St. Peter’s Mancroft church, a handsome regular building, and after the cathedral, superior in size and architecture to any other; it stands on an elevated spot at the south west corner of the market place. Blomfield states it was finished in the year 1455; it consists of a square tower, about 100 feet high, though evidently intended to have been much higher, as appears by the double buttresses extending to the top, and the thickness of the walls; it contains an excellent peal of 12 bells, by Messrs Pack and Chapman, in 1775; the tenor weighs 41cwt. they are acknowledged for general effect, to be the first peal in the world—and the ringers are justly ranked with the first in the kingdom. The church is wholly covered with lead, and supported by two rows of pillars remarkably neat and slender; the body of the church, including the chancel, is 212 feet in length, and is 70 feet wide; on the north and south sides are entrance porches. The altar is ornamented with a painting, representing the deliverance of St. Peter out of prison, was executed by Catton, and presented to the parish by Alderman Starling, in the year 1768. Within the church are some few sepulchral monuments worthy notice, and a fine organ built in 1707. The plate and furniture of the altar is very valuable, one cup weighing upwards of 46 ozs. very beautifully chased with the story of Abigal bringing presents to David, which was given to the church, by Sir Peter Gleane. In the vestry is a neat old painted carving, in alabaster. A very curious piece of tapastry, in high presevation; there is also an octavo Bible, on vellum, written in 1340, and a folio manuscript much more ancient. St. Laurance church occupies the spot, which at a remote period, was the quay for landing all fish brought to Norwich; the tythes of the fishery, which must have been considerable, were granted to the abbey of St. Edmund’s Bury, on condition that the abbot would erect a church. The present church was erected in 1472, at the expence of the monastery of St. Edmunds Bury, aided by private benefactions; the tower is a bold square building, 112 feet in height; over the west door are several figures sculptured in stone. Previous to the civil war, the church was highly decorated with various altars, tabernacles, &c. the window ornamented with glass, and, according to Blomfield, in 1643, the communion rails were broken down, the floor of the chancel taken up, and the stained glass defaced. In the parish registry is this entry, “laid out to Goodman Perfett, for the putting out the superstitious inscriptions in the church window, and the pulling down of crucifixes 1s. 8d.” In this church are several monuments.