Bessingham Manor

Secluded seven bedroom Manor House set in 4.5 acres of private parkland

Bessingham Manor is an authentic Manor House with expansive living accommodation and grounds.  It’s a great place to unwind in Norfolk, surrounded by high-quality furnishings overlooking your own grounds for the period of your stay.

Groups of friends and family have space in the Manor to gather together in large numbers. Having the Manor as the backdrop for your holiday time will create great memories.  Be it for a long or short break, Bessingham Manor can fulfil your dreams.

Bessingham Manor grounds

The grounds of the manor are 4.5 acres. The restoration of Bessingham Manor was recognised by winning an award for conservation in 2014.  The Manor was not only saved from demolition but also most of its original features were preserved in the project. Although Bessingham Manor House has a period feel, as a result of the restoration there are many modern conveniences.  All of this will help to make your stay enjoyable.

Inside

As you enter the Manor you see a very grand entrance hall of black and white marble flooring, with a large sweeping staircase.

To the right of the staircase is the main living room. It is large with 2 sets of bay windows (one of the bays has French doors opening towards the lower lawn) as well as windows on two more aspects. There are more than enough sofas to seat everyone in the house with a light and airy feel. There are chandeliers, beautiful cornices and a marble fireplace.  It ticks all the boxes for relaxing and entertaining.

To the left side of the hall is the study. There are leather sofas, a wood burning stove and beautiful furniture.  This is a spacious but very ‘cosy’ room.

Kitchen

The large, old-world flagstone floored kitchen is fully functional and equipped with a large Aga as well as a large electric range cooker so that cooking-space is never a problem. The dressers and pine table give this room a Victorian kitchen feel, a step back in time without all the hard work. The French doors in the kitchen open straight onto the patio, perfect for hot or summer days. There is an American style fridge freezer with ice maker.

Just off the kitchen is a very useful scullery housing a huge original butler sink, microwave and dishwasher. The brick and slate shelves provide lots of storage. Using this room makes sure all the preparation and washing up can be out of sight.

Breakfast room

The breakfast room is a lovely light room with an ancient feel which you can enter through a brick-arch from the kitchen. There is a large table, a wood burner and sumptuous curtains.

Just off the kitchen are barrelled, vaulted cellars, only found in houses of this type.

There are two downstairs lavatories both with a Victorian feel. One in the entrance porch and another off the main corridor.

Games Room

The Old Dairy with its Pamment tiled floor has now been converted to be The Games Room.  This is a cosy room for the kids (or adults!) to escape to.  Inside you will find 2 sofas, TV, Nintendo Wii plus games, DVD player and a large selection of games. It also has puzzles, board games, children’s blocks, footballs and a multi-games table.  The games table includes Table-football, Pool, Glide Hockey amongst 31 others! There is also a 3/4 size table tennis table, which can be moved into the hall to allow more space to play on it. We suggest the word ‘time-out’ might be used.  This is not only for relaxation but to ensure competition is not too fierce.

Bessingham Manor first floor

All the first-floor bedrooms are tastefully decorated and furnished in styles pertaining to the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Large windows and fireplaces are all over the house and all the rooms feel bright and airy.

The master bedroom has a super-king size four poster bed and a separate single bed, the fireplace, chaise longue, dressing table and dual aspects overlooking the local countryside to finish it off. The ensuite is roomy and has a double slipper bath and separate shower with French doors which open onto a private balcony.

Bedroom 2 has another king size 4 poster bed, separate single size day bed, fireplace, chaise longue, dressing table and windows on two aspects. The ensuite is also charming with its slipper bath and period fireplace.

Bedroom 3 has a super-king sized black and brass bed, dressing table and spacious ensuite with a large shower.

Bedroom 4 has a super-king sized white and brass bed. The large window of this bedroom overlooks the rear garden.

Bedroom 5 is a double room with a white metal bed and fireplace which also overlooks the rear garden. This bedroom has a walk-in wardrobe.

Bedroom 6 is a single room with a bunk bed. The room also has a fireplace and again overlooks the rear garden. When the renovation occurred the wardrobe in this room was found to have a secret door in the back through which the servants could scurry.

Bedroom 7, a charming double bedroom suitable for those less able, is conveniently situated downstairs. It has an easy access lavatory and shower making it the ideal ground floor bedroom.

Bathrooms

The family bathroom has a luxurious feel with a centre staged slipper bath, chandeliers and fireplace. Taking a bath here can make you feel very special. There is also a fireplace and a large separate shower.

There are back stairs used by servant’s in the old days at one end of the Manor as well as the front staircase where you could make your grand entrance to dinner or sweep down into the entrance hall.

The period features of Bessingham Manor include beautiful cornices, dado and picture rails, light fittings, cast iron radiators and stained glass doors all of which add to feel of the property.

Outside and garden

The Manor grounds are approximately 4.5 acres and are mostly laid to grass with mature trees and a small area of woodland. There is lots of space for all to explore.

There is a large patio area to the rear of the house.  You can access the patio from the kitchen or main reception room. There you will find patio tables, chairs and a large BBQ for entertaining outside.

The lawned area to the front of Bessingham Manor is easily large enough for games of Cricket, Rounders, Badminton, and Family & Friends sports days, all great for exercise and the entertainment of the patio spectators.

There is open parkland on 3 sides and a small working farm on the adjoining land.  This all adds to the rural feel of the property.

The Manor is approached by a long gravelled driveway and there is plenty of parking at the rear of the house.

Surrounding area

You will find Bessingham Manor situated in the beautiful hamlet of Bessingham.   There are approximately 40 homes, all of which were once owned by the Bessingham Estate.  Bessingham away from the typical tourist areas and is in a conservation area. There is no thoroughfare, making the surroundings some of the most unspoilt and quiet areas of North Norfolk.

There is plenty of walking or running to be had within the grounds of Bessingham Manor which is surrounded by woodland walks.  A little further away the whole of the Norfolk coastline is easily accessible.

Outside the grounds

There is always plenty to do in Norfolk from Steam train rides (Sheringham, Holt and Wroxham), Crabbing (Cromer, Blakeney, Wells and Brancaster Staithe), Seal colony visits (Blakeney, Morston and Wells), Beaches and Boating all around, Arts and Antique perusing (Holt), helicopter rides (Norwich airport) to name a few.

Bessingham Manor is approximately 7 miles from the beautiful Georgian town of Holt, 5 miles from Sheringham, 6 miles from Cromer and 9 miles from Aylsham. There are supermarkets including Tesco that will deliver to Bessingham.

Norwich and the airport are only 20 miles away. Norwich City has all that you would expect in entertainment, leisure and shopping activities spectrum.

The Norfolk Broads is easily accessible from here as are Blickling Hall, Felbrigg Hall, Mannington Gardens, Holkham Hall and Sandringham which all make great days out.