Oxburgh Hall: The Historic Home of the Bedingfeld Family in Norfolk

Discover the rich history of Oxburgh Hall, a stunning National Trust property nestled in the serene Norfolk countryside. This magnificent estate is not just an architectural marvel with royal connections but a testament to the enduring legacy of the Bedingfeld family. Built in 1482 to reflect Sir Edmund Bedingfeld’s high status at the royal court, Oxburgh Hall has witnessed centuries of triumphs and tribulations, from royal favour to religious persecution.

Come and explore the captivating story of a family’s resilience and survival against the backdrop of English history. 

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A Century of Royal Favour 

For over 100 years after 1482, the Bedingfeld family benefited from royal service and patronage. They even hosted King Henry VIII and his queen, Elizabeth of York. The King and Queen’s rooms, designed and named in commemoration of their visit, remain highlights of Oxburgh Hall. Sir Edmund Bedingfeld was such a loyal supporter of Henry VIII after his service in the French wars that he was entrusted with the care of Catherine of Aragon when she was placed under house arrest at Kimbolton Castle. 

It was this loyalty which would bring about the end of the Bedingfeld’s golden century. Sir Henry Bedingfeld's support of Catholic Queen Mary I brought further prestige, but it also led to him being entrusted with the role of escorting Mary’s Protestant half-sister, later Elizabeth I, to Woodstock and keeping her under house arrest until 1555.

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The Price of Faith 

With the succession of Elizabeth I, the Bedingfeld’s fortunes declined drastically. Their refusal to change their Catholic faith after the Reformation cost the family dearly, both politically and financially. They survived persecution, the Civil War – during which Sir Henry Bedingfeld was captured and imprisoned in the Tower of London, and one of his sons was shot – and further financial penalties and political ostracism for their continued refusal to conform. 

For Oxburgh Hall, these times came with their own changes!

• The Priest Hole: Although it had to be done in secret and under cover of nightfall, it is generally assumed that Nicholas Owen—the principal builder of priest holes during the reigns of Queen Elizabeth I and James I, who was later tortured to death—was responsible for constructing the secret ‘closet’ space for hiding Catholic priests. This can still be explored and is found in the somewhat ironic location of the lavatory in the King’s chamber. 

• A Ransacking: During the Civil War, Oxburgh was ransacked and partially burned down, with losses amounting to a staggering sum—over £5 million in today’s money. 

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Marrying into a Remodel 

Oxburgh’s saviour came in the form of Margaret Paston, who married Sir Henry Bedingfeld in 1826. Margaret was the last of the Paston line, and the arrangement was for her inheritance - a dowry of £50,000 along with the profits of selling her own inherited estate - to be used for repairs at Oxburgh Hall. In exchange, her family name would survive, as it does to this day, as Paston-Bedingfeld. 

At last, Oxburgh had the attention of architects again, at first J.C.Buckler, and then J.D. Crace, who was hired to transform it into a Gothic Revival masterpiece. 

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Oxburgh Hall is Sold for a Minute

Despite the remodel, the Bedingfeld’s financial struggles continued in the face of mounting taxes and an estate badly in need of constant investment. In 1951, Sir Edmund Bedingfeld (the 9th Baronet) had no choice but to sell Oxburgh Hall and the remaining estate entirely. It was auctioned in lots, and one buyer planned to demolish it entirely. He wanted it ‘for the oak in the roof, the doors, and the bricks he was going to make into hardcore’. 

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Saved by the Bedingfeld Women

In the end, it was the Bedingfeld women – Lady Sybil, her niece Violet Hartcup, and her daughter Francis – who managed to gather the funds to buy back their home. Many of the contents were still sold in a separate auction, but Oxburgh itself and much of its history remained intact. 

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Oxburgh Hall may stand as a testament to British history and architecture, but it was built first and foremost as a family home. So it is fitting that the Bedingfeld family–who built Oxburgh in 1482–still reside there in private apartments, while the rest of the house is made open to the public as a National Trust property, as it has been since it was gifted by Sybil, Lady Bedingfeld, in 1952. 

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Plan your visit to Oxburgh Hall today and immerse yourself in centuries of history.

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