Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Blore, Thomas
BLORE, THOMAS (1704–1818), topographer, born at Ashborne, Derbyshire, 1 Dec. 1764, received his education at the grammar school there, and afterwards became a solicitor at Derby. He then removed to Hopton to undertalk the management of the airs of Mr. Philip Gell, on whose death, in 1795, he came to London and entered the Middle Temple, though he was never called to the bar. Subsequently, during a residence at Benwick Hall, near Hertford, he made extensive collections relating to the topography and antiquities of Hertfordshire. These filled three folio volumes of closely written manuscript, which formed the nucleus of Clutterbuck's history of the county. Afterwards Blore resided successively at Mansfield Woodhouse, at Burr House, near Bakewell, at Manton, in Rutland, and at Stamford. The latter borough he unsuccessfully contested in the whig interest, and he also edited for a brief period 'Drakard's Stamford News.' He died in London 10 Nov. 1818, and was buried in Paddington Church, where a stone bearing the following strange inscription was erected: 'Sacred to the memory of Thomas Blore, Gentleman, of the honourable society of the Middle Temple and member of the Antiquarian Society, whose days were embittered and whose life was shortened by intense application. He died November 10th, 1818, aged 63 years.' He was father of Edward Blore [q. v.]
He was an able and diligent topographer, and it is to be regretted that his labours brought so few works to a successful termination. His publications are:
- 'An History of the Manor and Manor House of South Winfield, in Derbyshire,' printed in Nichols's 'Miscellaneous Antiquities' (in continuation of the 'Bib1iotheca Topographica Britannica'), vol. i. No. 3, 1791, 4to, reprinted separately, London, 1793, 4to.
- 'Proposals for publishing a History of Derbyshire.'
- 'A History of Alderwasley,' in four pages, folio, as a specimen of his 'History of Derbyshire.'
- 'A History of Breadsall Priory, in the county of Derby,' printed in the 'Topographical Miscellany,' 1791.
- 'A Statement of a Correspondence with Richard Phillips, Esq., respecting the "Antiquary's Magazine,"' Stamford, 1807, 8vo.
- 'The History and Antiquities of the County of Rutland, vol. i. pt. 2, one vol. royal folio, Stamford, 1811. With many plates and genealogical tables. This was the only 'part published. It includes the East Hundred and the Hundred of Casterton Parva.
- 'An Account of the Public Schools, Hospitals, and other Charitable Foundations in the borough of Stamford, in the counties of Lincoln and Rutland,' Stamford, 1813, 8vo.
- 'A Guide to Burghley House, Northamptonshire, the seat of the Marquis of Exeter; containing an Account of all the paintings, antiquities, &c., with biographical notices of the Artists,' Stamford, 1815, 8vo (anon.)
[Jewitt's Reliqary, iii. 1-13, Biog. Dict. of Living Authors (1816), 31; Watt's Bibl. Brit., Cat. of Printed Books in Brit. Mus.; Notes and Queries, 4th ser. v. 465, viii. 436, ix. 393.]
Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.30
N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line
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