County School, North Elmham, Norfolk

The Chapel is a substantial and excellently presented Victorian chapel conversion with garaging, two bed annexe and outbuildings, occupying 5.84 acres of gardens, woodland and a river fronted paddock. Built in 1883 of brick and flint elevations under a clay pin tile roof, the property enjoys spectacular proportions and is presented in excellent condition. An open porch leads into a double height reception hall with parquet floor and a magnificent galleried staircase leading to a most incredible first floor vaulted 70ft reception room, also with parquet floor, a wood burning stove, and a spectacular stone window leading out to a balcony overlooking the gardens. Across the galleried landing is the principal bedroom suite, also with feature stone window and vaulted ceiling, an en suite with an elegant freestanding bath, walk in shower, and separate dressing room. Downstairs, the open plan reception hall enjoys an under stairs display wine store, a seating area with an adjacent inset wood burning cassette fire, a dining area, and a contemporary kitchen with Aga and kitchen island. Beyond the kitchen is a bedroom wing with four double bedrooms, two with en suite shower rooms and a separate family bathroom. The ground floor is complete with study, conservatory, sitting room, utility with pantry and cellar and a guest wc.

Across the gravel driveway from The Chapel is a detached outbuilding with ground floor double garage, workshops and garden store, and an entrance hall leading up to a first floor annexe with open plan kitchen sitting room and two ensuite bedrooms.

History
The Chapel is located on a former boarding school site known as Norfolk County School which was opened in 1874 by Edward Prince of Wales (later to become King Edward VII) to serve the needs of the sons of farmers and artisans in the area. Unfortunately, the school never quite reached its enrolment quota, partly due to depression in agriculture, and the school closed in 1895. The premises were then sold in 1901 and, after refurbishment, were used to home orphans. The school was then reopened in 1906 as the Watts Naval School to train for a life at sea in the Royal Navy before then closing in 1953.

Outside, the property is approached via metal gates in estate fencing onto a gravel drive leading to the front of The Chapel and to the garage block and annexe. To the north are enclosed formal lawn gardens with a pond and an array of seating and dining terraces. A greenhouse and wooden outbuilding used as a bar and pizzeria are situated alongside an orchard and vegetable garden. Further beyond is a range of former piggery outbuildings useful for general storage. A wooded hillside leads down to an open paddock with a summer house overlooking the River Wensum. The private grounds at The Chapel amount to 5.87 acres, but residents of the County School estate also have the benefit of an additional 7 acres of communal riverside gardens.

The Chapel is located a mile north of North Elmham which is an attractive and prosperous small mid-Norfolk village with a wide variety of charming houses and includes a doctor’s surgery, village shop, post office with café, two public houses school and a number of small businesses. It is approximately half an hour’s drive to both Norwich and the North Norfolk coast. There are good local amenities at the market towns of Dereham and Fakenham (both 7-8 miles away) The Georgian market town of Holt (13 miles) to the north, provides a wide range of amenities and boutique shopping whilst the regional City of Norwich offers a comprehensive range of commercial entertainment, cultural amenities and excellent schooling. Norwich has a main railway station providing a regular service to London. On the north side of the city is Norwich International Airport which caters for both domestic and international flight destinations.