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Blakeney, Norfolk

Coordinates: 52°57′15″N 01°01′09″E / 52.95417°N 1.01917°E / 52.95417; 1.01917
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For the village in Gloucestershire, see Blakeney, Gloucestershire.

Blakeney
The village sign in Blakeney (March 2009)
Blakeney is located in Norfolk
Blakeney
Blakeney
Location within Norfolk
Area9.90 km2 (3.82 sq mi)
Population801 (whole administrative parish, 2011 census)[1]
• Density81/km2 (210/sq mi)
OS grid referenceTG020430
• London129 mi (208 km)
Civil parish
  • Blakeney CP
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townHOLT
Postcode districtNR25
Dialling code01263
PoliceNorfolk
FireNorfolk
AmbulanceEast of England
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Norfolk
52°57′15″N 01°01′09″E / 52.95417°N 1.01917°E / 52.95417; 1.01917

Blakeney is a coastal village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk.[2] Blakeney lies within the Norfolk Coast AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) and the North Norfolk Heritage Coast. The North Norfolk Coastal Path travels along its quayside.[3] The village is 21.1 mi (34 km) north west of Norwich, 4.6 mi (7.4 km) NNW of the larger settlement of Holt, 11.5 mi (18.5 km) west of Cromer and 112 mi (180 km) NNE of London.

The civil parish has an area of 3.8 square miles (9.9 km2) and in the 2001 census had a population of 789 in 402 households. For the purposes of local government, the parish falls within the district of North Norfolk.[4]

Description

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St Peter's Roman Catholic Church, Blakeney, Norfolk.

Blakeney was a commercial seaport until the early 20th century. Now the harbour is silted up, and only small boats can make their way out past Blakeney Point to the sea. Adjacent to the hill, at the foot of the village's High Street, is the old Guildhall with a 14th-century undercroft.[5][6]

Higher up the village, the Church of St Nicholas has two towers: the main tower is more than 100 ft (30 m) high and a well-known landmark for miles around; the smaller tower was built as a beacon to guide boats into Blakeney Harbour.

History

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In the Domesday Book of 1086,[7] Blakeney is recorded under the name Esnuterle (later, Snitterley);[8] the main landholders are noted as Walter Gifford and William de Noyers. The settlement first appears under the name Blakeney in a document which dates from 1340.[7] Around the same period Edward III's wife, Queen Philippa is said to have dined on fish caught by Blakeney's fishermen.[7]

The village's name means 'Black island'.

Haven

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The inlet in 1649

Blakeney Haven was a deeper inlet on the north coast of Norfolk into which the River Glaven flowed. Sheltered behind Blakeney Point, it was a major shipping area in the Middle Ages, with relatively important North Norfolk ports at Wiveton, Cley next the Sea and Blakeney itself. Cley and Wiveton silted up in the 17th century, but Blakeney prospered, especially after the channel to the Haven was deepened in 1817. Packet ships ran from that port to Hull and London from 1840. This trade declined as ships became too large for the harbour, and it is now silted up with access only for small boats.[9]

From the 12th century Blakeney had a reputation for acts of piracy: between 1328 and 1350 it is recorded that men of Blakeney boarded two vessels sailing from Flanders and sailed them back to Blakeney haven, where they were stripped of their cargoes. Many a foreign merchant ship which sought shelter in the haven found its cargo stolen. Such was the lawlessness of the residents that the village refused to supply a ship for the battle against the Spanish Armada.[7][8]

'Chapel'

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Main article: Blakeney Chapel

This building now in adjoining Cley next the Sea appears never to have been a chapel and may merely have been a hermitage. Indeed, the calendar of England's Patent Rolls dated 20 April 1343, confirms a grant of alms-seeking across the realms to a local hermit.

Friary

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This was among the junior houses of a Carmelite region (distinctio) which included Burnham Norton, King's Lynne and Yarmouth the crypt of its senior house is intact and is converted to part of Norwich's Printing Museum which is run by an active printing firm, Jarrold's in the city.[10]

The northern part of Friary Park by the seashore is a modest caravan park for visitors, with the remainder being the relatively small Friary Farm.

Friary Farmhouse incorporates remains of the Carmelite Friary founded in 1296 with its church consecrated in 1302. This was the gift of Maud de Roos or latterly de Ros, née de Vaux, wife of William de Ros, 1st Baron de Ros who distinguished himself in the Crusades, was knighted and granted land at Cley and Blakeney.

In 1321 their son, William completed the foundation.

The house has a date-stone: "1667 T.R.I" and is made of flint and brick with some stone quoins. Despite modern windows and most exterior work it incorporates medieval walling, a buttress, various blocked openings, fragments of window surrounds and stonework including a re-used carved kneeler on the south-west gable with coat of arms.[11]

Windmill

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Main article: Blakeney Windmill

Blakeney Mill in Friary Park is a Grade II listed building and is chiefly of flint with brick dressings (mostly its upper parts) across its three storeys. It appears on a map of 1769 in this exact location, following earlier mention from the Domesday Book of mills in the village.[12]

Railway

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In the 19th century a rail branch line from Holt to a new station at Blakeney was planned by the Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway. The scheme was never completed, although the junction site at High Kelling now serves as Holt station on the North Norfolk Railway. A rival proposal for a branch from Cawston to Cley and Blakeney was put forward by the East Norfolk Railway, but this was also not built.[13]

Tourism

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Blakeney is a popular tourist resort during the summer months. The village has two large hotels, one in a historic building,[14] and one with a modern main part but with also with a late 17th-century and 18th-century barn annexe, The Blakeney Hotel[15] as well as having the alternative at the end of the Quay Road of the 15-acre (61,000 m2) caravan site.

Blakeney offers a large range of activities including crabbing, fishing, canoeing and birdwatching. In the area of marshland around Blakeney Point, owned by the National Trust, up to a hundred species of birds can be found throughout the year. Several pubs in the area serve food and real ale.

Wells-next-the-Sea has a miniature and heritage railway 7 mi (11 km) to the west.

The North Norfolk Coastal Path travels along its quayside and varies between a path through salt marshes, raised promenades, sandy beaches and compact villages in this section.

Demography

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The population of Blakeney, according to the census of 1801, was 618. This number increased, lagging just behind national population growth in the forty years to 1851, to 1,108 however a gradual decline in population took place until 1931, particularly during the early years of this decline which coincided with the arrival of the railway at Holt to the south and national urban industrialisation – population fell from 1,108 to 641 in 1931. Population growth resumed and saw a growth between 1961 and 2011, to 801 people. Data for 1801–1961 is available at Britain Through Time.[16] The 2001 and 2011 Censuses give detailed information about the village. The settlement's population in 2011 were living in 407 households.[1]

Population of Blakeney
Year 1801 1811 1821 1831 1841 1851 1881 1891 1901
Population 618 583 803 929 1021 1108 804 807 740
Year 1911 1921 1931 1941 1951 1961 2001 2011
Population 708 662 641 n/a 763 705 789 801

Transport

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The village's centre is off the northern side of the A149 coast road from King's Lynn to Cromer, with a further part of Blakeney community directly adjoining in the residential estates south of this and also several outlying farms.[17][page needed] The nearest railway station is at Sheringham, two villages to the east for the Bittern line to Norwich.

The nearest airport is Norwich Airport.

War memorial

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Blakeney war memorial

Blakeney's war memorial is a brick and pebble arch with two granite plaques, one commemorating the First World War and another for the Second World War. The First World War memorial lists the following 31 names:[18]


Rank Name Unit Date of Death Other Commemoration / Burial
CS Vincent K. Bullen HMS Vanguard 9 July 1917 Chatham Naval Memorial
Lt. Basil C. Ash 2nd Battalion, Sherwood Foresters 20 September 1914 Communal Cemetery, Chauny
2Lt. Cyril C. G. Roe 1st (Drake) Battalion, Royal Naval Division 28 April 1917 Arras Memorial
MID Christopher A. G. Cooke HMS Vanguard 9 July 1917 Chatham Naval Memorial
Sgt. R. M. Daniel Northumberland Hussars 23 March 1918 Communal Cemetery, Chauny
A/Sgt. Alfred E. Turner 7th Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment 13 October 1915 Loos Memorial
AB Robert Balding HMS Aboukir 22 September 1914 Chatham Naval Memorial
Cpl. Clement B. Mitchell 8th Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment 11 August 1917 Menin Gate
Cpl. Ernest H. Starling 2/9th (Queen Victoria's Rifles) Battalion, London Regiment 27 September 1917 Tyne Cot
Gnr. George A. King HMS Crusader 21 January 1917 Portsmouth Naval Memorial
Gnr. William E. King HMS Bulwark 26 November 1914 Portsmouth Naval Memorial
Gnr. George P. Hudson 301st (Siege) Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery 12 September 1918 Military Cemetery, Quaëdypre
Pvt. Percy H. Allen 10th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force 22 May 1915 Vimy Memorial
Pvt. Jack Long MM 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards 30 November 1917 British Cemetery,Gouzeaucourt
Pvt. William E. Seales 1/6th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry 23 November 1916 St. Sever Cemetery, Rouen
Pvt. John Newland 8th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment 3 May 1917 Faubourg Cemetery, Arras
Pvt. James Moore 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment 2 January 1916 Lancashire Landing Cemetery
Pvt. William S. Pyke 9th Battalion, Essex Rgt. 19 September 1918 Communal Cemetery, Doingt
Pvt. Thomas H. Palmer 11th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers 10 August 1917 Menin Gate
Pvt. Thomas R. D. Lane 1/7th Battalion, King's Regiment 20 September 1917 Tyne Cot
Pvt. Edward A. Adcock 2/8th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers 21 March 1918 Heath Cemetery
Pvt. Reginald C. Cooper 1st Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment 5 July 1916 St. Nicholas' Churchyard, Blakeney
Pvt. Clarence A. Haines 1st Bn., Royal Norfolks 27 July 1916 Thiepval Memorial
Pvt. Herbert J. Long 1/5th Battalion, Royal Norfolks 28 August 1915 Helles Memorial
Rfn. Frederick W. Pyke 17th (Poplar and Stepney Rifles) Battalion, London Regiment 23 December 1917 Ramleh War Cemetery

And, C. Claxton, J. H. Long, G. A. J. Moore, C. Nicholls, J. W. Smith and H. Wright. As well as the following eight men for the Second World War:

Rank Name Unit Date of Death Other Commemoration / Burial
AC1 John T. Balding Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 30 October 1940 Norwich Cemetery, Norwich
Cpl. Jack Cobon 1st Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment 6 June 1944 La Délivrande War Cemetery
LAC Raymond H. Harcourt Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 8 November 1944 Kranji War Memorial
Mne. J. Albert Balding Royal Marines att. HMS Glorious 9 June 1940 Plymouth Naval Memorial
Pvt. Harold Milner 1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment 21 October 1944 War Cemetery, Geel
Pvt. Frederick W. Grimes 5th Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment 21 September 1944 Kranji War Memorial

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "2011 Census". Archived from the original on 11 February 2003. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  2. ^ OS Explorer Map 24 – Norfolk Coast Central. ISBN 0-319-21726-4
  3. ^ Ordnance Survey (2002). OS Explorer Map 251 – Norfolk Coast Central. ISBN 0-319-21887-2.
  4. ^ Office for National Statistics & Norfolk County Council (2001). Census population and household counts for unparished urban areas and all parishes. Retrieved 2 December 2005.
  5. ^ Historic England. "Guildhall (Grade II*) (1373987)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  6. ^ Historic England. "Medieval undercroft known as the Guildhall (Scheduled Monument) (1014237)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  7. ^ a b c d The Domesday Book, Englands Heritage, Then and Now, Editor: Thomas Hinde, Norfolk page 182/183, Blakeney, ISBN 1-85833-440-3
  8. ^ a b Wright, John (2002). "The origins of Blakeney Church". Glaven Historian. 5: 26–34.
  9. ^ Pevsner, Nikolaus; Wilson, Bill (2002). The Buildings of England Norfolk I: Norwich and North-East Norfolk. New Haven and London: Yale University Press. pp. 394–397. ISBN 0-300-09607-0.
  10. ^ The Medieval Carmelite Priory at Norwich: A Chronology Richard Copsey, O.Carm., London, 2006. Retrieved 2013-07-15
  11. ^ Historic England. "Friary Farmhouse (Grade II) (1253063)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  12. ^ Historic England. "Blakeney Mill (1170652)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  13. ^ The East Norfolk Railway, R.S. Joby p. 33
  14. ^ Historic England. "Manor Hotel (1039440)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  15. ^ Historic England. "Barn Annexe immediately west of the Blakeney Hotel (1039443)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  16. ^ "Blakeney through time : Population Statistics : Total Population". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  17. ^ County A to Z Atlas, Street & Road maps Norfolk, ISBN 978-1-84348-614-5
  18. ^ "Roll of Honour - Norfolk - Blakeney". www.roll-of-honour.com. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  19. ^ Nick Godfrey (22 July 2011). "Arthur Budgett:The only man to have trained and bred two Derby winners in the 20th century". The Independent. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
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Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Blakeney (Norfolk).
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Blakeney, Norfolk.
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