CORRECT LIST of the PARISHES in NORWICH.

With the present Incumbents and Patrons.

Parish. Incumbent. Patron.

St. Andrew C. Jacob Mountain, in litigation 1782 The Inhabitants

St. Benedict R. or P. C. Richard Tapps 1737 Ditto

St. Clement at the Bridge R. Charles Carver 1766 Gonville and Caius Coll. Cambridge

St. Augustine R. John Brooke, D.D. 1733 Dean and Chapter of Norwich

St. Giles R. or P. C. John Smyth, D.D. 1781 Ditto

St. Edmund R. Thomas Beckwith 1781 Rev. Thomas Beckwith

St. Etheldred C. John Brooke, D.D. 1746 Mayor and Aldermen of Norwich

St. George Colegate C. Richard Tapps 1752 Dean and Chapter of Norwich

St. George Tombland C. John Green 1756 Bishop of Ely

St. Gregory C. Michael Brown 1781 Dean and Chapter of Norwich

St. Helen, in Holm-street C. Thomas Wigg Hancock 1775 Mayor and Aldermen of Norwich

St. John Maddermarket R. Henry Bathurst, D.D. 1775 New College, Oxford

St. John Sepulchre C. Ephraim Megoe 1738 Dean and Chapter of Norwich

St. John Timberhill C. John Walker 1781 Ditto

St. James C. James William Newton 1776 Ditto

All Saints, with St. Julian and St. Edward R. Stephen Buckle, jun. 1768 Charles Buckle, Esq;

St. Lawrence R. Robert Parr 1775 The Crown

St. Mary in Coslany C. Stephen Buckle 1761 Lord Viscount Townshend

St. Margaret Westwick R. John Blackburn 1739 Bishop of Norwich

St. Martin at the Oak C. Ephraim Megoe 1733 Dean and Chapter of Norwich

St. Martin by the Palace C. Thomas Beckwith 1781 Ditto

St. Michael Coslany R. Samuel Story 1774 Gonville and Caius Coll. Cambridge

St. Michael at Pleas R. Thomas Wigg Hancock 1775 Sir Lambert Blackwell, Bart.

St. Michael at Thorn P. C. Daniel Fromanteel 1762 Earl of Buckinghamshire

St. Paul C. James William Newton 1776 Dean and Chapter of Norwich

St. Peter per Mountergate C. John Walker 1781 Ditto

St. Peter of Mancroft C. John Peele, upper Minster Hen. Harington, under Min. 1767 1781 Feoffees and Inhabitants

St. Peter of Hungate C. Thomas Pryce, Cur. and Seq. 1774 Bishop of Norwich

St. Peter of Southgate C. John Brooke, D.D. 1738 Ditto

St. Saviour C. Richard Tapps 1752 Dean and Chapter of Norwich

St. Simon and Jude R. John Burcham 1736 Bishop of Norwich

St. Stephen V. Henry Carrington 1773 Dean and Chapter of Norwich

St. Swithin C. John Blackburn 1738 Bishop of Norwich

St. Mary in the Marsh C. James Willins 1771 Dean and Chapter of Norwich

Hamlets within the Liberties of the City and County.

Earlham V. John Offley 1758 Edward Bacon, Esq;

Eaton V. Michael Brown 1781 Dean and Chapter of Norwich

Heigham R. Robert Parr 1781 Bishop of Norwich

Lakenham V. Charles Millard 1772 Dean and Chapter of Norwich

Part of the Parishes of Hellesden, Catton, Sprowston, Thorpe, and Trowse, belong to the county of the city of Norwich, viz. Trowse-Millgate, Carrowe, Bracondale, &c.

Norwich, 43 miles north of Ipswich, 42 east of Lynn-Regis, and 108 miles from London, near the conflux of the Yare, and another river called the Wensom; 30 miles from the sea by water, and 18 by land; is a famous ancient city, which had a castle so long ago as the 7th century. It was even in Cambden’s time reckoned among the most considerable cities in Britain, for the industry of its citizens, their loyalty to their prince, and civility to foreigners; as well as for its wealth, number of people, and the neatness of their buildings.

It stands on the side of a hill, one mile and a half from north to south, but little more than half as broad. It was first destroyed, by Sweno the Dane, but recovered so soon, that, in the reign of Edward the Confessor, it had 1320 burghers; but in the reign of William the Conqueror, it being the seat of a civil war raised against him by the earl of the East-Angles, it was so impaired at to be reduced to 560 at most.

The Cathedral was founded here in 1096, by Herbert Lozinga, on the translation of the bishop’s see hither from Thetford.

This place was built anew and first made a corporation by king Stephen, who granted it to his son for an appendage; but Henry II. took it from him, though Henry his son, then aspiring to the crown, had fully promised it to Hugh Bigot, earl of Norfolk, who miserably harrassed the city, and is thought to have rebuilt the castle on the hill, which is encompassed with a very deep trench, over which there is a strong bridge, of one very large arch; but Lewis of France, under whom the barons confederated against king John, besieged and took it.

This city having been all along governed by bailiffs, Henry IV. made it a county of itself, and gave the inhabitants leave to chuse a mayor and two sheriffs; and they built a beautiful town-house near the market-place.

In 1348, near 58,000 people died here of a pestilence; and in 1505, it was almost entirely consumed by fire. Though, as it has been said, it is a populous city, yet there is void enough in it for another colony; and from the intermixture of its houses with trees, it is called “a city in an orchard.”

It adds much to the trade of Yarmouth by the vast cargoes of coal, wine, fish, oil, and all other heavy goods, which come to it from thence by the river Yare. Its manufactures are generally sent to London, though considerable quantities are exported from Yarmouth to Holland, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Spain, &c. It had a flint-stone wall, now much decayed, three miles in compass, which was finished in 1309, and had 40 towers. The city is now reckoned six miles in compass: it has twelve gates, and six bridges over the Yare; above 7500 houses, and 45,000 inhabitants. It had 58 parochial churches and chapels formerly, besides monasteries, and now has 34 churches, besides the cathedral, chapels, and four dissenting meeting-houses. The roof of the cathedral (whose steeple is 509 feet high) is adorned with historical passages of the Bible, expressed in little images. St. Peter’s of Mancroft is esteemed one of the handsomest parish churches in England. There are two churches for the Dutch and French-Flemings, who have singular privileges, which are strictly preserved. Most of the churches are crusted with flints curiously cut. The castle is the common goal for the county. Its Guildhall was formerly a monastery, and afterwards the toll-booth. In 1413, the present fabric was finished, and the city records deposited therein. It is an irregular but commodious building, having many suitable apartments, and some good pictures.

The Bridewell, which is a very large and curious building, is of square flint and stone; and in 1736, the lofty market-cross, of free-stone, was taken down.—Here is that called the King’s School, founded by Edward VI. for teaching grammar learning to boys that are nominated by the mayor and aldermen.

Here are four hospitals; one of them, St. Giles’s, founded originally for the entertainment of strangers, was, by Henry VIII. appropriated to the poor of the city; and here are maintained 80 poor men and women, who are all cloathed in grey, and must be sixty years old. There is another for 16 poor men and eight women, whose livery is purple. The boys and girls hospital contain 30 of each, and the boys are from hence put out apprentices. Here are besides 12 charity schools, where 300 boys and 150 girls are taught, cloathed and supplied with books.

It is governed by a mayor, recorder, steward, two sheriffs, 24 aldermen, and 60 common council-men; with a town-clerk, sword-bearer, &c. The mayor, who is always chosen by the freemen on May-day, out of two aldermen, whom they then return to the court, is sworn into his office with great pomp, on the Tuesday before Midsummer eve. He is, during his year, a justice of the peace, and of the quorum, (as are also the recorder and steward) within the city and its liberties; and after his mayoralty, he is justice of the peace for life. Two silver maces are always borne before the mayor, gilt and finely chased.

The sheriffs are also annually elected, one by the aldermen, the other by the freemen, on the last Tuesday in August, and sworn September 29. The common council are chosen in Mid-lent. The sheriffs are obliged by their charter to present the king with twelve herring pies yearly, on the 23d of October, this city being possessed of the manor of Carlton, whose lord holds it by that tenure.

The worsted manufacture, for which this city has long been famous, and in which even children earn their bread, was first brought over by the Flemings, in the reign of Edward III. and afterwards very much improved by the Dutch, who fled from the duke of Alva’s persecution, and being settled here by queen Elizabeth, taught the inhabitants to make says, baize, serges, shalloons, &c. in which they carry on a vast trade, both at home and abroad, and weave camblets, druggets, crapes, and other stuffs, of which it is said this city vends to the value of 200,000l. a year.

The weavers here employ spinners all the country round; and also use many thousand packs of yarn spun in other counties. By a late calculation, from the number of looms at work in this city only, it appeared that there were no less than one hundred thousand people employed in their manufactures of wool, silk, &c. in and about the town, including those employed in spinning the yarn used for such goods as are made in the city.

The inhabitants are generally so employed in their manufactures within doors, that this appears a melancholy place, except on Sundays and public days, when the streets swarm with them.

By an act in 1726, certain duties are laid on goods brought into this city, for the repair of its bridges, walls, gates, the staiths, wharfs and roads.—Markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and a market for horses and cattle every Saturday on the Castle Ditches; also the following fairs, viz. Maundy Thursday, and Saturday before Whitsuntide, on Tombland; Easter and Whitsun Monday and Tuesday, without Bishopsgate; St. Faith’s, the Tuesday after St. Michael, and Maudlin, or St. Mary Magdalen.

The Yare, which runs through the city, is navigable so far without the help of locks.

The Shire house of the county, that stood on the hill near the castle, having been burnt down by accident, an act of parliament passed in 1746/7, for holding the summer assizes and general quarter sessions in the city, till a new Shire-house was rebuilt; and for raising money to defray the charge of it.—On a hill on the other side of the river, are the remains of the castle of Kett, the tanner, of Wymondham, by whose rebellion, in the reign of Edward VI. this city was reduced to a ruinous state.

In the suburbs were formerly three parochial churches, besides three chapels, a nunnery with its church, a priory and church, an hospital and chapel, and five leper houses at the gates, with their chapels; and the Jews had once a synagogue here.

Besides the cathedral, castle, guild-hall, bridewell, churches, and other public buildings already mentioned, the bishop hath a palace on the north side of the cathedral, to which belong gardens elegantly laid out. The Free Grammar-school near this, is a neat spacious gothic building, formerly used as the charnel-house. The Deanry, and its offices, are situated in the Close; but neither these, or the Prebendaries, have any pretensions to uniformity.

The New Hall in St. Andrew’s, in which the Mayor’s guild-feasts are held, is a very handsome building, fifty yards long and thirty wide. It was founded about the year 1428, and was the place where the company of St. George used to hold their meetings of business and pleasure. It is now the common hall of the city, and is decorated with portraits of many eminent persons.

The Norfolk and Norwich Hospital was built by voluntary subscription in 1772. It is a very neat edifice, well supported, and properly conducted.—Bethel is an hospital for lunatics, founded in 1713, under good regulation.—What is called the Duke’s Palace, and now converted into a workhouse for the poor, was formerly the residence of the dukes of Norfolk.

Cooke’s Hospital, in the Rose-lane, maintains ten poor women; and Doughty’s, which was founded in 1687, supports 24 poor men and eight women.

The city prison is opposite the Guild-hall: It is a close building, where debtors and the felons are kept.

The quarter-sessions of Norfolk is held at the Castle in January, April, July, and October; and also for the city of Norwich. The Lent assize of the county is held at Thetford and the summer assize at Norwich; at which, also, the city prisoners are tried.

The Theatre-Royal was erected upon patent in 1768, and is a handsome house. The Assembly-Rooms next it are spacious and brilliant; and the Concert-Room, in Redwell-street, is well attended weekly:—supported by a subscription of its members.

The public gardens are Bunn’s, or the Pantheon, formerly Spring Gardens; and Quantrell’s, or the Rural Gardens. These, particularly in the assize week, are much frequented, and concerts of vocal and instrumental music given.

Mr. Arthur Young, in his Tour through the East of England, (1771) says, “The city of Norwich is one of the most considerable in England after London; it stands on more ground than any other, but in number of inhabitants, some others assert an equality. By an accurate account taken a few years ago, the number reckoned by the houses amounted to forty thousand; but by the bills of mortality only to thirty-six thousand; the average therefore of these (thirty-eight thousand) may be taken as more probable than either.”

In July, 1752, a parochial list was taken of the number of houses and inhabitants within the city of Norwich, precincts of the Close, and the hamlets or suburbs belonging to the said city, as followeth: By comparing of which with the account of the inhabitants taken in 1693, inserted in the 3d column, we shall see how greatly the number of the people has been increased in the course of sixty years, owing to the prodigious extension of its trade during that period.

No. of Houses. No. of Souls. No. Souls in 1693.

St. Peter of Southgate 72 425 470

St. Etheldred 57 247 243

St. Julian 126 595 563

St. Peter per Mountergate 327 1408 1376

St. John Sepulchre 158 1004 781

St. Michael at Thorn 273 1127 865

St. John Timberhill 200 890 668

All Saints 106 578 425

St. Stephen 402 2314 1769

St. Peter of Mancroft 420 2288 1953

St. Giles 195 961 910

St. Benedict 127 715 652

St. Swithin 141 751 496

St. Margaret 223 856 664

St. Lawrence 176 952 668

St. Gregory 248 1002 772

St. John Maddermarket 135 1107 657

St. Andrew 236 1334 935

St. Michael at Pleas 113 482 479

St. Peter Hungate 90 341 267

St. Simon and Jude 84 420 362

St. George Tombland 161 737 722

St. Martin at Palace 167 1083 819

St. Helen 80 386 338

St. Michael Coslany 244 1046 1026

St. Mary 236 1178 949

St. Martin at the Oak 351 1698 1243

St. Augustine 266 1226 850

St. George Colegate 259 1295 1151

St. Clement 123 816 593

St. Edmund 108 520 370

St. Saviour 162 810 710

St. Paul 292 1461 983

St. James 166 696 416

Pockthorpe 137 1116 732

Heigham 164 653 544

Lakenham 35 165 221

Eaton 39 226 153

Earlham 9 68 50

Hellesdon 12 70 65

Thorpe in the liberty of Norwich 5 36 69

Trowse, Carrowe, and Bracondale 85 386 258

Precinct of the Close 129 700 650

Total 7139 36169 28882

Seven or eight hundred souls are supported in the two work-houses at about 10,000l. a year, in all expences; and near 3000l. yearly is paid in weekly allowances to poor out of the houses.

By a late regulation, the children of St. John’s workhouse are employed in rooms fitted up for them in Colegate-street; in street also, the children of St. Andrew’s workhouse are employed in spinning yarn. About 250 poor children are hereby enabled to contribute towards their own maintenance,—their health and morals improved, and the public much benefited!

In the present century the manufacture is increased as from four to twelve.

During the last war, Norwich supplied the army and navy with four thousand recruits; but her manufactures did not suffer in the least; for they carried on more trade than ever. The truly industrious do not inlist; and as to the idle, the greatest favour to be done to any place is to sweep them all away.

They are in this city curious in building with flint: they cut it in regular squares, and form as neat joints as with the best bricks. The Bridewell is thus built, and so well executed, that it is worth a traveller’s notice.

The husbandry near Norwich is generally good. About Earlham farms rise from 50l. to 200l. a year: the soil a loamy sand, with both marle and chalk under it; lets from 14s. to 20s. an acre; average 16s.