Old Hunstanton, Norfolk

A substantial part of an historic Grade I listed country house in a favoured coastal village. Set along a long drive that winds for a third of a mile through glorious parkland, this exceptional house provides accommodation of 7500 square feet in grounds of 1.49 acre.

• Entrance Hall with superb 17th century oak cantilevered staircase

• 900 sq ft panelled Drawing Room

• Panelled Library

• Dining Room

• Kitchen/Breakfast Room

• Billiards Room

• Sitting Room

• Gym

• Utility Room

• Cloakroom

• Six Bedrooms

• Four Bathrooms

• Part-walled grounds amounting to 1.49 acre incorporating part of the moat

The Manor of Hunstanton has been associated with the Le Strange family since the 12th century and the Hall was originally their Manor House. The Le Stranges were an important Anglo-Norman family who played significant roles in political and court life.

The Hall, which is surrounded by 182 hectares of rolling parkland still owned by the Le Strange Estate, dates from the 15th century. Successive generations of the family altered and enlarged the house notably with the addition of castellated Jacobean wings in the 1620s, with further significant additions in the 19th century necessitated by a fire in 1852. Following a further fire in 1951, the Le Strange family divided the Hall and sold its component parts.

The Hall is approached through Grade II listed gateposts beyond the church and along a drive which winds through the park for a third of a mile before dividing, one fork leading to the main house which now comprises two properties, The Victorian Wing and The South Wing, the other fork leading to the other properties that constitute the Hall and its former outbuildings.

The approach to the main house is via the 1627 gateway and, after crossing the moat, through the arch in the 1487 gatehouse to a courtyard shared by just the Victorian and South wings.

The free-standing structure in the courtyard is in the ownership of The Victorian Wing; it was the entrance to an Elizabethan wing and is all that remains of it following the fire of 1852.

The Victorian Wing is in part a misnomer as it is the fusion of the re-instated North Wing which has a date-stone reading 1623, and a Victorian Wing dating from 1873.

The North Wing had been gutted by fire in 1951 and stood neglected until the current owners, who had acquired The Victorian Wing in 1981, bought it in 1988. Working closely with English Heritage and other statutory bodies, over the ensuing years they oversaw the re-instatement of the North Wing and the necessary alterations to the Victorian Wing to create the house as it stands today.

The house enjoys frontage to the moat and a large lawned garden running down to the lake at the rear.

During the re-instatement works, the current owners particularly enjoyed sourcing appropriate period pieces to meet the approval of English Heritage, such as the 17th century oak staircase, originally contained in a City of London office building and much of the panelling in the Drawing Room and Library from two sources – King’s Lynn Borough Council and an office building in Jermyn Street, W.1.

SERVICES: Mains gas, electricity and water. Drainage to a private sewage treatment plant installed 2020 – 2021 and shared with The South Wing.

HEATING: Gas-fired central heating.

COUNCIL TAX BAND: Band E

BROADBAND: Ofcom state that standard broadband is available to the property.

MOBILE COVERAGE: Ofcom state that outdoors EE, Three O2 and Vodafone are all likely to provide voice and data. Indoors, O2 are likely to provide voice and data, Vodafone provide limited voice and data and EE and Three none.

AGENTS’ NOTES: The Victorian Wing is listed Grade I as being of exceptional historic or architectural interest.

The property lies within a designated Conservation Area.

OLD HUNSTANTON occupies the very north-west corner of Norfolk, with the North Sea to its north and The Wash to its west, all bordered by an expanse of sandy beaches.

The village is mentioned in the Domesday Book, although it may have been a Roman settlement long before. In later years it was primarily a fishing village ruled over by the Le Strange family as Lords of the Manor for 800 years.

In the early 20th century, the writer PG Wodehouse was a regular guest of the Le Strange family and it is thought that some of his best known characters may have been based upon people he met during his visits to Hunstanton Hall. Indeed, it is thought that the Hall was part inspiration for the castellated Blandings Castle.

The village has a shop, two pubs, a Michelin-starred restaurant, a hotel and a championship golf course.

The Victorian town and seaside resort of Hunstanton is just a mile away and provides a wide range of facilities while the pretty, Georgian village of Burnham Market lies 10 miles along the north Norfolk coast to the east.

The Royal Estate of Sandringham is nearby, with public access to the house and grounds.
18 miles to the south lies the Hanseatic port and medieval market town of King’s Lynn, which offers a comprehensive range of shops and facilities as well as a mainline railway line to London King’s Cross (97 mins).

FIXTURES AND FITTINGS: All curtains, fitted carpets and fixed light fittings are included in the sale. Unless specifically mentioned in these particulars, all other fixtures and fittings are expressly excluded from the sale of the freehold interest.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: These particulars have been prepared in all good faith to give a fair overall view of the property. Measurements and distance are given as a guide only. We have endeavoured to ensure the information given is accurate but we would urge you to contact the office before travelling any great distance to ensure that your impression of the property is as we intended. None of the services, appliances or equipment have been tested and purchasers should satisfy themselves on such matters prior to purchase.

VIEWING: Early inspection is recommended through the Agents. For an appointment please telephone BEDFORDS, The Bower House, Market Place, Burnham Market, King’s Lynn, PE31 8HF. Tel: . All our properties can be found on the internet at