MILDENHALL (ST-ANDREW'S), a market-town
and parish in the hundred of LACKFORD, county of SUFFOLK,
38 miles (N.W.) from Ipswich, and 70 (N.N.B.)
from London, containing 2974 inhabitants. The town
is situated on a tributary of the river Ouse, called th«i
Lark, which is navigable along the south and west
boundaries of the parish, on the high road from Norwich
to London through Newmarket. It is large,
including, besides one principal and several smaller
streets, others of considerable extent, forming detached,
portions, reaching towards the fens on the east. The"
streets are neither lighted nor paved, but the inhabitants
are plentifully supplied with water from wells and
springs. There is a small spinning-mill for raw silk,
which affords employment chiefly for children; but the
principal branch of commerce is the exportation of
grain and other commodities. A market is held on
Friday, which is well supplied with fish, wild fowl, and
provisions in general; and there is a fair on the 10th
of October, for toys, pedlary, &c. A manorial court is
held twice or thrice a year, as occasion requires. A high
constable is annually appointed; but the town is within
the jurisdiction of the county magistrates, who meet
occasionally for the despatch of business. The living
is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Sudbury, and diocese
of Norwich, rated in the king's books at £22. 8. lg.,
and in the patronage of Sir Henry Edward Bunbury,
Bart. The church, which is dedicated to St. Mary, is
a large handsome structure with a lofty tower; the
ceiling is of wood-work, richly carved, and the entrance
is through a highly-finished old English porch; in the
interior are several ancient monuments. There are
places of worship in the parish for Baptists, those in
the late Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion, and
Wesleyan Methodists. A National school for children
of both sexes is supported by subscription. An almshouse
for four widows was founded, in 1722, by. »tf
Thomas Hanner; the inmates have 2s. 6d. a week, ana
an allowance for coal, clothes, &c.