Hunstanton Hall

The ancestral home of the le Strange Family

On approaching Hunstanton Hall in Norfolk, the eye catching chimneys extending into the sky give a sense of entering a special domain. With battlements and gateway, neither elevated or grand, the horizontal two story building features a mix of many ages. Like an old worn cloak it appears to observe the onlooker from its inset mullioned windows of the bungeroosh façade.

With many tales to tell, Hunstanton Hall is the ancestral home of the le Strange Family. Although no longer the Lord’s domain, it is situated on the private Estate. With visible 14th Century cores the building has been subject to claims of being the original residence of the le Stranges - a few centuries after they arrived!

Situated on the flattest part of the landscape within a mile’s proximity of the water source, the residence enjoyed the highest quality spring water, a valuable commodity for a healthy community.

From the beginning (by 1086), the Hunstanton landholdings were the Family’s most valuable. The interior of Hunstanton Hall was significantly modified after its sale 1949. There once contained a Muniment Room housing the Family archives - much like Berkley Family at Berkley Castle which was built in 1153.

One undated document from in the Family collection at Hunstanton Hall has been dated back to 1250-1275. While in residence, Hamon le Strange, in his book, The le Strange Records, wrote that it was likely to have been created on-site in the 13th Century.  

An even earlier 12th century document, refers to the first Family member to hold land there, as Ralph of Hunstanton. This indicates Manorial status as early as the 1100’s. The word ‘of’ pertains to Lord of the Manor, with ‘of’ being the operative word. Would it not be ‘strange’ (scuse pun!) if he had no residence there?

Wood as material is less permanent than stone. A mixture of materials may also have been used. The Foundations will probably remain a mystery without further excavation. Notably, while Hunstanton was divided between 3 other Lords in the 11th Century, when it was sizeable settlement for those days, we have evidence from Domesday Book, that Ralph’s most valuable asset was Hunstanton-based.

Suffice to say that the golden age of Hunstanton Hall perhaps arrived in the 14th Century upon the diversion of inheritance to a younger brother, who set upon restoring his new inheritance with pride and interest in both the Estate and its Church of St. Mary the Virgin within a stone’s throw away from the property.

One 15th century le Strange Heir, took four years refurbishing the house prior to his marriage. Coinciding with this, he managed to merge his various lands after buying out the other Lord in the East Field near the Hall. This was nice timing and ultimately resulted in the amalgamation of the le Strange Estate in 1494 benefitting from sole Lordship.

The locality offered fresh sea produce; fish and crabs, limpets, samphire, etc. and eels. Coastline lords were automatically exempt from Medieval eel laws, allowing all access to this rich tasting meat, and it’s popularity was so great that these creatures themselves often replaced Medieval currency.

With its timeless chalk spring near the house, the moat had been manually diverted at some stage by experts in ecology systems. While modern scientists are easily impressed it says much about our modern day shortcomings with the loss of knowledge in self-sufficiency.

Historically, the moat added a layer of protection to its residents which was vital for survival. When the Norman take over occurred, Norman Families were, in one respect, their own prisoners, seeking safety while residing inside fortified residences while the native English (Anglo-Saxons) continued to roam the land freely. Needless to say that in 1086 when Ralph of Hunstanton was alive, a Manor House and a moat would have been essential.

Albeit, we can only guess at the dates, equipped with these additional insights, and as the Family archives were housed in Hunstanton Hall muniment room probably before 1275 - 1949, it suggests that there was a residence there as early as the 13th century (stone or wood) - if not much earlier.