Hunstanton Hall Monument

900+ YEARS OF ONE FAMILY

Hunstanton Hall is the moated English ancestral home of the le Strange family, set within the parkland of the Norfolk Estate.

The Estate itself has been in the Family’s possession since at least 1086, and the lineage that began there continues, unbroken, to the present day.

The Hall still stands within its historic parklands having been sold out of the family in 1949. Between the 1960s-1990s the Family retained a small foothold in the West Wing, when as children, my generation was among the last to enjoy spending time there and delighting in the well kept Gardens.

Hunstanton Hall, together with its moat bridge, gardens, and forecourt walls, is a historic country house of exceptional significance. The gatehouse dates from 1487, while the principal wings were constructed circa 1625–1640, with further additions made in 1835, 1873, and 1879. The property is designated Grade I and 2 listed.

The origins of Hunstanton Hall lie in the medieval period, with evidence of a moated manor house dating from the mid-14th century. Constructed between 1333 and 1366, this early phase survives in part through extant building fabric and associated earthworks, marking the establishment of a substantial fortified residence on the site.

In the later 15th century, between 1467 and 1500, further development took place with the construction of a manor house and gatehouse. This phase, notably the gatehouse, remains standing and represents a significant enhancement of the estate’s architectural presence.

The post-medieval period brought successive alterations and enlargements. In 1578, additions transformed the structure into a more recognisable country house, although parts of this phase have since been demolished. Further additions followed in 1618, and throughout the 1620s (circa 1620–1629) the house underwent piecemeal reconstruction, consolidating its early 17th-century character. Much of this fabric survives today.

During the 19th century, additional modifications continued to reshape the house. An extension was added in 1835, followed by further building work in 1873. However, the property suffered serious damage in a fire during the of 1853 resulting in partial destruction and subsequent rebuilding. Surviving sections from this period coexist with elements that were lost.

In the 20th century, the Hall endured another significant setback when a fire in 1951 again caused partial destruction. Despite these events, substantial portions of the building remain extant, reflecting a long and complex architectural history shaped by construction, loss, and adaptation across more than six centuries.

After nine centuries under the unique stewardship of a single family, it was perhaps inevitable that what began as an independently governed village under one Lord would gradually evolve into a modern township.

Between 1086 and 1949, the rhythm of estate life continued largely uninterrupted even when the Lord was away. By the late 19th century, however, governance began to shift. The Local Government Act of 1894 transferred increasing authority to elected councils, while 20th-century taxation—particularly under the Lloyd George reforms—placed heavy financial burdens on large landowners.

After hundreds of years of continuous occupation, Hunstanton Hall was sold in 1949 by Bernard le Strange, the 33rd heir and 25th great-grandson of Ralph of Hunstanton. The sale, was driven largely by taxation pressures threatening the survival of the wider estate. Bernard, who had served in both World Wars and married later in life, sought to preserve what he could of the family’s land holdings.

Following the sale, Bernard retired to Jersey, while his wife, Glwadys, Marchioness of Townshend, settled in London. Though the ancestral home passed from the family, the le Stranges retained ownership of much of the surrounding estate.

Development of Hunstanton accelerated. A few years prior to the sale in 1937, and again in 1949, residential plots were sold, forming what became the Cliff Estate, with roads named after family members—Bernard Crescent, Austin Street, Astley and Hastings Crescent, Boston Square, and others. From the 1960s to the 1990s, the family managed to maintain a foothold in the West Wing of the Hall, until mounting repair costs—particularly to the lead roof—made retention impractical.

Though the Hall itself was lost, the estate endures. The sale marked not an end, but a transformation—another chapter in a history shaped by adaptation, continuity, and an enduring sense of stewardship.

  • The Hall kitchen gardens with red and white roses which they grew reminiscent of the red and white cliffs and coat of arms colours.

  • A photo by kind permission of Julia K. Hill illustrates the unique sign post with the le Strange coat of arms and Lord High Admiral of the Wash with spear.