BRIDEWELL, Was built by Bartholomew Appleyard, about the year 1370. William Appleyard, his son, the first Mayor of Norwich, served his Mayoralty here in 1403. The North wall of this Bridewell is encrusted with cut flints, and is seventy-six feet in length, by about twenty-five high: it is considered one of the greatest curiosities of the kind in England. The flints are squared to such a nicety, that the edge of a knife can scarcely be insinuated between the joints: most of them are about three inches square, the surface is very smooth, and no brick-work can appear more regular. Several churches and other buildings in the city are thus built. Mr. Talman says, that the Jews introduced the art of squaring flints: and Dr. Cromwell Mortimer, Secretary to the Royal Society, in a note on a paper of Mr. Arderon’s on this very wall, observes, that the gate of the Austin Friars, at Canterbury, that of St. John’s Abbey, at Colchester, and the gate near Whitehall, Westminster, are in the same taste. But the platform on the top of the Royal Observatory at Paris, which, in instead of being covered with lead, is paved with flint after this manner, is an instance that the French have in some measure recovered this art. Phil. Trans. Abr. vol. 10. p. 1304. THE THEATRE Was built by the late Mr. Thomas Ivory, after the model of old Drury-lane house; and in 1800 underwent an entire, elegant, and spirited alteration, under the direction, and highly to the credit of, the present Patentee, Mr. Wilkins. The house now contains two circles of Boxes, with side ones on the same tier as the Gallery. There are Stage Boxes the same as those of Drury-lane. The Stage doors are semi-circular, and a Box over them, both of these are filled with a triliage of gold and a small pilaster. The Boxes are supported by small reeded columns of gold, and the front of every Box decorated with coloured Raphael ornaments, on a ground of French grey. At each column are lamps (patent), in the Grecian style, suspended from an antique branch of gold, which gives a brilliancy to the whole. The general tone of colour is a quiet fawn, which is pleasing to the eye, and relieves the pannels of coloured ornaments. The mouldings are gold and white, which give a lightness to the whole. From the entablature or cornice in front, descends a cove, with the Imperial Arms in the centre, admirably executed, painted yellow, and heightened in gold, with this motto, _Conabimur_ (we will endeavour); below this is a rich crimson curtain, with gold fringe, supported by two statues, and on each side of the stage doors are pilasters of gold, reeded, in which every reed plays in the light, and produces the most pleasing effect. There are distinct entrances to each part of the house, Boxes, Pit, and Gallery, and the Box Lobbies are roomy and commodious. At the back of the upper circle is a bar-room, where coffee, tea, sweets, &c. may be procured.