{"id":97,"date":"2021-11-17T15:27:27","date_gmt":"2021-11-17T14:27:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homesandantiques.com\/?p=23202"},"modified":"2021-11-17T15:43:15","modified_gmt":"2021-11-17T14:43:15","slug":"48-hours-in-north-norfolk","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/rss_feed\/48-hours-in-north-norfolk\/","title":{"rendered":"48 hours in North Norfolk"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Molly Malsom\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 17 November 2021 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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N<\/span>orth Norfolk is magical at this time of year. Each winter, more than a third of the world\u2019s pink-footed geese can be witnessed forming squawking \u2018V\u2019 formations in the endless skies. While at Blakeney Point, home to the largest seal colony in England, thousands of pups are born. On Holkham Beach at low tide the sea disappears completely into the horizon, leaving miles of pristine sand. <\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s not just the wildlife that\u2019s special. Each of North Norfolk\u2019s small towns and villages has a unique character. Evocative names such as Stiffkey, Salthouse and Little Snoring sound as though they\u2019re lifted straight from a storybook. <\/span><\/p>\n

In the towns, you\u2019ll find few of the typical high-street offerings \u2013 instead, think stylish homeware stores, lovely art galleries and atmospheric antiques shops. Georgian market town Holt has long been a favoured spot for antiques hunting, but Walsingham, famous for its religious shrines, is great for off-the-beaten-track finds. <\/span><\/p>\n

From late January, Walsingham Abbey also opens for riverside snowdrop walks, which is arguably the prettiest way to see these delicate flowers in the county.<\/span><\/p>\n

Places to shop in Norfolk<\/span><\/h2>\n

Littleblood<\/h3>\n

Hidden away on the site of a former icon painter\u2019s studio, Littleblood<\/a> is brilliantly bonkers. The shop is filled floor to ceiling with a staggering array of curiosities, such as a taxidermy crow, a bowl of ornamental snails, a mermaid door knocker and a vintage Punch and Judy. Former fashion designer Helena also makes one-of-a-kind upholstered chairs \u2013 they\u2019re works of art in themselves.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Helena fills her shop, Littleblood, with all manner of quirky objects, as well as her bold and colourful upholstered chairs<\/span><\/figcaption> Credit: Elisabeth Tillett<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Holt Antique Furniture<\/h3>\n

Holt Antiques<\/a> (confusingly in Walsingham) is housed in a former bridewell and mill and focuses on exceptional pieces of country oak furniture from the 16th to 19th centuries. There\u2019s always a strong selection of stick back chairs, early carved oak panels and tabletop chests and boxes \u2013 all temptingly easy to fit in the car.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Exterior of Holt Antiques store<\/span><\/figcaption> Credit: Elisabeth Tillett<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Richard Scott Antiques<\/h3>\n

Richard has spent 55 years in the antiques trade and was formerly a restorer at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. This petite shop<\/a>, filled with beautiful ceramics and glass, is testament to his vast knowledge and experience. <\/span><\/p>\n

Currently Richard\u2019s favourite piece is an Italian wet drug jar from the 1680s, but he\u2019s fond of all his stock \u2013 ranging from Chinese Ming dynasty pots to dainty pieces of 18th and 19th-century china.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Scout Decorative<\/h3>\n

Bold and stylish newcomers Mark and Katie specialise in sculptural antiques and intriguing decorative items, all of which are displayed alongside a beautiful edit of 20th-century art. Their pared-back, white-panelled shop, Scout Decorative<\/a>, is reminiscent of a gallery. <\/span><\/p>\n

Mark and Katie are part of the new generation of antiques dealers who are just as likely to sell via Instagram as from the shop, so their stock moves quickly. <\/span><\/p>\n

Current highlights include a set of six \u2018wonky\u2019 metal vessels dating from the early 20th century and a 19th-century Gibson chair featuring its original red paint \u2013 albeit now wonderfully worn.<\/span><\/p>\n

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A chair at Scout Decorative.<\/span><\/figcaption> Credit: Emma Longstaff<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Paffron and Scott<\/h3>\n

Saffron and Luke<\/a> have eclectic taste, but focus mainly on the English country house style, resulting in a quirky selection of charming objects and furniture, including early Staffordshire figures and a Murano glass chandelier, all housed in a blue-painted wood-clad building, reminiscent of the beach huts at Holkham. <\/span><\/p>\n

They are also the sole dealers for retired sailor Colin Millington, whose summer 2021 exhibition of traditional nautical woolwork pictures is eagerly awaited.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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The interior of Paffron and Scott.<\/span><\/figcaption> Credit: Elisabeth Tillett<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Places to visit in Norfolk<\/span><\/h2>\n

Holkham Hall<\/h3>\n

Holkham\u2019s<\/a> imposing mansion was built between 1734 and 1764 by Thomas Coke, the first Earl of Leicester, after his six-year Grand Tour. And it is filled with the enormous collection of treasures he accumulated on his travels. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Statue Gallery contains one of the most complete classical collections of statuary in a private house in Britain \u2013 the niches in the room were specially designed to show each statue off to its best advantage. <\/span><\/p>\n

Subsequent Earls were enthusiastic tree-planters, resulting in the spectacular parkland that surrounds the house today, as well as the Corsican pines on the dunes at Holkham Beach.<\/span><\/p>\n

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