Blakeney, Norfolk

Description
Blakeney, a small seaport and a parish in Norfolk. the seaport stands on a natural harbour of its own name, 5 1/2 miles NNW of Holt station on the Eastern and Midland railway, and 7 1/2 E of Wells station on the G.E.R., and has a post, money order, and telegraph office under Dereham. It was anciently called Snitterley, and it got the right to a market in the time of Henry III. A Carmelite monastery was founded at it about 1295, and given at the dissolution to William Rede; and some remains of the edifice, including several fine arches, are still standing. John de Baconsthorpe, who was styled the resolute and subtle doctor, held a place in the monastery, and rose to be head of the English Carmelites. The parish church, on an eminence a little S of the town, is a curious flint structure, in Early and in Later English ; has a lofty embattled tower, which serves as a mark to mariners in taking the harbour; and contains a fine ancient font, three sedilia, and remains of a screen and stalls. It was restored at a cost of over £6000 in 1883-87. There are Primitive Methodist and Wesleyan chapels. The harbour has a dangerous shifting bar, yet serves well both for commerce and for shelter. The chief export is corn ; the chief imports are coal, timber and deals, oilcake, and manure. The parish comprises 1432 acres of land, with 1048 of foreshore and water; population of the civil parish, 807; of the ecclesiastical, 974. The living is a rectory, united with the rectory of Glandford and the rectory of Cockthorpe and Little Langham, in the diocese of Norwich; gross value, £500 with residence. Patron, Lord Calthorpe.