The parish of Colney is situated some three miles west of the city of Norwich in the county of Norfolk. From Norwich the Watton road, the B1108, crossess the River Yare at Earlham bridge , passes throught the north of the parish the on to Barford, Hingham and after eighteen miles reaches Watton

The parish follows the river Yare at its northern boundary with Bowthorpe beyond. To the east lies the parish of Ealham, south-east Cringleford, south-west Hethersett, west Little Melton and north-west the parish of Bawburgh.

The River Yare rises in a moat at Park Farm, Shipdham, and is joined be the Blackwater at Hardingham and numerous streams between Wymondham and Hingham and flows eastwards through Colney. Thereafter it is joined by other Broadland rivers before reaching its estuary at Great Yarmouth.

Colney is an ancient parish and from early times people have crossed it or settled within it and left their artefacts. the parish lies on rising ground and its name was thought by Blomefield to mean 'hill island'. Others have suggested the gravel bed of the river gave it the Anglo-Sason name from 'coln' meaning pebbles and 'ey' meaning water. The Oxford Dictionary of Place Names offers 'Colas Island' but with no hint as to who Cola was.

Whatever its origins Colney has been a place or rural charm and tranquility and remains so despite modern intrusions.