Morston is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It covers an area of 8.68 km2 (3.35 sq mi) and had a population of 86 in 42 households at the 2001 census.[1] The population remained less than 100 at the 2011 Census and was included in the civil parish of Blakeney. For the purposes of local government, it falls within the district of North Norfolk.

Morston
The quay at Morston
Morston is located in Norfolk
Morston
Morston
Location within Norfolk
Area8.68 km2 (3.35 sq mi)
OS grid referenceTG008438
Civil parish
  • Morston
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townHOLT
Postcode districtNR25
PoliceNorfolk
FireNorfolk
AmbulanceEast of England
List of places
UK
England
Norfolk
52°57′17″N 0°59′17″E / 52.95466°N 0.98812°E / 52.95466; 0.98812

The place-name 'Morston' is first attested in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as Merstona. The name means 'marsh town or settlement'.[2]

Like its neighbour Blakeney, Morston, used to be a major port 400 years ago, but is now only used by a small number of fishing boats, leisure craft and the regular seal watching trips which leave for Blakeney Point.

Morston Hall restaurant owned by Galton Blackiston is located in the parish.

Notes about Morston

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Harold Davidson (1875 – 1937), the "Rector of Stiffkey" was also the parish priest here.

The father of writer Annie Hall Cudlip commanded the local Coastguard station.

The 1973 Derby Stakes winner was Morston, the horse being named after the village.[3] Running for just the second time he was returned at odds of 25–1. His half-brother Blakeney won the same race in 1969.

Morston is the location of a large annual charity book sale, organised by the Friends of Morston Church.[4][5]

 
Morston Church
 
Panoramic view of Morston Quay in morning low tide

References

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  1. ^ Census population and household counts for unparished urban areas and all parishes Archived 2017-02-11 at the Wayback Machine. Office for National Statistics & Norfolk County Council (2001). Retrieved 20 June 2009.
  2. ^ Eilert Ekwall, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, p.331.
  3. ^ Times obituary-Arthur Budgett Retrieved 4 June 2015
  4. ^ Hurrell, Alex (26 April 2016). "One more edition of this Jane Austen classic would mean a very happy ending for this Norfolk church". Eastern Daily Press. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  5. ^ "Morston Book Sale". Friends of Morston Church. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
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