The small parish of Carleton Forehoe lies in eastern central Norfolk about 3 miles north of the market town of Wymondham. As its name suggests Carleton Forehoe lies in the Saxon hundred of Forehoe, a story goes that the 4 hills were man made structures in this parish where the Saxon court was held. A pair of tumuli a half mile away may give the legend a trace of truth. Carleton Forehoe sits just south of the B1108 road which connects the city of Norwich, westwards through Hingham to Watton. The parish was tiny, even by Norfolk standards, covering just 700 acres of typically arable farmland on the northern slopes of the shallow valley of the River Tiffey. Today Carleton Forehoe is merely a scatter of farms and cottages with no defined village centre as such.

St Mary's church sits in an isolated site just south of the B1108 and with no driveable access it is only reachable on foot across footpaths. The church is in a churchyard surrounded by trees such that only its tower is visible from the roads. The church is late with the main body dating from the 15th century and Perpendicular in style. The western tower, making much use of brick to contrast with the flint, is later still with a completion date of 1713, in the reign of Queen Anne. A significant restoration took place in 1863 which saw much altered. The start of the pathway to the church is marked by a small white sign on the eastern verge, a beaten track runs across a pasture to the site. Despite being closely surrounded by trees there are just about sufficient angles for photography.