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rently ancient: it has the following inscription round the edge, but is without date: "Orate pro animabus Johannis Cockerel et Katerine uxories ejes qui istem fontem in honore Dei fecerunt fiera."

Orford has a mean town hall, and an assembly-house, a plain brick building, erected about fifty years ago by the Marquis of Hertford, but very little used. The decline of this town is ascribed to the loss of its harbour, from the retiring of the sea, and a dangerous bar thrown up at its mouth by that overwhelming element. In Orford river there is a considerable oyster fishery, though there are no regular pits for the preservation of the fish. In 1810 licences to dredge for them were granted by the Marquis of Hertford to eighty vessels, at one guinea each. 1119 inhabitants.

PARHAM, was the lordship of Robert de Ufford earl of Suffolk, 9 Edward II. He died seized of it 43 Edward III. and left it to his son William, who built the church; but, dying suddenly in the Parliament-house, it went to his sister Cicely, who married Sir Robert Willoughby, and carried it into that family. Their descendants became afterwards lord Willoughbys of Eresby, and for some time were in possession of this manor; till Christopher lord Willoughby of Eresby, gave it to his youngest son Christopher, who took up his residence here. This Christopher, in his last will dated 8 May, 18 Henry

VIII. gave four pounds per annum to the church of Parham, in satisfaction of all tithes and offerings by him negligently forgotten. Sir William Willoughby his son, was 20 February in 1 Edward VI. created lord Willoughby of Parham; the title was since vested in Priscilla Barbara Elizabeth Lindsay, wife of lord Gwydir, daughter and co-heiress of Perigrine duke of Ancaster and joint hereditary great chamberlain of England. The manor of Parham hall, is now the property of Mr. White.

In 1734, the bones of a man, an urn, and the head of a spear, were taken out of a gravel-pit in a field called Fryers close, in this parish; which were supposed to have belonged to some Danish commander.

Parham has been a kind of rival to Glastonbury in Somersetshire, in having its flowering thorn at christmas. This parish contains 448 inhabitants.

RENDHAM. The manor of Barnies in this parish, belonged formerly to Sibton abbey, and was granted 1. Edward VI. to Anthony Denney. It is now vested in Mr. White. This parish contains 456 inhabitants.

SAXMUNDHAM. Here is a small market on Thursdays, and a fair on ascension-day, granted 4 Edward II. or in 1310, at the request of Thomas de Verley. The manor of Hurts, to which the advowson is appendant, was formerly in the earl of Suffolk; but it came to Mr. Bas

ses, about 1650 who built a seat here, which afterwards came to Charles Long esq.

A chantry was founded here by Robert Swan, lord of a manor in this town about the year 1308. The manors of Hurts, Swans and Saxmundham market are vested in C. N. Bayley, esq. The number of houses is about 120 and inhabitants 989.

son.

SNAPE, was formerly noted for a monastery of black monks, founded in 1155, by William Martel and Alfred his wife, and Jeffery Martel their It was at first made a cell to the abbey of St. John, in Colchester; but afterwards became almost independent of it; being, as it is said, in no more subjection than that of paying half a mark as an acknowledgment, and that the abbot of Colchester might visit them twice a year, and stay there four days with 12 horses. King Henry VII. gave the priory of Snape to the Canons of Butley; but it was dissolved in 1534, by the bull of pope Clement VII. and gi. ven by Henry VIII. to Cardinal Wolsey. After the Cardinal's fall it was granted to Thomas duke of Norfolk: at the dissolution it was of the yearly value of £99. 1s. 111⁄2d.

The manor of Snape belonged formerly to the priory. Sir H. Johnson having purchased the said priory and its appurtenances, built Friston hall, and made it his seat. His daughter and heiress marrying the earl of Strafford, this delightful seat passed into that family.

The church of Snape, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, contains a very ancient and highly ornamented stone font. It is supported by pillars, the figures round which are an assemblage of kings, prelates, and nondescript birds, standing on pedestals. The font is hexagonal, and has a pillar at each angle; the figures between the pillars are alternately crowned, the others are in priests' habits, and all of them bear a scroll, the characters of which are illegible. The manor is now vested in Rev. W. Long. This parish contains 518 inhabitants.

STERNFIELD. The manor of Maunde Villes in this parish, with the advowson of the rectory, belonged to Dudley North, esq. They were formerly the estate of Verlies, who probably built the church; from them the estate came to the Framlinghams; and by marriage, from them to the Gaudy's of whom Mr. North purchased it. The manors of Vestries and Mundevilles are now the property of C. N. Bayley esq. This parish contains 180 inhabitants.

STRATFORD ST. ANDREW. The manors of Griston and Stratford in this parish, are vested in Dudley Long North, esq. This parish contains 213 inhabitants.

SUDBOURN. Sudbourn Hall, surrounded by a fine park, is the seat of the Marquis of Hertford; situated about a mile from Orford. It is a plain quadrangular building, re-erected by the late Mr. Wyatt, upwards of thirty years since. It is

covered with a white composition, and the staircase is executed with his usual skill and taste, the whole conveying an idea of simplicity rather than elegance. It has been chiefly used as a sporting residence. This hall was originally built by sir Michael Stanhope in the fourth year of Edward VI.

The manor and advowson belonged formerly to the priory and convent of Ely. The advowson is now in the crown. The manor was granted to the Bishop of Norwich 4 Edward VI. but resumed and probably granted to sir Michael Stanhope, who built the old hall. Sir Edmund Withipole married sir Michael Stanhope's daughter, who had issue only one daughter, married to Leicester Devereux lord viscount Hereford; from whom it came to Pryce Devereux lord viscount Hereford his son; and his executors sold it to the right honourable the earl of Hertford, whose son the marquis of Hertford now resides there. The present king during the life of the late earl used frequently to visit here during the shooting season. This parish contains 561 inhabitants

SWEFFLING. The manor of Dernford, alias Durnsford hall, in Sweffling, belonged to the priory of Leighs in Essex; and was granted to R. Cavendish, esq., 28 Henry VIII, it is now vested in Edward Holland esq. This parish

contains 367 inhabitants.

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