The parish of Salthouse lies on Norfolk's northern North Sea coast about 3 miles north of the market town of Holt. Salthouse sits astride Norfolk's northern coastal road the A149 which winds its way through the village. Salthouse was a port in ancient times but the growth of the bordering salt marshes and their reclamation for grazing rendered that activity impractical. The residents would have largely earned their living through 3 main activities, the usual arable farming being supplemented by the grazing marshes and by wildfowling on the bird-rich saltings. Salthouse village tries to keep its feet dry by being placed uphill of the former coast line, a line which is frequently apparent during storm surges which run up to the break of slope on occasion. Most properties are either along the coastal road or up lanes running up the steep hills at right angles to it. Nowadays Salthouse's marshes are home to bird reserves and visitors as many come to enjoy the splendours of the coastal wetlands.

St Nicholas' church sits tucked away uphill on a narrow lane, it is a notable landmark from the sea and was undoubtedly used as a navigational marker. The church is largely a statement in Perpendicular although the western tower predates that period showing Decorated style bell-openings. The remainder of the church can be readily dated using documentary sources to the late 15th century and Pevsner places a completion date to 1503. The church is large with the standard layout of nave, chancel and western tower being augmented by arcades and aisles. As is usual in Norfolk churches there were restorations made during the Victorian period but they, for once, did not majorly impact the building beyond maintaining its integrity.