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TO HIS GRACE

THE DUKE OF NORFOLK,

WITH THE NAME AND DEEDS OF

WHOSE ANCIENT AND NOBLE FAMILY, MANY

OF THE HISTORIC SITES OF SUFFOLK

ARE CONNECTED,

THIS VOLUME IS INSCRIBED BY HIS GRACE'S

OBEDIENT SERVANT,

THE AUTHOR.

PREFACE.

THROUGHOUT the length and breadth of the land are to be found scattered, objects and places of the highest interest, which have merely received the notice of the precise Topographer, or the pains-taking Antiquary. Although in decay, they bear the most picturesque appearance-the moss grown ruin-the moated castle

"Beauty with age in every feature blending-"

Yet have their histories or characteristics seldom been portrayed by the pencil of the artist or the pen of the prose writer. Nor though they may be hallowed as the sites, where have been enacted some of the deepest scenes of English eventful history, have they been brought before the world in any other guise than that with which the soberest narrative could invest them in the erude pages of dull county historians.

Previous to undertaking the composition of the present volume, the Author had long lamented, that no one seemed disposed to undertake a work, which should, even of a portion or district of the kingdom point out those Historic Sites Interesting or Remarkable places, contained within it, in a manner according with his

own notions, or deserving their peculiar existence. He observed, certainly after a time, that one, and be it said, the very best of many men fitted for such a task-William Howitt-had announced that he was preparing a work which would nationally occupy the void.* But previously to such announcement being made the fulfilment of which will of course leave nothing to be wished for on the subject, the Author of the present volume being resident in the county, had commenced a series of papers on the Historic Sites of Suffolk, which were published in the pages of the SUFFOLK LITERARY CHRONICLE, at the latter part of the year 1837. These sketches meeting with rather more notice than the usual run of ephemeral literature in the periodicals of the day, he considered that the time had arrived, when the public would not reject a volume treating upon such matters as related expressly to that district, written in the same style as those papers to which reference is made, and accordingly completed the task now before the reader.

In this volume it will be found that many of the interesting remains, and remarkable places which abound throughout Suffolk, are described the Historic deeds of which they were the place of action, rehearsed—and in many instances Topographical particulars added, in order to give the work an useful or utilitarian, as well as a somewhat romantic character. In this former department, perhaps somewhat too much has been done, particularly as respects the Topography of IPSWICH and BURY ST. EDMUND'S. These two places being the chief towns of Suffolk, it was thought a lengthened notice of their ancient and modern condition, beyond the neighbouring towns, was called for, and was therefore given. In every case however it will be found, that the Topography * Visits to Old Halls, Battle Fields, &c.

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