Horning Hall and its chapel hits the market for £4m

Mention the Norfolk Broads and most people will think of an idyllic riverside, boats meandering along the waterways, ducks and geese nesting in the reedbeds and a life filled with outdoor pursuits. Luckily for prospective buyers, Horning Hall offers that and so much more.

The property is set in just over 70 acres of formal gardens, paddocks and fields, with around a mile of river frontage and not just a main house, but also a detached barn conversion, historic flint chapel, boat house and first-class equestrian facilities.

The main house dates back to the Victorian era (Image: Fine & Country)

The reception rooms are light and airy and many include feature fireplaces and decorative cornicing (Image: Fine & Country)

A spokesperson for selling agents, Fine & Country, says that the sprawling estate would have once belonged to nearby St Benet’s Abbey. 

The abbey is the only monastery in England that wasn’t closed by Henry VIII, and over the past 200 years, it has become a favourite among photographers and artists due to its unique atmosphere. 

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The flint chapel in the grounds of Horning Hall would have been the last overnight stop for pilgrims en route to the Abbey, as well as a place of worship in its own right. 

Also included within the grounds is a large chapel, believed to be the last stopping point for pilgrims on the way to St Benet's Abbey (Image: Fine & Country)

The property also includes a two-storey boathouse complete with a balcony offering far-reaching views of the river (Image: Fine & Country)

It’s believed that visitors would have slept at one end and worshipped at the other, and although it is no longer used for this purpose, the building has been meticulously restored and cared for, creating a unique space for entertaining thanks to its high ceiling and open layout.

By comparison, the main residence is much more modern, although there has been a property on the site for centuries. Today’s house is Victorian, dating back to 1860, and offers the distinctive look and feel of a large rectory. 

The current owners moved into the property over 25 years ago, drawn by the estate’s unusual combination of sailing and equestrian facilities. With a son who sailed and a daughter who rode, it seemed the ideal choice for the family and the perfect place to raise their children.

The main house offers a lovely farmhouse-style kitchen (Image: Fine & Country)

The sitting room in the main house (Image: Fine & Country)

At the time, the property needed a lot of work – much of which they accomplished even before they moved in. They extended the house, replaced its roof, staircases and kitchen and also installed central heating. 

Today, the house is warm and welcoming and offers a fusion of the modern and the traditional. 

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The décor features William Morris and Nina Campbell papers – in keeping with its Victorian heritage – and the owners have also commissioned bespoke stained glass as nod to the history of the home and its chapel.

The owners have kept much of the property's Victorian charm intact - including the front door, which is a nod to the chapel elsewhere in the grounds (Image: Fine & Country)

The property sits in just over 70 acres, which includes well-kept gardens and grounds (Image: Fine & Country)

Accommodation is arranged over three floors and includes six bedrooms and five reception rooms, as well as an impressive farmhouse-style kitchen with a huge brick hearth in the centre. 

As part of the renovations, the couple also converted a bullock yard and barns into a separate cottage, providing annexe accommodation, and there are two further bedrooms in the detached barn conversion, which adjoins the garages.

The property is described as a “paradise for those who love wildlife or the water”, owing to its unique stretch of river frontage. Several moorings are included in the sale and could be rented out, providing a useful income.

The grounds also include a converted barn, providing additional accommodation, as well as garaging and a useful range of outbuildings (Image: Fine & Country)

The converted barn features a huge open-plan living area (Image: Fine & Country)

The owners have also built a beautiful two-storey thatched boat house, which can comfortably house two good-sized boats and features a large gym on the first floor. 
The first-floor balcony, outside, also provides the perfect vantage point for watching wildlife over the far-reaching views. 

Elsewhere, the expansive gardens include a large Victorian-style glass house, which is in keeping with the property’s age, and a summer house. 

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Over the years, the gardens have hosted everything from family celebrations to charity events, with guests arriving – rather uniquely – by both road and river.

The barn has been fully converted to provide additional accommodation, featuring high ceilings and a rustic finish (Image: Fine & Country)

The property boasts around a mile of river frontage - including some moorings which could be rented out (Image: Fine & Country)

The equestrian set-up at Horning Hall is also impressive and offers huge potential for new owners. It includes stabling for seven horses and one pony, as well as a tack room, rug room, feed room and kitchenette. 

The facility has previously been used as a stud farm, which means that four of the stables are oversized foaling boxes, and there is also a recently-built manege. The facilities also include lots of parking and storage as well as direct access to local bridlepaths.

Fine & Country says the sale, listed at £4m, is a “rare opportunity to own one of the most special family homes in the heart of the Norfolk Broads.”

For more information, contact Fine & Country.

PROPERTY FACTS
Hall Lane, Horning
Offers in the region of £4,000,000
Fine & Country, 01603 221888
www.fineandcountry.com