Q&A with Helen Johnston, Hales Hall Estate
CHATTING TO HELEN JOHNSTON, HALES HALL ESTATE
Tell us about Hales Hall, what makes it so special?
Hales Hall & The Great Barn is a private Tudor paradise surrounded by hundreds of acres of wildflower meadows and arable farmland. Hovering on the Norfolk/Suffolk border Hales is a ‘gentleman’s estate’ that is a well-kept secret, despite having stood here for over 500 years! The moment you enter through the large wooden gates you find yourself in a magical walled garden with the Hall itself and pretty cottages on one side and the Great Barn (the largest brick-built Tudor barn in the country) on the other. The scent of lavender fills the air and topiaried hedges guide you along paths to discover moats, meadows, fountains, kitchen gardens and woodland walks.
How long have you lived there / your family lived there?
Our family bought Hales Hall three years ago when we fell in love with it at first sight! We are a Norfolk family, having lived, worked and farmed nearby for many generations. We can, in fact, trace our ancestry in the area back to the time Hales was built in 1478. We love to gather friends and family together and to entertain as well as to open the doors of Hales Hall to visitors from all over the world.
It is historic treasure that needs to be shared and enjoyed. The more people we can invite to fill our rooms and barn and gardens the better!
Favourite spots in the house and in the grounds?
The lawn in the middle of the walled gardens has to be my favourite spot, at the heart of the estate. It offers the perfect place for evening drinks before a wedding in the barn, or for a BBQ and round of croquet for an extended family staying for the weekend. The music room in the Hall is another wonderful spot for relaxing before dinner while being serenaded on the mini grand piano!
Your favourite places to stay / eat / walk etc in Norfolk
Being from the ‘borderlands’ of Norfolk and Suffolk I have many favourite places in both counties. I love hiring a boat for the day in Beccles and pottering about on the Norfolk Broads. Bungay is a pretty town just five miles from Hales with a wonderful array of high quality food shops and pretty antique emporiums.
Norwich is our fabulous regional capital and boasts two cathedrals, endless churches, a beautiful castle, miles of cobbled streets, quirky independent shops and restaurants as well as a rich heritage in the theatre and the arts. I also love hopping over the border to explore the Suffolk Heritage coast at Southwold and Walberswick. Catching crabs from the jetty followed by lunch at The Anchor in Walberswick is a must in the summer.
Tell us a secret about the house that’s not well known…
Hales Hall was built by the ancestors of the family who built beautiful Blickling Hall in North Norfolk – one of the National Trust’s crown jewels. Hales is roughly 150 years older having been built in 1478 by Sir James Hobart. Blickling was built between 1616 and 1626 for Sir Henry Hobart.
They are both designed in a U-shape with the house at the centre and a long building on either side. The original house at Hales burnt down less than 100 years after it was built. The current Hall was originally the stable block. Lucky horses!
Working with Norfolk Pheasant
We are delighted to be working with Norfolk Pheasant to share our passion for the county and encourage visitors to come and see why we love our corner of the world so much!
We are thrilled to be hosting Norfolk Pheasant’s Culinary Experiences at Hales Hall. Our stunning 40-ft country kitchen makes the perfect setting for the cookery classes delivered by fascinating experts. We then have many different rooms to relax in and gardens to wander in providing a great way to unwind and appreciate your newly-acquired skills. We can’t wait to welcome you.
Estate Overview;
The Estate includes The Hall, The Gatehouse, The Cottage and The Garden Rooms that accommodates 25 guests. The Hall (available for separate rental), sleeps 14, three reception rooms including a drawing room with a 65” TV, a library, music room with a baby grand piano, 40ft Kitchen and stunning manicured grounds with kitchen garden.
The luxurious bedrooms, all named after historical figures that have an association with Hales, ooze charm and character and are interspersed by magnificent bathrooms with roll top baths, marble washbasins and showers with rainfall heads - soak, sleep and indulge. The grounds and gardens are an outstanding feature of The Hall with manicured lawns, extensive topiary, cottage garden planting and are bordered on one side by a small moat.
All areas of the house are available for you to use throughout your visit.