The grovves on the church wall at Wiveton are said to have been made during the 16th and 17th centuries when Wiveton actually lay next to the sea and great ships lay at anchor in Wivetons harbour and would throw their ropes over into the churchyard for extra anchorage. At this time Wiveton the tidal estuary flowed inland all the way up to Glandford and Wiveton was a flourishing port with its own shipbuilding industry.  However, silting up of this channel has left todays Wiveton over a mile from the coast.  

Further evidence of Wivetons relationship with the sea lies Inside the church behind the Rector’s reading desk, whereon the stones skilfully scribed are carvings of ships dating from the 15th and 16th centuries, drawn perhaps by eager boys, after witnessing these heavily laden ships at anchor just outside the door of St. Marys.

Today the narrow lanes of this small village wind and twist to no particular plan, coaxing the visitor round each bend just to see what will happen next. Houses and cottages of all shapes and sizes flank these lanes, in a happy haphazard mish mash of differing styles. On the village green in front of the 15th century church is a half-buried cannon, said to date from the Napoleonic wars also a reminder of times long gone, its history and origin long lost in the mists of time.

For long walks try Wiveton Downs with its fine coastal views or just down the road is the equally small village of Glandford with its interesting Shell Museum. Glandford was a model village built by the Jodrells, well designed cottages with Flemish gables.

Here you will find beautiful views in both direction from the churchyard up and down the Glaven valley. The church itself was lovingly repaired by Sir Alfred Jodrell in 1900 and has a carved hammerbeam roof. The little museum of shells and fossils were collected by the fisherman artist John Craske between 1881 and 1943 from all over the world.

At Wiveton you will find no shops, though the village does boast a village inn which sits as is tradition on the village green close to the church serving good food.  Basic provisions can be obtained from nearby Cley-next-the-sea - ten minutes walk away, or for a larger range of shops go inland to the Georgian town of Holt located just four miles distant.

Cley Reserve with its boardwalk and hides provide access for everyone and the Avocet and hides Daukes have viewing facilities for visitors in wheelchairs. There are panoramic views of the reserve from the Visitor Centre which has lots of bird sighting information.