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A Grand Country Escape
A Grade II listed country home — designed for gathering, resting, and reconnecting in style.
17 Guests | 8 Bedrooms | 6 Bathrooms
Pets | Off road parking | Garden / Patio | Cot Available
Highchair available | Washing machine | Dishwasher
Games Room | Broadband Wifi
Welcome to Henstead Hall, a breathtaking Grade II listed country home offering luxurious accommodation across three elegant floors. Perfect for memorable gatherings with family and friends, this stately Suffolk retreat blends timeless period charm with modern comfort.
From sparkling chandeliers and ornate fireplaces to wood-panelled rooms and spacious living areas, every corner invites relaxation and togetherness. Whether you're sharing long, lazy meals in the sociable kitchen-diner, enjoying a game in the oak-panelled billiard room, or sipping tea in the sunroom overlooking the gardens, Henstead Hall promises an unforgettable taste of country life, as well as being close to the charming seaside town of Southwold.
Property Features
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Eight Bedrooms:
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Ground-floor emperor-bed
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First floor emperor-bed
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First floor emperor-bed with en-suite with double-ended bath, double-walk-in shower, basin, heated towel and WC
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First floor emperor-bed and single
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First floor twin
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First floor king-size
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Second-floor king-size with en-suite with walk-in shower, basin and WC
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Second-floor king-size
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Ground-floor shower room with walk-in shower, basin, heated towel rail and WC
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Jack and Jill bathroom with freestanding bath, double walk-in shower, basin, heated towel rail and WC
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Shower room with walk-in shower, basin and WC
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Second-floor bathroom with bath, shower over, basin and WC
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Kitchen/diner, Utility, Dining room, Sitting room
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Open-plan living space with dining area and sitting area
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Billiard room
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Central heating
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Range cooker, grill and induction hob, additional oven and grill, 2x fridges, 2x freezers, fridge/freezer, washer/dryer, 2x dishwashers
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TV, Bose speaker, WiFi, Nespresso coffee machine
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Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
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Two travel cots and highchairs are available on request at time of booking
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Off-road parking for up to 8 cars
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Extensive gardens, terrace, patio furniture, barbecue
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Note: One well-behaved dog welcome downstairs and must be mentioned at time of booking and the dog must be supervised at all times
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Note: Only Monday and Friday arrivals and departure are accepted at this property
History
Architecture & Heritage
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Built on the site of the original Henstead Manor, which dated back to the 14th Century, the core of the house dates to the 18th Century, with major alterations in 1794 for Rev. John Amyas, followed by substantial early 19th‑century additions.
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It's rendered stucco on brick with a slated roof. The principal façade has a Greek Doric portico added mid‑19th century, flanked by full‑height canted bays, and sash windows with glazing bars.
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Interiors include a late 18th‑century staircase with turned balusters and a carved handrail. Decorative features include a stone fireplace with a Grecian‑figure frieze, and a doorway framed by bearded heads—one sad, one happy.
Ownership & Local Connection
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From the 1950s the estate was owned by the Farmiloe family, wealthy merchants originally based in London. George Farmiloe purchased the hall mid‑century, and his son Douglas lived there into his late 90s, as recounted in Douglas’s autobiography A Tarnished Silver Spoon.
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The Farmiloe family were wealthy lead and glass merchants. Their former factory in Clerkenwell, London, was used as Gotham City’s headquarters in Christopher Nolan’s Batman triology, as well as Guy Ritchie’s 2009 Sherlock Holmes and Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015).
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Henstead village appears in the Domesday Book as "Henestede", held by William de Warenne and Geoffrey de Petro Ponte, indicating long historical roots as an estate site.
Present Use & Visitor Experience
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The hall was converted into high-end self-catering accommodation after refurbishment, retaining original period charm— with a ballroom, marble fireplaces, billiard room, library, grand bedrooms—all with modern comforts.
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Today, it sleeps up to 17 guests across eight bedrooms, offering a spacious setting for families and group holidays. Facilities include billiards, gardens, terraces, and modern kitchens and bathrooms.
Surrounding Area & Heritage Context
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Henstead lies in the rural parish of Henstead with Hulver Street and has around 400 residents.
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The Grade I listed medieval church of St Mary has a stunning Norman doorway.
To learn more about the history of Henstead with Hulver Street click HERE
Floor Plan
Where You'll Stay
Explore the Local Area
Nestled in Suffolk’s beautiful countryside, Henstead Hall offers the perfect base for both peaceful country escapes and lively cultural adventures. Below are your options for exploring the best of the region:
Local Towns & Countryside
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Beccles, a riverside market town, is a short drive away. Discover independent shops, a historic market, scenic walking trails (like the Beccles Marsh Trail), riverside boating, family-friendly play areas, and the lively weekly farmers’ market in the Quaker Hall. Visit the beautiful medieval St Michael’s Church, with its unusual detached tower – Reverend Edmund Nelson married Catherine Suckling there in 1749. One of their sons was 1st Viscount Nelson.
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Lowestoft, the most easterly point of the British Isles, is famed for its fantastic beach. Ideal for walks and old-fashioned seaside fun.
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The seaside town of Southwold is full of old-world charm and offers lots of lovely tearooms and shops.
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Great Yarmouth is only 30 minutes by car and is ideal for a fun day out. Enjoy the rides at Pleasurebeach, donkey rides, a host of amusement arcades, the Sea Life centre and the award-winning Time and Tide Museum that documents Great Yarmouth’s fascinating history. Visit the Edwardian Hippodrome – it is one of only two purpose-built permanent circuses in England still in operation and one of only three in the world that has a circus floor that converts into a pool. It also has a lovely café!
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The medieval city of Norwich once boasted a church for every week of the year and a pub for every day! Although that is no longer the case, it still has lots of wonderful pubs, cafes and historical church buildings to visit. The Norman Cathedral is a standout landmark and you can enjoy a lovely walk around its grounds and along the River Wensum. It is also home to Elm Hill, a historic cobbled lane with many Tudor buildings. Queen Elizabeth I once watched a procession in her honour from the window of one of them. The Castle Museum has recently been refurbished and is well worth a visit. And the quaint Norwich Lanes are home to lots of independent shops and eateries.
Gardens & Nature Walks
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Just minutes from the Hall, the lush Henstead Exotic Garden is a two‑acre tropical oasis with palms, bamboo and a Thai pavilion.
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Explore the beautiful marsh, farmland and heathland trails around Wrentham, perfect for hiking or cycling across the Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty).
Family Fun in Lowestoft
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Pleasurewood Hills, between Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth, is a theme park with over 35 rides, shows and attractions—featuring everything from thrill coasters like Wipeout, to children’s rides and live sea lion/parrot displays.
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Don't forget the award winning Africa Alive Reserve, which is under ten minutes away and ROARR! Dinosaur Adventure Park, in neighbouring Norfolk.
Festivals & Music
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Latitude Festival is one of the UK’s premier music & arts events, it takes place every July at Henham Park (just outside Southwold). With headline acts like Sting, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, The Chemical Brothers, Lana Del Rey and The 1975, plus theatre, poetry, wellness and family zones, it's a full cultural weekend in stunning parkland.
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First Light Festival in Lowestoft is a free, celebration of summer solstice on the South Beach (dates in mid-June). Expect dawn performances, live DJs, art installations, workshops and sunrise rituals—with camping on Britain’s most easterly beach.
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If you're looking for some local live music entertainment , our personal recommendations are The Bakery and The Maisy Joe Band. You'll find them gigging in the local pubs every weekend.
Food & Drink Escapes
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Taste local brews at Adnams Brewery in Southwold, try award-winning wines at Shawsgate Vineyard, and enjoy craft spirits at the English Whiskey Company, all just a short drive from Henstead Hall.
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Beccles and Wrentham offer quaint cafés, traditional inns, and local farm shops for relaxed dining.
Our personal local recommendations:
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The Jolly Sailors, Lowestoft – A landmark Lowestoft pub boasting stunning views over beautiful Pakefield Beach. A great place to stop for food and a drink after a walk along the coast.
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Thatch, Lowestoft – Café – A perfect stop-off when you're on a beach walk, or for the essential cooked breakfast.
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Sgt. Pepper's, Lowestoft – Diner – Famous since 1982, this colourful pop-culture diner serves comfort food and is especially great for children's parties.
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The Olive Tree, Kirby Cane – Italian Restaurant – A beautifully presented Italian restaurant and bar set in the charming village of Kirby Cane.
If you need a local taxi service, we recommend Dan's Taxis
