ATTLEBURGH, or ATTLEBOROUGH, a market-town and parish in the hundred of SHROPHAM, county of NORFOLK, 15 miles (S.W. by W.) from Norwich, ana 94 (N.E. by N.) from London, containing 1659 J»aabitants. This place derives its name from Athetog, or Atlinge, a Saxon prince, by whom it is supposed to have been originally founded j and from a burg, or castle, by which it was formerly defended from the incursions of the Danes: it was anciently the capital of Norfolk, and the residence of Offa and Edmuna, kings of East Anglia. In the reign of Richard U-, Robert de Mortimer founded a college, for a warden anu four Secular priests, in the church of the Holy Cross, of which there are no remains. Though situated on the high road from Thetford to Norwich, it is now reduced to a very inconsiderable town. The market .is or Thursday; and fairs are held on the Thursdays belore Easter and Whitsuntide, and on the 15th of August. Constables and other officers are appointed at the court of the lord of the manor. Attleborough formerly comprised two parishes, Attleburgh Major, a rectory, rated in the king's books at £19. 8. 9., and Attleburgh Minor, a vicarage, rated at £8. 2. 6.; they are now united, and constitute one rectory, in the archdeaconry of Norfolk, and diocese of Norwich, and in the patronage of Sir T. Smyth, Bart. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is a spacious cruciform structure, in the decorated style of English architecture, with a square embattled tower rising from the centre, and a fine porch: the chancel, which had some portions in the Norman style, has been demolished: there are several monuments to the memory of distinguished personages, of which the most prominent are those of the Mortimers, Ratcliffs, and Blickleys. There are places of worship for Baptists and Wesleyan Methodists. A Sunday school, lately established, is supported by subscription. Two miles and a half from the town, on the road to Wymondham, said to have been the first turnpike-road constructed in England, and for which an act was granted in the 7th of William III., are the remains of an obelisk, erected by the county to the memory of Sir Edward Rich, who, in 1675, gave £200 towards repairing the highways.