As of this year, families have been camping at our historical farm campsite for almost a century!
If you ask us, we think our place to camp at Hunstanton Camping and Glamping is ideal for a holiday. 90 years ago, one Thomas Raines had very much the same idea. Now, he couldn't have possibly foreseen the huge motorhomes and caravans that would come to the vacation spot. However, back in 1933 he, alongside a few other entrepreneurs in the area, saw the area's potential as a seaside getaway. Now, almost 100 years later, Raines' Farm is still here as Hunstanton Camping and Glamping!
Our campsite has been through an extensive journey in those 90 years. Going from a working dairy farm to a hotspot for tourism, and from Raines' Farm to Staithe Farm to Hunstanton Camping and Glamping, it has undergone a lot of change. However, even after so long, we've managed to keep the spirit of the original holiday park. Whether it's in the rustic stylings of our glamping options or our back-to-basics approach to camping, we've kept the tranquillity and simplistic appeal of Mr. Raines' camping destination!
Beachside campsites of the 1930s
In the interwar years, throughout the 1920s and 30s, camping grew immensely in popularity throughout the UK. Historians have found that the holiday took the UK by storm in the late 19th and early 20th century, so much so that it was getting parodied as early as 1908. While the activity took a hit in popularity in the 1910s (for obvious reasons), it was revitalised after World War 1 with the formation of the National Camping Club. And at this time, I'm sure everyone could've done with a break.
So, pitching a tent away from home for a few days found popularity across the UK. And it was only a matter of time before the camping holiday and the beach holiday merged into one. Providing all the attractions of the seaside with the frugality of shelter in the great outdoors. Pioneering entrepreneurs in the 1930s looked to make the coastal vacation more affordable, and tents were the best way forward.
A farm, a field, and a flood: pitching on a Norfolk beach
Such entrepreneurs saw the potential of the Norfolk coast, especially so close to the Victorian resort of Hunstanton. Jam-packed with fun things to do and with stunning views, the area was (and still is) rife for business opportunities. Namely, it was an opportunity for anyone who wanted to provide families a place to stay nearby.
Nearby places like Jennings Caravan Park, Beachams and Long Acres all opened from the 30s to the 50s. And our spot on the coastline was converted from farmland to parkland in 1933. Known as Staithe Farm and later Raines Farm, the site welcomed tents and caravans alike. The camp was simplistic, back then only needing to give cityfolk a place to put up a tent. However, in 1935, there is evidence which shows that Mr Raines put in a water hookup for the camping park so we have a supply of water available on-site.
While a distance from the woodland that other campsites called home, Staithe Farm was within easy reach of sandy beaches, nature reserves, and the tranquil countryside. Not only that, but being so close to Hunstanton would be a boon for any holiday destination. In fact, the farm's position actually proved to be even more of a boon during the devastating North Sea flood of 1953.
The flood affected the Netherlands, Belgium, England, and Scotland, and was the worst flood faced by England and Scotland throughout the 1900s. The flood affected places in Aberdeenshire, Essex, Suffolk, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk. With a total damage estimated at £50 million (£1.2 billion nowadays adjusted for inflation), it was a miracle that Staithe Farm was defended as well as it was. The secluded farm's embankment acted as a natural defence, and the campsite is situated 2 metres higher than surrounding areas. Thanks to these factors, it weathered the storm better than many surrounding places. So much so that an aerial shot from 1953 shows the campsite in full swing.
Hunstanton Camping and Glamping: Staithe Farm in 2023
Even today, Hunstanton Camping and Glamping has kept the selling points that made Staithe Farm popular back in the day. The beachside location, the tranquil rural setting with undulating fields, how close it is to Norfolk's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Thomas Raines' campsite is ideal today as it was back then. That is, of course, with all the modern conveniences on top.
The camping and caravan site is now well suited for motorhome and campervans, much like it has always accommodated caravans. What's more, we've built on the water supply connected here some 85 years ago with basic facilities onsite like showers, toilets, and cleaning areas. And, if roughing it out camping is not your speed, you can also stay outdoors with all the creature comforts of home in our glamping bell tents and shepherds huts!
There's a lot of history to our site and the surrounding area, and you can come experience all that heritage right here!
