Horstead - Frettenham - Stanninghall - Horstead
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This walk starts off just next to the remains of Horstead Mill. If time allows I would strongly recommend a little stroll around this area, as it is stunning! If you know the area well, then you may know that Horstead Mill was almost identical to Buxton Mill (just a couple of miles north) and it was also the last mill to be built on the River Bure. It was one of the biggest and also the most photographed mills in the county! Much information and many photographs exist of this mill, some of which can be found at this website: http://www.norfolkmills.co.uk/Watermills/horstead.html
The first part of this walk follows a stretch of country lane by the name of Frettenham Road and turns off towards the Old Rectory and church just to the north of Frettenham Village. From the church the route follows a footpath past Frettenham Mill. This mill has been lovingly restored and is in very good condition. It dates back to 1870.
After passing through Frettenham the route follows a country lane past Stanninghall Farm with an interesting piece of history here. Stanninghall Farm was built on the site of an old medieval manor-house by the name of Stanninghall Hall. The remains of the church tower can be seen to the west of the farm and have been left to dissolve to nothing, but the ruins are quite evocative. In the inter-war years Stanninghall was an isolation settlement for people suffering from tuberculosis.
From Stanninghall Farm it's a section of country lanes and a final section of footpath to bring you round Horstead Heath and back to Horstead Mill. Along this path you will pass some rather obvious earthworks which were the site of a Tudor hall, of which some of the remains appear to be sticking out of the ground along the footpath!
England - East England - Norfolk - Countryside
Features
Ancient Monument, Birds, Butterflies, Church, Flowers, Industrial Archaeology, Mostly Flat, Play Area, Pub, Public Transport, River, Wildlife, Woodland
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Pubs, cafes and restaurants
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