high land encompassed with fens that were formerly covered with water. A monastery was founded here about 670. In 870, it was pillaged and destroyed by the Danes, and was not rebuilt till about a century later, when a charter was granted by Edgar, which was confirmed by Canute and Edward the Confessor, and subsequently by the Pope. The isle was gallantly defended against William the Conqueror; but, after repeated attacks, the inhabitants were obliged to surrender. In 1107, Ely was erected into a bishopric by Henry I. After the dissolution of the monasteries, Henry VIII. converted the conventual church into a cathedral. This building displays a singular mixture of various styles of architecture, and has an unfinished appearance, but, as a whole, it is a noble structure. The interior is exceedingly beautiful, and much has been done during the present century to restore and beautify the various chapels it contains. The stalls are fine specimens of wood carving. The whole length of the edifice is upwards of 520 feet. The Church of the Holy Trinity, formerly the Lady Chapel, is attached to the cathedral. It was commenced in the reign of Edward II., and is one of the most perfect buildings of that age. The Church of St Mary is also handsome. Here are also several meeting-houses, a grammar-school, founded by Henry VIII., a national school, charity school, &c. Ely has a considerable manufactory for earthenware and tobacco pipes, and there are several mills in the isle for the preparation of oil from flax, hemp, and cole seed. Pop. 1851, 6176. The Bishop of Ely has considerable patronage at Cambridge. LYNN or LYNN REGIS, a place of great antiquity, is situated on the right bank of the Ouse, about eight or nine miles from the sea. It is divided into several parts by four small rivers, called fleets, and was formerly encompassed on the land side by a foss, defended by a wall and bastions. The harbour is difficult of entrance, but capable of receiving 300 sail of vessels. There is a large quantity of wine imported from Portugal and Spain, and of hemp, wood, and flax, and other articles from the Baltic. Customs' revenue 1850, £37,106: 17: 2. The marketplace is very extensive and handsome, and the quays for landing wine are conThe principal church, St Margaret's, is one of the largest parochial churches in England, and is especially rich in monumental brasses. It was erected in 1160, and repaired and enlarged in 1741. There are several other churches or chapels, various meeting-houses, a guild-hall, custom-house, theatre, hospital, a free grammar-school, St Ann's Fort, the promenade called the Mall, the ruins of the Grey Friars' Church, a mechanics' institute, &c. There is communication by railway between Lynn and all the principal towns of the empire. Two M.P. Pop. 1851, 19,355. venient. CASTLE RISING, five miles north-west of Lynn, and two miles from the Wash on the Rising river, is a place of great antiquity. Some have supposed that Alfred the Great built a castle here. At any rate, a castle enclosing a fragment of a more ancient building, erected here by William de Albini, existed before 1176. Of this fortress there are considerable remains. Here Isabella, Queen of Ed. ward II., was kept in confinement by her son Edward III. from 1330 till her death in 1368. The church is an ancient structure, and contains a highly ornamented font. There is a national school and a hospital, with a chapel, built by the Earl of Northampton in 1613. Castle Rising formerly returned two M.P., but was disfranchised by the Reform Bill. Pop. 378. FLITCHAM was formerly called Felixham and St Mary de Fontibus, from the numerous springs in the vicinity. Four miles distant is Houghton Hall (Marquis of Cholmondeley), a stately fabric erected by the celebrated Sir Robert Walpole, who was interred in the church. The famous gallery of paintings which this mansion once contained, was sold by the 3d Earl of Orford (of the first creation), in 1779, to Catherine II. of Russia for £40,000, and they now decorate one of the palaces of St Petersburgh. CLXVII. LONDON TO LYNN THROUGH ROYSTON, CAMBRIDGE, ST. IVES, ON RIGHT FROM LOND. From Lynn. From London. ON LEFT FROM LOND. To Ely, 16 m. From Shoreditch Ch. 563 60 Madingley, Sir St. V. ST IVES, a small town, pleasantly situated on the Ouse, over which is a curious and ancient stone bridge, & a modern arched causeway. This town was nearly destroyed by fire in 1689. It carries on a considerable trade in malt 624 and coal, and its marke: is noted for the sale o 681 cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry, &c. The church, a light, neat structure, with 733 a handsome tower, contains numerous sepulchral monuments. Here are several meetinghouses, and some remains of an ancient priory. Slepe Hall, at St Ives, was the residence of Oli75 ver Cromwell when he rented Wood Farm in the 771 vicinity. Pop. 1851, 3522. * About 7 miles distant is RAMSEY, formerly containing a rich Benedictine abbey, founded by Duke Aylwin in the reign of Edgar, but a ruined gateway is the only portion of it now remaining. The church is an elegant and spacious structure. Pop. 1851, 2641. In the vicinity are several lakes and meres, one of which, called Ramsey Mere, has fertile and beautiful banks, and abounds with pike, perch, and eels. Near the town is Ramsey Abbey, the beautiful seat of E. Fellowes, Esq. Eight miles from Ramsey is WHITTLESEY, possessing three churches, several chapels, charity schools, and alms-houses. Pop. 1851, 5472. Whit tlesey Mere produces excellent fish, and is much frequented by parties of pleasure. ON RIGHT FROM LOND. From Lynn. From London. ON LEFT FROM LOND. Secretary of State to Cromwell, from the designs of Inigo Jones, but has disappeared. The church of St Mary is a spacious and handsome fa- 273 bric, but of singular construction, being furnished with two naves. It has a very beautiful tower and contains 23 numerous monuments. Wis- 261 beach has also another church, a chapel of ease, several meeting-houses, a cus tom-house and town hall, a theatre, free and national school, a literary society, assembly rooms, &c. The Rose and Crown Inn has been occupied as a tavern since 1475. There is a circus erected on the site of the castle. The chief articles of traffic are corn, coals, timber, and wine Here are large cattle fairs, and the surrounding country produces wool, hemp, and flax. Wisbeach is a railway station, and there is a canal from it to the river Nen at Outwell, and thence to the Ouse at Salter's Lodge Sluice. Pop. 1851, 10,594. King John lost all his baggage and treasures in attempting to cross the Wash. Leverington church. 2 m. distant, contains a 18 12 113 91 (To Peterborough by Whittle sey, 16 miles.) Guyhern Ferry. WISBEACH. cr. the river Nen, and enter Norfolk. 88 MARCH, a village in the parish of Doddinghas a spacious and ton, elegant church. Sir H. Peyton, Bart. has a seat at Doddington. Pop. 1851, 4171 (see also p. 452). WALPOLE with the neighbouring villages of Walton and Walsoken, derives its 94 name from its situation, Walsoken. 95 Walton Highway. 97 adjacent to an old Roman wall, for securing the country against the inundation of the sea. Numerous Roman bricks, and an aqueduct formed of earthen pipes, were found here in 1727. Walpole St Peter possesses one of the most beautiful parish churches in England, erected about 423. At a place called Cross Keys, in Walpole St Andrew parish, an embankment, more than 14 m. long, 101 has been thrown across the Wash. and the river is carried to the sea by a canal, crossed by a drawbridge. A direct communication has thus been opened between Norfolk and Lincolnshire, and the distance between this part of the country and the north of England lessened by 20 miles. 103 CLXVIII. LONDON TO LYNN BY EPPING, NEWMARKET, AND BRANDON, 1021 Miles. CLXIX. LONDON TO WELLS BY NEWMARKET, BRANDON, SWAFFHAM, AND FAKENHAM, 118 Miles. 4 miles distant, Necton 25 Hall, W. Mason, Esq. 22 Castle Acre, Guide Post. 95 To Castle Acre, 13 m. FAKENHAM is situated near the river Wensom, on a pleasant declivity. It has a handsome church, and one of the largest corn-markets in the county. To Foulsham, 81 m.; to Holt, 12 miles. Newton. 971 Narford Hall, A. Fountaine, Esq. Near the above is Narburgh Hall. 16 Weasanham, St Peter's. 102 and, at West Acre, the remains of the Abbey and beyond West Acre. High House, A.Hamond, Esq. Rainham Ha. (Marquis of Townshend,) erected in 1636, contains among 108 other paintings the fam 105 106 111 64 To Norwich, 27 miles. 5 NEW OR LITTLE WAL- 113 ous one of Belisarius, b Salvator Rosa. To Lynn, 21 miles. SWAFFHAM is situated on an eminence, and consists of four principal streets. It is a railway station, and noted for its butter-market. The church, which is the finest parish church in the neighbourhood, is large and cruciform, and consists of a nave with two aisles, a chancel, and two transept chapels. It contains several monuments, a roof of finely carved oak, and a library. Here are also several meeting-houses, assembly rooms, theatre, house of correction, &c. Races are held annually on an extensive heath to the south of the town, and coursingmatches are also frequent on the same ground. Pop. 1851, 3858. CASTLE ACRE is supposed to have been a Roman station, as several coins and a tesselated pavement have been dug up here. A castle was erected at this place by William, Earl of Warren and Surrey, to whom the lordship had been granted by his father-in-law, William the Conqueror. Some fragments of the building still remain, and the principal street of the present village passes through one of the main entrances of the castle. There are also considerable remains of a priory of Cluniac monks, founded by Earl Warren, near the castle. The parish church is ancient. NEW OF LITTLE WALSINGHAM is situated near the river Stiff key. A monastery for Black Canons was founded here in the reign of William the Conqueror; and pilgrimages, by foreigners of all nations, were made to the chapel or shrine of an idol called "Our Lady of Walsingham." belonging to this foundation. |