The production of Francis Blomefield’s An Essay towards Topographical History of Norfolk began in 1732 when the author was in contact with Thomas Martin (1697–1771), who provided access to literature on Norfolk’s history. Initially intended as a two-volume work released in monthly parts to subscribers, it eventually became a much larger project that did not begin until 1736. Blomefield’s second volume, which was assembled from 1739, concentrated on Norwich as a result of competitive interest from Benjamin Mackerell who intended to produce a rival volume on the city.13