Around a month after his death, St Edmund’s supporters were guided to the location in the forest to try and

retrieve his head, but it could not be found. As night fell, they heard Edmund’s voice calling out ‘Here!,

Here!, Here!. Hurrying to the spot in the shadow of the trees, they were shocked to fi nd a great wolf crouched

motionless, with the king’s head totally unharmed resting between its legs. As they approached, the wolf

quietly got up and retreated into the forest.

The Wolf Trail was planned and fi nanced by the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk as part of its participation with ‘In Bloom’.The content of the trail and photographs used in this leafl et have been supplied by and are copyright of John Smith – Hunnyjohn Productions.This leafl et has been published by the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk.

Situated in the Wolf gardens at St Edmund’s chapel the beautiful carving of the wolf has been designed by Jean Mulligan an artist/teacher who has a background in community art projects. The sculpture was installed in June 2011.

Introduction DISCOVER THE HUNSTANTON

WOLF TRAILExplore the gardens and cliff top scenery to trace the story of St Edmund, Hunstanton’s most famous visitor

and fi rst patron saint of England.

APPEARANCE OF THE WOLF

The story and legend or St Edmund, Hunstanton’s most famous visitor can now be explored following this leafl et and a series of way markers which lead you from the cenotaph in the cliff top gardens to the dramatic cliff top location of St Edmund’s chapel.

St Edmund was born into the Wuffi ng family (Wuffa was the old English word for a wolf) and was the last of that dynasty which had ruled the Kingdom of East Anglia for over 200 years. He landed in Hunstanton in 855 A.D., and since then Hunstanton has had a long and close association with St Edmund.

The story of his arrival in Hunstanton, his time ruling East Anglia, the dramatic story of his eventual martyrdom at the hands of the Vikings and the legendary appearance of a

wolf to guard over his severed head can be discovered following the Hunstanton Wolf Trail.

Hunstanton’s association with St Edmund were celebrated by Henry Le Strange, when in the 1840’s he proposed his new sea bathing village ‘St Edmunds’. As the town quickly grew

it became known as Hunstanton St Edmund’s, retaining this name until 1893 when the new council decided to rename the town ‘New Hunstanton’. The connections with St Edmund live on in road names ‘St Edmund’s Terrace’ and ‘St Edmund’s Avenue’ and he is the patron saint of both the Anglican and Catholic Churches

The Wolf Trail starts at the entrance to the Esplanade Gardens, just a short walk from the Tourist Information Centre. You will fi nd an

information board about the story of St Edmund at the start of the trail and the fi rst of six ‘Wolf Trail’ way markers which take you to the site of St Edmunds Chapel, the surrounding gardens and home of the Wolf

statue. An additional information board is

shortly to be installed at the end of the trail at St Edmunds Chapel.

BBBeerrnnaa

rrddrdrrdr

CCrreererrer sscceenntt

TTOORROOOMMEERR

AAA1114499

GGOOLLFF

CCOOUU

TTEE

RRWW

RW

RRW

ROO

OOLLDD HHUUNNSTST

Sout

h Pr

omen

ade

Sout

h Pr

omen

ade

Sout

h Pr

omen

ade

Sout

h Pr

omen

ade

Sout

h Pr

omen

ade

Sout

h Pr

omen

ade

Sout

h Pr

omen

ade

NNoorr

ttrtrrtr hhPPrr

oororrormm

eennaaddd

ee

CCoo

SSaannddrriiinngghhaamm RRRddd.

SeagateSeagate CCrreererrersscceennttRRR

ddR

dRR

dRR

dR

Hill St.

Hill St.

Hill St.

Hill St.

Hill St.

Hill St.

Hill St.

Park Rd.Park Rd.Park Rd.Park Rd.Park Rd.Park Rd.

Downs Rd.Downs Rd.Downs Rd.Downs Rd.Downs Rd.

A149A149A149A149

King’s Lynn Rd.

King’s Lynn Rd.

King’s Lynn Rd.

King’s Lynn Rd.

King’s Lynn Rd.

King’s Lynn Rd.

King’s Lynn Rd.

King’s Lynn Rd.

King’s Lynn Rd.

King’s Lynn Rd.

BBeeaacc

hhTTTeeTeTTeT

rrr.r.rRRR

ddd.

LLeeSSttrraararrar nngggeeeTTT eeT eTT eTrrr.r.r Cha

pel la

ne

Chape

l lane

Chape

l lane

Chape

l lane

Chape

l lane

Avenu

e Rd.

Avenu

e Rd.

Avenu

e Rd.

Avenu

e Rd.

Avenu

e Rd.

Avenu

e Rd.

Avenu

e Rd.

Avenu

e Rd.

Avenu

e Rd.

HHoomm

eeffiifif eelddsss RRRddRdR .

VVVaaVaVVaVVaV leennttiiinnee RRRddd.

Recreation Recreation Recreation Recreation GroundGroundGroundGround

DoctorsDoctors

The

Gre

enTh

e G

reen

The

Gre

enTh

e G

reen

The

Gre

en

Nursery Dr.Nursery Dr.Nursery Dr.Nursery Dr.Nursery Dr.Nursery Dr.Nursery Dr.Nursery Dr.

GGrerer evvee GGaatttee

HHiiiggghh

SSttt.

Chapel BankChapel BankChapel BankChapel BankChapel Bank

Pitch & PuttPitch & PuttPitch & PuttPitch & PuttPitch & PuttPitch & PuttPitch & PuttPitch & PuttCoursesCoursesCoursesCourses

Cromer

Rd.

Cromer

Rd.

Cromer

Rd.

Cromer

Rd.

Cromer

Rd.

Cliff

Par

ade

Cliff

Par

ade

Cliff

Par

ade

Cliff

Par

ade

Cliff

Par

ade

Cliff

Par

ade

Cliff

Par

ade

Cliff

Par

ade

VVViiiccttooorriiiaa AAAvvvvAvAAvAAvA eee.

YYYooYoYYoY rrkk AAAvvvvAvAAvAAvA eee.

GGleebbee AAAAvvvvvAvAAvAAvA eee.

OLD HUNSTANTON

Clarence Rd.Clarence Rd.Clarence Rd.Clarence Rd.Clarence Rd.Clarence Rd.Clarence Rd.Clarence Rd.Clarence Rd.

Belg

rave

Belg

rave

Belg

rave

Belg

rave

Belg

rave

Old

Tow

n W

ayO

ld T

own

Way

Old

Tow

n W

ayO

ld T

own

Way

Old

Tow

n W

ayO

ld T

own

Way

Old

Tow

n W

ayO

ld T

own

Way

Old

Tow

n W

ayO

ld T

own

Way

Queen’s Dr.Queen’s Dr.Queen’s Dr.Queen’s Dr.Queen’s Dr.Queen’s Dr.Queen’s Dr.Queen’s Dr.Queen’s Dr.

Cliff Ter.Cliff Ter.Cliff Ter.Cliff Ter.Cliff Ter.Cliff Ter.Cliff Ter.

Nor

thga

teN

orth

gate

Nor

thga

te

Hastings Dr.

Hastings Dr.

Hastings Dr.

Hastings Dr.

Hastings Dr.

Hastings Dr.

Hastings Dr.

Hastings Dr.

Hastings Dr.

LLiiigghhtthhoouussee LLaannee

LincolnLincolnLincolnLincolnSquare.SSquare.SSquare.SSquare.SSquare.S

LincolnLincolnLincolnLincolnSquare.NSquare.NSquare.NSquare.NSquare.NSquare.NSquare.N

BostonBostonBostonBostonSquareSquareSquareSquareBostonSquareBostonBostonSquareBoston

LLiiinnccoolnn

AAuussttiiinn SStt.

Chu

rch

St.

Chu

rch

St.

Chu

rch

St.

Chu

rch

St.

Chu

rch

St.

Chu

rch

St.

Chu

rch

St.

Chu

rch

St.

Chu

rch

St.

Chu

rch

St.

St. E

dmun

ds A

ve.

St. E

dmun

ds A

ve.

St. E

dmun

ds A

ve.

St. E

dmun

ds A

ve.

St. E

dmun

ds A

ve.

St. E

dmun

ds A

ve.

St. E

dmun

ds A

ve.

St. E

dmun

ds A

ve.

St. E

dmun

ds A

ve.

St. E

dmun

ds A

ve.

St. E

dmun

ds A

ve.

King’s Rd.

King’s Rd.

King’s Rd.

King’s Rd.

King’s Rd.

King’s Rd.

King’s Rd.

King’s Rd.

King’s Rd. King’s Rd.

King’s Rd.

King’s Rd.

King’s Rd.

King’s Rd.

King’s Rd.

King’s Rd.

King’s Rd.

King’s Rd.

King’s Rd.

Astle

y C

r.As

tley

Cr.

Astle

y C

r.As

tley

Cr.

Astle

y C

r.As

tley

Cr.

Astle

y C

r.PPee

ddddaarrssrsrrsr

CCl.PPeeeddddaarrssrsrrsr DDrrr.r.r

QQuueeeennss

GGaarrddrdr eeennss

A149

A149

A149

A149

A149 TO KING’S LYNN

WWestga

te

Enter Esplanade Gardens near the cenotaph. The Wolf trail marker (1) depicts the shield of King Edmund. St Edmund was born into the Wuffi ng family (Wuffa = little wolf) who had ruled East Anglia for over 200 years. Having spent his youth in Saxony (northern Germany), at the age of 15 he set sail for East Anglia to fulfi l his claim to the throne and kingdom of East Anglia.

Follow the footpath through the Esplanade Gardens along the line of the cliffs. Continue past the bowling green and café on you right, until you reach the open grassed areas of the cliff top.The Wolf trail marker (2) shows two stained glass windows depicting St Edmund landing in Hunstanton in 855 AD. Legend suggests that his fl eet including counsellors, priests and clerics to help support his claim to the kingdom had a safe journey, arriving on the beach below the landmark of the Hunstanton cliffs.

Continue to follow the cliffs until you reach the Wolf trail marker (3). The legend continues that just a short distance from where he landed, St Edmund knelt down to give thanks for his safe arrival and a series of springs suddenly arose. The springs are still present at Waterworks Road in Old Hunstanton. The water from these springs was said to have miraculous powers, with many pilgrims arriving to drink the waters. For nearly one hundred years the residents of Hunstanton drank this water as it was pumped to the water tower (now demolished) at Lincoln Street.

1

2

3

1

ST EDMUND’S SHIELD

2

ST EDMUND LANDS AT HUNSTANTON A.D.855

2

ST EDMUND LANDS AT HUNSTANTON A.D.855

1

ST EDMUND’S SHIELD

3

HOLY WATER

3

HOLY WATER

TTOOCCRROO

AAOO

STSTSTAAASTASTSTASTSTAST

HUNSTANTON

4

ST EDMUND’S CORONATION

4

ST EDMUND’S CORONATION

5

THE VIKINGS ARRIVE

5

THE VIKINGS ARRIVE

6

THE MARTYRDOM OF ST EDMUND

6

THE MARTYRDOM OF ST EDMUND

Further along the cliff edge, close to the remains of St Edmunds Chapel, Wolf trail

marker (6) depicts the martyrdom of St Edmund. Having surrendered to the Vikings, Edmund was

tied to a great oak tree, whipped and beaten. Still refusing to renounce his religion, the Viking

archers used him for target practice before fi nally he was beheaded. His head was taken deep into the forest and hidden amongst the

undergrowth.

Legend or myth, the story of what happened to those searching for St Edmunds head

is told overleaf. Walk over to the remains of St Edmund’s chapel

and the gardens to discover more.

Continue further along the cliff. Wolf trail marker (5) depicts the

Vikings arrival in the north of England in 865. The Vikings gradually moved

south and after 4 years reached St Edmund’s kingdom. Following an

enormous battle on Thetford plain, St Edmund retreated to one of his

strongholds near Hoxne in Suffolk, knowing that he would be heavily

defeated in any further battle. Shortly after the Viking leaders demanded

that Edmund should give up his religion and rule under Viking law.

Refusing to do this and to save his people from further suffering, St

Edmund gave himself up.

Continue further along the cliff. Wolf trail marker (4) depicts the

coronation of St Edmund. He was crowned King of the Northfolk

(Norfolk) in 855 and king of the Southfolk (Suffolk) in the following

year. At his coronation, St Edmund took an oath to protect his people

from the Vikings and any threat from neighbouring small kingdoms. Under his Christian rule St Edmund’s

small kingdom prospered.

1

2

3

Lighthouse

Coasthopper Bus stop

Landtrain toHunstanton town centre

St Edmund’sChapel

Cliffs

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Wolf Trail

© Copyright Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk