Page 8 - Hunstanton Town & Around - February 2014

8 Hunstanton Town & Around February 2014 Tel: 01485 533422 email: editor@townandaround.net
A Casual Correspondent pony car proprietor, so we drawn by a little mountain pony
propose to avail ourselves of one
which holds only 2 of the royal
Jim Welham of these drives, but we do not princes. So being delighted with
altogether see the fun of that as our day we returned back to our
The railway arrived at a field station and away we go to
between Heacham and Hunstanton where we thank our we can have plenty of drives at marine quarters.
Hunstanton in 1862, after which lucky stars that we arrive safely, home, gratis. We ask the man, We tried next a sail on the sea.
the building of Hunstanton St as the line is only a single length ‘Where is the prettiest drive?’ He Reader if ever you do the like our
Edmunds commenced. of rails. We were on the look for of course tells us ‘to advice to you is bargain with the
Newspapers were soon reporting lodgings, being strangers. We Sandringham’ but he tells us you boatman before you go, if not you
the fascination visitors had met a man on the platform and cannot see the grounds---good will be ‘done.’ We would advise
regarding the peculiar brown asked if he could help us in our idea that. Luckily we have a Lynn all visitors to see Old Hunstanton
houses constructed from a novel search. He was very obliging and paper by us and find that the Church which is the best
and unusual material named Carr as I later found, he was a letter- grounds will be open to the public ventilated church we have ever
stone, the walls of which were out of donkeys. We, through his on a certain day (the only time in been in. The pulpit is a most
built of blocks of all shapes and assistance came to a very good the year) on the occasion of a intrinsic work of sculpture and
sizes. The new town was praised shelter and were comfortable for cottagers flower show by the the monuments to the Le Strange
for the purity of its air, the 3 weeks there and found the sea tenants of His Royal Highness’s family are good. Then see the
quietness which allowed holiday breezes very good and suitable estate. We decided to avail gardens and hall which contain
makers to muse at the crumbling for children, but the very great ourselves of this so we some beautiful oak carvings done
cliffs, gaze at the lonely Wash and fault of the lodging housekeepers accordingly arranged with the by the late squire then go an hour
leave behind them the cares of the is they have such inefficient man to go. The day comes as a through the Downs, all of which
outside world. servants. We were very pleased natural consequence and we start. will well repay you for a visit.
Not everyone agreed. An with the photographic artist The first village we come to There is a chapel-of-ease at
article entitled Hunstanton St named Mclean. Hitcham and the next Snettisham Hunstanton St Edmunds where
Edmunds, appeared in The It is an undeveloped place but and then Sandringham. We first service is performed once a
Grantham Journal in two parts on an architect and surveyor has of all visit the Church which is a Sunday and of course collections
the 16 and 23 October 1869, been surveying the adjacent land pretty little one and reminds us are required from the visitors, but
under the non de plume of a for the Lord of the Manor, with a very much of Osborne and of we preferred the religious
Casual Correspondent and read as view to further progress. One course, we must sit down in the services held at the Refreshment
follows:- matter we must allude to is the Prince’s pew, then we go on to the Rooms where the services were
‘Hunstanton St Edmunds is inferiority of the bathing pleasure grounds which though very good but we could not praise
now the Brighton of the Midlands machines and the way the not completed yet, in their the Harmonium playing.
agricultural District and seems to pleasure boats are allowed to row infancy show how beautifully and We saw the beautiful lifeboat
be a bye-word with the and sail in front of them causing tastefully they have been laid out. out on a cruise which was
inhabitants thereof, asking ‘Have great embarrassment to the The artificial lake in the front of presented by the victualler’s
you been to Hunstanton?’ I was ladies.’ the palace with its pretty cascades society a year and a half ago and
determined to be in the fashion as The article resumed a week is charming. We then pass on to which has saved 36 lives. It is a
I do not like to be ignorant of the later. the palace which is not nearly noble craft skilfully handled by
whereabouts of such a so-called ‘The place is very monotonous finished. It is built entirely of her crew.
notorious watering place, so I to stay at long as, by experience, brick and all the floors are on iron We have just given a brief
went. I started from a Station of you know the fish and the shrimp girders and arched so as to be as sketch of the daily habits of the
the Midland System called cry of the regular itinerate dealers nearly fireproof as modern people there and cannot but hope
Oakham then glided to who always keep the same time science can make it. Through the that the place will greatly
Peterborough. Having only every day and you know the kindness of a friend we were improve and there will be more
tourist tickets we completed the regular excursion days which a introduced to the housekeeper amusements and accommodation
travel by the self-called Great little relieves the quietude of the who showed us over what is for visitors in future.
Eastern Railway. We arrived at place. The worst of the days is finished of the new palace – the Now homeward we start from
Lynn but oh! What a wooden when the same three gentlemen billiard and skittle rooms etc. and Hunstanton at 4 pm and arrive at
pigsty for passengers to wallow always play the same music. were very pleased with the Lynn quite safe, yes and luggage
in. Where is the ladies’ waiting Reader of these lines, have you original cartoons by John Leech too, then the detestable Great
room and where was any other ever heard them? If you have not which hang therein. We then saw Eastern Railway, the memory of
accommodation for either sex? be thankful, but if you have, be the kitchen gardens which stand which is as dear to me as the loss
We ask, ‘Where is the train for thankful that the cholera has not on 60 acres of ground and the dog of Calais to Queen Elizabeth.
Hunstanton?’ The porter tells us ended your days. They always kennels where you may see Tourists, passengers, visitors to
he does not know what side the make the same noise, the tune of almost every perfect breed of Hunstanton from the Midlands
train starts from but it will not be which is impossible to find out English and foreign dogs. Then district, go by the Midland
for about an hour and a half. but it must have been one we went over to the stables and Railway to Lynn and avoid that
Where are we to go? No decent invented before tunes came up. saw the donkey which is quite horrible line and by doing so you
woman’s room or even a worse Now comes the question you ask white, which the Prince brought cannot much lower their dividend
woman’s room. So we go to an yourself, what do I do here to from Jerusalem and the beautiful than what it is now.’
Inn opposite are well treated with drag out my time? Well there are carriages suitable for hunting and A letter from Hunstanton dated
charges moderate. Then we go some nice drives in the shooting purposes and such a 26/10/1869 to the editor of the
again to this hovel they call a neighbourhood we are told by the beautiful little hooded carriage Grantham Journal by someone