Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 3.djvu/749

WALSHAM, SOUTH. 737 WALSOKEN. in the reign of Edward III. by Bishop Thirlby, was re- paired or rebuilt by Bishop Redman, of Norwich. This cross having again become diapidated, was repaired a few years ago by the inhabitants ; the ecclesiastical commissioners, in whom the property is vested, having declined to expend any money upon it. Many new houses have recently been erected in the suburbs, and on the recently enclosed heaths, known as the "White Horse, Spa, and Blue Bell commons. The principal buildings are the market cross, a corn ex- change recently built at a cost of 600, the old theatre, now occupied as a National school, a savings-bank, four commercial branch banks, gasworks, and Ebridge water-mill of Messrs. Press, on White Horse com- mon. North Walsham is a polling place for the eastern division of tho county, and a petty sessions town. In the vicinity are two crosses, said to mark the spot where John Lytester, a dyer of Norwich, and one of Wat Tyler's men, was defeated by Spencer, tho war- like bishop of Norwich, in 1381. The principal trade is in agricultural produce. The population, in 1851, was 2,911, and in 1861, 2,873. The living is a vic. with the rect. of Antingham St. Margaret annexed, in the dioc. of Norwich, val. 336, in tho patron, of the bishop. The church, dedicated to St. Nicholas, is an old struc- ture, with a tower originally 147 feet high, but now much dilapidated, the upper part having fallen in 1724. It contains an antique font, with a canopy, two effigies of the Fasten family, the one of Sir W. Paston, bearing date 1608, and the armorial bearings of John of Ghent and St. Bent's Abbey. The walls and interior of the church have lately been restored, at a total cost of 2,200. The pulpit is elaborately carved, and there is a beautifully carved prayer -desk, presented to tho church by the late M. J. Shepheard, Esq. Four new windows have been inserted: one (memorial) by R. Chamberlin, Esq., of Norwich ; one by John Hales, Esq., surgeon, Holt ; one by Mrs. Murray, the wife of the present vicar ; and the fourth by Mrs. Wilkinson, the wife of George Wilkinson, Esq., solicitor, North Walsham. Tho Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists, Independents, and Society of Friends, Have each a chapel. There is a free grammar school, founded by Sir W. Paston in 1606, which has an income from endowment of about 250, and a good library, bequeathed by the Rev. R. Berney, for the use of tho scholars. The school-house was rebuilt in 1765, and is the place whore Lord Nelson, Archbishop Teni- son, and other eminent men, received the rudiments of their education. There are several small charities. The bishop of Norwich is lord of the manor, and impro- priator of the rectorial tithes, now leased to Mr. Shep- heard. Lord Suffield and J. Berney Petre, Esq., are the principal landowners. Market-day is Thursday, chiefly for corn. WALSHAM, SOUTH, an ancient town in the hund. of Blofield and Walsham, co. Norfolk, 3 miles N.W. of Acle, and 10 N.E. of Norwich. This place, which, is situated on the S. side of tho river Bure, was once much more considerable than at present. After the dissolution of the Abbey of St. Benedict, on the opposite side of the river, it gradually fell into decay, and is now only a village of about 700 inhabitants. It is divided into the two parishes of St. Lawrence and St. Mary ; the former is a rect. in the dioc. of Norwich, val. 511 10., in the patron, of Queen's College, Cambridge ; the latter is a vie.,* val. 160, in the patron of the trustees of Great Norwich Hospital. The two churches are situated in the same churchyard, but that of St. Lawrence was destroyed by fire in 1827, and the chancel only has been restored. The register of St. Lawrence dates from 1570, and that of St. Mary from 1550. The parochial charities produce about 60 per annum. There is a small school. WALSHCROFT, a wap. in two divs., North and South, in the parts of Lindsey, co. Lincoln ; the former contains tho pars, of Claxby, South Kelsey, Kingerby, Kirkby-cum-0godby, Newton-by-Toflj Normanby-on- the- Wolds, Owersby, West Raisen, Thornton-le-Moors Toft-next-Newton, Usselby, and part of Caistor, com- prising an area of 26,810 acres ; and the latter, the pars, of Bin wood St. Gabriel and St. Mary, Croxby, Lin- wood, Market and Middle Raisen, Stainton-le-Vale, Tealby, Thoresway, Thorganby, Walesby, and North Willingham ; comprising an area of 30,420 acres. WALSHFORD, a tnshp. in the par. of Hunsingore, upper div. of Claro wap., West Riding co. York, 3 miles N.E. of Wetherby. It is situated on the river Nidd, and is joined with Great Ribston. WALSHTOWN, a hmlt. in the bar. of Barrymore, co. Cork, Ireland, 6 miles N.W. of Middleton. WALSINGHAM. See WOMINGHAM, co. Durham. WALSINGHAM, GREAT, a par. in the hund. of North Greenhoe, co. Norfolk, 1 milo N.E. of Little Walsingham, its post town. The village is situated in the vale of tho Stiff key rivulet, and on the road from Fakenham to Wells. It comprises the united parishes of All-Saints and St. Peter, and was formerly of con- siderable importance, but is now a small agricultural village. The living is a don. cur. annexed to the perpet. cur. of Little Walsingham, in the dioc. of Norwich, val. 168. The parochial charities produce about 14 per annum. Roman urns and coins have been discovered. In the vale is the ancient mansion called Berry Hall, the seat of the Brook family. WALSINGHAM, LITTLE, or NEW, a par. and small town in the hund. of North Greenhoe, co. Norfolk, 5J miles N.E. of Fakenham, its post town, 28 N.W. of Norwich by road, or 38| by rail, and 1 mile S. of Old Walsingham. It is a station on the Wells branch of the Great Eastern railway. It is situated in a vale surrounded by heights, near tho river Stiffkey, here spanned by a bridge. The village, which contains a population of 1,006, is a petty sessions and decayed market town. It anciently belonged to the Clares, and was celebrated for the shrine of Our Lady of Walsing- ham, constructed of wood, after tho model of Santa Casa, at Nazareth. The shrine was erected in 1061 by the widow of Ricoldie Faverches, and was mado an Austin priory by her son Sir Geoffrey. This institution becamo immensely rich, and at the Dissolution was valued at 445 14*. 4rf. Prior to the Dissolution it was visited by several crowned heads ; especially Henry VIII., who, in the second year of his reign, walked hither barefoot from Barsham, but afterwards caused the image of Our Lady of Walsingham to be burnt at Chelsea. The site and lands were then given to Sir Thomas Sydney, and now belong to H. Leo Warner, Esq., in whoso grounds are the ruins of this pile, consisting of the great western portal and eastern end of the conventual church, tho refectory, 78 feet by 27, a portion of tho cloisters, and ft stone bath with two welli, known as the " Wishing Wells." A county court is held monthly, and potty sessions on the first Monday in every month. Tho market, formerly held on Friday, has been some years abolished. Tho living is a porpet. cur. with the vie. of Houghton-in-the-Dale annexed, in the dioc. of Norwich, joint val. 168. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, contains a font carved with the seven sacraments of the Church of Rome and the Crucifixion, and several monuments one to Sir Henry Sydney, and others to the Lee Warner family. The register dates from 1558. The parochial charities produce about 300 per annum. There are eight almshouses, a free school, founded in 1639, and a National school for both sexes. The Independents, Primitive Methodists, and Wesleyans have chapels. There was a bridewell here containing 63 cells, occupying the site of the old Lazar Hospital, but it was abolished about 1860, when the quarterly sessions were also discontinued. The place gives title of baron to the De Greys of Merton. A fair is held on the second Monday after Whit-Monday, and statute fairs on the Fridays before and after Michaelmas Day. WALSOKEN, a par. in the hund. of Freebridge Marsh-Land, co. Norfolk, 1 milo N.E. of Wisbeach, its post town, of which it is a suburb. It is separated from Wisbeach by a small stream, over which is a bridge. Within these last few years the village of New Walsoken has greatly extended, and in 1861 had a population of