Francis Blomefield
Encyclopedia
Francis Blomefield was an English antiquary
, who projected a county history
of Norfolk
. During his lifetime, he compiled and published detailed accounts of the city of Norwich
, Borough of Thetford
and the southern hundreds of the county, but died before the whole work could be completed.
in south Norfolk, the eldest son of Henry and Alice Blomefield, who were yeomen farmers. He was educated at Diss
and Thetford Grammar School
s, and in April 1724, he was admitted to Caius College
, Cambridge
, where he graduated BA in 1727 and MA in 1728. Upon leaving university in 1727, he was ordained as rector of Hargham in 1729, and shortly afterwards as rector of Fersfield, his father's family living. On 1 September 1732, he married Mary Womack, the daughter of a former rector of Fersfield. They had three daughters, two of whom survived him.
As a boy, Blomefield began recording monumental inscriptions from churches he visited in Norfolk
, Suffolk
and later Cambridgeshire
. Whilst at college, he also kept genealogical and heraldic notes relating to local families. Soon after leaving university, he was collecting materials for an account of the antiquities of Cambridgeshire, but in 1732, this project was deferred when he was given access to Peter Le Neve
's huge collection of materials for the history of Norfolk, by Le Neve's executor "Honest Tom" Martin. In July 1733, Blomefield published his proposals for publishing An essay towards a topographical history of Norfolk in parts. Soon afterwards, while collecting further information for his history, he discovered some of the famous Paston Letters
. By 1736, he was ready to begin publishing the results of his researches into type, assisted by his friend Charles Parkin
, the rector of Oxborough
. At the end of 1739, the first volume of Blomefield’s History of Norfolk was completed. It was printed at the author's own press at Fersfield
, acquired especially for the purpose. The second volume, consisting of a detailed history of Norwich
, was begun in 1741 and completed by 1745. In 1751, Blomefield published his Cambridgeshire
notes as a single volume entitled Collectanea Cantabrigiensia. He was two-thirds through his third volume, but had only covered about 40% of the county when he contracted smallpox
during a visit to London
, and died in Fersfield in January 1752.
between 1769 and 1775. The entire work was subsequently reprinted in eleven quarto volumes in London between 1805 and 1810.
, John Kirkpatrick of Norwich and Tanner
, his own work being to some extent one of expansion and addition, although he did compile extensive collections of his own.
Antiquarian
An antiquarian or antiquary is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient objects of art or science, archaeological and historic sites, or historic archives and manuscripts...
, who projected a county history
English county histories
English county histories, in other words historical and topographical works concerned with individual ancient counties of England before their reorganisation, were produced by antiquarians from the late 16th century onwards...
of Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
. During his lifetime, he compiled and published detailed accounts of the city of Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, Borough of Thetford
Thetford
Thetford is a market town and civil parish in the Breckland district of Norfolk, England. It is on the A11 road between Norwich and London, just south of Thetford Forest. The civil parish, covering an area of , has a population of 21,588.-History:...
and the southern hundreds of the county, but died before the whole work could be completed.
Biography
Francis Blomefield was born in the village of FersfieldFersfield
Fersfield is a village in the English county of Norfolk. It was the home parish of Francis Blomefield, whose History of Norfolk documents the history of much of South Norfolk, and forms part of the parish of Bressingham and Fersfield .- Location :Fersfield is bounded on the east and south by the...
in south Norfolk, the eldest son of Henry and Alice Blomefield, who were yeomen farmers. He was educated at Diss
Diss
Diss is a town in Norfolk, England close to the border with the neighbouring East Anglian county of Suffolk.The town lies in the valley of the River Waveney, around a mere that covers . The mere is up to deep, although there is another of mud, making it one of the deepest natural inland lakes...
and Thetford Grammar School
Thetford Grammar School
Thetford Grammar School is an independent co-educational school in Thetford, Norfolk, England. The school traces its origins back to 631, and through its Roll of Headmasters to 1114, though it appears to have ceased from around 1496 until its refoundation from the will of Sir Richard Fulmerston in...
s, and in April 1724, he was admitted to Caius College
Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
Gonville and Caius College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. The college is often referred to simply as "Caius" , after its second founder, John Keys, who fashionably latinised the spelling of his name after studying in Italy.- Outline :Gonville and...
, Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, where he graduated BA in 1727 and MA in 1728. Upon leaving university in 1727, he was ordained as rector of Hargham in 1729, and shortly afterwards as rector of Fersfield, his father's family living. On 1 September 1732, he married Mary Womack, the daughter of a former rector of Fersfield. They had three daughters, two of whom survived him.
As a boy, Blomefield began recording monumental inscriptions from churches he visited in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
and later Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
. Whilst at college, he also kept genealogical and heraldic notes relating to local families. Soon after leaving university, he was collecting materials for an account of the antiquities of Cambridgeshire, but in 1732, this project was deferred when he was given access to Peter Le Neve
Peter Le Neve
Peter Le Neve was an English herald and antiquary. He was appointed Rouge Dragon Pursuivant 17 January 1690 and created Norroy King at Arms on 25 May 1704. From 1707 to 1721 he was Richmond Herald of Arms in Ordinary, an officer of arms of the College of Arms...
's huge collection of materials for the history of Norfolk, by Le Neve's executor "Honest Tom" Martin. In July 1733, Blomefield published his proposals for publishing An essay towards a topographical history of Norfolk in parts. Soon afterwards, while collecting further information for his history, he discovered some of the famous Paston Letters
Paston Letters
The Paston Letters are a collection of letters and papers from England, consisting of the correspondence of members of the gentry Paston family, and others connected with them, between the years 1422 and 1509, and also including some state papers and other important documents.- History of the...
. By 1736, he was ready to begin publishing the results of his researches into type, assisted by his friend Charles Parkin
Charles Parkin
-Life:The son of William Parkin of London, he was born on 11 January 1689, and educated at Merchant Taylors' School. He went in 1708 to Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, and graduated B.A. 1711, M.A. 1717...
, the rector of Oxborough
Oxborough
Oxborough is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk.It covers an area of and had a population of 240 in 106 households as of the 2001 census. For the purposes of local government, it falls within the district of Breckland....
. At the end of 1739, the first volume of Blomefield’s History of Norfolk was completed. It was printed at the author's own press at Fersfield
Fersfield
Fersfield is a village in the English county of Norfolk. It was the home parish of Francis Blomefield, whose History of Norfolk documents the history of much of South Norfolk, and forms part of the parish of Bressingham and Fersfield .- Location :Fersfield is bounded on the east and south by the...
, acquired especially for the purpose. The second volume, consisting of a detailed history of Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, was begun in 1741 and completed by 1745. In 1751, Blomefield published his Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
notes as a single volume entitled Collectanea Cantabrigiensia. He was two-thirds through his third volume, but had only covered about 40% of the county when he contracted smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
during a visit to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and died in Fersfield in January 1752.
Completion of the “History of Norfolk”
The topographical history of the remaining areas of Norfolk was subsequently completed by Blomefield’s friend, Charles Parkin, between 1753 and 1765 (albeit in a far less detailed and accurate manner than Blomefield had managed). The remaining sheets of volume 3 and two further folio volumes were published at King's LynnKing's Lynn
King's Lynn is a sea port and market town in the ceremonial county of Norfolk in the East of England. It is situated north of London and west of Norwich. The population of the town is 42,800....
between 1769 and 1775. The entire work was subsequently reprinted in eleven quarto volumes in London between 1805 and 1810.
Assessment
Blomefield’s Norfolk was both detailed and largely reliable and comparable with the best county histories of the period. There is little doubt that in compiling his book Blomefield had frequent recourse to the existing historical collections of Peter Le NevePeter Le Neve
Peter Le Neve was an English herald and antiquary. He was appointed Rouge Dragon Pursuivant 17 January 1690 and created Norroy King at Arms on 25 May 1704. From 1707 to 1721 he was Richmond Herald of Arms in Ordinary, an officer of arms of the College of Arms...
, John Kirkpatrick of Norwich and Tanner
Thomas Tanner (bishop)
Thomas Tanner was an English antiquary and prelate.-Life:He was born at Market Lavington in Wiltshire, and was educated at Queen's College, Oxford, taking holy orders in 1694...
, his own work being to some extent one of expansion and addition, although he did compile extensive collections of his own.
External links
- Blomefield's History of Norfolk at Wikisource