Beyond Helgay are the villages of _Southery_, _Feltwell_, _Methwold_, _Northwold_, _Stoke-ferry_, _Wereham_, _West Dereham_, _&c._ some of them of pretty large size and population. _West Dereham Abbey_ was formerly a place of no small note, and founded as early as 1188. At the dissolution it went into private hands, and about the close of the 17th. century it was the seat of Sir Thomas Dereham, a diplomatic character. More recently it has successively been the seat of Sir Simeon Stuart, and Lord Montrath. _Wereham_ in former times was possessed by the _Clares_, who then ranked high among the English barons; and it was the head lordship of what was, and still is called the _honor of Clare_, of which several neighbouring manors were held. Those great lords had here a _prison_, and of course a _gallows_ also; which indicate the great sway they once bore in these parts.—These places lie in and about a remarkable drainage tract, called _the Feltwell new fen district_, which, like the river Nene, has proved a very unfortunate concern to many of those whose property had been unhappily entrusted in the hands of its commissioners. Suspicions of some disreputable doings are said to have been entertained respecting both the above concerns, which will probably deter many from affording any pecuniary aid to the projected Eau-brink Cut, lest it should turn out, or be managed as badly:—if indeed the present formidable opposition to it should finally fail to effect its entire relinquishment: an event which many seem to consider as not at all improbable.—Northerly from these parts is the village and parish of _Fincham_. In that parish church is a square font, supposed to have belonged to the old church, which is mentioned in Domesday-book.—Further on, in the same direction, and the most considerable place that way, is