Oxborough, near King's Lynn
Norfolk
England
Circa Date: 1482 w/18th, 19th, 20th & 21st century alterations and additions
Pronunciation: OX-BURR-AH
Status: Partially Extant
Great Hall and kitchens demolished in 1775.
House Open to Public: Yes
Country House: Yes
The entrance facade from an 1819 hand-colored engraving that appeared in "Neale's Views of Seats"
A circa 1800 hand-colored engraving of the entrance gateway from "The Beauties of England and Wales"
Built / Designed For: Sir Edmund Bedingfeld
House & Family History: Famous for its 80-foot-high gatehouse, Oxburgh is a 15th century moated house with many royal connections. Henry VII and Queen Elizabeth of York were guests of Sir Edmund Bedinfeld at Oxburgh in 1487. Sir Edmund was later given custody of Katherine of Aragon, the divorced queen of Henry VIII. In the next generation, Sir Henry, son of Sir Edmund, had custody of Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth I, at Oxburgh. A later Sir Henry roused a regiment of foot troops and horses during the Civil War for the king; as a result, Oxburgh Hall was pillaged by Cromwellian troops and Sir Henry was taken captive and spent two years in the Tower of London. In the 19th century the house was restored and the south corridor was built to connect east and west wings. Sybil, Dowager Lady Bedingfeld, was one of the women who saved Oxburgh from demolition in the mid-20th century. In 1951, when the house was sold at auction and slated to be demolished, Lady Bedingfeld was instrumental in leading the campaign to buy back the house and donate it to the National Trust. This happened in 1952 and her family continues to live here today as tenants of the Trust. Not surprisingly, considering its Catholic history, there is at least one priest's hole in the house.
Collections: Oxburgh has a collection of embroidery by Mary, Queen of Scots, made during her imprisonment in England.
Garden & Outbuildings: The gardens contain a French parterre, a walled orchard, and a kitchen garden.
Chapel & Church: The Paston-Bedingfeld family, which owns the Catholic chapel, has never broken with its ancient Roman Catholic faith.
Architect: Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin
Date: 19th centuryArchitect: Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin
Date: 19th centuryJohn Bernard (J.B.) Burke, published under the title of A Visitation of the Seats and Arms of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland, among other titles: 2.S. Vol. I, p. 112, 1854.
John Preston (J.P.) Neale, published under the title of Views of the Seats of Noblemen and Gentlemen in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, among other titles: Vol. III, 1820.
Country Life: I, 548, 1897. XIII, 470, 1903. LXVI, 194, 224, 1929.
Title: Burke's & Savills Guide to Country Houses, Volume III: East Anglia
Author: Kenworthy-Browne, John; Reid, Peter; Sayer, Michael; Watkin, David
Year Published: 1981
Reference: pgs. 164-166
Publisher: London: Burke's Peerage
ISBN: 0850110351
Book Type: Hardback
House Listed: Grade I
Park Listed: Grade II
Current Seat / Home of: Paston-Bedingfeld family; here since 1483.
Past Seat / Home of: Sir Edmund Bedingfeld, 1483-1553; Sir Henry Bedingfeld, 1553-83; Thomas Bedingfield, 1583-90; Sir Henry Bedingfield, 1590-1657; Sir Henry Bedingfeld, 1st Bt., 1657-85; Sir Henry Bedingfeld, 2nd Bt., 1685-1704; Sir Henry Bedingfeld, 3rd Bt., 1704-60; Sir Richard Henry Bedingfeld, 4th Bt., 1760-95; Sir Richard Bedingfeld, 5th Bt., 1795-1829; Sir Henry Richard Paston-Bedingfeld, 6th Bt., 1829-62; Sir Henry George Paston-Bedingfeld, 7th Bt., 1862-1902; Sir Henry Edward Paston-Bedingfeld, 8th Bt., 1902-41; Sir Edmund George Felix Paston-Bedingfeld, 9th Bt., 1941-2011.
Current Ownership Type: The National Trust
Primary Current Ownership Use: Visitor Attraction
House Open to Public: Yes
Phone: 01366-328-258
Fax: 01366-328-066
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Historic Houses Member: No