Country: | England |
Coordinates: | 52.7179°N 1.6622°W |
Label Position: | bottom |
Os Grid Reference: | TG 480 197 |
Official Name: | Somerton |
Population: | 289 |
Population Ref: | (2011)[1] |
Area Total Km2: | 8.25 |
Static Image Name: | West somerton Mary.jpg |
Static Image Caption: | West Somerton St Mary |
Region: | East of England |
Civil Parish: | Somerton |
Postcode District: | NR29 |
Postcode Area: | NR |
Post Town: | GREAT YARMOUTH |
Somerton is a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It comprises the twin villages of East Somerton and West Somerton and is situated some 14km (09miles) north of the town of Great Yarmouth, 35km (22miles) north-east of the city of Norwich, and 2km (01miles) from the sea.[2]
The civil parish has an area of 8.25km2 and in the 2001 census, had a population of 257 in 93 households, the population increasing to 289 at the 2011 Census. For the purposes of local government, the parish falls within the district of Great Yarmouth.[3]
The church of West Somerton St Mary is one of 124 existing round-tower churches in Norfolk.
In the churchyard is the grave of Robert Hales, the Norfolk Giant. He was born in the village in 1820 and one of nine children. Eventually reaching 7feet and over, he worked in the circus world, met Queen Victoria and retired to a pub in London. As his health worsened he returned to Norfolk, where he died in 1863.[4]