The ghosts of Norfolk’s country halls and estates will be preserved in a new heritage initiative exploring their legacy. 

Hall Marks: The Long Shadows of Norfolk’s Lost Country Houses, was made possible by a £249,977 grant awarded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. 

The project will uncover, keep, and share the stories of Norfolk’s vanished country houses and their estates, and their impact on the landscape of the county. 

One such hall, possibly the largest in the county, is Didlington Hall north of Thetford Forest. Built in the 17th century the whole building was revamped and enlarged between 1879 and 1886 when William Amherst Tyssen Amherst inherited the estate. The renovations included a single-story museum for his Egyptian collection.

This inspired a young Howard Carter, who would visit as a boy when his father worked there, and ignited his lifelong fascination with Egyptology. Howard went on to discover the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922. The Hall frequently hosted royalty from across Europe and played an important role in the preparations for D-Day during WW1, which played a part in its demise. 

Fabian Eagle, Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, said: “I was pleased to play a part in this project knowing the interest this subject always attracts with people who live in the locality of these Lost Houses – with Didlington located along with a few other Lost Houses in my division.  

“It is our hope that this project will further people’s interest in local history and encourage the use of the archive at the records office as well as allow us to record people’s memories of these lost architectural features of Norfolk. 

“This project will transform access to some of Norfolk’s most important historical resources. By working with volunteers and communities across the county, it is our hope that the project will unlock heritage for all and deepen people’s connection with the places they call home.” 

Gary Tuson, County Archivist at the NRO, said: “There is extraordinary public interest in Norfolk’s lost halls and estates, so we are thrilled to have received this support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, Hall Marks will not only protect fragile archival material but also open up access for everyone – from local historians and environmental researchers to families wanting to understand the history of where they live.” 

As part of the project, the Norfolk Historic Map Explorer will be redeveloped with more resources, including thousands of handwritten tithe records, added. Visitors to the website will be able to explore lost country houses, forgotten estates and vanished landscapes, comparing historical maps and photographs with a modern map. 

‘Research your house or family history for free’, will be a series of interactive one day workshops across Norfolk libraries. They will start with a 30-minute talk followed by bookable 1-1 sessions where people will gain practical skills on how to trace people and places.  

A rare collection of minidisc and compact cassette recordings documenting life in domestic service will be digitised and made available to the public. 

From January 2027 for three months there will be an exhibition at the Norfolk Record Office, exploring the stories of lost country houses and their influence on Norfolk’s communities and environment. 

The Norfolk Record Office is grateful to the Norfolk Archives and Heritage Development Foundation and the Norfolk Archaeological and Historical Research Group who have also given grants.