{"id":20340,"date":"2023-04-14T09:30:00","date_gmt":"2023-04-14T07:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homesandantiques.com\/?p=42088"},"modified":"2023-04-14T09:36:45","modified_gmt":"2023-04-14T07:36:45","slug":"inside-wiveton-hall-a-jacobean-english-country-house-in-norfolk","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/rss_feed\/inside-wiveton-hall-a-jacobean-english-country-house-in-norfolk\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside Wiveton Hall, a Jacobean English country house in Norfolk"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dreamily situated amongst fields of flowers in North Norfolk, Wiveton Hall is a Jacobean gem, whose timeless interiors reveal a quiet appreciation for the simple pleasures of country living. Photographs Andreas von Einsiedel <\/p>

By Amanda Harling\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 14 April 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

It would be hard to find a more romantic Jacobean English country house than Desmond MacCarthy\u2019s home, the Grade II* Wiveton Hall in Norfolk. Dating from the mid 17th century<\/a>, it was built by John Gifford, a member of a mercantile family from Gloucester.<\/p>\n

The house, with its three storey, double-fronted flint fa\u00e7ade surmounted by decorative Dutch gables, has an imposing symmetrical appearance, pleasantly contrasted by the naturalistic look of the grounds that surround it. Strolling through the woods, one comes across outcrops of topiary, a secluded pond and beyond a wrought-iron gate is a walled kitchen garden<\/a> worthy of The Secret Garden.<\/p>\n

Desmond\u2019s maternal Buxton grandparents bought the house in 1944 and it was his mother, Chloe, who was largely responsible for maintaining the Edwardian garden. Before the Second World War there were eight gardeners<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018My mother was still taking an interest in what was planted up until her death aged nearly 103. She was a very knowledgeable gardener and I remember whenever she went abroad on holiday she\u2019d always return home with a hoard of cuttings, such as cistus from the south of France<\/a>, or box from a monastery garden in China.\u2019<\/p>\n

Desmond was in his teens when he inherited Wiveton after both his grandparents and his father died within a year or two of each other.<\/p>\n

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\u2018As children, my sister Mary and I lived with our parents in the self-contained Edwardian west wing next door to the main hall. After my grandparents died we moved into the main hall and my mother ran the farm until I was old enough to take it on myself. I don\u2019t think it ever crossed her mind to downsize and swap Wiveton for a smaller, easier-to-run place. She loved living here, she knew Mary and I did too, so on we went. I like to think that my children, Edmund and Isabel, might take it on in years to come.\u2019<\/p>\n

Decoratively, Wiveton has changed remarkably little since Desmond\u2019s grandparents acquired the house. Panelled walls, ornate fire surrounds, lofty ceilings, oak staircases and the tall, elegant windows<\/a> that open onto views across the treetops, create an illusive, timeless quality that Desmond clearly wishes to retain.<\/p>\n

\u2018My grandmother furnished the house with traditional antiques<\/a> that she bought in country house sales after the war. She had a good eye, as did my father, who came home from a farm sale with the lovely Regency<\/a> sofa in the hall. He scraped off layers of black paint to reveal the original gilding. As well as plants, my mother brought interesting textiles<\/a> back from her trips abroad and many of those pieces are to be found draped across beds, sofas and chairs throughout the house.\u2019<\/p>\n

The principal rooms are furnished with an eclectic collection of country house antiques. Oriental carpets<\/a>, a miscellany of paintings by Bloomsbury artists, including Roger Fry and Vanessa Bell, hang alongside family portraits, cases of stuffed birds, prints<\/a> and paintings inspired by the country pursuits which are still very much a feature of life on the farm.<\/p>\n

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Examples of work by artist friends of Desmond and his late wife Tina Loder add a contemporary accent, as do the fabrics he\u2019s chosen over recent years, guided by designer and painter Annabel Grey, who is based in nearby Holt. The mix of floral designs and ethnic weaves provides the perfect backdrop for the varied collection of decorative artefacts and epitomises the understated English country house style that has evolved over the centuries.<\/p>\n

The Edwardian west wing, designed by architect Sir Guy Dawber, dates from 1907. Built to accommodate weekend guests at lavish pre-war house parties, the ground floor contained a ballroom and billiard room with half a dozen bedrooms upstairs.<\/p>\n

\u2018I don\u2019t need a ballroom very often so it seemed like a good idea to make the west wing into a self-contained apartment; the ballroom is now the drawing room, while the adjoining kitchen\/dining room is what was formerly the billiard room. It\u2019s lovely to have lots of space to have friends to stay, but most of the time the wing earns its keep as holiday accommodation.\u2019<\/p>\n

The family kitchen is a spacious double-aspect room facing the garden, creating a light-filled setting for informal meals with family and friends.<\/p>\n

\u2018When there are lots of people, we lay the table in the main hall, which was probably where they would have eaten in the 18th century. If the occasion demands, the chef in charge of the cafe does the cooking. About 10 years ago I converted an old barn on the farm into the Wiveton Hall Cafe and, although I like cooking, I thought it best to leave the catering side to professionals. The cafe and garden are open from the end of March to December and I\u2019m delighted to say it\u2019s very popular with locals and visitors alike. I designed a playhouse based on Wiveton Hall\u2019s fa\u00e7ade and, with luck, it keeps the children occupied while their parents have a chance to read the papers over a late breakfast or lunch. Fields that were once full of grazing cattle are now scattered with happy diners enjoying the views and fresh air.\u2019<\/p>\n

\""Wiveton\"<\/picture><\/div>
The Dutch-gabled 17th-century manor house Wiveton Hall is surrounded by tall grasses and wildflowers.<\/span> <\/figcaption> Andreas von Einsiedel <\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Wiveton\"<\/picture><\/div>
Built to last \u2013 the weathered, studded oak front door is original to the house.<\/span> <\/figcaption> Andreas von Einsiedel <\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Wiveton\"<\/picture><\/div>
With its Edwardian panelled walls and soft lighting from wall sconces and a brass Dutch chandelier, the main hall can be transformed into an atmospheric setting for entertaining. A recent addition is the cornice-height frieze featuring local marsh birdlife, painted by Annabel Grey, an artist and designer based in nearby Holt. The elegant Regency sofa was bought by Desmond\u2019s father in a farm sale.<\/span> <\/figcaption> Andreas von Einsiedel <\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Wiveton\"<\/picture><\/div>
Against a formal backdrop of maritime paintings and an ancestral 18th-century portrait, a large, richly coloured oriental carpet and a collection of woven Indian throws and cushions introduce an air of bohemian warmth to the main hall.<\/span> <\/figcaption> Andreas von Einsiedel <\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Wiveton\"<\/picture><\/div>
Scottish artist Leonie Gibbs painted the portraits of Desmond\u2019s children, Edmund and Isabel, which rest on the mantelpiece of the Edwardian fireplace in the drawing room. The painting below is by Norfolk artist Linda Jamieson. Seemingly random, the mix of pattern and exotic colour of the fabrics, both woven and printed, create an unstudied look of fireside comfort.<\/span> <\/figcaption> Andreas von Einsiedel <\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Wiveton\"<\/picture><\/div>
The tall, double-aspect windows, coupled with the room\u2019s spacious proportions, give the kitchen a light and airy feeling, which is fully exploited in its twin role as an informal dining room and the family living area.<\/span> <\/figcaption> Andreas von Einsiedel <\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Wiveton\"<\/picture><\/div>
The stairwell of the original Jacobean oak staircase is hung with mirrors and numerous paintings and prints.<\/span> <\/figcaption> Andreas von Einsiedel <\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Wiveton\"<\/picture><\/div>
The combination of green panelled walls and rich jewel-like reds of the oriental carpet and flower-strewn chintz establish a welcoming look in one of the guest bedrooms.<\/span> <\/figcaption> Andreas von Einsiedel <\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Wiveton\"<\/picture><\/div>
A Victorian folding floral screen and the sparkling glass border around the Irish mirrors add to the decorative effect.<\/span> <\/figcaption> Andreas von Einsiedel <\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Wiveton\"<\/picture><\/div>
Sparkling crystal chandeliers illuminate the upstairs landing where the walls, painted in Farrow & Ball\u2019s Teresa\u2019s Green, blend with the aqua background of the curtains. The fabric is Aquitaine by Borderline and was sourced by interior designer Annabel Grey to harmonise with colours in the patchwork of oriental runners on the floor.<\/span> <\/figcaption> Andreas von Einsiedel<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Wiveton\"<\/picture><\/div>
A mix of classic floral fabric designs chosen for the panelled guest bedroom is contrasted with an Indian cream mirrored needlework throw on the bed. The decorative upholstered headboard is covered in Jean Monro\u2019s Amelia fabric.<\/span> <\/figcaption> Andreas von Einsiedel<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Wiveton\"<\/picture><\/div>
The chinoiserie tilt-top table was said to have been much admired by Oscar Wilde. Wilde\u2019s friend Lord Alfred Douglas was a contemporary of Desmond\u2019s grandfather, the writer Desmond MacCarthy.<\/span> <\/figcaption> Andreas von Einsiedel<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\""Wiveton\"<\/picture><\/div>
Delicate oriental teapots and vases are displayed on the mantelpiece of the spectacular 17th-century carved wood fire surround, which has seen many layers of paint over the centuries.<\/span> <\/figcaption> Andreas von Einsiedel <\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

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