Dunston, Norfolk

{{Infobox UK place

| country = England

| coordinates = {{coord|52.5767|1.2839|display=inline,title}}

| os_grid_reference = TG 227 025

| official_name = Dunston

| population =

| population_ref =

| static_image = dunston hall.jpg

| static_image_width = 240px

| static_image_caption = Dunston Hall

| shire_district = South Norfolk

| shire_county = Norfolk

| region = East of England

| civil_parish = Stoke Holy Cross

| constituency_westminster = South Norfolk

| postcode_district = NR14

| postcode_area = NR

| post_town = Norwich

| dial_code = 01508

| london_distance =

| hide_services = true

}}

Dunston is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Stoke Holy Cross, in the South Norfolk district of the English county of Norfolk.

Dunston is located {{Convert|6.9|mi|km}} east of Wymondham and {{Convert|3.1|mi|km}} south of Norwich, in the valley of the River Tas.

History

Dunston's name is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derives from the Old English for Dunn's or Dunni's settlement.{{Cite web |title=Key to English Place-names |url=http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Norfolk/Dunston |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=kepn.nottingham.ac.uk}}

In the Domesday Book, Dunston is listed as a settlement of 35 households in the hundred of Humbleyard. In 1086, the village was divided between the estates of Alan of Brittany, Roger Bigod, Godric the Steward, Ralph de Beaufour and an unnamed freeman.{{Cite web |title=Dunston {{!}} Domesday Book |url=https://opendomesday.org/place/TG2202/dunston/ |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=opendomesday.org}}

Dunston Hall was built in the Elizabethan style in 1859 by John Chessell Buckler and later by Edward Boardman in 1878.{{Cite web |title=Dunston-Hall - Norfolk Heritage Explorer |url=https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?MNF9764-Dunston-Hall |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk}} Today, the hall is a luxury hotel, spa and golf course.{{Cite web |title=Dunston Hall Hotel {{!}} Luxury 4 Star Hotel In Norwich, Norfolk |url=https://www.dunstonhallhotel.co.uk/ |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=www.dunstonhallhotel.co.uk |language=en}}

Geography

In 1931 the parish had a population of 63.{{cite web |title=Population statistics Dunston AP/CP through time |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10068540/cube/TOT_POP |accessdate=18 December 2023 |publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time}} On 1 April 1935 the civil parish was abolished and merged with Stoke Holy Cross.{{cite web |title=Relationships and changes Dunston AP/CP through time |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10068540 |accessdate=18 December 2023 |publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time}}

Dunston Common is located within the village and is popular with walkers.

St. Remigius' Church

Dunston's village church is dedicated to Saint Remigius and dates from the Thirteenth Century. St. Remigius' is located on Stoke Lane and has been Grade II listed since 1959.{{Cite web |title=CHURCH OF ST REMIGIUS, Stoke Holy Cross - 1050433 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1050433?section=official-list-entry |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}}

St. Remigius's tower was rebuilt in the Victorian era but the church still boasts a rood screen from the Fifteenth Century and stained-glass designed by J & J King of Norwich depicting Saint Remigius, Saint Christopher and Saint Nicomedes.{{Cite web |title=Norfolk Churches |url=http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/dunston/dunston.htm |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=www.norfolkchurches.co.uk}}

Governance

Dunston is part of the electoral ward of Mulbarton & Stoke Holy Cross for local elections and is part of the district of South Norfolk.

The village's national constituency is South Norfolk which has been represented by the Labour's Ben Goldsborough MP since 2024.

War Memorial

Dunston's war memorial is solely for the First World War and is a wooden plaque inside St. Remigius' Church which lists the following names:{{Cite web |title=Geograph:: Denton to Dunton cum Doughton :: War Memorials in Norfolk |url=https://www.geograph.org.uk/article/War-Memorials-in-Norfolk/6#denton-to-dunton-cum-doughton |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=www.geograph.org.uk}}

class="wikitable"

!Rank

!Name

!Unit

!Date of Death

!Burial

Sgt.

|Robert C. Rayner

|att. Chinese Labour Corps

|29 Jan. 1920

|Fort Massey Cemetery

Gnr.