East Harling's name is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derives from the Old English for the eastern part of the settlement of 'Herela's' people.

[3] From 1808 to 1814, East Harling hosted a station in the shutter telegraph chain connecting the Admiralty in London to the fleet in Great Yarmouth.

The glass was removed and hidden in the since demolished East Harling Hall, for fear of destruction by Puritan iconoclasts.

The glass was restored in 1736 under the direction of Thomas Wright and has stood in its current position since, excepting during the Second World War.

The village's national constituency is South West Norfolk which has been represented by Labour's Terry Jermy MP since 2024.

The memorial also lists John Shingfield of the London Heavy Rescue Service who was killed during The Blitz at Baldwins Gardens on 16 October 1940.