MULBARTON HALL
Mulbarton Hall stands at the south-east corner of the Common. It is thought to be an early Georgian building, and is shown on the parish map of 1724. There were a number of Victorian additions - including an 'aspidistra house' on the east end that has now been refurbished as a conservatory, using many of the old beams. The two huge Cedars of Lebanon in front of the Hall are a distinctive feature of the view from the Common.
Nikolaus Pevsner (author of 'The Buildings of England' series) describes Mulbarton Hall as 'a long, in fact lengthened, white Georgian house behind two splendid cedar trees' and comments on the 'shaped gables with semicircular top...in an outbuilding W of Mulbarton Hall' (i.e. a 'Dutch' gable end).
The present owners believe the house was originally a 3-storey building, but had to be lowered due to subsidence. At that point a decorative pediment was added. Internally, there are slight differences in floor level marking where nineteenth century extensions were added.
Residents of the Hall include:
Philip Stannard, a wealthy Norwich cloth merchant who spent summers in the Hall with his first wife, Priscilla, from around 1750. Priscilla Stannard died in 1757, and Philip married Anne in 1762. Both their children, Philip and Ann, were born in the Hall. Philip Stannard is listed as a 'freeholder' and therefore a voter, in the Norfolk Poll Book for 1768. The firm of Stannard & Taylor went bankrupt in 1769 with huge debts, so the Hall had to be sold. It was bought by Richard Parkerson, a baker, for 2000 guineas (£2100), who (according to newspaper reports) planned to run it as a tavern and open the gardens to the public - but there is no record that he ever did.
More on Philip Stannard
Rev. Miles Beevor, DD, 'lived for a considerable time at Mulbarton House, now Mulbarton Hall. He is listed as a 'freeholder' and therefore a voter, in the Norfolk Poll Books of 1802, 1806 and 1817. He married Mary Beevor of Norwich, his cousin. He was Rector of Hethel, Vicar of Ketteringham and Rector of Bircham Tofts. When he died in 1834 he was buried at Hethel. 'He is said to be the first person to introduce the Swede Turnip into England...... I am told that the village blacksmith, who had a feud with him, named his dog 'Miles Beevor' that he might curse him to his heart's content and at the same time declare that no disrespect to the Rector was intended'.
(Quote from 'Mulbarton with Keningham: Some Notes & Remarks' by A.R.V.Daubeney)
Paul Squires, Esq. (resident 1845 - 1854, and probably for longer. He is listed in the 1851 Census.)
Major General Charles William Wingfield, R.A. & Mrs. Emma Dorinda Wingfield probably moved to Mulbarton Hall in 1871. Charles Wingfield died the following year, but his widow continued to live there for over 30 years. Mrs. Wingfield is named as owner and occupier in the Poor Rate Book, 1875-6, when the 'Extent' is given as 7 acres 2 rods 22 perches; rateable value £50. Mrs. Wingfield died there in 1906. She was a great benefactress of the village.
Sir Edward Wingfield, nephew of Charles, may have moved to join his aunt at Mulbarton Hall when he retired in 1900. Certainly he and his wife, Lady Mary Georgina Wingfield, were living there in 1901. He died in 1910, but his widow continued to live there until 1916 or later.
More on the Wingfields
Antony O. Sargeaunt, Esq. (1922 - 1927, when he put it up for auction). Mr. Sargeaunt died in 1929.
(From Parish Council Minutes: 1929 Feb: 'Chairman was asked on behalf of the Parish Council to send a letter of sympathy to Mrs. Sargeaunt'.)
Mrs. Ellen Massingham (1927 - 1946/7)
'The Hall was the home of Mrs. Massingham, whose employees were Messrs. Skipper and Warman.... She had a grove of fir trees planted to hide the Council Houses from her view. When more houses were built, horse-chestnut and willow trees were planted at the end of their gardens to hide them.'
'Violet Bailey (nee Barrett), 1911-1995, lived all her life in Mulbarton like her mother, her grandmother, and her great-grandmother.... On leaving school [she] went into service with the Massingham family at Mulbarton Hall. Marriage followed in 1933 to Robin Bailey and they had three children...'
(Margaret White, in Parish News, Spring 1995)
1927 Sale particulars of Mulbarton Hall:
Extracts from the 'Particulars and Conditions of Sale.... Of Mulbarton Hall' by auction on Saturday 17th September 1927 at 1 pm ('precisely') at Royal Hotel, Norwich, by S. Mealing Mills & Co.
(Available at Norwich Records Office)
Described as 'The charmingly situated Freehold Residence known as Mulbarton Hall, near Norwich with Ornamental gardens, Large Tennis Lawn, Glasshouses, Stabling and Garages, Small Farmery. Four cottages and gardens and Four Enclosures of Valuable Arable and Pasture Lands. The whole containing an area of 18 acres 2 roods 9 perches.' For sale in 1 or 3 Lots.
'...situate about 1½ miles from Swainsthorpe Railway Station, and 3½ miles from Hethersett Railway Station (L. and N.
