Welcome to Burnham Overy
CLICK FOR 2021 CENSUS DATAIntroduction
Burnham Overy is a civil parish on the north coast of Norfolk, England. In modern times a distinction is often made between the two settlements of Burnham Overy Town, the original village adjacent to the medieval parish church and now reduced to a handful of houses, and Burnham Overy Staithe, a rather larger hamlet about 1-mile (1.6 km) away and next to the creek-side harbour. The villages name means 'Homestead/village on the River Burn' or perhaps, 'hemmed-in land on the River Burn'. 'Overy', meaning 'Over the river', was added to distinguish it from the other Burnhams in Norfolk. Burnham Overy lies between the larger village of Burnham Market, less than 1-mile (1.6 km) to the west, and Holkham, some 3 miles (4.8 km) to the east. The larger town of King’s Lynn is 20 miles (32 km) to the south-west (with the closest railway station), whilst the city of Norwich is 30 miles (48 km) to the south-east. Burnham Thorpe, the birthplace of Horatio, Admiral Lord Nelson, lies 1-mile (1.6 km) to the south-east. According to various letters and documents, Nelson learned to row and sail a dinghy at Burnham Overy Staithe, at the age of 10, two years before joining the Navy. The village’s only pub is called “The Hero” in his honour. The civil parish has an area of 8.92 km2 and in the 2001 census had a population of 311 in 167 households, reducing to a population of 134 measured at the 2011 Census. For the purposes of local government, the parish falls within the district of King's Lynn and West Norfolk.Historically Burnham Overy was the port for the surrounding villages of the Burnhams. Both settlements lie on the River Burn, and until the end of the Middle Ages trading ships were able to reach the village (now Burnham Overy Town). With the silting of the river, commercial traffic switched to the downstream Staithe. With the coming of the railway to the Burnhams in 1866, commercial shipping declined and the last cargo is believed to have been shipped from the Staithe soon after the end of the First World War.Between Burnham Overy Staithe and the sea, the river spreads out into multiple tidal creeks through the salt marshes that fringe this stretch of coast, and finally reaches the sea by passing through the fronting sand dunes at a gap near Gun Hill locally known as Burnham Harbour. Small boats can reach Burnham Overy Staithe through this gap and creek. Today Burnham Overy Staithe, and the associated harbour, is a recreational sailing centre. It is also the point of departure for seasonal ferries to the Scolt Head Island National Nature Reserve.To the east of the Burnham Overy creek, the former salt marshes between dry land and the sand dunes have been reclaimed to form fresh water meadows, part of the Holkham estate. A one-and-a-half-mile (2.4 km) long footpath links Burnham Overy Staithe to the sand-dunes and beach, running along the crest of the embankment which protects these water meadows from the creek.
Parish Information
Parish statistics
Area |
913 hectares |
---|---|
Population |
296 (2021) |
Density |
32 people/km2 |
Mean age |
53.6 |
Ward |
Burnham Market & Docking |
District |
King's Lynn and West Norfolk |
Postcodes |
NR23, PE31 |
ONS ID |
E04006293 |
Council
Contact details for Burnham Overy Parish Council, including current councillors, precept data and election results.
Education
View educational establishments in Burnham Overy Parish. Data includes OFSTED rating and current appointed governors.
Business
Business directory listing local businesses operating within Burnham Overy Parish.
Planning
View recent planning applications submitted for Burnham Overy Parish.
Property
Price paid data for all property sold in Burnham Overy Parish since 2018. Includes average prices for each property type.
Heritage
Local heritage sites, historic churches, heritage pubs plus local heritage initiatives for Burnham Overy Parish.
Local News
Hosted and licensed by BBC.com
Burnham Market to build north Norfolk 'locals only' homes
Published: 5th Dec 2023
Hosted and licensed by Lynn News
Married couple’s plans to demolish 1970s bungalow and build ‘beautiful modern home’ on coast are rejected
Published: 9th Feb 2024
Hosted and licensed by Eastern Daily Press
West Norfolk rare bird project in Deepdale approved
Published: 5th Mar 2024