Main image: King's Lynn, Norfolk £3,800,000
An important Grade II* Listed Georgian country house by Sir John Soane in a beautiful parkland setting. Burnham Westgate Hall is a magnificent Georgian country house, set in its own park of approximately 30 acres. Abutting one of Norfolk's prettiest village greens, yet totally secluded, it boasts far reaching westerly views over the park to undulating open countryside; contrary to popular belief, Norfolk is not flat, as suggested by Noel Coward. An important house architecturally, it is listed Grade II* and was almost entirely built in the 1720s by Matthew Brettingham. It resembled one of the four wings of Holkham Hall, that Brettingham was building at the same time for the Earls of Leicester. The house was remodeled in 1780 by Sir John Soane, for Thomas Pitt, 1st Lord Camelford, himself an amateur architect, who met and became friends with Sir John Soane on the Grand Tour. He commissioned Soane to alter Burnham Westgate Hall and build the stables. Sir John rebuilt much of the hall, making it considerably grander with the imperial cantilevered stone staircase and first floor piano room nobile which now houses the saloon and print room as well as the main bedrooms with intercommunicating enfilade on the ground and first floor. The house is built of plain Gault brick with stone dressings in a restrained and pure classical form. Much fine architectural detail remains internally with elegant cornices, panelled doors, sash windows, some parquet flooring, and fine chimney pieces. In fact records exist in Soane's contemporary notebooks of his visits to Norfolk to oversee the progress of the work. Of particular interest in these is a sketch of a fireplace he intended commissioning of 'Mr de Carle' of Norwich. John de Carle's fireplace is to be found in the first floor saloon, executed in strict accordance to Soane's design, forming a centerpiece to this magnificent room. In 1991 the house, which had been in institutional use for nearly 60 years, was acquired by the current owners and a programme of restoration and refurbishment was begun to restore the house to its original use. Much work was undertaken including upgrading the plumbing and wiring, extensive redecoration and the installation of numerous bathrooms. The formal gardens which surround are laid out as follows. Immediately to the south of the house is a sheltered and secluded area of lawned garden with well stocked mixed shrub and herbaceous borders. To the rear and east is a further area of lawned garden with a central pond and fountain and a topiaried yew creating a vista towards the Coach House. This is bordered by mixed shrubberies and there are some magnificent mature trees including beech, oak and sweet chestnut. To the north of the house is a formal parterre garden overlooked by a raised lawn and seating area with old fashioned shrub roses. Situated to the northeast is a hard tennis court. The park extends westwards from the house and there are magnificent views from the house over the surrounding parkland and formal lawns adjoining the house to the west. (Sowerbys Burnham Market)