About Us
Most people are curious about their ancestors, myself included. My focus here is through my maternal line documented in Debrett’s Peerage. The 1952 version lists our immediate Family under the Mostyn Barony. However, the le Strange Family line is listed in its own right.
Traditionally, it was the women of the Family who would pass the family history down the generations. It was my x2 Great-grandfather, Hamon le Strange, through extensive labour and research who produced The le Strange Records [1916].
I have fond childhood memories of visiting Granny Viola (born le Strange) at Hunstanton Hall during the 1960’ and 1970’s. She and my Meakin Grandfather lived in the ground floor accommodation in the West Wing which was built by Henry Styleman le Strange (her Great, Grandfather) who also designed the Hall Gardens as part of the Family Estate.
It was a paradise that myself and the Family enjoyed with this connection to the Gardens which wouldn’t be a stately home without one! Roses and Dhalias were grown by the Gardener, Harry Richardson, beautifully kept and always looking immaculate outside the moated area to the West.
In Henry Styleman le Strange’s day, red and white roses were grown in the Kitchen Gardens, which I believe were inside the moated area to the West. The red and white colours of course depicting the unique Hunstanton cliffs and Family crest.
Granny Viola was in residence in this West Wing during her brother, Hamon le Strange’s Heir Duty at the Estate.
As a teenager small amounts of information fed to me by my Mother, the eldest of Viola’s children. I absorbed it with curiosity, resulting in a certain thirst for knowledge. In adulthood I began appreciating the Family writings which were circulated. My Great Grandfather, Hamon le Strange during his time as Heir in residence at The Hall, in the Victorian era produced 50 copies of his Book on our medieval ancestors. His daughter, Jamesina, whose name I also have, wrote on the subject too, making several copies in answer to her then nephews and nieces on the subject of life at the Hall.
In my attempt to understand both his Victorian writings and the medieval subject matter I began reading from scratch - with much head-scratching - to finally gain a wider picture of the extensive information on record. Overwhelming at times, it grew into a lifelong project to consolidate all I have learnt.
I must just mention that there was also a Pedigree Book given as a gift to my Grandparents (Viola le Strange & George Meakin). It was the result of dedicated research by their friend, Neil Wood, the work of which I am also extremely appreciative as it has been an invaluable reference point for our lineages.
