Castle Acre, Norfolk

A farmhouse of real character and quiet distinction, forming part of the celebrated Holkham Estate. Georgian in origin with later Victorian additions, Lodge Farm sits within mature park-like grounds in an unspoilt corner of West Norfolk. The house requires a programme of refurbishment and is offered accordingly, but for those with an eye for provenance and potential, it is a property of uncommon interest.

Built in the distinctive warm-toned brick of the Holkham Estate, Lodge Farm is a farmhouse of scale and presence — Georgian origins extended substantially in the Victorian period, resulting in over 8,700 square feet of accommodation arranged across six reception rooms, seven bedrooms and five bathrooms, and an adjoined two-bedroom annexe. The house is unlisted, which will be of practical benefit to whoever undertakes its restoration.

The south façade is the house at its most composed, with well-proportioned sash windows looking out over the grounds and countryside beyond. It is a view that rewards reinstatement of the original approach — a sweeping drive from the west through parkland — which will, in time, restore the sense of arrival the house deserves. The north elevation is quieter and more agricultural in character, a reminder of the working estate life from which Lodge Farm grew.

Internally, the principal rooms are arranged along the south side of the house, retaining period fireplaces and original features. The house requires thorough refurbishment throughout, and prospective buyers should satisfy themselves as to its current condition. The opportunity, however, is self-evident.

A courtyard of single-storey outbuildings to the north provides garaging, stabling, a workshop and stores which offer potential for a variety of uses, subject to any necessary consents.

The grounds — offered at 3.89 acres (red outline) - include lawn garden, a pond, and belts of established woodland containing some particularly fine specimens of copper beech, oak, horse chestnut and lime. The bones of a well-considered landscape are clearly present, with the structure and maturity that only time can provide.

Additional land is available by separate negotiation (blue outline totalling 20.38 acres) which also includes a substantial barn on the north side of the courtyard.

Agents note: Within 6 months of a completed sale, the vendors will provide a new private water supply to any properties that are currently supplied via the borehole located on grounds associated with Lodge Farm.

Lodge Farm occupies a position of genuine seclusion, set within ancient trees and open parkland approximately one mile north-east of Castle Acre — one of the most historically rich villages in Norfolk, notable for its Norman castle, ruined Cluniac priory and the medieval Church of St James. Few passing through the village would suspect that a house of this scale and heritage lies so quietly beyond it.

Swaffham, a handsome Georgian market town, is three miles to the south with a Waitrose supermarket. Fakenham lies eleven miles to the north with a good range of amenities, and the wide beaches and nature reserves of the North Norfolk coast — including Brancaster — are within twenty miles. Norwich, with its cathedrals, restaurants and mainline rail connections to London, is a comfortable drive. Sandringham, Houghton Hall and Oxburgh Hall are all within fifteen miles.