Burnham Overy
The Staithe
Burnham Overy Location within Norfolk
Area	17.92 km2 (6.92 sq mi)
Population	297 (2021)
• Density	17/km2 (44/sq mi)
OS grid reference	TF843435
Civil parish	Burnham Overy
District	King's Lynn and West Norfolk
Shire county	Norfolk
Region	East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	KING'S LYNN
Postcode district	PE31
Dialling code	01328
Police	Norfolk
Fire	Norfolk
Ambulance	East of England
UK Parliament	North West Norfolk
List of places UK England Norfolk 52°57′26″N 0°44′32″E / 52.95720°N 0.74227°E / 52.95720; 0.74227

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 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.^[1] For the purposes of local government, the parish falls within the district of King's Lynn and West Norfolk.^[2]

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 Norfolk Burnhams.^[3]

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.

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.^[4]

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.^[5][6]

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.^[5]

According to the 2021 census, Burnham Overy has a population of 297 people which shows an increase from the 134 people recorded in the 2011 census.^[7]

The village is located along the A149, between King's Lynn and Great Yarmouth, and on the course of the River Burn as it flows out to sea.

Burnham Overy's parish church is dedicated to St Clement and dates from the 12th century. St Clement's is located outside of the village, at the junction of Mill Road and Wells Road, and has been Grade I listed since 1953.^[8] The church was not restored in the 19th century and retains many of its Medieval features in addition to a set of Stuart royal arms which have been re-lettered with the name of King George III.^[9]

• Richard Woodget (1845-1928), captain of the Cutty Sark, born and died in Burnham Overy.
• Robert Austin (1895-1973), artist and engraver, died in Burnham Overy.

In Joan G. Robinson's 1967 book When Marnie Was There, the villages of Little Overton and Barnham are based upon Burnham Overy, especially the key locations of the staithe and the windmill.

Leith House Orchards, a family-run plum, greengage and damson orchard, was featured in January 2023, in BBC Two's The Hairy Bikers Go Local.^[10][11]

Burnham Overy Staithe is part of the electoral ward of Burnham Market & Docking for local elections and is part of the district of King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

The village's national constituency is North West Norfolk which has been represented by the Conservative's James Wild MP since 2010.

Burnham Overy's war memorial is a granite celtic cross which has been Grade II listed since 2015.^[12] The memorial lists the following name for the First World War:^[13]

And: John V. Moorhouse. And the following for the Second World War:

• Map sources for Burnham Overy
• Photographs of Burnham Overy Staithe
• Tide tables for Burnham Overy Staithe
• Information from NorfolkCoast.co.uk on Burnham Overy.
• Webcam showing the harbour at Burnham Overy Staithe