Methwold Old Vicarage

This is an intriguing building whose distinctive brick gable-end is unique in Norfolk and possibly beyond. Inside, its moulded timbers and late 16th-century wall paintings demonstrate the skill and care taken in its construction.

A puzzle to decipher

The architectural DNA suggests different additions have been made to Methwold Old Vicarage over the years making it somewhat of a puzzle. Its timber frame and brickwork points towards the 15th century whilst its wall paintings are dated a little later to the 16th century. One of the biggest puzzles of this Landmark is why such a wonderfully decorated house would have been built for the priest of such a small village on the edge of the fens. Once upon a time a thatched roof would have adorned the top of this Landmark and it would have been a large and prestigious home. Rescued and sensitively repaired by Monica and Harry Dance, who ran the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), this timber framed house of extraordinary richness is now owned by SPAB and maintained and run by The Landmark Trust.

Heart of East Anglian countryside

With its twists and turns and cubby holes, Methwold Old Vicarage also has an open fire and an ample kitchen with lots of space for cooking and dining. The upper floors were decorated by acanthus leaves by a late 16th-century craftsman and they run rampant across studs and plasterwork. Methwold lies at the junction of Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk, and is surrounded by beautiful countryside and evidence of the medieval wealth of East Anglia. Ely, King's Lynn and Bury St Edmunds are all within a 45 minute drive. More locally and of historical significance is Oxburgh Hall which is just up the road.