NEEDHAM-MARKET, a chapelry (formerly a
market-town) in the parish of BARKING, hundred of
BOSMERE-and-CLAYDON, county of SUFFOLK, 8 miles
(N. W. by N.) from Ipswich, and 74 (N. E.) from
London, containing 1300 inhabitants. The town is
situated on low ground near the river Stour, and on the
high road to Ipswich and Bury St. Edmund's; it is tolerably
well built, and the houses are neat, and many of
them handsome; the inhabitants are supplied with water
from springs; the surrounding country is pleasant, and
abounds in agreeable walks. Near the town is a lake,
between thirty and forty acres in extent, called Bosmere,
which gives name to the hundred. The trade formerly
consisted in wool-combing, and weaving calimancoes,
which has long since ceased; the manufacture of paper
and glue is of considerable extent. The Stow-Market
and Ipswich navigation passes along the north-east
boundary of the parish, and is crossed by a bridge
leading from the town; and the Stour is navigable to
Ipswich, being used chiefly for the conveyance of corn
and coal. The market, formerly held on Wednesday,
was removed to Stow-Market, in consequence of the
plague having raged here for three years; a fair for
toys is held on the 28th of October. Constables are
appointed at the court leet and baron of the lord of
the manor, held annually, and oftener as occasion may
require. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the archdeaconry
of Suffolk, and diocese of Norwich, endowed
with £600 royal bounty, and £ 800 parliamentary grant,
and in the patronage of the Rector of Barking: the
inhabitants, from time immemorial, have had the right
of electing a lecturer. The chapel, dedicated to St. John
the Baptist, is an ancient edifice, with a belfry of \yood.
There are places of worship for the Society, of Friends
and Independents. The free grammar school was
founded pursuant to the will of Francis Theobald, Esq.,
dated January 10th, 1632, and endowed by him with
estates subsequently conveyed to trustees, and now producing
a rental of £55 per annum; the master's salary
is £50, with a dwelling-house; twenty-one poor children
from Needham-Market, Barking, and Darmsden,
are instructed. An almshouse, comprising two .tenements,
was founded, by some person unknown, for the
benefit of poor widows and widowers, and endowed
with land now producing about £20 per annum; eight
poor women reside in it.