A house has sat on the same site as Hales Hall, near Loddon, for over a thousand years. Even the present property, which includes a Grade I listed house and the largest brick-built Tudor barn in England, dates back to 1478 - making it one of the oldest and best restored in the county.
It’s no surprise, then, that owner Helen Johnston and her family, which bought the property six years ago, want to find the perfect buyer. “What’s important for us is that we sell it to the right people who are going to love and cherish Hales,” she says.
In 2020, the entire estate - which includes nine acres, a moat and various other outbuildings including a gatehouse and cottage - was let out for £14,000 a week and, just recently, the space has been used by a Grammy and Brit-award winning singer to rehearse for an upcoming tour.
The barn and hall at Hales are the surviving remains of the wing of Sir James Hobart’s once great house. He served as attorney general to Henry VII and his great grandson, Sir Henry Hobart, later built Blickling Hall.#
The estate was acquired from Sir Roger de Hales, whose daughter married the Duke of Norfolk. Sir James created a unique triple-moated complex with defensive walls and a massive hall, barn with windows to defend it, a gatehouse and cottages.
In the early 1970s, it was bought by Terry and Judy Read who spent around four decades restoring it, and it’s been further renovated by other owners since then.
The renovations have included the total overhaul and restoration of the main roof, which dated back to 1601, as well as rebuilding of the chimneys, the installation of new windows and a total rewiring, plus new insulation, plasterwork, a custom-built kitchen and seven new bathrooms.
The Great Barn sits to the north of the house and provides a stunning backdrop. At 184ft, it is the largest brick-built Tudor barn in England, and it has now been given a new lease of life as a one-of-a-kind event venue, with permission in place for up to 48 weddings a year.
Savills, Lawrence House, St Andrews Street, Norwich
01603 229229, savills.com
