Halesworth, Suffolk

Description
Halesworth, a busy market-town and parish in Suffolk. The town stands on the river Blythe, adjacent to the East Suffolk branch of the G.E.R., 9 miles SSW from Beccles; is the seat of a county court, a seat of petty sessions, and a polling-place for the northern division of the county; publishes a weekly newspaper, and has a head post office, three banks, a court-house erected by the county council in 1891, a rifle hall, corn hall, police station, and town-room used for parish business. A weekly market is held on Tuesday, and fairs for cattle are held on the Tuesday in Easter and Whit-sun weeks, and on 29 Oct. There are also large repository stock sales held every alternate Wednesday. The industries of the town include two breweries, some large carriage works, and some very extensive mailings. The parish comprises 1132 acres; population of the civil parish, 2316; of the ecclesiastical, 2687. The living is a discharged rectory, with the vicarage of Chediston annexed, in the diocese of Norwich; joint gross value, £400 with residence. The church is a large building, chiefly in the Perpendicular style, consisting of chancel, nave, four aisles, and a square western embattled tower. Therearealso Baptist, Congregational, and Primitive Methodist chapels. A large hospital called after the name of its founder, the late Patrick Stead, was erected in 1881 near the railway station. There are almshouses for 14 poor widows, a memorial home for 4 poor widows, and a town estate worth about £180 a year.