Population 628 (2011) Region East Sovereign state United Kingdom Area 5.35 km² Post town Hunstanton | OS grid reference TF683422 Country England Postcode district PE36 Shire county Norfolk | |
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Old Hunstanton is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It covers an area of 5.35 km2 (2.07 sq mi) and had a population of 47 in 25 households at the 2001 census. The population had risen to 628 at the 2011 Census. For the purposes of local government, it falls within the district of North Norfolk.
Map of Old Hunstanton, UK
This small settlement adjoins to the north of the larger resort of Hunstanton or New Hunstanton. The quiet character of Old Hunstanton remains distinct from and complements that of its busy sibling, with clifftop walks past the disused Old Hunstanton Lighthouse and the ruins of St Edmund's Chapel, built in 1272. King Edmund supposedly built the village. The River Hun runs to the coast just to the east of old Hunstanton.
The parish church of St Mary, situated in the grounds of Hunstanton Hall, is a Grade I listed building. It was built by Sir Hamon le Strange in about 1300 and extensively rebuilt and restored during the 19th century by architect Frederick Preedy for Henry Le Strange (1815- 1862), developer of New Hunstanton.
St Mary's churchyard contains the graves of a customs officer (William Green) and a soldier (William Webb), both of whom were fatally wounded during a skirmish on the Hunstanton coast with smugglers. The clash occurred on the night of 25 September 1784, also claiming the life of another customs officer named Rennett. However, although the alleged perpetrators were tried at Thetford the following year it proved impossible to secure any convictions.
At Old Hunstanton is a RNLI Lifeboat station with a B class (Atlantic) boat and a Hovercraft.
In December 2011 a large whale washed ashore on the beach.
At low tide there is a small Lagoon named after a local kitersurfer born and bred in Hunstanton - "Cockhead" Lagoon.