BLAKENEY, a parish and sea-port (small), in the
hundred of HOLT, county of NORFOLK, 1 mile (N. W.)
from Clay, and 125 (N. E.) from London, containing
803 inhabitants. This place is chiefly noted for its
excellent harbour, which is well situated for sheltering
vessels, and has a good opening to the North sea. It
was called Snitterley in the reign of Henry III., who
granted it a market; it first assumed its present name
in the reign of Edward III., in the 31st of which a statute
was passed for the regulation of the fish trade,
which was then carried on to a considerable extent, and
attracted a great number of German merchants, several
of whom fixed their residence in the town. The harbour
has been improved under an act of parliament
obtained in 1817, and vessels of considerable burden
can now approach the quay. The port is under the
superintendence of the custom-house establishment at
Clay: the trade with the northern states of Europe is
rapidly increasing; a few vessels are employed in the
oyster fisheries, and the coasting trade is considerable.
The number of vessels belonging to the port, according
to the return made in 1828, was fifty, averaging sixty"
five tons' .burden. There is an ancient guildhall in the
town, relative to which some old deeds are yet extant.
The living is a rectory, with the rectory of Cocktborpe,
the vicarage of Little Langham, and the perpetual curacy
of Glandford annexed, in the archdeaconry of Norfolk,
and diocese of Norwich, rated in the king's books
at £26. 13. 4., and in the patronage of Lord Calthorpe.
The church, dedicated to St. Nicholas, is a spacious
structure of stone and flint, with a square embattled
tower, which serves as a land-mark to mariners: a
lofty turret rises at the north-eastern corner of the
chancel, and is stated to have formerly contained a lign
for the guidance of vessels; the roof of the chancel is
curiously vaulted with stone. There is a place of worship
for Methodists. The Sunday school near the
church was erected by Lord Calthorpe, and is conducted
upon Dr. Bell's system. There are some remains,
consisting principally of several fine arches, of an ancient
monastery for Carmelites, founded in 1320 to the
honour of God and the Virgin Mary, in which John de
Baconthorpe, a learned divine and acute metaphysician,
became a friar, and ultimately Provincial of the English
Carmelites; he was born here, and died in London in
1346.