WALSHAM (NORTH), a market-town and parish
in the hundred of TUNSTEAD, county of NORFOLK, 15
miles (N.N.B.) from Norwich, and 124 (N.B. by N.) from
London, containing 2303 inhabitants. In the year
1600, nearly the whole of this town was destroyed by a
fire, which, although it continued but three hours, consumed
property of the value of £20,000. It is situated/>
n the high road to Norwich, and consists of three
streets diverging from a central area, in which stands
the church: the inhabitants are well supplied with
water. A neat theatre has been lately erected, and is
opened for performances once in two years. A navigable
canal passes through the parish, a short distance
north-east of the town, in its course from Antingham
to Yarmouth; and a silk-manufactory has been recently
established. The market is on Thursday; and a fairis
held on the day before Holy Thursday, for cattle:
statutes for hiring servants are held twice a year. The
market cross, erected by Bishop Thirlby, in the reign of
Edward III., was repaired, after the great fire in 1600;
by Bishop Redman. Two courts baron are held annually,
one by the Bishop of Norwich, and the other by
Lord Sumeld.  The magistrates for the hundred meet
here every week.
The living is a vicarage, with the rectory of Antingham
St. Mary annexed, in the archdeaconry of Norfolk,
and diocese of Norwich, rated in the king's books at
£8, and in the patronage of the Bishop of Norwich.
The church, which is dedicated to St. Mary, is a spacious
structure; but the tower, having fallen in the year
1724, is in ruins: in the chancel is an elegant mural
monument to the memory of Sir William Paston, Knt.,
a native of this town, and founder of the grammar
school; it was erected during his life, and is surmounted
by a recumbent statue in armour. There are places of
worship for the Society of Friends, Independents, and
Primitive and Wesleyan Methodists. The free grammar
school was founded by the above-mentioned Sir William
Paston, for the education of forty boys, being children
of the inhabitants resident in either of the hundreds
of North Erpingham, Happing, Tunstead, and Flegg,
who endowed it with the rents of certain estates at
Horsey andWalcot, to the amount of about £300 per
annum, together with a small endowment of £4. 15. by
a person unknown: the master's salary is £70 per
annum, with a residence; that of the usher £30, and
that of the lecturer £ 10. Admiral Lord Nelson received
part of his education at this school. A Sunday
school, on the National system, is supported by vol-
untary subscription. About a mile south of the town
is a stone cross, erected to commemorate a victory
obtained, in 1382, by Spencer, Bishop of Norwich, over
some rebels headed by a dyer, named Leytester.