Cley next the Sea

Cley next the Sea
Cley Windmill
Cley next the Sea Location within Norfolk
Area	8.63 km2 (3.33 sq mi)
Population	437 (parish, 2011 census)[1]
• Density	51/km2 (130/sq mi)
OS grid reference	TG045436
• London	129 mi (208 km)
Civil parish	Cley next the Sea[2]
District	North Norfolk
Shire county	Norfolk
Region	East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	HOLT
Postcode district	NR25
Dialling code	01263
Police	Norfolk
Fire	Norfolk
Ambulance	East of England
UK Parliament	North Norfolk
List of places UK England Norfolk 52°57′09″N 01°02′35″E / 52.95250°N 1.04306°E / 52.95250; 1.04306

Cley next the Sea (/ˈkleɪ/, /ˈklaɪ/) is a village and civil parish on the River Glaven in the English county of Norfolk, 4 mi (6 km) north-west of Holt and east of Blakeney. The main A149 coast road runs through the centre of the village, causing congestion in the summer months due to the tight, narrow streets. It lies within the Norfolk Coast AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) and the North Norfolk Heritage Coast.

Cley is an Anglo-Saxon village near the sea with a rich history, including being a bustling port in England, where various goods were traded. The 18th-century Cley Windmill is a notable landmark, which was owned by James Blunt's family and has been featured in films and paintings. After the port silted up, Cley became a holiday resort. In 2011, the village had 437 residents in 358 households, and it falls within the North Norfolk constituency.

The village features St Margaret's Church, a Norman-era Grade I listed building. Cley Marshes, an internationally important bird reserve, has been managed by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust since 1926. The marshes, however, face challenges due to coastal erosion, storms, and rising sea levels caused by global warming, prompting concern for their future.