At about a third part of the height of the staircase, which leads up to the steeple, is a door opening upon the leads of a small turret, communicating with the stairs, from which, some years ago, a boy of the name of Yaxley fell into the church-yard between some timbers, (which were laid there for the repairs of the church,) without receiving any other injury than a few slight bruises. He afterwards entered the navy, when, falling down the hold of the vessel to which he belonged, and receiving a severe hurt, he was discharged:—through the interest of the late Admiral Windham he obtained a pension, which he still lives to enjoy. The benefice is a vicarage, valued in the King’s Book at nine pounds four shillings, and was augmented, from 1743 to 1834, with twelve hundred pounds of royal bounty. The Rev. W. Sharpe is the present incumbent. The living is in the gift of the Bishop of Ely, who is also appropriator of the great tithes, now leased to the Countess of Listowel. Cromer enjoys the advantage of a free-school, founded and endowed with ten pounds per annum by Sir Bartholomew Reed, a native of Cromer, and Lord Mayor of London, in 1502. The master, who was to be “a priest, cunning in grammar,” was enjoined to say mass once a year in the parish-church of Cromer, for the soul of the worthy founder; and to teach, with all good diligence, “Gentlemen’s sons, poor men’s sons, and other good men’s children of Cromer, and the villages around.” The former part of the duty is dispensed with, but the school still flourishes, the Goldsmith’s company, who are the trustees, having rebuilt the school-house in 1821, and augmented the master’s salary, at different times, and it now amounts to one hundred and thirty pounds per annum. Roger Bacon, a mariner of Cromer, is said to have discovered Iceland in the reign of Henry IV. and also to have taken prisoner the Prince of Scotland, James Stewart, who was sailing to France, in order to be educated there. A savings’-bank was established here in 1827. Petty-sessions are held every alternate Monday. The poor’s land was let, in 1786, for ten pounds a year—it now lets for fourteen guineas. This is equally divided between twenty-four widows, who do not receive relief from the parish. The market, which was held every Saturday, under letters patent of Henry IV. has been long discontinued; but the town is well supplied with provisions of all kinds, during the bathing season, persons from the country round bringing in poultry, butter, eggs, vegetables, &c. daily. Fish is not very plentiful: however, this depends upon the season. Mackerel, whitings, herrings, and cod are caught here; its lobsters have long been noted for their excellence, as are also its crabs. Great quantities of these are caught and sent immediately to London. Lobsters are reckoned out of season, from the latter end of June to that of July. It also boasts of an annual fair which is held on Whit Monday.