has been much improved of late, and the weekly mar ket is well supplied with fish and wild-fowl from the fens. Downham has been long celebrated for its butter-market, which used to be kept near the bridge every Monday. This being sent to London by way of Cambridge, obtained the name of Cambridge butter ; but of late years this article has found the best market at Swaffham. The principal manor here, with the whole hundred, were given by King Edgar to Ramsey abbey, in Huntingdonshire: the abbot was authorized by King John to hold a fair at this place. By King Henry III. he was invested with authority to try and execute malefactors at his " gallows of Downham." The church is dedicated to St. Edmund, and consists of a nave, a north and south aisle, built of car or ragstone, with a low square tower at the west end, embattled with buttresses, quoins, &c., and containing five bells. The vault of the nave is supported by pillars, forming ten arches, being five on each side, of a different turn and workmanship; the roof is of oak, and at the west end is a neat gallery: there is also a shield on each angle of the old octangular font, with two arrows in saltire, and a crown over them, to express the shield of St. Edmund. Contiguous to this structure a priory of Benedictines formerly stood.

Near the foot of the bridge, opposite to Downham, stood an old hermitage, or cell, probably founded by a Lord Bardolph. In 1811 here were 360 houses, and 1771 inhabitants. The fairs are held on February 3, May 8, and November 13: the market is on Saturdays.

EXCURSION VIII.

From Norwich through Eaton, Cringleford, Hethersett, Wymondham, Attleburgh, and Larlingford, to Thetford.

BEFORE Commencing our present Excursion, we shall proceed by the high road, leading directly from Norwich to Loddon, having omitted to notice that town when in its vicinity.

LODDON. This little market-town stands on the banks of a small stream that rises near Howe, in Clavering, and falls into the Yare at Hardley Cross: it is about twelve miles from Norwich. In the reign of Edward I. the manor of Loddon formed part of the large estates belonging to the Bigod family. In the time of Henry VII. it belonged to Sir James Hobart, lord chief justice of the court of Common Pleas. He lived at Hales Hall, commonly called Loddon Hall, from its being in that parish. He was at the whole expense of erecting the church at Loddon, a handsome stone building, with a fine tower. In the chancel, on a marble altar tomb, are several brass plates with the arms and two mutilated figures of Henry Hobart, esq., and others of the family. James Hobart had the honour of knighthood conferred on him by King Henry VII. Three distinguished families in Norfolk have descended from this Sir James; in the second line was his grandson, Sir Henry Hobart, attorneygeneral to James I., and ancestor of the Earls of Buckinghamshire. The market is on Fridays; the number of houses, 126; the inhabitants, 937; and here are two annual fairs.

CRINGLEFORD, the first place passed on commencing this Excursion, derives its name from the shingle, or gravelly ford, the stone bridge over which divides the liberties of Norwich from those of Norfolk. The church contains nothing remarkable. In the bounds of this parish there was formerly a free chapel, dedicated to St. Ethelred, commonly called St. Albert's chapel. The resort of pilgrims to this chapel was formerly very great, but for what particular purpose at present does not appear.

INTWOOD is about three miles from Norwich, and belonged to Earl Ralf at the Conquest; but was given by the Conqueror to Eudo the Sewer. The tower of the church is round at bottom, and octangular at top. Here is an old seat, called Intwood Hall, considerably enlarged by Sir Thomas Gresham, the founder of the Royal Exchange, who entertained here, in 1549, John Dudley, the great Earl of Warwick, on his march against the rebels commanded by Kett. This house affords a curious specimen of the style of building then prevalent. The manor was sold to Henry Hobart, esq., and is the property of the Earl of Buckinghamshire.

MELTON MAGNA. Here were two churches standing very near each other in the same churchyard; that which remains is dedicated to St. Mary, the Virgin. The tower, which was built in 1440, contains three bells. The old church of All Saints was taken down in the twelfth year of Queen Anne, and the two parishes consolidated. Melton Hall is a good house, at a small distance from the churchyard.

HETHERSETT is five miles and a half from Norwich. Here we meet with Cantlowe Hall. Hethersett church contains a number of monumental inscriptions, &c. and in St. Thomas's chapel is the tomb of Catherine, mother to Baron Flowerdew, and wife to John Flowerdew, without inscription.