat of the Right Hon. the E. 4 RL of Albermarle, About two miles from East Harhng. The estate, originally belonging to WQiiam de Quiddeuham, finally passed into the hands of two sisters, of the name of Holland, and was by them sold to Mr. Bristoe, a merchant, who sold it, in 1762, to George, third Eai-1 of Albermarle, the descendant of a noble Dutch family, that came over to England with Wilham HI. The house is loi'ge, and piincipally built of brick. Tlie paik front comprises five divisions ; the two wings project with a slight cuiwe, and the centre is thrown hack, the lower part being brought parallel to the rest of the fr'ont by a stone portico, of the Doric order, surmounted with balustrades. The garden front also consists of a centre, and two -wings, the centre haring four Ionic columns, that support on entablature and pediment, wMle at the wing are two corresponding pilasters. RACKHEATH HALL, The Seat of Sir Henry J. Stracey, Bart , Is a handsome white brick ma-usion, in the Italian style, wiiicli has been much improved by its present owner. The house coutains some fine paintings, amongst wliich are a Vandyck, aud a very valuable Rubens, representing Coriolanns before Rome. The chief entrance to the park is through the elegant iron gates from the Great Exhibition of 1851. It is distant four and a-half mil es from Norwich. RAYNHAM HALL, The Seat of the Most Hon. the Marquis Townshenr, Is three miles from Fakenham. The estate came uito the possession of the Townshend family as early as the reign of Henry I., by the mairiage of Frederic Townshend, a noble Norman, to Elizabeth, the daughter aud heiress of Sir Thomas de Grarill. Sfr Roger Townshend, in 1630, built the present edifice, after a plan of Inigo Jones. Chai-les, the second Viscount Townshend, modeinised the mansion, added a wing , and altered the principal apartments. It contains a valuable and choice collection of pictures, iucluding the far-famed Salvator Rosa, given to Charles, Lord Viscount Townshend, Secretary of State, by Frederick the Great. SALL HALL, The Seat of the Rev. Sir^Edward Repps Jodrell, Bart. The old hall at Sail was situated at the north-east end of the ^parish, and was for many generations tlie seat of the Repps family. The present hall was built in 1701, by Ed-ward Hall, Esq., M.P., who married a great grandmother of the present baronet, who succeeded his, father in 1861. Sail is a mile end a-half ilistant fr-om Reepham. SANDRINGHAM HALL, The Seat of Hjs Royal Highness the Prince op Wales. Of tliis mansion w'e have given two views, and though many alterations aud extensions will no doubt be made from time to time, to meet the requirements of the Prince’s establishment, it is not probable that the general appearance of the present hall will be altered. The Sandi'ingham estate was purchased by His Royal Highness in 1802, for the sum of .£200,000, of the Hon. C. S. Cowper; and since that time, improvements thereon have been in constant progress. 16 TAVERHAM HALL, The Seat of the Rev. John Nathaniel Micklethwait, Distant five and a-half miles from Norwich, is a newly-erected Tudor mansion, built of red brick with stone dressings. The apartments are spacious and lofty, and baye finely moulded ceilings. The house contains seyeral valuable paintuigs. THURSFORD HALL, The Seat 0 / Joseph J. Scott-Chad, Esq., Is a house of the period of Queen Elizabeth, and was built inl683, on the site of a still older one. The elevation presents a long embattled front, broken by three large projecting bay windows, to the height of two storeys ; the intervening space is also occupied by two mullioned windows. Many alterations have been made by successive owners. The porch, with its columns, pediments, and circular arch of entrance, is of a more modern character. The large piers, surmounted with brills, at the gate to the office, are probably of the same date. In the reign of Charles II. it was the residence of Thomas Guybon, Esq. In 1753 it was bought by George Chad, Esq., Eecorder of Lynn, who retired here from the arduous duties of his profession. He was created a baronet hi 1791. Erom his son. Sir Charles Chad, it passed in 1855 to his great nephew, the present owner, by whom it has recently been nearlyrebmlt, and who has made large additions to and improvements in it. It is distant five miles from Fakenham. WESTACRE HIGH HOUSE, The Seat of Anthony Hamond, Esq., Is said to derive its name from the circumstance of its being situated on some of the highest ground in the county of Norfolk. It is distant six and a-half miles from Swaffham. WESTON HOUSE, m Seat of Liait.-Cd. Hambleion Fbanois Cosiance, IB sitaElGa About fiTO milcB ftom EBopham^^^ and on tho W piko road from Norwich to Fakenham. The Weston estote Ll came into tho posseeeion of the Onslance fannlj m 1726, and the old hah, now a farm-honse, which was hi^t by tlieir predecessors, the Eokewoode (who had the estate from a Tory aarlj period) and added to by an ancestor of the present owner, was partially polled down and tho present honse h^t, under the direction of Mr. Hawkins, the architect, m 1 779 80. The interior fittings are more elegant than the plainness of toe exterior would lead one to expect, and the honse contams seTcral handsome rooms, in which m-e some Talnable paint- ings, among others, a fine picture hy West. The marble WESTWICK HOUSE, The Seat of John Beenet Pbtee, Esq., Is within tliroe miles of North Walsham, and has been con- sidered one of the most delightfnnj situated seats m tho county. It was erected in the reign of Queen Anne, by John Berney, Esq. GEEAT WITCHINGHAM HALL, The Seat of Henry Kelt Tompson, Esq., Is situated about three miles and-half south of Reepham, near Lenwade Bridge, and is a large brick mansion, with embattled towers. TUustnUat unsouitf 2a. S'' cues STficcT. ae/>wicH. i is. oto bcsd sr, tosuos ■■SCI, Norfolk. Pfiolvfinip/iually lUa.'iCrvtct/ ;■ ji f'l YARMOUTH. M^SONtcd. ZO.STCHeS STf^EET.NOfiWICMSr Ze.biO BOMDST.LO/iDOM. Mn NcrfoUi J^Of/nipMrAJf, JU-b^/ntfJ MAsoNkCf ze, srcuBS st/^bbt wkw/ch & za.oioecND sr ionmn Hi pi rep iqi^ET^nj' 4 . -11’ • J. ’-J* • S; • I jr WiMllirilili -I lEiHiSILlSf©- IHAILI,. (SlSllEAlI' lHAlLIt.0 ‘•■'Aerl M^SONiCr ZB.ST GILES ST/>££T//OHWICH.iZe.OLDBDI/OST.tOMDOM. 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