- Blofield
Blofield is a village and
civil parish in theBroadland district ofNorfolk ,England . The parish includes Blofield and the hamlets of Blofield Heath and Blofield Corner and, according to the 2001 census, had a population of 3,221. It is on the A47, five miles east ofNorwich and 14 miles west ofGreat Yarmouth . Since construction of a bypass in 1982, the A47 no longer passes through the village.History
Mentioned in the
Domesday Book as "Blafelda" and "Blauuefelde", Blofield has a long history. There are a number of theories regarding the origins of its name, which may derive from the Anglo-Saxon for blue "Blech" or "Bleo", blossom "Bloo" or blow "Blowan", along with the word for field "Feld". The oldest building in the village is the Parish Church of St Andrew and St Peter, built sometime between 1420 and 1444, [http://www.blofield.net/church.htm] and largely replacing an earlier Norman structure. Large in size, it reflects the prosperity of the wool trade over this period.Blofield today
Village amenities include the "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 and hairdresser. Sporting facilities are provided by a tennis club and by
Blofield United F.C. , who play in the Anglian Combination Premier Division.Blofield United Youth FC [http://www.geocities.com/blofieldunitedyfc] have their home ground at Heathlands, in Blofield Heath. Sporting and social facilities are also provided byNorwich United F.C. , who play at Plantation Park, just outside the village centre but within the parish. The Margaret Harker Hall and Blofield Court House constitute the meeting place for a number of village groups, such as the Women's Institute (which was formed in 1918, and claims to be the oldest inNorfolk ), Guides, badminton club, slimming groups and playgroup for children of pre-school age. During the day it is served by the hourly 17 bus toNorwich operated byFirst Eastern Counties ; there is no service in the evenings or on Sundays. The nearest railway station is about a mile away, in the village ofBrundall . Blofield Heath has one public house, "The Two Friends", and a post office/convenience store. Heathlands Community Centre is a focal point for social activities and the village also has a primary school, Hemblington County Primary.
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