Breccles Hall, (also known as Breckles Hall), Thetford, England

The following is from the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.

HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT

In 1469 the manor of Breckles was purchased by Sir Edward Woodehouse of Kimberley and in around 1550 his grandson John Woodehouse began construction of Breccles Hall, a work which was completed by his son Francis in 1583. Two garden courtyards to the west of the Hall were constructed at this time. In 1599 Francis' son, Edward Woodehouse, sold the Hall to Sir Richard Gardiner, Queen Elizabeth's chief justice in Ireland. From there it passed to the Webb and Hewyt family before being purchased by Wormley Hethersett, Mayor of Thetford. Following his death in 1709 the house and grounds fell into a state of disrepair and in 1832 the property was purchased by Matthias Kerrison and used as a farmhouse at the centre of a large estate. Thus it remained until his great grandson the Hon Charles Hanbury inherited in about 1900. Hanbury employed the Arts and Crafts architect Detmar Blow to completely renovate the Hall and the estate became well-known as a historic, residential, and sporting seat. Following the restoration work the Hon Edwin and Mrs Montagu purchased Breccles in 1910 and employed Edwin Lutyens (1869-1944) to make additions to the interior and to add a new service wing. Mrs Montagu developed the grounds within the old 16th-century walls and, with Lutyens' help, developed new garden areas, including a new walled enclosure to the north of the 16th-century wall, in front of the service wing. The Montagus entertained many notable guests at Breccles, including members of the royal family, Noel Coward, and Winston Churchill. During the Second World War the Hall was used as a school although Mrs Montagu remained in residence, and after the war was purchased by Mrs Garnier, whose daughter and son-in-law took over residency in 1953. The Hall remains (1999) in private ownership.