The parish of Syderstone lies in north Norfolk about 5 miles west of the market town of Fakenham. Syderstone is located just east of the B1464 road which connects Docking with the Fakenham to King's Lynn road. Syderstone is a compact village built around a junction of lanes with most housing lying along the main east to west running lane or that which turns south from it. The area is a broad plateau with rather poor soils for Norfolk and much heathland has grown upon what would have been sheep range or warrenries. Syderstone Common, to the south of the village is a maze of woodland, heath and small sand quarries, parts are now a nature reserve.

St Mary's church sits at the eastern end of the village by the main road junction. The round tower is usually indicative of an early church, Pevsner dates it to the 13th century. The church has been completely reconfigured over the centuries from a building that was essentially Norman and cruciform into its present format of western tower, nave and chancel in a linear layout. Much of this work was during the Perpendicular era but major changes were made during a reconstruction in the late 18th century. The church sits in a well wooded graveyard behind a wall attractively mixed of flint and brick. The trees make for a difficult photographing exercise as views are only available from a limited number of viewpoints.