The parish of Cantley lies in eastern Norfolk, about 10 miles due west of the port of Great Yarmouth but some 14 miles by road. Cantley is a riverside village sitting on the edge of the flood-plain of the River Yare at the southern end of the B1140 road which runs southwards from the busy A47 (Norfolk's east to west trunk road).  Cantley is a village whose role has changed markedly, prior to recent times it was just one of many Broadland villages that had a mixture of arable fields on drier ground whilst exploiting the marshes for grazing, reed thatch and wildfowling, the Yare, of course, being extensively used for the transportation of agricultural produce. Early gazetteers indicate about 50% of the parish acreage was set to each. The construction of the Sugar Beet factory, the chimneys of which, belching steam, are a landmark across most of eastern Norfolk, on the banks of the Yare changed all of that. Whilst it provided employment its industrial nature has been questioned as appropriate to a sensitive natural area renowned for its wildlife and unspoiled marshland landscapes. Strangely its odorous settling lagoons have proved irresistible to migrating wading birds, a bizarre benefit indeed. The location was chosen for its plentiful supply of water from the Yare and it has undoubtedly resulted in improved roads around the village and the retention of the branch railway line from Norwich.

St Margaret's church sits on the northern edge of Cantley, accessed by the dead-end lane of Church Road. Whilst there has been a church here since Norman times its only trace in today's church is a small piece of zig-zag work, reused of course, above the priest's doorway. But most else, like many Norfolk churches, is the result of a major rebuild in the 14th century together with Victorian work in restoration, such is the extent of such work that Pevsner is often unsure to which date some pieces relate. Definitely 14th century is the southern doorway and given the Perpendicular style windows of both nave and chancel it is likely these two major pieces are from the late 14th century too. The major restoration of 1867 provided most of those windows which show a "Y" tracery including those of the un-buttressed tower's bell openings. Church Road runs northwards from the village centre to end at a small turning circle, best avoided for street parking, where the church sits screened behind a dense canopy of trees. The edges of the churchyard, too, are thickly wooded creating an intimate tight central space in which adequate views may be obtained by the photographer.