Gresham’s School has been revealed as the new buyer of Holt Hall, a former outdoor learning centre being sold by Norfolk County Council.
The school will be taking over the 19th-century mansion and integrating it into its wider campus, which is nearby.
The authority’s decision to sell off the hall has been controversial, with objections coming from groups including the Friends of Holt Hall and opposition councillors, who argue it should be kept as a learning centre.
An earlier sale, which would have seen the site turned into housing, fell through.
Over 70 years, generations of schoolchildren have used the Grade II listed Victorian property and its 86 acres of land for outdoor learning and residential trips.
Making the announcement, Greg Peck, the council's cabinet member for commercial services and asset management said: “The site was running at £270,000 loss and needed £600,000 in maintenance to continue operating.
“We have agreed terms to sell it to Gresham’s School in Holt which is a major asset to the Norfolk education environment. They are a major local employer and a key part of the local economy.”
Mr Peck said it would secure the building and grounds for the future and there would now be a period of transition while the site is integrated into the wider Gresham’s campus.
The cost of the purchase has not been revealed.
Gresham’s is a boarding and day school established by John Gresham in 1555.
Douglas Robb, the headmaster, said: “The school is delighted to have been able to secure the purchase of Holt Hall.
"The site lies on our boundary and allows us to further develop our educational facilities benefitting both our pupils and the wider community.”
Reacting to the news, Labour’s Mike Smith-Clare accused County Hall of trying to make “another dirty buck” warning that he believed that Whitlingham – an activity centre run by the authority - will go the same way.
He said: “It beggars' belief that when given an opportunity to make amends for their failings, the Tories once again ignore the needs of Norfolk’s young people and haplessly trundle down their broken path of bad business deals.
“Our county needs an outdoor learning centre, not another quick fix sale in a lame attempt to balance the books.”
Steffan Aquarone, Liberal Democrat county councillor for Melton Constable, said: “As I've long said, I think the decision to put Holt Hall on the open market was the wrong one.
“Today's news is certainly better than finding the site has been sold to a private buyer for a home.
“The question now is the extent to which Gresham's will continue to provide a public, outdoor learning opportunity that can benefit young people across Norfolk and beyond.”
A RECENT HISTORY OF HOLT HALL
County Hall announced its intention to close the site in late 2020 as a cost-cutting measure, arguing it needed £600,000 of maintenance and had already cost £270,000 over its last three years in use.
The county council reached an agreement earlier this year to sell it to a mystery buyer, who would turn the site into a residential home, for an undisclosed sum.
This was met with fierce objection, with campaign group the Friends of Holt Hall and opposition councillors leading calls for it to continue in community use.
The campaign group succeeded in having the site declared an asset of community value but was unable to stop the sale.
But it emerged in July that the authority had pulled out of the process after growing frustrated with delays over its completion.
A new buyer was then sought to take over the hall.
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