An interesting fact about this former stable block is that in the same year it was completed — 1881 — the architect behind the design, Alfred Waterhouse, also finished work on the National History Museum. Admittedly, this building in the Norfolk village of Crimplesham is slightly less spectacular than the London museum, but there are still double-height ceilings and a large staircase upon entrance for a touch of grandeur. There have been a lot of changes in the interior since the late nineteenth century, but the wholesale modernisation feels in keeping with the country location, especially in the large wood-panelled kitchen, the comfy living room complete with a roaring fireplace and the games room that's accessible through a secret bookcase. There's an enclosed garden with alfresco seating and a barbecue, but there's plenty more to see and do outside in the local area. The historical town of Ely takes just under half an hour to reach in the car, while the coast at Hunstanton can be reached in forty minutes' drive. Closer to home, the quaint town of Downham Market is an hour away on foot.

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