East Runton is a village in the civil parish of Runton in the English county of Norfolk.
East Runton is located west of Cromer and north of Norwich. The village lies on the A149 coast road but most of the dwellings can be found just south of the road, nestled around the two village greens.
History East Runton's name is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derives from the Old English for Runa's or Runi's settlement.
In the Domesday Book, East Runton is listed alongside West Runton as a settlement of 24 households in the hundred of North Erpingham. In 1086, the village was divided between the East Anglian estates of Roger Bigod and William d'Ecouis.
East Runton Windmill was first recorded in 1826 and was in operation until the machinery was removed in 1949, with the mill later being converted into a private residence.
Geography East Runton's population statistics are shared with that of West Runton. According to the 2021 census, Runton has a population of 1,524 people which shows a decrease from the 1,667 people recorded in the 2011 census.
East Runton sits on the A149, between King's Lynn and Great Yarmouth.
Public houses There are two public houses in East Runton: the Fishing Boat and the White Horse Inn. The Fishing Boat is the older of the inns, and is on the tithe map of 1840,East and West Runton: Two Villages, One Parish by G.F. Leake, Poppyland Publishing, . although it was simply called the ‘Boat Inn’ then. In 1734 it is recorded that a court was held at the inn and it was then called the ‘Three Horse Shoes’. The White Horse Inn is first recorded in 1851. There is also a social club in the village which is known as ‘Bernies’ Corner House in Beach Road which in years prior was an amusement arcade but this changed to current usage in around 1987. Bernie's was named after Bernie Parkin whose father Reginald (Snr) originally had bought the place and had run it as an amusement arcade. Next door is a fish and chip shop. This was run for some time (especially during the 1980s) by John Parkin (Bernie's brother).
Story of James Leak
James Leak was a resident of East Runton around the early part of the 19th century. Leak was the local blacksmith and renowned Bare-Knuckle prize fighter. He lived in one of six thatched cottages that once stood on the cliff top near Runton gap. His blacksmith's forge was at East Runton.White’s Directory of 1845 In 1827 Leak had a big problem. The story goes that he had developed a gangrenous toe and was in fear of it spreading and causing his death. In his desperation, Leak came up with his own solution to his problem. He went to his forge in East Runton, rested his foot on his anvil and with one mighty blow removed the infected toe with a hammer and chisel. He then cauterized the stump with a red hot poker from out of his forge.The Banville Diaries of 1986, which quotes a report in the Norwich Mercury dated 24 February 1827 This desperate surgery had been as a consequence of Leak being unable to afford surgeon's fees. He made a full recovery and his home surgery seems to have had little effect on the man as he continued his prize-fighting and lived to the age of 82.East and West Runton: Two Villages, One Parish by G.F. Leake, Poppyland Publishing,
Surfing
The beach at East Runton is popular with the surfing fraternity. Located on a cliff-top, the Surfers' Memorial was unveiled in 2003. The weather vane is topped with a figure depicting a surfer. At the base of the memorial a plaque commemorating the lives of four young surfers is inscribed with the words Waves come & go my friends but your lights shine on .
Governance East Runton is part of the electoral ward of Beeston Regis & The Runtons for local elections and is part of the district of North Norfolk.
The village's national constituency is North Norfolk, which has been represented by the Liberal Democrat Steff Aquarone MP since 2024.
War Memorial East and West Runton War Memorial is a flint memorial with marble plaques located close to the Church of the Holy Trinity in West Runton. The funds for the memorial were raised between 1919 and 1921 with the memorial being erected by the Sheringham-based stonemason, H. Palmer. The memorial was unveiled in 1921 and re-furbished in 1951. The memorial lists the following names of residents from East Runton: +RankNameUnitDate of deathBurial/Commemoration2Lt.George H. Clarke3rd Bn., Norfolk Regiment21 Apr. 1918Tannay CemeterySgt.Frank W. Bird1/5th Bn., Norfolk Regiment19 Apr.1917Jerusalem MemorialSgt.Archibald Hastings1/5th Bn., Norfolk Regt.19 Apr. 1917Jerusalem MemorialSgt.Timothy Gibbons MM8th Bn., Norfolk Regt.19 Jul. 1916Thiepval MemorialLCpl.Leslie C. Fisher11th Bn., Royal Sussex Regiment21 Oct. 1916Mill Road CemeteryPte.James W. Dennis8th Coy., Army Service Corps21 Feb. 1919Abbeville CemeteryPte.Robert L. Cooper1st Bn., Bedfordshire Regiment20 Jul. 1918Ploegsteert MemorialPte.Arthur W. Hancock2nd Bn., Bedfordshire Regt.30 Jun. 1918Pozieres MemorialPte.John Field16th (Canadian Scottish) Bn., CEF2 Sep. 1918Dominion CemeteryPte.Fred Line20th Bn., Durham Light Infantry4 Sep. 1918Tyne CotPte.George T. Crask2nd Bn., Royal Fusiliers28 Feb. 1917Thiepval MemorialPte.Horace Creasey1st Bn., Norfolk Regiment28 Oct. 1917Tyne CotPte.James W. Todd2nd Bn., Norfolk Regt.8 Apr. 1917Basra War MemorialPte.Frederick W. Brown1/5th Bn., Norfolk Regt.19 Apr. 1917Gaza War CemeteryPte.Robert Lines1/5th Bn., Norfolk Regt.21 Aug. 1915Helles MemorialPte.M. Robert Abbs8th Bn., Norfolk Regt.11 Aug. 1917The Huts CemeteryPte.Ernest W. Baker8th Bn., Norfolk Regt.2 Jul. 1916Daours CemeteryPte.Gordon L. Porritt8th Bn., Norfolk Regt.19 May 1917Arras MemorialPte.George C. Hurrell1st Bn., Northamptonshire Regiment20 Jul. 1916Thiepval MemorialPte.Arthur W. Craske14th Bn., Northumberland Fusiliers23 Oct. 1917Lijssenthoek CemeteryPte.William H. Williams1st Bn., Queen's Royal Regiment31 Oct. 1914Menin GatePte.William F. Balls9th Bn., West Yorkshire Regiment9 Oct. 1917Cement House CemeteryPte.Fredrick Fisher1/7th Bn., Worcestershire Regiment31 Oct. 1918Barenthal CemeteryBy1CSydney G. AbbsHMS Natal30 Dec. 1915Chatham Naval Memorial In 1951, the following names of soldiers from East Runton who died during the Second World War were added: +RankNameUnitDate of deathBurial/CommemorationCol.Edward K. StewardCommand, Royal Corps of Signals24 Jul. 1945Taukkyan War CemeterySgn. Lt.Geoffrey S. CrossHMS Anking21 Mar. 1942Plymouth Naval MemorialFSgt.Ronald J. LusherNo. 221 Squadron RAF6 Dec. 1942Alamein MemorialASReginald J. GrayHMS Hasty15 Jun. 1942Chatham Naval MemorialLCpl.James R. LakeRoyal Army Service Corps14 Jul. 1942Asmara War CemeteryA2CLawrence H. TrumayNo. 209 Squadron RAF20 Feb. 1940Runnymede MemorialPte.Douglas A. ShalesRoyal Army Ordnance Corps13 Feb. 1942Kranji War MemorialPte.Frank R. Gray2nd Bn., Royal Norfolk Regiment27 May 1940Le Paradis CemeteryPte.Arthur E. Barker5th Bn., Royal Norfolk Regt.21 Sep. 1944Kranji War MemorialSpr.Kenneth A. Balls6 MC Group, Royal Engineers17 Jun. 1940Dunkirk Memorial The memorial also lists the name of a 12 year old girl, Doris Emma King, who was killed on a bombing raid on Cromer on 17 November 1940.
Notable people Ivison Macadam, founder-president of the National Union of Students
See also West Runton
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