Felbrigg
Encyclopedia
Felbrigg is a small village just south of Cromer
in Norfolk
, England
. The Danish name means a 'plank bridge'.
Historians believe that the original village was clustered around its Perpendicular
church, in the grounds of Felbrigg Hall
, a Jacobean mansion built in the early 17th century, a mile to the east of the present village.
In the church are some fine 14th-century brasses of Sir Simon de Felbrigge and his wife, the original Lord of the Manor
here.
The estate has particular significance through the connections with Nathaniel Kent and Humphry Repton
, both of whom were involved at Felbrigg in the early stages of their careers. A lake, which is invisible from the Hall, was created in the mid-18th century by damming the Scarrow Beck
. A pleasant and attractive feature, the lake encourages a wide range of bio-diversity. To the west and north, pasture woodland merges into the Great Wood. Local residents continue to enjoy access to the network of footpaths, many being old rights of way, which run through grassland, woodland pasture and woods. Especially popular is the well-known “Lions Mouth”, a very pretty beauty spot which can be reached from the main road A148
and is particularly popular with walkers and ramblers
. Particular care is taken with veteran trees, and there is a programme for gradual replacement of small 20th-century softwood plantations by hardwoods, notably sweet chestnut
, beech
and oak
, which have long grown here.
Cromer
Cromer is a coastal town and civil parish in north Norfolk, England. The local government authority is North Norfolk District Council, whose headquarters is in Holt Road in the town. The town is situated 23 miles north of the county town, Norwich, and is 4 miles east of Sheringham...
in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The Danish name means a 'plank bridge'.
Historians believe that the original village was clustered around its Perpendicular
English Gothic architecture
English Gothic is the name of the architectural style that flourished in England from about 1180 until about 1520.-Introduction:As with the Gothic architecture of other parts of Europe, English Gothic is defined by its pointed arches, vaulted roofs, buttresses, large windows, and spires...
church, in the grounds of Felbrigg Hall
Felbrigg Hall
Felbrigg Hall is a 17th-century country house located in Felbrigg, Norfolk, England. Part of a National Trust property, the unaltered 17th-century house is noted for its Jacobean architecture and fine Georgian interior...
, a Jacobean mansion built in the early 17th century, a mile to the east of the present village.
In the church are some fine 14th-century brasses of Sir Simon de Felbrigge and his wife, the original Lord of the Manor
Lord of the Manor
The Lordship of a Manor is recognised today in England and Wales as a form of property and one of three elements of a manor that may exist separately or be combined and may be held in moieties...
here.
The Felbrigg Estate
The Felbrigg Estate, owned by the National Trust, is close to the village lying to the east. The estate covers some 1760 acres (7.1 km²) of parkland and mixed woodland. The dominant feature is the 520 acres (2.1 km²) Great Wood which shelters the house.The estate has particular significance through the connections with Nathaniel Kent and Humphry Repton
Humphry Repton
Humphry Repton was the last great English landscape designer of the eighteenth century, often regarded as the successor to Capability Brown; he also sowed the seeds of the more intricate and eclectic styles of the 19th century...
, both of whom were involved at Felbrigg in the early stages of their careers. A lake, which is invisible from the Hall, was created in the mid-18th century by damming the Scarrow Beck
Scarrow Beck
Scarrow Beck is a minor watercourse which rises in the north of the English county of Norfolk. It is a tributary of the River Bure. It's spring is in the North Norfolk village of Aylmerton west of the main street. It eventually merges, after with the River Bure at Ingworth just north of the...
. A pleasant and attractive feature, the lake encourages a wide range of bio-diversity. To the west and north, pasture woodland merges into the Great Wood. Local residents continue to enjoy access to the network of footpaths, many being old rights of way, which run through grassland, woodland pasture and woods. Especially popular is the well-known “Lions Mouth”, a very pretty beauty spot which can be reached from the main road A148
A148 road
The A148 is an English A road entirely in the county of Norfolk. It runs from King's Lynn to Cromer via Fakenham which it bypasses to the north.-King’s Lynn starting point:...
and is particularly popular with walkers and ramblers
Ramblers
The Ramblers, formerly known as the Ramblers' Association, is the largest walkers' rights organisation in Great Britain which aims to look after the interests of walkers...
. Particular care is taken with veteran trees, and there is a programme for gradual replacement of small 20th-century softwood plantations by hardwoods, notably sweet chestnut
Sweet Chestnut
Castanea sativa is a species of the flowering plant family Fagaceae, the tree and its edible seeds are referred to by several common names such Sweet Chestnut or Marron. Originally native to southeastern Europe and Asia Minor, it is now widely dispersed throughout Europe and parts of Asia, such as...
, beech
Beech
Beech is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.-Habit:...
and oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
, which have long grown here.
- AA Illustrated Guide to Britain, London, 5th edition, 1983, p 284.