Blofield

{{Infobox UK place

| country = England

| coordinates = {{coord|52.635|1.448|display=inline,title}}

| os_grid_reference = TG333097

| official_name = Blofield

| population = 4,087

| population_ref = (Census 2021)

| area_total_km2 = 9.41

| static_image =

| static_image_caption =

| shire_district = Broadland

| shire_county = Norfolk

| region = East of England

| civil_parish = Blofield

| constituency_westminster = Broadland and Fakenham

| postcode_district = NR13

| postcode_area = NR

| post_town = NORWICH

| dial_code = 01603

| london_distance =

| type = Village

}}

Blofield is a village and civil parish in the Broadland district of the English county of Norfolk. The parish includes the village of Blofield and the hamlets of Blofield Heath and Blofield Corner.

Blofield is located five miles (8 km) east of Norwich and {{convert|14|mi|km|0}} west of Great Yarmouth.

History

Blofield's name is of either Anglo-Saxon or Viking origin and derives from either from the Old English for 'a blue field' or from the Old Norse for 'an exposed field.'{{Cite web |title=Key to English Place-names |url=http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Norfolk/Blofield |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=kepn.nottingham.ac.uk}}

Blofield is listed in the Domesday Book as a settlement of 61 households in the hundred of Blofield. In 1086, the village was divided between the estates of William, Bishop of Thetford and Ralph de Beaufour.{{Cite web |title=Blofield {{!}} Domesday Book |url=https://opendomesday.org/place/TG3309/blofield/ |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=opendomesday.org}}

There are two 17th century barns in Blofield: Church Farm Barn on Church Road{{Cite web |title=CHURCH FARM BARN, Blofield - 1051517 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1051517?section=official-list-entry |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}} and Manor Farm Barn on Yarmouth Road.{{Cite web |title=MANOR FARM BARN, Blofield - 1372654 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1372654?section=official-list-entry |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}}

In the 18th century, Blofield was a centre for brick making{{Cite web |title=mnf15581 - Norfolk Heritage Explorer |url=https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?mnf15581 |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk}} and the manufacturing of tiles.{{Cite web |title=mnf31642 - Norfolk Heritage Explorer |url=https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?mnf31642 |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk}}

There are numerous historic, listed cottages in Blofield. These include the 18th century "Little Timbers" on Danesblower Lane,{{Cite web |title=LITTLE TIMBERS, Blofield - 1152807 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1152807?section=official-list-entry |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}} 'Beech House' on Church Road,{{Cite web |title=BEECH HOUSE, Blofield - 1304590 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1304590?section=official-list-entry |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}} "Owls Barn House" on Lingwood Road.{{Cite web |title=HOUSE AT OWLS BARN, Blofield - 1372653 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1372653?section=official-list-entry |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}} As well as the 19th century "The Rookery" on Church Road,{{Cite web |title=THE ROOKERY, Blofield - 1051516 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1051516?section=official-list-entry |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}} 'Turrett House' on Yarmouth Road,{{Cite web |title=TURRETT HOUSE, Blofield - 1051518 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1051518?section=official-list-entry |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}} 'Hollybank' on Yarmouth Road,{{Cite web |title=HOLLYBANK AND ATTACHED GARDEN WALL, Blofield - 1152821 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1152821?section=official-list-entry |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}} 'The White House' on North Street{{Cite web |title=THE WHITE HOUSE, Blofield - 1152819 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1152819?section=official-list-entry |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}} and Blofield Court House, built in 1905.{{Cite web |title=TURRETT HOUSE, Blofield - 1051518 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1051518?section=official-list-entry |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}}

Geography

Blofield is bracketed by the courses of the River Bure to the north and the River Yare to the south. Though it no longer runs directly through the village, the A47, between Birmingham and Lowestoft, still runs through the parish.

According to the 2021 census, Blofield parish has a total population of 4,087 people which demonstrates a steep increase from the 3,316 people listed in the 2011 census.{{Cite web |title=Blofield (Parish, United Kingdom) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/eastofengland/admin/broadland/E04006205__blofield/ |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=www.citypopulation.de}}

Church of St. Andrew and St. Peter

Blofield's parish church is dedicated to Saint Andrew and Saint Peter, and was constructed in the 14th century.{{Cite web |title=CHURCH OF ST ANDREW AND ST PETER, Blofield - 1304595 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1304595?section=official-list-entry |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}} The church has one of the largest towers in Norfolk and was significantly remodelled in the 19th and 20th centuries; despite this an ornate, carved font survives dating from the 15th century. There is a stained-glass memorial to Margaret Gordon Harker designed by Clayton and Bell with further designs by Hardman & Co., J. & J. King, Kempe & Co. and Ward and Hughes.{{Cite web |title=The Norfolk Churches Site |url=http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/blofield/blofield.htm |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=www.norfolkchurches.co.uk}} The Church of St. Andrew and St. Peter has been Grade I listed since 1962.{{Cite web |title=CHURCH OF ST ANDREW AND ST PETER, Blofield - 1304595 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1304595?section=official-list-entry |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}}

Amenities

Village amenities include the recently reopened and refurbished Kings Head public house, Blofield County Primary School, a doctors' surgery, a library, scout hut, newsagent, post office/convenience store, fish and chip shop, florist, hairdresser, an outdoor leisure and camping store, a farm shop and a solicitor's office.

Sporting and social facilities are also provided by Margaret Harker Hall and Blofield Court House constitute the meeting place for a number of village groups; these include the Women's Institute (which was formed in 1918 and claims to be the oldest in Norfolk), Guides, badminton club, slimming groups and playgroup for children of pre-school age. The Court House also hosts regular film shows showing recent releases, usually on the first or second Friday of every month.

Blofield Heath has one Indian restaurant, The Tamarind, and a post office/convenience store. Heathlands Community Centre is a focal point for social activities. The village has a primary school, Hemblington County Primary. A pre-school playgroup also operates from Heathlands.

Transport

Blofield is served by the no. 15 Green Line bus route to Brundall, Norwich, Wymondham and Silfield; it is operated by First Eastern Counties. Buses operate hourly during the day; there is no service in the evenings, but there is a limited service as far as Norwich on Sundays.{{Cite web|title=Blofield Bus Services |url=https://bustimes.org/localities/blofield |website=Bustimes.org |access-date=18 May 2024}}

The nearest stations are {{rws|Brundall}} and {{rws|Brundall Gardens}}, both located approximately a mile away; there are regular services to {{rws|Great Yarmouth}}, {{rws|Lowestoft}} and {{rws|Norwich}}, which are operated by Greater Anglia.{{Cite web |work=Greater Anglia |title=Timetables |date=10 December 2023 |access-date=18 May 2024 |url= https://www.greateranglia.co.uk/timetables |quote=}}

Sport

Blofield has a tennis club founded in May 1924, with three grass courts and two hard court open to members. Tennis coaching and courses run by LTA licensed coaches for adults and juniors. Open club sessions and teams in mens, ladies and mixed leagues.

Blofield has two Non-League football clubs:

Norwich United, who play in the Anglian Combination Premier Division. Their home ground is at Plantation Park, just outside the village centre but within the parish.
Blofield United, who play in the Anglian Combination First Division. Their home ground at the Margaret Harker Hall playing field in the centre of the village.[http://www.buyfc.org.uk] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090606014919/http://www.buyfc.org.uk/|date=6 June 2009}}

Notable people

Sir Arthur Borton – Governor of Malta 1878-1884 was born in Blofield in 1814."Obituary." Times [London, England] 8 September 1893: 10. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 23 June 2013.
Darren Eadie – former football player who played for Norwich City and Leicester City.
John Edrich – England Test cricketer from 1963 to 1976, was born in Blofield in 1937.
John Emms- (1844-1912), English artist born in Blofield
Ken Brown – Norwich City manager from 1980 to 1987.
Robert McKelvie- (1912-1996), English cricketer, born in Blofield.
George Tuck- (1843-1920), English cricketer and lawyer, lived in Blofield
Roland Robertson- (1938-2022), Anglo-American sociologist, born in Blofield

Governance

Blofield is part of the electoral ward of Blofield with South Walsham for local elections and is part of the district of Broadland.

The village's national constituency is Broadland and Fakenham, which has been represented by Jerome Mayhew of the Conservative Party since 2019.

War Memorial

Blofield's war memorial is located in the Churchyard of St. Andrew and St. Peter. It takes the form of a granite cross and was erected in 1920.{{Cite web |title=Blofield War Memorial, Blofield - 1442117 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1442117?section=official-list-entry |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}} The memorial lists the following 32 men for the First World War:{{Cite web |title=Roll of Honour - Norfolk - Blofield |url=https://www.roll-of-honour.com/Norfolk/Blofield.html |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=www.roll-of-honour.com}}

class="wikitable"

!Rank

!Name

!Unit

!Date of Death

!Other Commemoration / Burial

Lt.

|Reginald E. Blyth

|HMS Barham

|31 May 1916

|Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton

Cpl.