583 
says, that in the Norris MSS. it is said to have been called the 
Deep Fen in the time of Edward III., and may have become 
water by the continued cutting of the turf out of it, the consump- 
tion of which must have been great prior to the introduction of 
coal. In fact the borders of the Broad are an evidence of it ; as 
they are one solid bank of Turf of considerable extent before you 
gain the soil or high ground. A ridgo is also left in the midst of 
the Broad having at this time only about a foot of water upon it, 
marking the boundary of the Parishes of Barton and Instead. 
There was no appearance of this bank of turf on the sides of the 
Broad extending itself into the water; but its edge appeared very 
clearly defined as though kept in that state by art.” 
This samo year, in enlarging the churchyard at Wymondham, 
two leaden coffins wore discovered, which wore supposed to contain 
the remains of some of the family of the founder of the Abbey, 
William do Albini. In consequence of receiving information of 
this discovery, he went over, and from the nature of the opera- 
tions, as well as from some singular alterations which appeared to 
him to have been made in the original Norman church, he 
suggested the propriety of laying open the foundations, towards 
obtaining a fair plan of this religious establishment. This he was 
enabled to do, and the results were brought before the Society of 
Antiquaries. Concerning these investigations, Mr. Daniel Gurney 
writes to say: “I hope as you aro turned resurrection man that 
you aro going on with your exhumations, but I think you will bo 
stoned by the Wymondham mob if you do not take care.” 
In the autumn of 1834, the magistrates had determined to 
reface the Castle, a decision which was regretted by many, among 
whom were Sir Francis Palgrave, Mr. Hudson Gurney, and Lieut.- 
Col. Leake, with whom on one occasion he went on a tour of 
inspection. Numerous letters appeared in the newspapers. On 
the 12th August he writes to the * Norfolk Chronicle “The 
demolition of our Castle, which has withstood the storms of 
nearly one thousand years (and left to itself would have continued 
one thousand years longer) comes daily under my observation, and 
I cannot refrain expressing my regret on tho occasion 
its beauties to tho antiquary lie in tho loops and arches, battered 
by tho hands of assailants and of time — those cubes of stone, 
brought from the Norman coast, ere stone quarries were worked in 
t t 2 
