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^. 26
