iSO Mr. R. C. Taylor on the Geology of Easi Notfolk. 



ed Weybrigg, at Acle, and the great causeway connecting with 

 it, were certainly in existence in the eleventh century ; and 

 we find that payments wei'e made towards their repair in 1 1 01, 

 and succeeding years. This causeway is so little above the 

 present level of the river and marshes, that even in our own 

 times it has been repeatedly overflowed. At any rate, it es- 

 tablishes the negative fact, that no very important change has 

 taken place in seven centuries at a point adjoining the broad- 

 est part of the main aestuary, and only eight miles from the 

 sea. 



It is stated in a preceding page, that to a limited extent 

 the channels of the Yare and other rivers were wider than at 

 present ; evinced by the peaty margins and the deposit of silt 

 in the undisturbed recesses. These circumstances are con- 

 firmatory of the reduced supply of tidal waters, and show that 

 the streams have gradually accommodated themselves to the 

 volume of water which they have to convey. 



With regard to the arrival of the Danish fleet at Norwich, 

 A. D. 1004, no other change is needed to explain the pro- 

 bability of such an event, than has been accounted for. At 

 that early period of the art of navigation, ships were con- 

 structed of little burden and of light draught ; and with the 

 advantages of several feet of tide, there could be little hazard 

 in attempting a navigation which even at this day is capable 

 of admitting the smaller description of coasting vessels. Nor 

 could there be much danger under the circumstances, in an 

 enterprize where there was neither a hostile fleet nor army to 

 contend against ; and where, on arriving at the capital of East 

 Anglia, the invaders found the inhabitants unprepared for de- 

 fence, and eager to purchase an humiliating peace. 



The SaliuiC, mentioned in Domesday Book, were chiefly 

 situated on the north shore of the main aestuary, within three 

 miles of its mouth ; 39 of them being at Caister, and 30 more 

 in the two contiguous parishes. None occur in the Norwich, 

 Beccles, or Kirkley valleys ; and as it does not appear that 

 saltworks were mentioned after the Confessor's time, it is 

 probable that the north entrance commenced silting up shortly 

 after, so as to exclude the requisite admission of sea water for 

 such works*. 



Some uncertainty prevails with respect to an open commu- 

 nication between the ocean and the extensive watery flat near 

 Horsea. Mr. Robberds's map shows two points by which the 

 sea appears to have penetrated into this flat. Local records 

 are silent upon that head. There is no mention of saltworks 



* The value of a Salina was at that time estimaled at sevenpence. 



upon 



I 



