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Bungay in Suffolk County England History and GeographyBUNGAY, a market-town in the hundred of WANGFORD, county of SUFFOLK, 40 miles (N.N.E.) from Ipswich, 40 (N.E. by E.) from Bury-St. Edmund's, and 109 (N.E. by N.) from London, on the road to Yarmouth, containing 3290 inhabitants. The name is supposed to have been anciently Bon-gué, from the goodness of a ford over the river Waveney, by which the town is nearly surrounded. In the reign of Stephen, a castle was built by one of the Bigods, earls of Norfolk, which, from its situation and the strength of its fortifications, was deemed impregnable: it was demolished in the reign of Henry III., and on its site was erected a mansion that, in the 22nd of Edward I., Roger Bigod obtained permission to embattle. In 1688, a fire broke out in an uninhabited house, and the flames spread with such rapidity that the whole town, with the exception of one small street, was reduced to ashes, destroying property of the estimated value of £30,000, together with the records of the castle: the remains of this building have been converted into cottages, and little more than some portions of the walls can now be distinguished. The town is pleasantly situated on the river Waveney, that here forms the line of boundary between the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, and over which a handsome new bridge has been built: the streets, diverging from the market-place in the centre of the town towards the principal roads, are spacious, well paved, and lighted with oil: the houses are in general modern, having been rebuilt since the fire; and the inhabitants are amply supplied with water from springs. The theatre, a neat edifice erected in 1827, is opened occasionally; and there are assembly-rooms handsomely fitted up. On the northern side of the town is an extensive common, by the side of which is a pleasant promenade one mile and a half in length, leading to a cold bath, where a bath-house has been built, and requisite accommodation provided. A botanical society, and a book club have been recently instituted. The races, after having been discontinued for more than thirty years, were re-established in 1828. The trade is principally in corn, malt, flour, and lime, there being several flour-mills, malting-houses, and lime-kilns, on a large scale: there are also a paper and a silk manufactory, and an extensive printing office. The manufacture of hempen cloth for the Norwich and London markets has been wholly discontinued: several of the female inhabitants are employed in knitting stockings. The river Waveney is navigable from Yarmouth, whence the town is supplied with coal, timber, and other articles of consumption. The market is on Thursday: the fairs are, May 14th and September 25th. In the centre of the market-place is a handsome octangular building, surmounted by a dome covered with lead, and bearing on its summit a leaden statue of Justice; within is a cage for the confinement of disorderly persons. The town is within the jurisdiction of the county magistrates: a townreeve and certain feoffees are appointed annually, who are trustees of the estates and rent-charges devised for the improvement and benefit of the town: courts leet and baron for the manor are held occasionally. Bungay comprises the parishes of St. Mary and the Holy Trinity, both in the archdeaconry of Suffolk, and diocese of Norwich. The living of St. Mary's is a perpetual curacy, in the patronage of the Duke of Norfolk. The church is a handsome and spacious structure, with a fine tower; it was rebuilt, in 1696, with flint and free-stone: the interior contains some interesting monuments, and is remarkable for the lightness and elegance of the pillars supporting the roof. The living of the parish of the Holy Trinity is a vicarage, rated in the king's books at £8. 0. 6., and in the patronage of the Bishop of Ely. The church is a small ancient edifice with a round tower. There was formerly a church dedicated to St. Thomas, but it has been destroyed. There are places of worship for Wesleyan Methodists and Presbyterians, besides a Roman Catholic chapel. The free grammar school is of ancient and uncertain foundation: the Rev. Thomas Popeson, in 1591, annexed the vicarage of Ilkatshall to the mastership, and founded ten scholarships in Emmanuel College, Cambridge, but these have been reduced to four: the school was endowed with forty acres of land, by Mr. Scales, of Earsham: the income of the master, who is appointed by the Master and Fellows of Emanuel College, is from £180 to £200 per annum: there are ten boys upon the foundation by Mr. Scales. A dispensary was established in 1828, which is liberally supported; and there are almshouses in each parish for the residence of aged persons. Near St. Mary's church are some remains of a Benedictine nunnery, founded in the reign of Henry II., by Robert de Glanville and his lady, the Countess Gundreda, in honour of the Blessed Virgin and the Holy Cross, the revenue of which, at the dissolution, was estimated at £62. 2. 1. At the back of the King's Head Inn is a mineral spring, now in disuse. A few Roman coins, some seals and ancient tokens have been found. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
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