Stanfield, Wymondham, Norfolk

Stanfield Hall is a most impressive partly moated period country house positioned centrally within 35 acres of mature parkland grounds with a rich history. Built in 1792 by a successful Norwich builder by the name of William Wilkins Snr, the property is located on the site of a medieval moated manor where a chapel is recorded in 1216. Partly constructed of reused monastic stonework and with ceiling beams of about 1580, the property has brick elevations in a Tudor style, with a magnificent Gothic style stone staircase hall, under a Cumberland slate roof. Entering through a projecting central porch with polygonal comer turrets under pyramid caps and beneath a coat of arms, the property leads into a spectacular entrance hall with vaulted ceiling, stone fireplace and arched double doors into a central staircase hall rising through two storeys via a cantilevered stone staircase to an open gallery landing all with cast iron balusters with pointed arches ramped with wreathed handrail under an ornate fan vaulted ceiling above. The ground floor accommodation is generous with drawing room and sitting room both light filled with south facing bay windows looking out to the terrace, gardens, moat and grounds beyond and featuring period cornicing, ceiling roses, sash windows and stone fireplaces. The dining room is wood panelled with a full height feature fire surround and plenty of space for entertaining. The kitchen is more modern with vaulted ceiling with sky lights, pantry, stone tiled floor, fitted handcrafted shaker style units under black marble worktops, original oil AGA, Lacanche gas cooking range, central island and doors out to the charming moat sided terrace. Further accommodation includes a library and snug, a utility wing including boot room, laundry and shower facility. Attached to the rear is an extensive leisure facility including indoor swimming pool, sauna and gym.

On the first floor is the principal bedroom suite with dressing room and bathroom with freestanding shower and separate wc. There are a further four large bedroom suites around the galleried landing as well as a further bedroom and a home cinema room. The second floor is accessed via two staircases to rooms that interlink containing three bedrooms with dressing rooms, sitting rooms and three bathrooms. In total there are 8 bedrooms and 8 bathrooms.

History
Stanfield Hall was once resided in by Sir John Robsart, a Norfolk gentry and former Sheriff of Norwich with links to Robert Kett and the Battle of Mousehold Heath near Norwich in 1549. Robert’s daughter Amy married Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester in 1550. However, when Elizabeth I ascended the throne in 1558, Robert became Master of the Horse and was at court almost constantly in attendance with the Queen. By 1559 Robert had become the Queen’s favourite and suitor of her hand. Amy was found dead at her home in Oxford in 1560 and whilst it was likely to be accidental, the motives of Robert were in question.

Stanfield Hall was once also the scene of an infamous double that shocked Victorian England. On the night of 28 November 1848 Isaac Jermy left the Hall to take the evening air after a dinner party. He was ambushed and shot by a masked man, who then proceeded to shoot Isaac's son, his wife, and a maid. Isaac and his son were killed, and the two women were badly injured. James Blomfield Rush was arrested and put on trial in Norwich. During his trial Rush defended himself, and his closing speech to the jury lasted 14 hours. The jury took just ten minutes to find him guilty of , and he was hanged at Norwich Castle on 21 April 1849. Between 12,000 and 20,000 people attended his execution, and special train services were run from London to Norwich for the occasion. Charles Dickens observed that it was 'a grand place for a scoundrel's exit'.

Outside, the property enjoys a most wonderful parkland setting surrounded by countryside with no near neighbours. The house is approached via a 700 metre drive which heads over a bridge to a large gravelled area with ample parking. The Grade II Listed 16th Century moat bridge is formed of English and Flemish brick with two round arches and buttress piers either side and between, with the parish boundary between Wymondham and Ketteringham running along the centre line of the bridge and through the house. To the south is an attractive lawned garden with deep shrub borders and flower beds. A large terrace leads around the side of the Hall to landscaped gardens centred around a pond with kitchen gardens and a tennis court beyond. To the north of the Hall is a charming two bedroom single storey cottage and a substantial steel portal frame outbuilding, alongside field shelters and closed paddocks. The parkland enjoys a wide variety of fine mature broadleaf trees.

Agents Note: The property benefits from payments via Renewable Heat Incentive scheme for the biomass pellet boiler and payments via Feed In Tariff scheme for solar array. The vendor intends to place an overage provision on the grounds in the instance of any large scale development gain.

Stanfield Hall is located in a rural South Norfolk position close to the A11 road network offering easy access north to Norwich (9 miles), the A47 that runs east and west through Norfolk (6 miles), and south towards Newmarket (41 miles), Cambridge (55 miles) and London (111 miles). Just 2 miles to the west is the market town of Wymondham which has a good range of amenities including Waitrose supermarket and schooling at both Wymondham College and Wymondham High School. Wymondham has a mainline railway with a regular service to Cambridge (60 minutes) with connections to London Kings Cross. The Cathedral City of Norwich, the regional centre is 9 miles to the north and offers a comprehensive range of commercial entertainment, cultural amenities and excellent schooling. Norwich train station has a regular direct service to London Liverpool Street (120 minutes) and on the north side of the city is Norwich International Airport which caters for both domestic and international flight destinations.