Coltishall was a place of note even when the Domesday Book was compiled. For 250 years it was a centre of the malting industry. Many Norfolk wherries (trading ships) were built here.
At one time, it was possible to navigate the River Bure (pronounced 'Burr') all the way to Aylsham, but now the limit of navigation is just south of Coltishall.
RAF Coltishall played an important role in World War II.