THETFORD
Thetford is an ancient borough and market town, 31¼ miles S.W. from Norwich, 80 miles N.E. from London, by road, and 95¼ miles by rail. Part of the town is in Suffolk; it is well paved, and lighted with gas. The river is navigable, and great quantities of coal and timber are imported from Lynn; and corn, malt, wool, &c., are exported; but since the railway from Brandon to Norwich has been opened for the conveyance of merchandize, it has materially affected the navigation interest, and it is anticipated the railway conveyance will entirely supersede the water conveyance, although the corporation has been at a great expense in erecting locks, &c. The town has been gradually declining for many years, which is attributed mainly to the removal of the assizes from this borough to Norwich in 1833.
The Norwich and Brandon railway passes through the northern side of the town; the station is at the northern part of the town. The market is held on Saturday for pedlary and small wares, but it is almost obsolete, merely being for butter, eggs, meat, and vegetables, and sometimes a few pigs. There are four large breweries in the town; a tanner’s, a fellmonger’s, and two brick and lime yards, a large paper-mill, (giving employment to a great many women), also a powerful water-mill (flour), several malting houses, bone-crushing and manure works, coach works, ropemaking, and an extensive iron foundry and agricultural implement manufactory, which is situated on the site of old St. Nicholas church, the last remains of that once noble edifice being now razed to the ground.
In the parish of St. Mary, and on the Suffolk side of the river, are still to be found the remains of a monastery (St. Sepulchre’s); the porter’s gate is visible, as also part of the church, now converted into a barn; it is called the “Canons.”
Thetford formerly had twenty churches and eight monasteries, of which there are numerous ruins, and the surrounding country abounds with “barrows,” or “tumuli.”
Out of twenty churches which originally stood here, three only now remain: the oldest, St. Mary’s, situated on the Suffolk side, is a large structure with thatched roof, a high square tower, built chiefly with flint, 6 bells and no spire; the interior is in good repair, has a chancel, aisles, and gallery; it contains several monuments, one of handsome marble, to the memory of Sir Rd. Fulmerston. The Duke of Norfolk is patron of the living, a perpetual curacy, enjoyed by the Rev. Wm. Collett. St. Peter’s is a handsome commodious building and lofty tower, built principally of flint, with various devices of the same material, inlaid with considerable taste. The tower and church were partly rebuilt in 1789. This is a rectory, united to the perpetual curacy of St. Cuthbert’s, also in the gift of the Duke of Norfolk: the Rev. E. H. Gibbon is the incumbent. St. Cuthbert’s church, situated near the market-place, has been restored. There is a large Wesleyan chapel, with a commodious gallery, a large Independent and also a Primitive Methodists’ chapel, and a meeting-house for Quakers, (the latter is very seldom used); also a Catholic chapel on the Suffolk side of the town.
The Guildhall, where the quarter sessions are held for the borough, is situated in the centre of the town, overlooking the new market-place, which is enclosed by a neat iron railing.
The Gaol, enlarged in 1816, is a neat stone building, but since the removal of the assizes to Norwich, in 1833, has been very little used.
The fairs are held, May 14th, August 2nd and 16th, and September 26th.