Mid Norfolk's Houghton Hall has opened its doors to a very special guest, for a fundraising evening in aid of charity East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH).

Eastern Daily Press: Professor Mary Beard visited Houghton Hall, near Fakenham, in support of EACH. Photo: EACHProfessor Mary Beard visited Houghton Hall, near Fakenham, in support of EACH. Photo: EACH (Image: Archant)

Cambridge classics professor, Mary Beard, visited the hall for a 'In Conversation' evening with Tim Knox, director of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, about its first owner, the British prime minister Sir Robert Walpole and his collection of Roman busts.

Professor Beard wrote a column after the event for the Times Literary Supplement, calling EACH 'one of the best of our local charities in my part of the world.'

She added: 'EACH provides care for children and young people with life-threatening illnesses — and they are currently in the middle of an appeal to replace one of their existing properties with a brand new purpose built hospice in Norfolk ('The Nook').

Lord Cholmondeley, owner of Houghton Hall, said: 'We were delighted to host this fascinating discussion about Sir Robert Walpole and his collection of Roman antiquities in aid of the Nook appeal.'

He added: 'Professor Mary Beard is a dazzling talker.'

EACH major donor manager, Dianne Rowe, said: 'Lord and Lady Cholmondeley are wonderful supporters of EACH and over the past two years have focused on fundraising for the Nook appeal, our campaign to build a new children's hospice just south of Norwich.'

She added: 'We're very grateful for their continued support and generosity. As always, they were excellent hosts and made every guest feel very welcome in their truly magnificent home.

'The evening raised over £3,000 for the Nook appeal and we hope it brought many new supporters on board as well.'

The EACH appeal total stands at £7m, and on November 15 the charity officially cut the turf at the building site and began work.

The site, a five-acre woodland setting, is five miles south of Norwich in Framingham Earl; nearer the centre of the county, closer to local services, hospitals and road networks.

EACH say the new site will also mean families and staff travelling shorter distances to the hospice.

They say: 'Once built it will transform our care to meet the changing needs of children and help us meet the increasing demand for our services.'

Anyone who wants to make a donation should visit the EACH website.