Framlingham, Suffolk Villages & Towns - History, Genealogy & Trade Directories
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FRAMLINGHAM in the White's 1830 Directory
Transcribed by Colin Ager
Is a market-town, in the parish of its name, and in the northern extremity of
the hundred of Loes; 87 miles from London, 18 miles from Ipswich, and eight from
Debenham; pleasantly situated on an eminence, near the source of the river Ore.
The town is of great antiquity – its name being composed of the Saxon words
Fremdling and Ham, incaning the habitation of strangers or foreigners. Its
principal ornaments are the church, and the ruins of its ancient castle; the
latter situated on a clay hill, on the north side of town, having on the west
side a mere or marsh, formerly a lake. Of the outer wall, yet standing, it has
been justly remarked that it looks more like a castle than the ruins of one; it
is supposed to have been erected by Redwald, the most powerful King of the East
Angles. Its form is rather an irregular curve, approaching to a circle; the
walls are 44 feet high and 8 thick, flanked with 13 square towers, 14 feet
higher than the ramparts; and these together with the battlements, remain in
sufficient perfection to afford a tolerable idea of the whole. It was one of the
seats of St. Edmund, the King and Martyr; and to this fortress he fled, in the
year 870, from the invading Danes – from whence (being hard pressed, and without
hopes of succour,) he endeavoured to escape, but was overtaken in his flight,
and put to death by these invaders. To this castle Queen Mary, of ruthless
memory, retired on the death of her brother, Edward VI.
The church is a stately and capacious structure, built entirely of black flint,
with a steeple 93 feet high, containing a clock, chimes, and eight bells. The
interior is kept in excellent condition; and there are many very curious
monuments, of great antiquity and interest, in a fine state of preservation;
some of these are to the memory of the Earls and Dukes of Norfolk, and others of
the nobility. The charities belonging to Framlingham are, some alms-houses
founded by Sir Robt. Hitcham, and others by Thomas Mills; a free-school founded
by the before-named Sir Robert Hitcham, for 40 poor children, and to this
establishment is attached a fund for apprenticing the boys. The market is held
on Saturday in a spacious area, in the centre of which stood an ancient
market-cross, taken down some years since; the annual fairs are held on
Whit-Monday and the 10th of October. The parish contained, by the returns in
1821, 2,327 inhabitants.