History of Hunstanton

Bronze Age

A settlement existed in what is now the Redgate Hill area of Hunstanton.

c500AD

Roman and Anglo-Saxon settlements existed in the area.

855

A 14 year old Saxon called Edmund, son of the King of Saxony, landed on the Norfolk coast at a place that is now called St Edmund's Point.

856

Edmund was crowned King of East Anglia.

870

Edmund led a small army against invading Vikings. He was defeated and captured. He was offered his life if he would give up his Christian faith. He refused to do this and so was executed by Danish archers. He later became the first patron saint of England.

11th century

Old Hunstanton (then called Hunestanesteda) existed and was listed in the Domesday Book. Large areas of land were acquired by the Le Strange family after the Norman Conquest.

1846

Seaside resorts were becoming fashionable. Henry L'Estrange Styleman Le Strange plans and starts to build from scratch the brand new resort of today's (New) Hunstanton. The focal point was the triangular green, and the first building was the New Inn, now called the Golden Lion.

1862

The railway came to Hunstanton, triggering rapid growth. It was built by the Great Eastern Counties Railway and ran to Kings Lynn. The railway was dismantled in 1969.

1870

A pier was erected from The Green.

1978

Hunstanton Pier was swept away in the storm of 1978.