Blakeney, Norfolk

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Blakeney Harbour
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Blakeney Harbour
Blakeney, looking out to Blakeney Point and the sea from Mariners Hill
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Blakeney, looking out to Blakeney Point and the sea from Mariners Hill
The High Street in Blakeney
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The High Street in Blakeney

Blakeney is a village and civil parish on the north coast of the English county of Norfolk, between Sheringham and Wells-next-the-Sea. It lies within the North Norfolk AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) and the North Norfolk Heritage Coast. The North Norfolk Coastal Path passes through the village.[1]

The civil parish has an area of 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.[2]

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. The harbour and surrounding marshes are owned by the National Trust and is a nature reserve where seals can be seen basking on the sand.

Just inland from the harbour is Mariners Hill. This vantage point is believed to be man made, probably as a lookout point for the harbour. Adjacent to the hill, at the foot of the village's High treet, is the old Guildhall with a 14th century undercroft.

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

[edit] References

  1. ^ Ordnance Survey (2002). OS Explorer Map 251 - Norfolk Coast Central. ISBN 0-319-21887-2.
  2. ^ Office for National Statistics & Norfolk County Council (2001). Census population and household counts for unparished urban areas and all parishes. Retrieved December 2, 2005.

[edit] External links