CASTLE-RISING, a borough and parish (formerly a market-town) having separate jurisdiction, locally in the Lynn division of the hundred of Freebridge, county of NORFOLK, 43 miles (W. N.W.) from Norwich, and 102 (N. by E.) from London, containing 343 inhabitants. Prior to the year 1176, a castle was built by William D'Albini, the first earl of Sussex, on a hill to the south of the town, and, according to the author of the Munimenta Antiqua, on the site of one of King Alfred's great castles, of which some arches, included within "the subsequent, buildings, are supposed to be remains. In this castle, Isabel of France, queen of Edward II., after the death of Mortimer, was detained in'. confinement, from the year 1330 until her decease in 1358: -the principal remains are the shell of the keep, a square tavyer, the walls of which are three yards in thickness, with some ornamented doorways and windows in the Norman style of architecture, though greatly dilapidated; the site of the great hall and some vestiges of the state apartments may be traced: the whole was surrounded by a deep moat and a bold rampartj on which was a strong wall with three turrets; the principal entrance is over a ruined bridge of one circular arch, defended by a tower gateway. This was formerly a considerable sea-port, inferior only to those of Lynn and Yarmouth, in this county; but the harbour becoming choked up with sand, its trade declined, and, from the consequent decrease of its population, the market, which was held twice a week, has been discontinued for many years: the vicinity was formerly subject to inundation from the sea, to prevent which an embankment has been constructed, and is kept in an' effective state. The government was originally vested in a mayor, twelve aldermen, and an indefinite number of burgesses, aided by a recorder, high steward, &c.; there are now two .aldermen only, who alternately elect each other to the office of mayor: the county magistrates, in some cases, have concurrent jurisdiction. Of the rank which this place held as an ancient borough it still, retains a memorial, in the precedence given to the name of the mayor in the king's commission of the peace for the county. The elective franchise was conferred in the last year of the reign of Philip and Mary, since which time the borough has returned two members to parliament: the right of election js vested in the free burgesses, the number of whom has been reduced to two or three; the mayor is the returning officer. The living is a discharged rectory, with that of Roydon consolidated, in the peculiar jurisdiction of the rector, rated in the king's books at £8, and in the patronage of the Hon. Col. Howard. The church, dedicated to St. Lawrence, is an ancient structure in the Norman style of architecture, with a square tower rising from the centre; the west front, which is richly ornamented, is a fine specimen of that style; the entrance is enriched with varied mouldings, and on each side of the large window above it are series of intersecting arches: the font is very ancient and highly ornamented. A National school is supported by the family of Howard and the rector. Near the church is an hospital, con- taming thirteen apartments, a large hall, kitchen, and a chapel, built in 1613, by Henry Howard, Earl of, Northampton, who endowed it with a rent-charge of £100 for twelve aged women and a governess. To the west of the castle is a square mount, one acre in extent, and to the east of it a circular mount surrounded by a ditch; the former is by some supposed to have been a Roman camp, though by others both are thought to have been thrown up by the people of Lynn, when they besieged the castle, and compelled the Earl of Arundel to relinquish his claim to one-third of the customs of their port. There are some chalybeate springs in the parish.