Sir Hamon L’Estrange: Background and Family
Sir Hamon L’Estrange (1583–1654) was the head of the L’Estrange family, one of Norfolk’s oldest gentry lineages, with deep roots in the region and longstanding connections to the Howards. He inherited the lordship of Hunstanton as a minor in 1592 and was educated at Queens’ College, Cambridge from 1601.
Sir Hamon L’Estrange: Political and Social Roles
L’Estrange served as Justice of the Peace, Sheriff of Norfolk (1608–9), Deputy Lieutenant (1625–c.1642), and was active in local and national government. Sir Hamon’s political influence extended beyond local affairs. He represented Norfolk as a Member of Parliament in 1614 and 1625, while simultaneously serving as MP for Castle Rising in both 1625 and 1626. This dual representation underscores his considerable political weight in the region.
Sir Hamon L’Estrange: Religion and Royalism
During his formative political years, L’Estrange demonstrated his strong Protestant convictions when, in 1616, he arranged the capture of Thomas Tunstal, an escaped Catholic priest who was subsequently tried at Norwich and was hanged, drawn, and quartered just outside of the city’s Magdalen Gate. Historical accounts note an unexpected moment of grace at the execution when Tunstal thanked Sir Hamon for the “opportunity to die for his faith” and offered forgiveness.
Sir Hamon L’Estrange’s theological views, notably his Calvinist leanings and staunch support for the Church of England, had a direct and significant impact on his political actions. He believed that dissent from the established church was a root cause of social and political disorder, and he consistently argued that obedience to the monarchy was a religious duty. L’Estrange saw the sacred oath of allegiance to the king as essential to both religious and civil order.
In his writings and public actions, L’Estrange presented himself as a guardian of public conscience, aiming to “dispose the Common People to their Obedience” and warning against the dangers of religious and political dissent. He viewed resistance theories—especially those promoted by Presbyterians and Puritans—as fundamentally subversive, equating them with anarchy and civil war. Thus, his theology not only justified but demanded his royalist stance, shaping both his leadership during the English Civil War and his broader political interventions in seventeenth-century England.
Sir Hamon L’Estrange: King’s Lynn and the Civil War
In the early 1640s, as England descended into civil war, L’Estrange’s royalist sympathies became decisive for King’s Lynn. The town’s loyalties were divided, but the northwest Norfolk gentry, including the L’Estranges, were predominantly royalist.
Sir Hamon’s most dramatic intervention in regional affairs came during the English Civil War. In 1643. Wth the conflict between King Charles I and Parliament intensifying, L’Estrange successfully manoeuvred to gain enough support within King’s Lynn’s council to become governor of this strategically vital port town. King’s Lynn’s position was of immense importance – it was the only significant port on the north Norfolk coast until Great Yarmouth to the east, and controlled a direct road to London. His Royalist sympathies were clear – Queen Henrietta had gone to Holland seeking arms and men for the King’s cause, and King’s Lynn represented the ideal port through which to transport these resources. Furthermore, controlling this strategic location would potentially open a route south toward London for Royalist forces.
In March 1643, L’Estrange used his influence and personal popularity, as well as a substantial financial offer (£1,000 towards defences), to rally royalist support in King’s Lynn. Townspeople gathered in Tuesday Market Place, declaring their support with cries of “FOR THE KING!” Under pressure, Mayor Gurlin declared for the king and appointed L’Estrange as governor in Charles I’s name.
Photo © James Rye 2025
L’Estrange’s governorship was short-lived. Parliamentarian forces besieged the town, and after just over a month, King’s Lynn surrendered in September 1643. L’Estrange was held responsible for much of the damage to the town’s fabric during the siege.
As a result, he was required to compensate those who suffered losses, including the town’s MPs. His own losses were substantial: over £1,000 in damages, 1,660 sheep, all his corn, and several horses.
Sir Hamon L’Estrange: Aftermath and Later Years
Although initially spared the sequestration of his estates, Hunstanton was seized in 1649, and L’Estrange only regained it in 1651. He also lost a protracted legal dispute with a local tenant, compounding his financial difficulties.
Despite these setbacks, the L’Estrange family’s royalist stance left a lingering undercurrent of support for the monarchy in King’s Lynn, even after the town became a Parliamentarian stronghold.
Sir Hamon L’Estrange: Influence on King’s Lynn
L’Estrange’s actions in 1643 directly shaped the town’s wartime experience, making King’s Lynn a focal point of royalist resistance in Norfolk, albeit briefly. His leadership during the siege and subsequent penalties underscored the risks local elites faced in choosing sides during the Civil War.
The episode also influenced the town’s governance and representation: Parliament refused to allow a royalist-leaning candidate to replace a deceased MP until after the king’s execution, reflecting ongoing suspicion of royalist influence.
Sir Hamon L’Estrange: Legacy
Sir Hamon L’Estrange’s legacy in King’s Lynn is marked by his determined, if ultimately unsuccessful, effort to align the town with the royalist cause, his personal sacrifices, and the enduring impact of his family’s status in local society. His story illustrates the complexities and local consequences of national conflict in 17th-century England.
© James Rye 2025
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Sources
- Hamon le Strange – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamon_le_Strange
- THE SIEGE OF KING’S LYNN – EVELYN TIDMAN Author http://www.evelyntidmanauthor.com/blog/the-siege-of-kings-lynn
- https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1604-1629/member/lestrange-sir-hamon-1583-1654
- Which Side? – circato https://circato.co.uk/the-siege-of-kings-lynn-1643-1-of-4
- Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/L’Estrange, Hamon … https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Dictionary_of_National_Biography,_1885-1900/L’Estrange,Hamon(1605-1660)
- The Siege of King’s Lynn 1643 (4) – Afterwards – circato https://circato.co.uk/the-siege-of-kings-lynn-1643-4-afterwards