A HISTORY OF NORFOLK 



is concerned. The only allusion occurs under Lothingland hundred in Suffolk.' 

 We do, indeed, hear of a rent of 2,000 herrings, but that is paid by Thorpe 

 in Blofield hundred, within two miles of Norwich.^ We can hardly imagine 

 that the Thorpe boats came all the way up the Yare to land their catch, and 

 it is not impossible the Thorpe fishery was really at Yarmouth, and that the 

 fish were cured there and taken up to Thorpe as occasion served.* 



In Norfolk, as in Essex, the salt industry was extremely local, being 

 confined almost exclusively to the hundreds of Freebridge and East Flegg. 

 We hear nothing of any fishery at Lynn, any more than at Yarmouth, but 

 beyond a few incidental notices we know nothing of Lynn. It seems likely, 

 however, that the concentration of the salt industry on these two centres points 

 to a great consumption of salt in the preparation of salt fish, and the fasts of 

 the Church made that occupation of vastly more importance then than it is 

 now. The largest block of saltpans is found at Caister, near Yarmouth, where 

 there were 39, belonging to 80 freemen who held under the king, and 6 

 belonging to the abbey of St. Benet of Holme. But the whole hundred was full 

 of saltpans ; we find them at Mautby, Runham, Herringby, Stokesby, Filby, 

 Thrigby, and Ormesby. In West Flegg there were fewer, but Somerton, 

 Winterton, Hemsby, Clippesby, and Burgh all possessed them. We may 

 probably place the saltpans of Halvergate, Cantley, and Plumstead, the 2J of 

 South Walsham, and the half saltpan of South Burlingham, east of Acle, 

 in the marsh district between the Yare and the Bure. The half saltpan 

 at Sutton, in Happing hundred, is difficult to place, since it is hard to 

 imagine that Stalham Broad could be very salt, and Hickling Broad is not 

 within the parish boundary. On the north coast the only saltpan mentioned 

 was at Burnham, but from Heacham southwards they are common enough. 

 The whole hundred of Freebridge is full of saltpans, and they continue along 

 the coast through Sandringham, Dersingham, Ingoldisthorpe, and Snettisham to 

 Heacham. Inland we find a single saltpan at Shouldham Thorpe, at Rainham, 

 and at Roudham, and a considerable number along the course of the Nar as far 

 up as Lexham. It is hard to say whether these inland towns had outlying 

 portions on the coast, or if not how far inland the salt water came. 



We hear a great deal about bees in Norfolk, the number of hives being 

 very frequently stated. To a society which had no ' groceries ' this form of 

 sugar was no doubt of great importance. The constant allusions to honey in 

 the Welsh laws will occur to everyone as parallel evidence. Of the possible 

 significance of honey rents we have already spoken. 



Sporting rights are hardly mentioned ; we find hawks in the renders of 

 Norwich and Yarmouth, and we have already alluded to the existence of 

 falconers. We may add the single instance of a deer park in Count Alan's 

 manor of Costessy.* Neither can we gather much as to any industries except 

 salt works. The hides in the render of Thetford point to some working 

 in leather, but this cannot have been in any way exceptional. Markets are 

 mentioned in Holt (where there was also a 'port'),^ Dunham in Launditch 

 hundred,^ and Litcham,^ but we may probably assume that the chief town of 



' Dom. Bk. f. 283. Mbid. f. 138. 



' Ballard, Ike Domesday Boroughs, 1 1 sqq. 



' Dom. Bk. f. 14.5. Mbid. f. III. 



' 'Haifa market,' Ibid. f. 137. 

 ' 'A quarter of a market.' Ibid, f 207^. 



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