The Old Hall is a fine and handsome country house of redbrick elevations under a tiled roof, thought possibly to date from the 17th century with various later additions over the centuries. In the 1950s, it was bought by Lord & Lady Mackintosh, part of the confectioner family famous for Quality Street. The couple extended the house significantly creating a beautiful and elegant home in the process. The house is not listed and offers a wealth of flexible accommodation across three self-contained properties including The Old Hall with eight bedrooms, an attached two bedroom north wing annexe and a detached three bedroom cottage.

The Old Hall has a heavy panelled front door, which is set centrally in the original façade of the house beside and over which are fine timber mullioned and transomed windows. A light, spacious and well-proportioned accommodation radiates on a formal basis from a magnificent central panelled reception hall, with a substantial beamed drawing room enjoying a southerly aspect, along with an open fireplace with ornate mantle and surround. The panelled dining room also has a fine carved stone fireplace, as does the sitting room which has a wood burning stove and is at the western end of the house. There are delightful views over the gardens and access via a pair of French doors from the sitting room. Adjacent to the dining room is a family room, which could also be a study, and this has sliding doors to a terrace. The open plan kitchen, breakfast room and orangery has a tiled floor with underfloor heating, Aga and views over the rear secure courtyard. Upstairs there is a substantial open landing, panelled to dado level, from which emanate the principal bedroom suite and a further seven large bedrooms with splendid views over the gardens and grounds. There are three en suite bath and shower rooms, two further family bathrooms and two additional bedrooms on the second floor.

Integral to the principal accommodation is the north wing, which provides a family room, kitchen and cloakroom on the ground floor, with two bedrooms and bathroom on the first floor. This area provides integral further accommodation which is flexible in usage. Standing to the north east of the house is a detached cottage of brick elevations under a slate roof comprising kitchen/breakfast room, 2 reception rooms and 3 bedrooms and a bathroom. The cottage has a natural area of private, well-screened gardens. Both the north wing and cottage have recently provided successful income streams through holiday lettings.

Attached to the northern end of the house, within the courtyard area, is a substantial two storey outbuilding providing garaging, store rooms and workshops, with possibility for conversion to further accommodation subject to necessary planning permmission. Within this building, accessible from the rear, is the boiler room and further storage. There is an open fronted cart shed, under a tiled roof, forming the side of the secure courtyard.

This property has 3.33 acres of land.

Outside

The Old Hall sits in 3.33 acres of beautifully tended mature landscaped gardens and grounds that provide a wonderful setting and seclusion for this historic house. Wrought iron gates on brick pillars open onto the drive, bordered by deep lawns and lined by a variety of trees, which opens into an area of hardstanding, accommodating a parking area and access to the gate and secure courtyard, which is tiled. The garden is subdivided into various areas by tall mature hedging, including yew and beech. The principal lawn emanates from the original façade and enjoys a southerly aspect backed and bordered by mature trees, including weeping willow and a variety of shrubs and flowers. Accessed from the family room and sitting room is a flagged terrace opening onto further lawns with raised flower beds including a rose garden at the heart of which is an ornamental pond. At the heart of the gardens is a naturally screened, heated, outdoor swimming pool with a pavilion providing changing rooms, plant room and a sitting area. Beside this is a hard tennis court which has a charming tennis pavilion with a raised terrace. Along the western boundary is a belt of light woodland, planted with a variety of coniferous and broad leaf trees, including a magnificent copper beech and the remainder of the gardens are well-screened providing some wonderful walks, seclusion and privacy.

Situation

The Old Hall occupies a private and secluded location amongst delightful mature grounds in the popular village of Barford. Barford is about 4 miles north of the historic market town of Wymondham, which has a good range of amenities including a Waitrose supermarket. Norwich (7 miles) provides a comprehensive range of shopping, entertainment, cultural and educational amenities, and The Old Hall is well located for access to the hospital and university, which are both on the western side of Norwich. On the North side of the City is Norwich international Airport which caters for both domestic and international flight destinations, and there are railway stations in both Norwich with a service to London Liverpool Street, and Wymondham, with a regular service to both Cambridge and London Kings Cross.

Barford has a primary school and a thriving community. Barnham Broom Golf and Leisure Resort is about 2 miles away and has two 18-hole golf courses, and there are a number of popular public houses in the surrounding area. The A11 dual carriageway is about 5 miles to the south east, and provides uninterrupted dual carriageway to London, Stansted Airport, the Midlands and beyond.

Directions

From Norwich proceed west on the B1108 Hingham Road. Proceed into Barford and turn right at the Cock Inn public house (under renovation). The driveway to the Old Hall will be found on the left hand side before the ‘T’ junction.