THE P RTAL
November 2012 Page 10
Oxburgh Hall visited by Eliza Treblecock
Oxburgh Hall is a stunning sight , as you can clearly see from the photograph on the cover of The
Portal .. It is a moated manor house set in the beautiful Norfolk countryside . It is also a romantic place , and well worth a visit .
the Bedingfeld family
The house was built by the Bedingfeld family in the 15th century ; they have lived at Oxburgh ever since . The house reveals the family ’ s Catholic history . It has a secret priest ’ s hole which you can crawl inside . There is astonishing needlework by Mary , Queen of Scots , and the private chapel , built with reclaimed materials .
Outside , you can enjoy panoramic views from the gatehouse roof and follow the woodcarving trails in the gardens and woodlands . In late winter drifts of snowdrops are not to be missed .
the National Trust
The Bedingfelds came to England with the Conqueror , and they built Oxburgh in the fifteenth century . By the 1950s the family sold the whole estate to a developer . Shocked that so much history would be lost , a family member raised money to buy back the house and the immediate land . The sum was £ 5000 ! The property came into the hands of the National Trust , although the Bedingfelds still live at Oxburgh .
a Catholic family
As a Catholic family , there were times when they needed to take certain precautions . Children were sent abroad for education . This had the benefit that they collected many religious artefacts . Today Oxburgh Hall is full of these .
The Priest ’ s Hole was built in the late 1580s and discovered only in the nineteenth century . However , it seems that the head of the
family always knew of its existence , the knowledge being passed from generation to generation . Disguised as a garde-robe , the hide is large enough for a man to stand up .
Nicholas Owen
When it was discovered , a set of Rosary beads was also discovered inside . Built by the great Nicholas Owen , the hide did its job . We know that the house was searched at least twice ; no one was found . You may crawl inside the hide , and children are rewarded with a sticker when they do so . When you visit , make sure you get yours .
another Hide
It appears that there was another Hide at Oxburgh behind or under the fireplace in the Great Hall . Unfortunately this one was destroyed in 1775 .
As one would expect of one of the country ’ s great Catholic families of ancient pedigree , one son is a monk in France . The family is devout and the Catholic ethos of the family is apparent all over the house .
Queen ’ s Room
In the Queen ’ s Room is a magnificent tabernacle that once held pride of place in the chapel . It is Flemish and was removed when the present triptych was installed .
Oxburgh Hall and its National Trust staff were kind enough to allow The
Portal to visit . Our thanks to Alison and her staff . They made the visit a wonderful experience .