Dereham

Dereham, EAST, a pleasant, thriving market-town of Norfolk, 17 miles (by rail 22) WNW. of Norwich. Here, in 650, St Withberga founded a nunnery. It was burned by the Danes, but afterwards refounded; and its cruciform church remains, with a detached belfry (the 'New Clocker'), a font of 1468, a good south porch, St Withberga's well, and the grave of the poet Cowper. Bonner was a vicar, and Wollaston and Borrow natives. Dereham has manufactures of agricultural implements. Pop. (1851) 3372; (1891) 5524.