Property spotlight: North Norfolk

Hickling property

Today, we’re excited to be launching a new blog series entitled Property spotlight. Every week, we’ll be looking at a selection of homes currently on the market; each time, in a different part of the UK.

North Norfolk mapWe begin with North Norfolk; an area that we enjoy visiting, especially the coastal town of Wells-next-the-Sea and Holt – a pretty Georgian market town.

Selected below is a trio of properties ranging from £100k to £2.5 million. A sweet studio bolt-hole that currently lacks a bathroom, a characterful chocolate box thatched cottage and a stunning town-house with sea views, oodles of space and a home cinema in the vaulted basement.

See what your budget can get you in North Norfolk.

Hickling property

£100,000 – Hickling

  • The plot measures approximately 80ft x 20ft
  • Reception room / kitchen 14′ 9″ x 8′ 2″ (4.5m x 2.49m)
  • Woodland setting
  • Fitted kitchen
  • Potential shower room opportunity
  • Off-road parking

Catfield property

Catfield property

Offers over £350,000 – Catfield

  • Thatched cottage
  • Detached
  • Exposed beams
  • Feature fireplaces
  • Cottage garden

Wells-next-the-Sea property

Wells-next-the-Sea property

Wells-next-the-Sea property

£2,500,000 – Wells-next-the-Sea

  • Historic Grade II listed town house
  • Panoramic views over Wells harbour
  • Vaulted contemporary kitchen/breakfast room
  • 3 principal reception rooms
  • 6 bedroom suites
  • Converted cinema room
  • Enclosed private walled garden

The property was originally built for the towns wheat merchant who, it was rumoured, was a smuggler

Auction alert: Spring Auction Week

Mid-Century Pulkka armchair

This week’s Auction Alert – Spring Auction Week – takes place at the Rostrum Fine Art Auctioneers. There are 1,610 lots over the 4-day sale, from 29th March – 1st April 2022 from 10:30am each morning.

Rostrum is based in one of our favourite parts of the country, North Norfolk.

  • Lot: 1 to 599 – Tue, 29th Mar 2022 10:30
  • Lot: 600 to 1118 – Wed, 30th Mar 2022 10:30
  • Lot: 1120 to 1345 – Thu, 31st Mar 2022 10:30
  • Lot: 1346 to 1619 – Fri, 1st Apr 2022 10:30

There’s buyer’s premium is 20% (plus VAT). There’s an additional 3% commission or £3 fee if bidding is done via the Easyliveauction website.

Rostrum state that, “We are able to post small items such as jewellery, small items of silver, individual books, coins, medals etc, but please call for details on charges etc.”.

The great thing about this particular auction location is the fact that if you have a big gap between lots that you’re interested in, you can grab a drink or bite to eat… and so much more!

On site there is a restaurant and coffee shop, a farm shop and delicatessen with much local Norfolk produce, a garden centre and much more that could make a visit just that bit more interesting. Various other businesses are also based on the site that provide consumer services.
A prime location and plenty of parking.

Quantity of Shelley tea wares

Lot 772: Quantity of Shelley tea wares
Estimate £40 – £60

Conical Clarice Cliff sugar sifter, 'Autumn Crocus'

Lot 825: A very rare conical Clarice Cliff sugar sifter, Autumn Crocus
This sifter is in perfect condition with no issues – no restoration, no paint loss, wear or scratches. It has the very desirable narrow brown banding and it has the original red metal and cork stopper. Stamped ‘Bizarre by Clarice Cliff’ and ‘CROCUS, HANDPAINTED’ and ‘NEWPORT POTTERY ENGLAND’.
Estimate: £400 – £500

Four Art-Deco shot glasses

Lot 843: Four Art-Deco shot glasses
Clear with blue overlay; and an Art-Deco opaline glass and ashtray, signed A. Hunebelle
Estimate: £30 – £50

A collection of 19th century rare Irish Belleek Porcelain

Lot 844A: A collection of 19th century rare Irish Belleek Porcelain
Comprising a first period black mark ‘Tridacna’ tray, a second period footed shell porcelain teapot, two first period cup and saucers and a further Belleek pot.
Estimate: £800 – £1,000

Wade Thistle and Rose chess set

Lot 855: Wade Thistle and Rose chess set
c 1975. Rare as Unopened. Produced for Peter Thompson (Perth) Ltd by Wade, Ireland. Based on 16th Century historical characters of the Royal houses of England (The Rose) and Scotland (The Thistle). All the pieces, except the pawns, were filled with Beneagles Scotch 70% Whisky. It is very rare to find pieces with the seals unbroken and still with whisky in. Research shows to find a complete set with all seals is unheard of. Unboxed.
White pieces as follows: Pawns decorated with English Roses, Rooks formed as a Norman English Tower, Knights as Sir Francis Drake, Bishops as Thomas a Becket, Queen Elizabeth I, King Henry VIII
Black pieces as follows: Pawns decorated with Scottish Thistles, Rooks formed as a Scottish Tower House, Knights as Sir William Wallace, Bishops as John Knox, Queen Mary Queen of Scots, King Robert the Bruce.
Estimate: £150 – £250

A nest of three light Ercol 'Pebble' coffee tables

Lot 1049: A nest of three light Ercol ‘Pebble’ coffee tables
Estimate: £200 – £300

Victorian wall post box

Lot 1073: Victorian wall post box
The historic house (1650) where the post box was found by the vendor was previously owned by Suckling Nelson, Horatio’s younger brother, who, having served his apprenticeship as a draper, bought it to live in and run as a Drapers Shop. Letters between the several Nelson brothers record that Horatio rode his horse from Burnham Thorpe to collect a bolt of cloth ordered from their draper brother to be made into a suit for an elder brother by the family’s tailor.
Estimate £500 – £800

A rare 16th/early 17th century and later Welsh oak hutch coffer

Lot 1089: A rare 16th/early 17th century and later Welsh oak hutch coffer
With a hinged lid and clamped front
Estimate: £400 – £500

Mid-Century Pulkka armchair

Lot 1106: Mid-Century Pulkka armchair
By Ilmari Lappalainen, in leather, on metal supports by Asko
Estimate: £200 – £300

19th century sampler "The Lord Is My Shepherd"

Lot 1113: 19th century sampler “The Lord Is My Shepherd”
Signed Ann Davies Aged 12 1880
Estimate: £100 – £150

Mid century teal 3 drawer chest

Lot 1393A: Mid century teal 3 drawer chest
Converted to lift top storage chest
Estimate: £20 – £40

All’s well in Wells!

'All's well in Wells!' blog post banner

Colourful beach huts on the beach between Wells-next-the-Sea and Holkham | H is for Home

We’ve just returned from a holiday in North Norfolk…

boats in the harbour at high tide, Wells-next-the-Sea

Wells-next-the-Sea to be precise.

crabpots stacked up in the harbour, Wells-next-the-Sea

A lovely coastal town with a busy working harbour, shops and fantastic sandy beach.

house sign on the Sailmakers Barn, Wells-next-the-Sea

We stayed at Sailmakers Barn – a wonderful cottage, full of character, very comfortable and only a few minutes’ walk from the town centre & quayside.

exterior view of Sailmakers Barn, Wells-next-the-Sea lounge of Sailmakers Barn, Wells-next-the-Sea
bedroom of Sailmakers Barn, Wells-next-the-Sea view out of master bedroom of Sailmakers Barn, Wells-next-the-Sea

Around the corner from the cottage was The Buttlands, an impressive Georgian square fringed by mature lime trees…

view of Buttlands, Wells-next-the-Sea

…with gorgeous buildings and dog-friendly pubs at either end!

exterior of the Globe, Buttlands, Wells-next-the-Sea exterior of the Crown, Buttlands, Wells-next-the-Sea

As you can see from our photos, we had lots of blue skies…

boats in the harbour, Wells-next-the-Sea

…so spent long days walking, soaking up the sun, picnicking and shopping.

view of the grannery in the harbour at sunset, Wells-next-the-Sea

We watched beautiful sunsets, picked strawberries, beach combed and spotted the local wildlife.

Boats in the harbour at low tide, Wells-next-the-Sea

We did a lot of al fresco dining – breakfast on our balcony, fish & chips by the quayside, barbecues and relaxed pub lunches.

colourful beach huts on the beach between Wells-next-the-Sea and Holkham

In addition to Wells, we visited some of the surrounding towns and coastal villages including Blakeney, Cley and Holt. We only scratched the surface – there are lots more places to see, but we’ll just have to save them for our next trip.

heart in the sand made from shells on the beach between Wells-next-the-Sea and Holkham

It was our first time in the area, but it definitely won’t be the last… we really fell in love with Norfolk!