Description
Holt, a small market-town and a parish in Norfolk. The town stands on an eminence, 3 1/2 miles from the coast, and 10 W by S from Cromer. It has a station on the Midland and Great Northern Joint railway; commands a charming view over the surrounding fertile country, suffered great damage by fire in 1708, is now well-built, and presents a pleasant appearance. It has a post, money order, and telegraph office (R.S.O.), is the head of a county court district and petty sessional division, has a market for corn every Wednesday, and a cattle sale every alternate Friday, and fairs for stock on 25 April, 25 Nov., and the following days. There is also a statute fair for hiring servants at Michaelmas. The town is lighted with gas, is well drained, and has a good water supply.
There is a shire-hall, a police station, a literary institute, a bank, and some good inns. The church is a building in Decorated and Perpendicular styles, has a square tower formerly surmounted by a lofty spire, which served as a seamark, and contains several mural monuments. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Norwich; yearly value, £529 with residence. Patron, St John's College, Cambridge. There are Primitive Methodist, United Methodist Free Church, and Wesleyan chapels. The grammar school was founded in 1554 by Sir Thomas Gresham, was rebuilt in a handsome and commodious manner in 1860, has an endowed income of about £500, and an excellent library, holds a scholarship in Sidney-Sussex College, Cambridge, and another scholarship at either university, and had as a master for upwards of thirty years John Holmes, author of a Greek grammar. The school is under the management and patronage of the Fishmongers' Company, and its revenues will in a few years be largely increased. Sir Thomas Gresham, Sir Richard Gresham, Thomas Girdlestone the physician, and William Withers the writer on forest trees, were natives. The parish comprises 3009 acres; population, 1750. The manor formerly belonged to the De Vanx family. A common around the town was enclosed in 1810.
