The ruinous tower is a local landmark and stands to a height of 85 feet.
The steeple was one of Norfolk's tallest and attained a height of 147 feet to the parapet, with a lead-covered timber spire to 180 feet.
Local folklore suggests that the spire was added as an act of local rivalry after the completion of the 158-feet tower at Cromer.
The tower collapsed on the morning of Saturday 16 May 1724 between 9 and 10 o'clock when the entire south-west corner of the structure containing the stairwell failed.
The distressed state of the building had been noticed by the Sexton the previous evening when he ascended the tower to wind the clock.
That day had seen the bells rung for several hours during the Ascensiontide Fair, which seems to have caused a resonance throughout the structure.

The Vicar Thomas Jeffery noted the catastrophe in the parish register: "Memorandum May 16.
 Between nine and ten o'clock in the forenoon on the Sat.
fell down the north and south sides of the steeple and no person man woman nor child 'yt we hear of yet getting any mischief thereby.
 Thanks to be to God for his goodness therein."

Once open to the elements the building deteriorated further.
At 6pm on Wednesday 17 February 1836 heavy gales brought down the north side of the ruin, sending a quake like tremor through the town.
The remaining east belfry wall was later dismantled to a reduced height.
One large silence chamber window with its distinctive reticulated tracery remains in situ.

The Paston Way (from North Walsham to Cromer) starts at the parish church.
The ruinous tower is a local landmark and stands to a height of 85 feet. The steeple was one of Norfolk's tallest and attained a height of 147 feet to the parapet, with a lead-covered timber spire to 180 feet. Local folklore suggests that the spire was added as an act of local rivalry after the completion of the 158-feet tower at Cromer. The tower collapsed on the morning of Saturday 16 May 1724 between 9 and 10 o'clock when the entire south-west corner of the structure containing the stairwell failed. The distressed state of the building had been noticed by the Sexton the previous evening when he ascended the tower to wind the clock. That day had seen the bells rung for several hours during the Ascensiontide Fair, which seems to have caused a resonance throughout the structure.
The Vicar Thomas Jeffery noted the catastrophe in the parish register: "Memorandum May 16.  Between nine and ten o'clock in the forenoon on the Sat. fell down the north and south sides of the steeple and no person man woman nor child 'yt we hear of yet getting any mischief thereby.  Thanks to be to God for his goodness therein."
Once open to the elements the building deteriorated further. At 6pm on Wednesday 17 February 1836 heavy gales brought down the north side of the ruin, sending a quake like tremor through the town. The remaining east belfry wall was later dismantled to a reduced height. One large silence chamber window with its distinctive reticulated tracery remains in situ.
The Paston Way (from North Walsham to Cromer) starts at the parish church.
St Nicholas Church, North Walsham