Felbrigg Hall Circular Walk Map

Geese on Felbrigg Pond. The history of Felbrigg estate dates back to the middle ages, when a member of the Norman family of Bigod took the name Felbrigg and built a manor house on the site of the present Hall, in the early 15th century.
In addition to its natural offerings, Felbrigg Hall is steeped in history; its 17th-century architecture and well-preserved interiors tell the story of centuries past, while its meticulously landscaped gardens and estate buildings offer a glimpse into the art of traditional landscape design. The grounds are not only a haven for those interested in horticulture and wildlife but also provide cultural and historical insights, with seasonal events, guided tours, and exhibitions that highlight the estate’s rich heritage and ongoing conservation efforts.

Felbrigg Hall. In around 1450 Felbrigg was acquired by John Wyndham, a wealthy merchant from the Norfolk town of Wymondham. The manor house was altered and added on to by following generations until a family member, "Mad Windham", almost ruined the estate and was forced to sell it in 1863, with all its contents. The estate was purchased by John Ketton, a Norwich merchant, whose daughter married a distant cousin of "Mad Windham". Their grandson, Robert Wyndham Ketton-Cremer (d. 1969) bequeathed the Felbrigg Hall and estate to the National Trust.

The view is northerly across Felbrigg Pond, at this time of the year populated by many geese. The estate’s water features, including ponds and streams, support aquatic plants and create ideal habitats for insects and other small creatures. The fauna of the grounds is equally impressive, with a rich bird life that includes common garden birds as well as woodland species. Visitors may observe small songbirds flitting among the branches and, on occasion, larger birds such as buzzards soaring above the treetops. The woodlands also shelter small mammals like squirrels, and early in the day there are often signs of deer quietly moving through the undergrowth

Outflow of the Pond. The bricked-in pipe seen in mid-distance, emerging from the ground, allows water from Felbrigg Pond to flow off in southerly direction, forming a small stream. Solar panels (seen at right) have been set up in this fenced-off area.
The estate grounds offer a remarkable blend of cultivated beauty and natural wilderness. The flora here is diverse, ranging from carefully maintained formal gardens featuring ornamental flower beds that burst into color during the warmer months, to ancient woodlands where mature trees provide a lush, green canopy. In the gardens, you can enjoy displays of seasonal blooms such as bluebells in spring and a variety of flowering shrubs throughout the year, while the surrounding woodland is home to a mix of native trees that have stood for centuries.

 St Margaret's church is located east of Felbrigg Hall. It was built during the 1450s by Simon de Felbrigg, who is commemorated, together with his first wife Margaret, by the most noteworthy of a number of fine brasses in the church. The life-size brass is situated at the eastern end of the nave and protected by a carpet. Sir Simon is one of only six Knights of the Garter, and his wife Margaret was cousin to Anne of Bohemia (wife of Richard II). The church also contains a large number of wall monuments to members of the Wyndham family. The octagonal baptismal font dates from the 14th century, as does the sedilia, damaged beyond repair when the early 19th century monument to William Windham was built directly into them. William Windham was one of England's best-known and most eloquent statesmen at the turn of the 18th century; his monument was made by Joseph Nollekens. The church is open every day.

 A stand of cypress trees ... surrounded by tall conifers and beeches. Many of the ancient oaks, beeches, maples and sycamores in Great Wood were planted by William Windham. Known as William I, the son of Thomas Windham (who in the 17th century built Felbrigg Hall) planted the foundation of the 600 acre woodland. Bordered in the west by the picturesque Lion's Mouth, it extends to the B1436 (Felbrigg Road) in the east and the A148 (Holt Road) to the north, and beyond. Great Wood shelters Felbrigg Hall and park from the winds that blow in from the North Sea, two miles distant to the north. Felbrigg estate is in the care of the National Trust.

 St Margaret's church - baptismal font. In the corner behind two 13th century coffin slabs can be seen laid out on the tiled floor. It is believed that they once covered the coffins of two priests.

St Margaret's church - memorial. This elaborate memorial to Thomas Windham and his two wives was made by a Norwich stonemason named Martin Morley in 1669.