BURNHAM-THORPE, a parish (formerly a market
town) in the hundred of BROTHERCROSS, county of
NORFOLK, l mile (E. by S.) from Burnham-Westgate,
containing 344 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, in
the' archdeaconry of Norfolk, and diocese of Norwich,
rated in the king's books at £19.10., and in the patronage
of the Earl of Offord. The church, dedicated to
St. Peter, is principally in the later style of English
architecture. In the 55th of Henry III., Sir William
de Calthorp obtained a grant of a market to be held on
Saturday, and a fair annually on the eve, day, and morrow
of St. Peter ad Vincula. Here is a free school for
a certain number of boys: the master has about £35 a
year, with a house and two small plots of land. Lord
Nelson, the renowned naval commander, was born
here, on the 29th of September, 1758, during the incumbency
of his father $ he was raised to the peerage in
October, 1798, and on the 22nd of May, 1801, was
created Viscount Nelson of the Nile, and of Burnham-
Thorpe; his lordship was interred with the most distinguished
public honours in the cathedral church of St.
Paul, London, January 9th, 1806.