The church, dedicated to St. Nicholas, was rebuilt soon after its destruction in the rebellion of 1381, and is a noble structure. It is about one hundred and fifty-six feet long, and sixty-eight broad, having a nave, chancel, and side-aisles, with a fine south porch of flint and stone, adorned with boldly sculptured ornaments, amongst which are the arms of John of Gaunt, and the Abbot of St. Bennet, at the Holm. The aisles are separated from the body by a range of elegantly formed arches, supported by light clustered columns. A great part of the massive tower of this church, which was originally one hundred and forty-seven feet high, fell down on the 16th of May, 1724; another large portion fell on April 26th, 1835, when the remaining fragments, being in a very dangerous state, were removed about four years ago.
The great east window, in which were the arms of the see, with those of Bishop Freake, in painted glass, was unfortunately destroyed by a storm, in 1809. On the north side of the chancel is a fine tomb, with the effigy of Sir Wm. Paston, Knight, who, (as was not unfrequently done in those times,) in 1607, agreed with John Key, of London, to erect and fit up his tomb, with his effigy in armour, five feet and a half long, for which he was to be paid two hundred pounds. Sir William died the following year: instances, however, are recorded of persons having seen their own effigy &c., carried away by the sacrilegious soldiers of Cromwell. This monument was partially cleaned and repaired a few years ago, but the workman being limited to twenty pounds, he cleaned only the upper part of the figure, leaving the rest untouched.
The font, which is surrounded by an elegant octagonal railing, attracts much and deserved attention. The cover, which is profusely ornamented, is esteemed one of the richest of the kind in the kingdom.
The benefice is a vicarage, of which the Bishop of Norwich is the patron. It has a grammar-school, founded by Sir William Paston, in which several eminent men received their education, amongst whom were the great Lord Nelson; Watson, the author of “Anglia Sacra,” Sir Wm. Hoste, and Archbishop Tenison. The principal inn is the King’s Arms.
HOLT.
Holt is a remarkably clean and neat town, built on a rising ground, with a market on Saturdays: it is twenty-four miles from Norwich and ten from Cromer. The air of Holt is reckoned particularly salubrious, and its situation very agreeable. It has much increased of late in population, and several excellent houses have been built in or near it. In the year 1708 it suffered greatly from an accidental fire, which destroyed great part of it.
A fine spring issues out of a gravel hill on Sprout Common, on the south-west side of the town, which affords an ample supply to the place of pure soft water. The spring-head is securely walled round, and is visited by many, not only as a natural curiosity, but also for the purpose of enjoying the fine prospect which it commands over the picturesque valley of the Glaven, on the west side of the common, to which the spring gives name. The rectory-house is very pleasantly situated near this spot, commanding a delightful view of the Letheringsett and Bayfield woods.
The race-ground was broken up at the inclosure, in 1809. Assemblies are still held occasionally at the shire-hall.
The church, dedicated to St. Andrew, is an ancient structure, with a square tower, but has no spire. It contains monuments and inscriptions to the memory of the Holmes, Hobart, Butler, and Briggs families, with several others. The living is in the gift of St. John’s College, Cambridge.
The grammar-school was founded by Sir John Gresham, alderman of London, a native of this place. The Fishmongers’ Company, of London, are governors of the school.