Felbrigg Hall is one of East Anglia’s most delightful 17th century country houses, an elegant blend of opulence and comfort, with rooms full of pleasure and surprise. Accessible walks are wonderful in all seasons, with 380 acres of parkland, woods and a beautiful Walled Garden. After a stroll, wander over to The Squire’s Pantry tea room for a hot lunch, afternoon tea or ice cream in the pretty courtyard.
There’s also a well-stocked second-hand bookshop, which would delight at least one of Felbrigg’s historic owners…
William Windham III, a Whig politician, inherited the hall in 1749. Fanny Burney wrote he was ‘one of the most agreeable, spirited, well-bred and brilliant conversers I have ever spoken with’, no doubt due to his voracious reading. He was a total book fanatic. But he paid for it with his life.
One summer night in 1809 he saw a house fire in Conduit St, London, a few doors away from the property of a friend with a valuable library. Although nicknamed ‘Weathercock Windham’ for his notorious political indecision, this time he didn’t hesitate and rushed to rescue the books before they were caught in the flames. Running with heavy volumes, he fell and damaged his hip which developed a tumour needing surgery the following year. He never recovered and died in June 1810.
But there’s one more chapter. With all eternity to catch up on his reading, Felbrigg staff sometimes see Windham’s ghost sitting in the library, peacefully enjoying his books.
