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belonged formerly to the priory of Letheringham. Hasketon contains 530 inhabitants.

HELMLY. Odo de Compania had this when domesday-book was made. The dukes of Norfolk were patrons of the rectory from the year 1300 to 1540, or thereabout; but the crown hath presented ever since. In the time of Henry VI. this parish was spelt Olmeslee it contains 80 inhabitants.

KESGRAVE.

This church was impropriated to the priory of Butley, and the impropriation afterwards vested in the heirs of sir Samuel Barnardiston, 102 inhabitants.

KIRKTON. About the year 1520, were several legacies towards building this church. The Dukes of Norfolk had the patronage of it formerly; but the crown hath presented to it since the time of Henry VIII. 578 inhabitants.

LEVINGTON. Here is an alms-house for six poor persons of this parish and Nacton, built and endowed by sir Robert Hitcham, who was a native of this place. Here is a small manor which was in the family of Goodrich, with the manor-house. The church is consolidated to Nacton. The steeple was built by sir Robert Hitcham, as appears by his arms, and the date upon it.

Adjoining to this parish towards Trimly, the ruins of Stratton church or chapel, now overgrown with trees and bushes, are still to be seen; in the middle of the first field going from Lev

ington to Trimly, called Chapel-field. Here was formerly a Lazar-house, endowed with a moiety of the tithes of Stratton.

In a farmer's yard in Levington close on the left as you enter from Levington into the said Chapel-field of Stratton-hall, was dug the first crag or shell, that has been found so useful for improving of land in this and other hundreds in the neighbourhood. For though it appears from books of Agriculture, that the like manure has been long since used in the west of England, it was not used here till this discovery was casually made by one Edmund Edwards, about the year 1718. This man having to cover a field with muck out of his yard, and wanting a load or two to finish it, carried some of the soil that laid near his muck, though it looked to him to be no better then sand; but observing the crop to be the best where he laid that, he was from thence encouraged to carry more of it the next year; and the success he had, encouraged others to do the like.

This useful soil has been found in great plenty upon the sides of such vales as may reasonably be supposed to have been washed by the sea; towards which such light shells might be naturally carried, either at Noah's flood, or by the force of the tides to some places since forsaken by the sea. Whoever looks into any of these crag pitts, cannot but observe how they lie layer upon layer in a greater or less angle,

according to the variation of the tides. But when we consider that the wells in Trimly street, about a quarter of a mile distant from the mill, are about 25 feet deep, and that the springs all rise in crag; we can no way account for this crag so many feet under ground, but from the universal deluge. 205 inhabitants.

MARTLESHAM, Sir John Verdun was patron, and resided here in 1328; but before the year 1400 it came to the Noons, one of whom was a justice of the peace, and severe to the protestants in queen Mary's reign. It continued in that family above 200 years ; and then it came to the Goodwins; who had their seat at the hall. Martlesham contains 415 inhabitants.

NACTON, in Colneis. The family of Fastolf were patrons, and probably lords, from the year 1380, till the manor and estate came to the Brokes by marriage. This family is descended from sir Richard Broke, lord chief baron in the reign of Henry VIII, and not from sir Robert Brooke, lord chief justice of the common pleas in queen Mary's reign, whose family was settled at Yoxford, in Blithing. Sir Richard Broke built Cow-hall about the year 1526, Robert Broke, of Nacton, was created a baronet in 1661; but the patent was made in the usual way, so that he dying without male issue, his brother's son could not succeed to the title; but he marrying sir Robert's daughter and heiress, enjoyed the estate; here is another manor be

sides Cow-hall, called the manor of St. Peter in Nacton and Kembroke. The tenement of Hamons in Nacton, was granted as part of the possessions as St. Peter's priory in Ipswich, to Thomas Alverde, 26 Henry VIII.

The Celebrated admiral Vernon made this parish the seat of his residence. His nephew, to whom he left the Bulk of his fortune, after his death, rebuilt the house, and inclosed it within a pale; which inclosure he named from the beautiful river on which it stands, Orwell park. This gentlemau did still further honour to the river; for when created a peer of Ireland, he took his title from it, being right hon. lord Orwell, and earl of Shipbrooke. A short time ago an exchange took place between John Vernon esq. the heir of lord Orwell and his brother in law, sir Robert Harland; by which Orwell park is now the seat of the latter. At Nacton is the house of industry for the of Carlford and Colneis the expence of £4800. place called the seven hills, though there are more which seem to have been barrows; and therefore it is more probable, that near this place it was that earl Ulfketel fought the terrible conflict with the Danes, and not at Rushmere. North of the bounds of Nacton, between them and those of Ipswich liberties, is a tract of land extraparochial. Part of this abutting on the Orwell, belonged to a little priory

incorporated hundreds erected in 1757, at In this parish is a

of Agustin Monks called Alnesbourn priory. The site of the priory is now a farm-house belonging to Philip Broke, esp; and that of the church or chapel to it, hath a barn built upon it. In the year 1452, at the request of William Turnour then prior, it was united to Woodbridge priory. In a deed among the writings of Woodbridge priory, it is called a manor ; and in 22 Henry VIII, it was let by Thomas Cooke, prior of Woodbridge, to Thomas Alvarde of Ipswich, by the stile of Manerium de Alvesborne et ponds; and among some few fields holden of this manor, some called Rysing's pastures, formerly belonging to the chantry of St. Laurence, Ipswich, are said to lie in the hamlet of Alvesborne in the parish of Hallowtree. Within this district there is some account of three churches, besides the chapel of Alnesbourne priory. Hallowtree, St. Petronille and Bixley. The church of St. Petronille is mentioned in Ipswich domesday, where the heath formerly belonging to the burgesses is described as lying between the heath of John Rous on the north, and the road leading from Ipswich to the church of St. Petronille on the south: the other piece is described as lying between the said road on the north, and the road leading from Nacton to Ipswich on the south, the east head abutting on the heath of Thomas Fastolf, esq; and the west head on Chestoyneis close. The bounds of Rushmere include the whole of

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