Like most places in England, Mundesley has it's place in the the Domesday Book. It was then known as Museleai and was one of the many areas given by William the Conquerer to William de Warenne in gratitude for his allegiance. A freeman named Grinkel held 30 acres of land and another freeman, Eadrics, held 3 areas of 10 acres each.

According to the more recent census of 1841, Mundesley had a population of 453 persons. Amongst their trades, were a Robert Green who was a farming bailiff and a William Barcham, an auctioneer. A twine spinner & a chief boatman are other less common occupations that are recorded. There is also mention of 2 coastguards, a William Martin and a Joseph Humphries. 10 years later in the 1851 census, the population has increased only by 2 and now shows 4 blacksmiths & 6 Fishermen amongst the trades. Among the more unusual ones, there is now a letter carrier, a pauper ratcatcher, a rabbit seller & a clare starcher (whatever a 'clare' was).

By the 1901 census the population of Mundesley had grown by 50% and was now a village of 682 people. The railway, having arrived in 1898 now had 11 employees living in the village. A Station Master ,Guard, Carter, 2 Firemen, 2 Signalmen, 2 Engine Drivers & 2 Platelayers meant that Mundesley Station was pretty well self-contained. Also listed in this census is a village PC, an Agricultural Horse Teamster and 4 coastguards. Perhaps unusually for a small village at that period in time, there was an Alice St.John Mildemay who had been born in India living at 2, Orchard Cottages with a servant, one Zaccharias Molafe from Basutoland.

On Beach Road is the Jonet restaurant. This was named after a Cargo ship which ran aground on the beach in 1969. In the foggy conditions, the skipper of the ship had unfortunately mistaken the Happisburgh lighthouse for the Cromer one.

William Cowper the poet and author spent time in Mundesley in 1795 and in 1796. Although he found the Mundesley air suited his "melancholia", the strong winds on the coast forced him to move to Dereham where he eventually died.

1964 saw the demise of huge chunks of the railway as a result of Dr. Beeching's swingeing cuts and Mundesley was one of the branch lines to suffer. Part of the old railway track now provides for a beautiful walking area in Pygney's Wood in nearby Knapton. Of the old station, nothing remains. Munhaven Residential home occupies roughly the site where it once stood.

For anyone who is interested in looking further into the history of Mundesley, there are two very good books available from the library: Mundesley Past by E A Goodwin and
A Mundesley Album by Eric Reading.

This picture, probably taken in the '60s was kindly sent to me by
Sally Newbold & shows a Sheila Sharpe obviously enjoying the air.