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The historic Felbrigg Hall was left to The National
Trust by R. Wyndham Ketton-Cremer who died in 1969. He was known
hereabouts as "the Squire". The house he left is a large hall
set in extensive parkland and woods.
Mostly Jacobean in style, it was altered in the 1750’s and again in
about 1840. Written across the front of the hall are
the words Gloria Deo in Excelsis, Glory to God in the Highest. The rooms
that are open to the public are very much as they were during William
Windhams II time. They include: The Great Hall, Dinning Room; Drawing
Room; The Cabinet, The Staircase, Library, The Rose Bedroom, The Red
Bedroom, The Chinese Bedroom, West Corridor, Kitchen, The Red Shutters
Corridor.
There are also extensive lands around the hall with a walled garden and
vegetable garden an orangery, dovecot, park, lake and Great Woods. A
number of events are held at the hall and also in its grounds throughout
the year.
Sir Symon de Felbrigg was the royal standard bearer to King Richard II
and it was he who first to built the original mediaeval hall on this
site. Unfortunately only part of the cellars survive, in the present
house. His first wife is buried (1416) in the church of St. Margaret’s
which also stands within the Hall's grounds.
In the mid-fifteenth century John Wyndham of Norfolk acquired the
property, then in 1615 the Somerset branch of the family obtained the
hall. During the 17th century the Wyndham’s decided to rebuild the
house and it is a member of this family who is said to haunt
the library.
The Great Wood at Felbrigg was planted in the late
1600s it contains thousands of oaks also beeches, sycamore and maple. As
a result the woodland we see today are magnificent, particularly in
autumn with its red and gold leaves. It is a popular place for long
walks and bird watching and for those of you who are 'Early Risers' the
National Trust organises a 'Dawn Chorus' walk during Spring at Felbrigg.
William Frederick was one of the more eccentric owners of Felbrigg,
known as Mad Windham, he had a passion for trains and persuaded railway
officials to allow him, strictly against the regulations, to drive the
engines, collect tickets and wear and use his guard's uniform. His
wife brought a case against him claiming that he was mad, but despite
all the damning evidence mounted against him, William was declared not
mad. Upon hearing this Punch wrote "Windham is sane but
England must be cracked". In 1864 he parted for the last time from
his wife having lost most of his fortune. He was so broke he became the
driver of the express coach between Norwich and Cromer for the wages of
a guinea a week.
John Ketton, a prosperous local merchant, acquired the Felbrigg estate
in 1863. His daughter Anna married Thomas Wyndham Cremer whose ancestor
Sir John Wyndham had first built Fellbrigg for his son, thus bringing
the ownership of Felbrigg full circle |
