Hunstanton
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Coordinates: 52°56′N 0°29′E / 52.93°N 0.48°E
| Hunstanton | |
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  Hunstanton shown within Norfolk |
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| Area | 2.3 sq mi (6.07 km²) |
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| Population | 4,961 (2001) |
| OS grid reference | |
| District | King's Lynn and West Norfolk |
| Shire county | Norfolk |
| Region | East |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | HUNSTANTON |
| Postcode district | PE36 |
| Dialling code | 01485 |
| Police | Norfolk |
| Fire | Norfolk |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| European Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament | North West Norfolk |
| List of places: UK • England • Norfolk | |
Hunstanton, often pronounced by locals as /ˈhʌnstən/ (
listen) and known colloquially as 'Sunny Hunny', is a seaside town (population 4961[1]) in Norfolk, England, facing The Wash.
The description of Hunstanton as an "east coast" town makes it unique as the only east coast seaside resort in England where the sun can be seen to set over the sea.
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[edit] Geology
Hunstanton is also well-known for its stratified, fossiliferous cliffs: lower reddish limestone, known as 'red chalk', was laid down during the Lower Cretaceous era and is topped by a white chalk layer from the Upper Cretaceous era.
In 1910, a book "The Rocks of Hunstanton and its Neighbourhood" by J.F. Jackson was published by The Premier Press.l
[edit] History
The town is of prehistoric origin. In 1970, evidence of Neolithic settlement was found.
In 1846, Henry Styleman Le Strange (1815-1862) [2] a local landowner, decided that he would like to turn Hunstanton into a holiday resort. He persuaded a group of like-minded investors to fund the construction of a railway line from King's Lynn to the town: the railway would bring tourists and visitors to Hunstanton. It was a great success (the Lynn & Hunstanton Railway became one of the most consistently profitable railway companies in the country).
Jul1992.jpg)
As business boomed, many new buildings were built, mostly in warm Norfolk carrstone. Following the death of Henry Le Strange, the project was successfully continued by his son. Hunstanton today is home to a fairground, aquarium and seal sanctuary, leisure pool, theatre, large caravan parks with amenities (Searle's Holiday Park opened in 1936), a number of amusement arcades and a long promenade. In good weather, boats run by Searle's carry tourists out to view grey seals that have colonised sand bars in The Wash and to the north of Norfolk. The centrepiece of the town is a large sloping green, which runs from one end of the high street to the promenade.
The town also boasted a Victorian pleasure pier, with fine attractions, such as a big pavilion and miniature steam railway running up and down it. However, the pier pavilion was destroyed by fire in 1939, the pier was damaged by fire again in the 1950s, before almost the entire structure was washed away by a fierce storm in 1978. What remained of the pier extended just fifteen feet outwards from the arcade and cafe that was built on the site of the original entrance. In 2002, the entire building, as well as the remains of the pier, were destroyed in a fire. As the building was so badly damaged, firefighters could not determine the cause of the fire. Today, a new arcade and bowling alley complex occupies the site.
The original, pre-Le Strange settlement of Hunstanton is now known as Old Hunstanton, adjoining the north of the larger resort. The quiet character of Old Hunstanton remains distinct from and complements that of its busy sibling, with clifftop walks past a disused lighthouse. The lighthouse is privately owned (and currently for sale) and the ruins of St. Edmund's Chapel, built in 1272. The River Hun runs to the coast just to the east of Old Hunstanton.
Hunstanton railway station used to offer services to King's Lynn but closed in 1969.
[edit] Tourism
Although summer crowds tend to be smaller now than in the 1980s (as shown in postcards of the promenade and beach), the popularity of the town as a tourist destination for day-trippers and holidaymakers has nevertheless endured, weathering the decline of the British seaside resort. Indeed, during the 1990s, businesses in villages south of Hunstanton (Dersingham, Ingoldisthorpe and Snettisham) complained of a loss in trade after being bypassed by the A149, which carries heavy Hunstanton-bound traffic.
[edit] Lifeboats
In 2004, the Hunstanton lifeboats were the busiest in Norfolk (around 40 call-outs in 2004, 52 in 2003).[3]
[edit] The town today
The town is notable for several stately Victorian squares, perhaps most notably Boston Square, which enjoys fine views across The Wash to Boston, Lincolnshire. On a fine day, one can see Boston Stump.
Hunstanton is home to Glebe House School & Nursery, one of Norfolk's leading independent co-educational preparatory schools.
The Smithdon High School (formerly known as Hunstanton Secondary Modern School) is an early building designed by the architects Peter and Alison Smithson. Predominately constructed from glass and steel it was one of the first examples of 'Brutalist Architecture' and is currently a Grade II* listed building. [4]
The town has hosted several international sporting events including the 2005 World Water Ski Racing Championships.
The countryside surrounding Hunstanton is hillier than most of Norfolk and is sparsely populated, the only nearby large settlement being King's Lynn, 12 miles to the south. The catchment area of Hunstanton's day-trippers includes the remote Fenland of South-West Norfolk, South Lincolnshire, North Cambridgeshire and the Midlands beyond it. Holidaymakers are attracted by nearby Sandringham House (the Queen's winter residence), Castle Rising, the Burnhams (birthplace of Lord Nelson) and the RSPB reserves at nearby Titchwell village and Snettisham.
Hunstanton brings thousands of people in during the week of the 17th August, holding grass court tennis tournaments (the biggest after Wimbledon). All ages can play from the young (under 8 round robin) to the senior veterans. With many people travelling from long distances away the shops and services (such as B&Bs) also benefit greatly.
[edit] Eating out
Like many other seaside towns around the UK, Hunstanton specializes in traditional food such as fish and chips. A few pubs serve food.
[edit] References
- ^ Office for National Statistics & Norfolk County Council, 2001. Census population and household counts for unparished urban areas and all parishes (Excel-Tabelle).
- ^ Source: Hunstanton Civic Society
- ^ "2004 a quiet year for lifeboats". http://new.edp24.co.uk/search/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&itemid=NOED09%20Jan%202005%2020:00:19:443&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=search&archive=0. Retrieved on 2005-01-24.
- ^ www.smithdonhighschool.org.uk
[edit] External links
Media related to Hunstanton at Wikimedia Commons- Hunstanton Directory
- Fossil Collecting in Hunstanton
- Hunstanton Town Council
- Photographs of Hunstanton - On the Hunstanton Norfolk website
- Old Postcards of Hunstanton
- Hunstanton Kitesurfing School
- Lifestyles Festival 4th, 5 & 6 July
- Holiday Accommodation & Touring Park, Golf Course
- Mounted Photographs of Hunstanton and Surrouding Areas
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