Old Hunstanton

Civil Parish in Norfolk King's Lynn and West Norfolk

England

Old Hunstanton

Hunstanton Heritage Gardens, Cliff Parade
Hunstanton Heritage Gardens, Cliff Parade Credit: Chris Morgan

Old Hunstanton is a civil parish located on the north coast of Norfolk, England. Situated approximately two miles northwest of the larger town of Hunstanton, it is a charming village known for its beauty and historical significance. The parish covers an area of around 4.5 square kilometers and has a population of approximately 1,300 residents.

Old Hunstanton is renowned for its stunning sandy beach, which stretches for miles and offers breathtaking views of the North Sea. The beach is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, attracting visitors for swimming, sunbathing, and enjoying various water sports activities.

The village itself is characterized by its picturesque architecture, featuring a mix of traditional thatched cottages and elegant Georgian houses. The historic St. Mary's Church, dating back to the 14th century, is a notable landmark in Old Hunstanton and attracts visitors with its beautiful stained glass windows and intricate stone carvings.

Old Hunstanton also offers a range of amenities and attractions for visitors. The village has a selection of charming shops, cafes, and restaurants, providing a pleasant shopping and dining experience. Additionally, the village is home to a golf course and a variety of walking trails, allowing visitors to explore the scenic countryside and enjoy the fresh sea air.

Overall, Old Hunstanton is a picturesque and historically rich village, offering a perfect blend of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike.

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Old Hunstanton Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 52.944798/0.515011 or Grid Reference TF6941. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Hunstanton Heritage Gardens, Cliff Parade
Hunstanton Heritage Gardens, Cliff Parade
Old lighthouse, coastguard station and coastguard cottages, Hunstanton All now private houses or holiday cottages
Old lighthouse, coastguard station and coastguard cottages, Hunstanton
All now private houses or holiday cottages
Building a dam on Old Hunstanton beach
Building a dam on Old Hunstanton beach
Beach and dunes at Old Hunstanton
Beach and dunes at Old Hunstanton
Cliff fall on Hunstanton beach Close to the old lighthouse on top of the cliffs
Cliff fall on Hunstanton beach
Close to the old lighthouse on top of the cliffs
Crumbling cliffs at Hunstanton in Norfolk
Crumbling cliffs at Hunstanton in Norfolk
Wave-cut platform below the cliffs at Hunstanton Over the millennia the multi coloured chalk and carrstone cliffs have gradually been undercut by tidal wave action and have been washed away to leave a rock platform. In turn the constant abrasive action of the sea, sand and pebbles has slowly opened up the weak joints in the wave-cut platform to produce a distinct grid pattern. See <a title="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3815004" href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3815004">Link</a> for a view in the opposite direction and also see <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wave-cut_platform" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wave-cut_platform">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> for more detailed information.
Wave-cut platform below the cliffs at Hunstanton
Over the millennia the multi coloured chalk and carrstone cliffs have gradually been undercut by tidal wave action and have been washed away to leave a rock platform. In turn the constant abrasive action of the sea, sand and pebbles has slowly opened up the weak joints in the wave-cut platform to produce a distinct grid pattern. See Link for a view in the opposite direction and also see LinkExternal link for more detailed information.
The wreck of the Sheraton near Hunstanton cliffs Little remains of this boat which ran aground in 1947.
See this <a title="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2943269" href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2943269">Link</a> for a photo taken in 1948
The wreck of the Sheraton near Hunstanton cliffs
Little remains of this boat which ran aground in 1947. See this Link for a photo taken in 1948
Exploring the wreck of the Sheraton near the cliffs in Hunstanton, Norfolk Little remains of this boat which ran aground in 1947.
See this <a title="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2943269" href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2943269">Link</a> for a photo taken in 1948
Exploring the wreck of the Sheraton near the cliffs in Hunstanton, Norfolk
Little remains of this boat which ran aground in 1947. See this Link for a photo taken in 1948
St Edmund’s Chapel, Hunstanton
St Edmund’s Chapel, Hunstanton
Old Hunstanton Lighthouse
Old Hunstanton Lighthouse
Cliffs at St Edmund’s Point
Cliffs at St Edmund’s Point
Pillar sculpture in Esplanade Gardens These brightly painted posts stand in wildflower beds. I believe they were painted by local schoolchildren and have an ecological message. The shapes are perhaps intended to recall 'Seahenge' which was discovered close to Hunstanton <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk/lynn-museum/whats-here/collections/seahenge" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk/lynn-museum/whats-here/collections/seahenge">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> .  Beyond them can be seen Esplanade Gardens' fountain, not in operation on this day.
Pillar sculpture in Esplanade Gardens
These brightly painted posts stand in wildflower beds. I believe they were painted by local schoolchildren and have an ecological message. The shapes are perhaps intended to recall 'Seahenge' which was discovered close to Hunstanton LinkExternal link . Beyond them can be seen Esplanade Gardens' fountain, not in operation on this day.
Golden Lion Hotel, Cliff Parade, The Green, Hunstanton Grade II Listed hotel. The 29 room hotel was built from 1846 and is now part of the Coast and Country Hotels Group. The first building in the 'New' Hunstanton, early directories list it as Hunstanton-St Edmund's the brain child of Henry Le Strange.  The hotel, possibly by William Butter- field, opened as the New Inn in 1847. Hunstanton is not in my 1850 directory but by 1854 it was known as the Royal Hotel. By my 1877 directory it has changed to the Golden Lion Hotel. As part of the Specialist Leisure Group, in May 2020 the hotel closed when the group went into administration "due to the impact of COVID-19". It opened 4 months later on 2nd October taken on by the Warrington-based company, Bespoke Hotels. Closed again due to the COVID lockdown it partially re-opened in May 2021 as part of newly-formed collection of former Shearings Hotels, Coast & Country Hotel Collection. Licensees or managers include; 1854-1856 Mary Savory; 1864-1869 Henry Whiting; 1870-1872 Thomas Mahon; 1877 Mrs Elizabeth Mahon; 1879-1896 William W Nourse and Benjamin F Rowell; 1901-1912 Miss Kate Rennison; 1916 Miss R S Dangerfield, manageress; 1933-1937 Charles Ernest Grey; 1949 Douglas Victor Gray; 1960 Peter Horsfall; 1961 Thomas Rowland Harman; 1962 Peter Horsfall and Horace Hinchcliffe; 1965 Norman Goode and Horace Hinchcliffe; 1967 Robert Keith McMillan and Peter Horsfall; 1989 Denis Beeaon, manager.
Golden Lion Hotel, Cliff Parade, The Green, Hunstanton
Grade II Listed hotel. The 29 room hotel was built from 1846 and is now part of the Coast and Country Hotels Group. The first building in the 'New' Hunstanton, early directories list it as Hunstanton-St Edmund's the brain child of Henry Le Strange. The hotel, possibly by William Butter- field, opened as the New Inn in 1847. Hunstanton is not in my 1850 directory but by 1854 it was known as the Royal Hotel. By my 1877 directory it has changed to the Golden Lion Hotel. As part of the Specialist Leisure Group, in May 2020 the hotel closed when the group went into administration "due to the impact of COVID-19". It opened 4 months later on 2nd October taken on by the Warrington-based company, Bespoke Hotels. Closed again due to the COVID lockdown it partially re-opened in May 2021 as part of newly-formed collection of former Shearings Hotels, Coast & Country Hotel Collection. Licensees or managers include; 1854-1856 Mary Savory; 1864-1869 Henry Whiting; 1870-1872 Thomas Mahon; 1877 Mrs Elizabeth Mahon; 1879-1896 William W Nourse and Benjamin F Rowell; 1901-1912 Miss Kate Rennison; 1916 Miss R S Dangerfield, manageress; 1933-1937 Charles Ernest Grey; 1949 Douglas Victor Gray; 1960 Peter Horsfall; 1961 Thomas Rowland Harman; 1962 Peter Horsfall and Horace Hinchcliffe; 1965 Norman Goode and Horace Hinchcliffe; 1967 Robert Keith McMillan and Peter Horsfall; 1989 Denis Beeaon, manager.
Town Hall, Cliff Parade, The Green, Hunstanton Grade II Listed Town Hall. Dated 1896 and inscribed CJ and FW Skipper, architects. In the first world war it was used as a billet for the British Army's first sniper unit, then known as "sharpshooters", The Lovat Scouts. After the war it was a meeting place of Hunstanton Urban District Council but also used as a theatre. In 1974  West Norfolk Council was formed and it ceased to home the Urban District Council but continued to be used as the offices and meeting place of Hunstanton Town Council and an information centre. A major programme of refurbishment works was completed in September 2021 and a new art gallery opened in the area formerly occupied by the tourist information centre in February 2022.
Town Hall, Cliff Parade, The Green, Hunstanton
Grade II Listed Town Hall. Dated 1896 and inscribed CJ and FW Skipper, architects. In the first world war it was used as a billet for the British Army's first sniper unit, then known as "sharpshooters", The Lovat Scouts. After the war it was a meeting place of Hunstanton Urban District Council but also used as a theatre. In 1974 West Norfolk Council was formed and it ceased to home the Urban District Council but continued to be used as the offices and meeting place of Hunstanton Town Council and an information centre. A major programme of refurbishment works was completed in September 2021 and a new art gallery opened in the area formerly occupied by the tourist information centre in February 2022.
Statue of Henry le Strange, The Green, Hunstanton The statue was designed and made by artist Alan Herriot. Businessman William Searle raised £12,000 from donations towards the £40,000 statue, with £20,000 allocated from the lottery-funded Hunstanton Heritage Gardens project, and £8,000 from West Norfolk council. It was unveiled on Friday 6th June 2017. Henry L'Estrange Styleman Le Strange (1815–1862), in early life Henry Styleman, was an English decorative painter. 'New' Hunstanton, early directories list it as Hunstanton-St Edmund's, was the brain child of Henry but sadly he died before all his plans were realised. His work was completed by his son Hamon le Strange (1840-1918). The first building of Hunstanton was the 1846 New Inn, now the Golden Lion Hotel but 'Old' Hunstanton dates back to before the Doomsday Survey of 1085.
Statue of Henry le Strange, The Green, Hunstanton
The statue was designed and made by artist Alan Herriot. Businessman William Searle raised £12,000 from donations towards the £40,000 statue, with £20,000 allocated from the lottery-funded Hunstanton Heritage Gardens project, and £8,000 from West Norfolk council. It was unveiled on Friday 6th June 2017. Henry L'Estrange Styleman Le Strange (1815–1862), in early life Henry Styleman, was an English decorative painter. 'New' Hunstanton, early directories list it as Hunstanton-St Edmund's, was the brain child of Henry but sadly he died before all his plans were realised. His work was completed by his son Hamon le Strange (1840-1918). The first building of Hunstanton was the 1846 New Inn, now the Golden Lion Hotel but 'Old' Hunstanton dates back to before the Doomsday Survey of 1085.
Heritage Centre, Northgate, Hunstanton The Heritage Centre opened its doors to the public on 3rd August 2013 at 15 The Green, Hunstanton. They moved here in February 2019 to the former NatWest Bank and opened unofficially on 8th June 2019 but officially opened on 14th February 2020.
Heritage Centre, Northgate, Hunstanton
The Heritage Centre opened its doors to the public on 3rd August 2013 at 15 The Green, Hunstanton. They moved here in February 2019 to the former NatWest Bank and opened unofficially on 8th June 2019 but officially opened on 14th February 2020.
2 Berni Beans Tearoom and 4 Kemps Fruit and Veg, High Street, Hunstanton C W Abbs were a well known Hunstanton business family and presumably had 2-4 High Street built in the third quarter of the 19th century (shown on 1885 OS map). Previously Hunstanton Bakery and The Corner House Tearooms, in 2017 it was empty and up to let as one or two shops with an option on the 3 bed self-contained flat on the first floor (65a Westgate). No.2 on the corner offers 507 sq ft and no.4 has 536 sq ft.
2 Berni Beans Tearoom and 4 Kemps Fruit and Veg, High Street, Hunstanton
C W Abbs were a well known Hunstanton business family and presumably had 2-4 High Street built in the third quarter of the 19th century (shown on 1885 OS map). Previously Hunstanton Bakery and The Corner House Tearooms, in 2017 it was empty and up to let as one or two shops with an option on the 3 bed self-contained flat on the first floor (65a Westgate). No.2 on the corner offers 507 sq ft and no.4 has 536 sq ft.
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Old Hunstanton is located at Grid Ref: TF6941 (Lat: 52.944798, Lng: 0.515011)

Administrative County: Norfolk

District: King's Lynn and West Norfolk

Police Authority: Norfolk

What 3 Words

///yacht.outbound.cosmetic. Near Hunstanton, Norfolk

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Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 52.944798,0.515011
Hunstanton Lodge
Place: isolated_dwelling
Lat/Long: 52.9473862/0.5167306
Entrance: yes
Lat/Long: 52.948755/0.512645
Entrance: yes
Lat/Long: 52.9486441/0.5127693
Entrance: main
Lat/Long: 52.9484964/0.5124597
Entrance: yes
Lat/Long: 52.9486234/0.5122269
Communication Mobile Phone: yes
Layer: 1
Man Made: mast
Material: metal
Operator: O2-UK;Vodafone UK
Tower Construction: guyed_tube
Tower Type: communication
Lat/Long: 52.9486646/0.5122349
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.

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