Halesworth

"HALESWORTH, a parish, post and market town, in the hundred of Blything, county Suffolk, 8 miles from Bungay, and 31 N.E. of Ipswich. It is situated on the navigable river Blythe, and is a station on the East Suffolk section of the Great Eastern railway. The parish is partly planted in hemp. The town is well built and lighted with gas, and contains a market hall, mechanics' institute, theatres, three banks, and a savings-bank. It is a polling-place for the county elections, and petty sessions are held fortnightly. It is the head of a County Court district and superintendent registry. The inhabitants are employed in the manufacture of sailcloth and yarn, and in matting, which is extensively carried on. There are in the town an agricultural implement manufactory, iron foundries, coach-building works, and a brick and tile yard. In the market-place is an illuminated clock. The living is a rectory* with the vicarage of Chediston annexed, in the diocese of Norwich, value £450. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is an ancient edifice, with square tower containing eight bells. The parochial charities produce £426 per annum, of which the town estates produce £212, which is applied to the repairs of the church, lighting the town, &c. Porter's and Neal's school have an endowment of £20 per annum. There are chapels for Wesleyans, Baptists, and Independents. The latter is a very large building, and has a Sunday-school for both sexes. There is a National school for boys and girls. J. Crabtree, Esq., is lord of the manor. A weekly newspaper called the Halesworth Times is published on Tuesday. Tuesday is market day, when a large amount of business is done in corn and malt. Fairs are held on the Tuesday in Easter and Whitsun weeks for cattle, and on the 29th and 30th October."

Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)