NHER 10641 (Building record) - Ditchingham Hall

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Summary

A finely designed hall, originally of about 1715 and built for the Reverend John Bedingfeld. There have been later alterations and additions, but these have been careful to complement the original layout. The original house, with a seven window bay façade, looks south over a lake and an impressive cedar tree. It is two storeys high with a dormer attic and a three bay gable enclosing a shield of the Bedingfeld arms. Construction is of mauve brick with red brick dressings. In the late 18th century, two parallel service wings were added to the east and west of the house, although the west wing was free standing. There were several other additions in the 19th and 20th centuries, and the roofs were slated in 1910. The grounds of the hall (see NHER 30436) have not changed greatly since the 18th century, and their design is attributed to Capability Brown.

Protected Status/Designation

Location

Map sheet TM39SW
Civil Parish DITCHINGHAM, SOUTH NORFOLK, NORFOLK

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Early 18th century with 19th and 20th century additions.
See (S1) and (S2) in file.
Newspaper cuttings (S3), (S4) and (S5) in file.
(S6) Grade I.
E. Rose (NAU), 11 February 1983.

Country house. Built in about 1715 for Reverend John Bedingfeld, extended 1910. Mauve brick with red brick dressings. Hipped slate roofs, some plain tiles on rear slopes. Two storey and attics, U-shaped plan. South façade of seven bays, the centre three slightly advanced under a pediment: sashes with glazing bars and louvred shutters. Sunken apron panels below windows. Keyed gauged brick arches over openings, the keys reflected in the moulded string course at first floor level. Central doorway with Corinthian pilasters supporting a segmental pediment with dentil ornament.
Four pedimented attic dormers. Two square panelled chimney stacks with moulded caps, symmetrically placed. West façade increased from five to nine bays in 1910.
Extract from (S6).

The site was used as a USAAF hospital during the Second World War. Important artwork of this period survives in outbuildings at the site.
Further details to come
J. Albone (HES), 28 February 2012.

A glimpse into life at this country house during World War One is captured in a publication by an American who served in the Royal Flying Corps and was hosted at Ditchingham Hall during his leave in July 1918.
See publication (S7).
H. Hamilton (HES), 08 January 2024.

  • --- Aerial Photograph: Edwards, D.A. (NLA). 1995. TM3292/H - R.
  • --- Aerial Photograph: TM3292 A,B,G.
  • --- Article in Serial: Richard Haslam. 1989. Ditchingham Hall, Norfolk.. Country Life. 10 August, p3.
  • --- Drawing: Various. Various. Architectural plans.
  • --- Monograph: Pevsner, N and Wilson, B. 1999. Norfolk 2: North-West and South. The Buildings of England. 2nd Edition. p 305.
  • --- Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1985. Straw warms a stately home. 7 December.
  • --- Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
  • --- Secondary File: Secondary File.
  • <S1> Unpublished Document: Rose, E.. 1983. Building Report.. Building Report.
  • <S2> Photograph: CCY 1A-7A.
  • <S3> Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1984. Strike halts steam spring-clean. 3 May.
  • <S5> Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1999. [Photograph of Ditchingham Hall]. 19 June.
  • <S6> Designation: Historic England. National Heritage List for England.
  • <S7> Publication: Lambert, B. DFC. 1975. Combat Report. pp 185-196.

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Record last edited

Jan 8 2024 11:20AM

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