The parish of Holkham lies on Norfolk's northern coast about 2 miles west of the port of Wells next the Sea and astride the A149 road which connects Wells with Hunstanton & the Burnhams. Holkham is dominated by the seat of the Coke family, the Earls of Leicester, and has been changed beyond all recognition by the creation of one of the nation's greatest landed estates. What was presumable just a small village sitting on the edges of the salt marshes of the north Norfolk coast has been transformed into a vast area of deer-filled parkland, by Capability Brown, and graced by the Palladian style mansion that was the home of the Coke family and is now a visitor attraction to visitors from all of the world. The village has been reduced to a model set of pretty cottages (some for selling souvenirs) outside the northern gateway to the park. The vast expanse of Holkham Bay, which would have provided sustenance from shellfish & wildfowl to the residents at the time of this transcript, is now also a superb visitor attraction with many miles of trails giving access to the vast beach, pine forest and salt marshes. At the time of this transcript the estate would have provided a major source of income to the local (and imported from elsewhere) residents of the parish as can be seen from the occupations of the fathers. Despite this there were the normal Norfolk agricultural activities, indeed the Coke family and "Farmer Coke" in particularly are often credited for developing the Norfolk rotation system of cropping.

St Withburga's church sits within the park on a small knoll overlooking the ornamental lake and is a focus for many of the walking routes through the estate. It would be nice to say that the church is a mediaeval survival and much of its appearance suggests that it is. The reality is that most of the church was rebuilt and replicated the original styles in 1868, this restoration ("severely" quoting Pevsner) swept away an earlier restoration of 1767. Pevsner was unsure in many respects as to which details were genuine and which later reproduction but quotes from the restoration work which found traces of a Saxo-Norman tower in the space currently occupied by the west bay of the nave, so a building has stood here since the 11th or 12th century. The tower is assigned 13th to 14th centuries, also 14th century the northern aisle and arcade but much else is left undated presumably as a result of the restorations. The church is readily accessible on foot through the park and is a very pleasant walk from the northern gate, a gate directly onto the A149 is only opened for weddings and funerals etc. due to the safety issues.