Blo Norton
| Blo' Norton | |
|---|---|
 St Andrew's parish church |
|
 Blo' Norton
Blo' Norton shown within Norfolk
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| Area | 4.62 km2 (1.78 sq mi) |
| Population | 270 (2001 Census) |
| • Density | 58/km2 (150/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | TM0179 |
| Civil parish |
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| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Diss |
| Postcode district | IP22 |
| Police | Norfolk |
| Fire | Norfolk |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament | |
| Website | Blo' Norton Parish Council |
Blo' Norton is a village and civil parish in the Breckland district of Norfolk, England, on the River Little Ouse, about 6 1⁄2 miles (10 km) west of Diss. The 2001 Census recorded the parish population as 270 people, living in about 100 households.
Blo' Norton's unusual placename is reputedly derived from ‘Blae’, an old Old English word Old Norse meaning both ‘cold’ and ‘blue’. The ‘blue’ could refer to the woad plant that grows in wetter areas and is a source of traditional blue dye. ‘Norton’ is a settlement on the north side of the river.
Bill Bryson mentioned the placename in his book Notes From A Small Island. The name was also briefly featured in an episode of the Channel 4 television show So Graham Norton.
There is evidence of people living in the area from Anglo-Saxon times, and perhaps from the Romano-British period. Aerial photographs show outlines of buildings and tracks that may be from the Romano-British period, near to Blo' Norton Hall.
The Church of England parish church of St Andrew was built in the 13th century, remodelled in the 14th century and restored in 1879. It is a Grade II* listed building.
The west tower has a ring of six bells. Thomas Osborn, who had bell-foundries at Downham Market in Norfolk and St Neots in Cambridgeshire, cast five of the bells including the tenor in 1794. John Warner & Sons of Cripplegate, London cast the treble bell in 1892.
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Wikipedia