Blomefield

Blomefield, FRANCIS, the topographer of Norfolk, rector of Hargham and Fersfield, and afterwards of Brockdish, was born at Fersfield, 23d July 1705, and died 16th January 1752. The great achievement of his life was his History of Norfolk, which, though abounding in errors, is a vast storehouse of information on the subject. In 1735, while collecting materials for it, he discovered the 'Paston Letters.' The first volume appeared in folio in 1739, the second in folio and quarto in 1745; Blomefield died ere the completion of the third volume, which, with a fourth and fifth by the Rev. C. Parkin, appeared at Lynn (1769-75; new ed. 11 vols. London, 1805-10; index, 1862).