Random Norfolk - Blue, Green, Grey

Not So Hidden Norfolk - Blickling

Petrea is searching for a fantasy Norfolk pied-à-terre and this cute little cottage sprang to mind as one possibility.

Mind you, it is not exactly "Hidden Norfolk" unless - as I did here - one ducks down behind the peonies and then peeps out at it.
More about the place is available via the old "Katie and Dive Do Blickling" link way down in the sidebar if you fancy a stroll around the grounds.

Random Norfolk - Cherry Walk

Random Norfolk - Dutch Gable

Random Norfolk - Junk Room Door

Random Norfolk - Sea View

Random Norfolk - Shadows

Random Norfolk - Workstation

Random Norfolk

As I'm on a "hidden corners of Norfolk" kick at the moment, here's another gratuitous photo from my locale. Regrettably this is not my own dining room …

Norfolk's Hidden Gems: Castle Acre - Pt.2

Yet more rambling round romantic ruins. Come with me into our spookily deserted little corner of Norfolk and let's get mediæval.

Not much left of it now but the remains are still bigger than the tiny village it once served.

Ooh! Ooh! Bits to climb up! Yay!

After the dissolution of the monasteries (which by all accounts were pretty dissolute places even before Henry dissolved them further), the Tudor landowner kept this part as his home. Want to come and explore it with me?

I could quite happily stick my big ol' reading chair under that window.

Some very un-monastic Tudor roses recently unearthed on what had become the bedroom ceiling.

More fabulous fenestration. Leaded lights are gorgeous but a bugger to clean.

The view from upstairs. Pretty depressing if you're a suddenly homeless monk but more heartening if you're the new Tudor landowner selling off all the decorative facing stonework for big bags of groats.

There are lots more rooms to explore but I've only got a certain amount of space so you'll have to come visit and explore them yourselves.

With all the facing stone gone the flint cores of the walls are gradually crumbling away. If you're coming to visit, better be quick.

And make sure you go to the loo before you visit as the old communal latrines have collapsed and are slightly breezy.

I love this shot. Late afternoon Autumn sunlight, a spiffy sky and gnarly old stone. Lovely.

So farewell from Castle Acre. Do come and explore the place yourself and cheer up the very lonely girl in the visitor centre shop.
More hidden gems from forgotten corners of Norfolk to come later.