about 79 feet in length, by 27 in height, and is considered one of the greatest curiosities of the kind in the kingdom; it is incrusted with flints squared to about three inches each, and cut to so great a nicety, that the edge of a knife can scarcely be insinuated between the joints; it appears as regular and smooth as brick-work; it was built about the year 1370, and seems to have sustained little or no injury by time or accident, although the other parts of the building have been twice nearly consumed by fire. There are some other pieces of flint-work in the city, equally well executed, particularly on the south side of St. Michael’s Coslany church. The art of squaring flints appears to have been lost in England, but some works executed in that way within the last century in France, prove the art is in some measure recovered there.
The City Gaol, till the year 1597, occupied the east end of Guild-hall, at which time it was removed to its present situation, opposite the Guild-hall in the market, and had, until that time been a public inn, called the Lamb, which was purchased by St. George’s company, to be converted to its present use.
The Guild-hall was originally a small thatched building, and in Edward the third’s time, was called a toll-booth; about the same time, a small room was added, from which it acquired the name of the Guild-hall, and continued in this state till Henry the Fourth in 1406, granted the city, a charter for electing a Mayor, &c., at which time, a committee was formed, and a warrant granted them to raise money, and press
all workmen for the erecting of a new Guild-hall, which business was so vigorously pursued, that in 1409, the roof was raised; in 1511 part of the roof at the east end fell down, and in 1635 it was near being demolished by the deputes’ servants undermining its foundation in digging for saltpetre. The windows of the Council chamber were formerly of painted and stained glass, which have been miserably mutilated.—This room is ornamented with portraits of various eminent persons, and also the arms of the great Norfolk hero, the late Lord Nelson, with the sword of the Spanish Admiral, taken by his Lordship in 1797, and presented by him to the Corporation.
The Common-council-chamber underwent a complete repair in 1806, at which time it was considerably enlarged: in this Hall the Assizes, and quarter Sessions, for the city, are held. It contains also the Mayor’s office for transacting daily business, the Town-clerk’s and Chamberlain’s offices; and all elections for Majors and other officers, and all questions of moment relative to the city, are here determined.
St. Andrew’s hall, is a noble fabric, and was formerly a conventual church of Benedictine friars, it was founded in 1415, consists of a nave and two aisles, which remain nearly perfect; it had formerly a handsome steeple, which fell down in 1712; the aisles are separated from the nave by six elegant slender colomns which support the roof, they are half the width of the nave, and the same length, the whole is 120 feet long, and seventy wide; within the walls there are 45 windows, most of which were formerly
ornamented with painted glass, which is chiefly removed or demolished. In the time of Henry the Eighth, through the interest of the Duke of Norfolk, the citizens obtained leave to make of the church, a fair and large hall for the Mayor, &c. to repair unto at a common assembly, &c.
The St. George’s Company formerly held their feasts and meetings here. This fraternity took its rise in 1385, and at one time amounted to 240 members; in 1416, they received a charter of incorporation: in 1731, the company resigned their charter into the hands of the Corporation; their plate and paraphernalia were sold, their debts paid, and their meetings entirely ceased. In 1544, the first Mayor’s feast was held here, and in 1561, a sumptuous dinner, was given to the Duke of Norfolk, and a numerous assembly of nobility and gentry, at which the Mayor’s portion of the expence, amounted to £l. 12s. 9d. The bill of fare exhibits a striking difference between the price of provisions at that period and the present, beef being 1s. 6d. per stone, flour 6d. per bushel, and double strong beer 2s. 6d. per barrel. King Charles the Second, and many of the nobility, were entertained here in 1671. In 1774, this building, underwent alterations, and received some additions, among which were the present porch, and the room over it, fitted up as the City Library, in which the Court of Requests for the recovery of small debts, is held. In 1796, the hall was opened as a Corn-Exchange for which purpose it is used every Saturday. It was new painted, and the pictures cleaned in 1806. The walls are decorated with numerous
portraits of those who from official situations or otherwise, have contributed to the welfare of the city, among which, at the upper end is an admirable portrait of the immortal Nelson, being the last, and it is considered the best for which he ever sat. It was painted by Sir Wm. Beechey, in 1801. Also, two fine historical paintings by Wm. Martin, of Edward and Eleanora, and the death of Lady Jane Gray, which he presented to his native city. At the lower end over the window is displayed, the ensign of the French ship, La Genereux, captured by Sir Edward Berry, in 1800. Every satisfactory particular, relative to this place, the pictures, artists, &c. may be learned from a late publication, “A Companion to St. Andrew’s Hall, Price, 1s.”
There is also a Jew’s synagogue in St. Peter’s Mancroft; two Catholic meetings, one in St. John’s Maddermarket, erected within the last thirty years, the other in St. Swithins lane, of longer standing, and much smaller. A French church in Queen-street, near Tombland, and the Dutch church, so called, from having been formerly used by a Dutch congregation adjoining St. Andrew’s hall, but which is now used for the poor belonging to the workhouse. Two Quakers’ meetings, one of which is in St. Augustine’s Parish, on the south side the Gildencraft, which is a strong brick building with a large burying-ground; the other in the Goat-lane, near the market-place, which is much smaller and more generally attended. There are several other places of worship, used by the Protestant Dissenters, of which, that belonging