Hunstanton

Infobox UK place
official_name= Hunstanton
country= England
region= East of England
shire_county= Norfolk
shire_district= King's Lynn and West Norfolk
constituency_westminster= North West Norfolk
population= 4,961 (2001)
os_grid_reference= TF6740
latitude= 52.93
longitude= 0.48
post_town= HUNSTANTON
postcode_area= PE
postcode_district= PE36
dial_code= 01485

Hunstanton, often pronounced by locals as Audio|En-uk-Hunstanton.ogg|"Hunston" (pronEng|ˈhʌnstən), also known colloquially to locals as 'Sunny Hunny', is a seaside town (population 4961 [Office for National Statistics & Norfolk County Council, 2001. [http://www.norfolk.gov.uk/consumption/groups/public/documents/general_resources/ncc017867.xls Census population and household counts for unparished urban areas and all parishes] .] ) in Norfolk, England, facing The Wash.

The description of Hunstanton as an "east coast" town makes it unique as the only east coast seaside resort in England where the sun can be seen to set over the sea.

Geology

Hunstanton is also well-known for its stratified, fossiliferous cliffs: lower reddish limestone, known as 'Red Chalk', was laid down during the Lower Cretaceous era and is topped by a white chalk layer from the Upper Cretaceous era.In 1910, a book "The Rocks of Hunstanton and its Neighbourhood" by J.F. Jackson was published by The Premier Press.l

History

The town is of prehistoric origin. In 1970, evidence of Neolithic settlement was found.

In 1846, Henry Styleman Le Strange (b. 1815 d. 1862 [Source: Hunstanton Civic Society] a local landowner, decided that he would like to turn Hunstanton into a holiday resort.Many new buildings were built, mostly in warm Norfolk carrstone. Following the death of Henry Le Strange, the project was successfully continued by his son. Hunstanton today is home to a fairground, aquarium and seal sanctuary, leisure pool, theatre, large caravan parks with amenities (Searle's Holiday Park opened in 1936), a number of amusement arcades and a long promenade. In good weather, boats run by Searle's carry tourists out to view grey seals that have colonised sand bars in The Wash and to the north of Norfolk. The centrepiece of the town is a large sloping green, which runs from one end of the high street to the promenade. The town also boasted a Victorian pier until it was blown down by a storm in 1978.

The original, pre-Le Strange settlementof Hunstanton is now known as Old Hunstanton, adjoining the north of the larger resort. The quiet character of Old Hunstanton remains distinct from and complements that of its busy sibling, with clifftop walks past a disused lighthouse. The lighthouse is privately owned (and currently for sale) and the ruins of St. Edmund's Chapel, built in 1272. The River Hun runs to the coast just to the east of old Hunstanton.

Hunstanton railway station used to offer services to King's Lynn but closed in 1969.

Tourism

Although summer crowds tend to flock to Hunstanton in smaller numbers now than was evidenced in the 1980s, postcards of the promenade and beach, the popularity of the town as a tourist destination for day-trippers and holidaymakers has nevertheless endured, weathering the decline of the British seaside resort. Indeed, during the 1990s, businesses in villages south of Hunstanton (Dersingham, Ingoldisthorpe and Snettisham) complained of a loss in trade after being bypassed by the A149, which carries heavy Hunstanton-bound traffic; while in 2004, the Hunstanton lifeboats were the busiest in Norfolk (around 40 call-outs in 2004, 52 in 2003). [cite web|url=http://new.edp24.co.uk/search/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&itemid=NOED09%20Jan%202005%2020:00:19:443&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=search&archive=0|title= 2004 a quiet year for lifeboats|accessdate=2005-01-24]

The town today

The town is notable for several stately Victorian squares, perhaps most notably Boston Square, which enjoys fine views across The Wash to Boston, Lincolnshire. On a fine day, one can see Boston Stump.

Hunstanton is home to Glebe House School & Nursery, one of Norfolk's leading independent co-educational preparatory schools.

The Smithdon High School (formerly known as Hunstanton Secondary Modern School) is an early building designed by the architects Peter and Alison Smithson.

The town has hosted several international sporting events including the 2005 World Water Ski Racing Championships.

The countryside surrounding Hunstanton is hillier than most of Norfolk and is sparsely populated, the only nearby large settlement being King's Lynn, 12 miles to the south. The catchment area of Hunstanton's day-trippers includes the remote Fenland of South-West Norfolk, South Lincolnshire, North Cambridgeshire and the Midlands beyond it. Holidaymakers are attracted by nearby Sandringham House (the Queen's winter residence), Castle Rising, the Burnhams (birthplace of Lord Nelson) and the RSPB reserves at nearby Titchwell village and Snettisham.

Hunstanton brings thousands of people in during the week of the 17th August, holding grass court tennis tournaments (the biggest behind Wimbledon). All ages can play from the young (under 8 round robin) to the senior veterans. With many people travelling from long distances away the shops and services (such as B&Bs) also benefit greatly.

References

External links

* [http://www.hunstanton-info.com/ Hunstanton Directory]
* [http://www.hunstantonfossils.co.uk/ Fossil Collecting in Hunstanton]
* [http://www.hunstantontowncouncil.org/ Hunstanton Town Council]
* [http://www.hunstantonnorfolk.co.uk/gallery/c1.html Photographs of Hunstanton] - On the Hunstanton Norfolk website
* [http://hunstantonholidays.co.uk/hunstanton_postcards.htm Old Postcards of Hunstanton]
* [http://www.kitesurfhunstanton.com/ Hunstanton Kitesurfing School]
* [http://www.lifestylesfestival.co.uk Lifestyles Festival 4th, 5th & 6th July]
* [http://www.searles.co.uk Holiday Accommodation & Touring Park, Golf Course]