Somerton, Norfolk

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 14 km north of the town of Great Yarmouth, 35 km north-east of the city of Norwich, and 2 km from the sea.

The civil parish has an area of 8.25 km2 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.

The church of West Somerton St Mary is one of 124 existing round-tower churches in Norfolk.

Notable residents
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 7 ft and over 32 st, 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.