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Norfolk Heritage Explorer

Record Details

NHER Number:	6167
Type of record:	Building
Name:	St Nicholas' Church, Blakeney

Summary

A medieval parish church, dating mainly to the 13th and 15th centuries. It is noted especially for its twin towers and rare seven lancet east window. It also contains some 16th century graffiti of ships.

Images

Location

Grid Reference:	TG 032 436
Map Sheet:	TG04SW
Parish:	BLAKENEY, NORTH NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Full description

Chancel Early English (13th century); nave and tower 1435; sanctus bellcote on turret to east.
East window is almost unique in the country, a group of seven stepped lancets under hoodmoulds.
Good font.
Burials discovered 1981.
16th century graffiti of sailing ships in church, see (S1).
See (S2) and (S3).
E. Rose (NAU) 24 September 1981.

1985. Context 2.
Late Saxon/Medieval sherds found.
See file.
E. Rose (NAU) 6 August 1985.

1989. Field Observation.
Restoration work allowed access to the tower, believed to date to 1434. Each wall of the central stage has a large blocked opening, carefully faced over externally so as not to be visible. This pre-19th century work may indicate that the tower was originally designed with an extra level of openings.
These observations are noted in (S5).
P. Watkins (HES), 10 March 2017.

October 1999-January 2000.
Observations during building work.
A. Rogerson (NLA) 7 March 2000.

September 2001.
Observations during building work date the blocked door in the tower to 1853.
D. Gurney (NLA), 17 September 2001.

April 2004. Stray find.
1 Middle Saxon Ispwich Ware pottery sherd.
Information from PAS import.
E. McDonald (HES), 3 August 2017.

This is one of the sixty five churches selected for (S4).
D. Gurney (NLA), 17 February 2006.

Monument Types

CHURCH (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
CHURCH (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Finds

POT (Middle Saxon - 720 AD to 850 AD)
POT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
DOOR (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
DOOR (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
FONT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
WINDOW (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
WINDOW (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
INSCRIBED OBJECT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Protected Status

Listed Building

Sources and further reading

---	Aerial Photograph: TG0540F-H.
---	Article in Serial: 1923. Proceedings at Meetings of the Royal Archaeological Institute. The Archaeological Journal. Vol 80, pp 323-363. p 347.
---	Monograph: Bryant, T. H. 1902. Hundred of Holt. The Churches of Norfolk. Vol IX. pp 10-18.
---	Record Card: Ordnance Survey Staff. 1933-1979?. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. TG 04 SW 16.
---	Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
---	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1996. Ancient church with a big heart. 9 April.
---	Monograph: Pevsner, N. and Wilson, B. 1997. Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East. The Buildings of England. 2nd Edition. pp 394-396; Pl 9.
---	Publication: Linnel, Rev.. [unknown].
---	Article in Serial: Fawcett, R. 1980. Blakeney Church. The Archaeological Journal. Vol 137 pp 346-347.
---	Article in Serial: Hayden, A. 2007. Church and Other Organs. Glaven Historian. No 10 pp 3-9.
---	Secondary File: Secondary File.
---	Monograph: Pevsner, N. 1962. North-East Norfolk and Norwich. The Buildings of England. 1st Edition. pp 92-94; Pl 22b, Pl 45a.
---	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1989. Restoration project is on schedule. 9 May.
---	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2006. A place in history - 27: St Nicholas Church, Blakeney. 7 October.
---	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1992. [Photograph of St Nicholas' Church, Blakeney]. 11 July.
---	Collection: Norfolk Historic Environment Record Staff. 1975-[2000]. HER Record Notes. Norfolk Historic Environment Service.
---	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2015. Matthew's team discovers a lost world of art. 21 November.
<S1>	Article in Serial: Ferrouset, K.. 1988. Ship graffiti in the churches of Blakeney Haven.. NARG News. No 51.
<S2>	Unpublished Document: Rose, E.. 1981. Building Report. Building Report.
<S3>	Designation: Historic England. National Heritage List for England. List Entry 1039495.
<S4>	Publication: Jenkins, S. 2000. England's Thousand Best Churches.
<S5>	Article in Serial: Gurney, D (ed.). 1990. Excavations and Surveys in Norfolk 1989. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XLI Pt I pp 107-112. p 108.