History
The Nether Hall Estate dates back to Anglo Saxon and even Roman times. During the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries it was in the ownership of the Pakenham family. It then passed to the Abbey of St Edmundsbury until the dissolution. The Bright family subsequently owned it for over 150 years
Nether Hall itself dates back to the thirteenth century, although the structure is now mainly sixteenth century with a number of later additions and alterations. The Greene family (who established the Greene King brewery in Bury) owned the Estate from mid-Victorian times until after the First World War, and they commissioned major alterations and additions by Phillip Webb, the well known Arts & Crafts architect who worked with William Morris
Grounds
Nether Hall is approached from the village by a 500 metre private drive, and a bridge over the stream which runs from the Lake. The Hall is surrounded by lawns, large flower beds, extensive topiary, mature trees and a pretty, listed, ha-ha designed by Phillip Webb. The grounds have expansive views over the surrounding parkland and water meadows, and over a large four-acre Lake to the west. The grounds include a tennis court, squash court and a stable block
To the north east of the Hall lies The Farmhouse, approached by a drive from St Mary’s Church. The Farmhouse sits in its own gardens and grounds, with elevated views to the west of the parkland and water meadows and, in the distance, the Lake
To the east of the Hall is Ladies’ Walk, an avenue of limes planted in Victorian times leading to the large walled garden
Property
Nether Hall is an extensive Grade II listed property dating back to the sixteenth century and earlier. It was extensively remodelled and extended by Phillip Webb in the 1860s, and much of the William Morris/Phillip Webb panelling, fireplaces, tiles and other interior designs remain (and feature in a number of works on Webb and Morris & Co)
The Farmhouse is a large seventeenth century Grade II listed property which until the last century was the centre of Home Farm, one of the five farms/farmhouses which then served the Estate. It has recently been renovated to a high standard, and is available for short term lets when not being occupied by members of the family
Other properties on The Nether Hall Estate include the listed Lodge Cottage, the two listed Clock Tower cottages, two cottages at Church Drive, and Orchard Cottage. These are let out on assured shorthold tenancies, but become available for rental from time to time
Farming & Conservation
The land within The Nether Hall Estate is operated as a mixed rural farming business. The parkland, grassland and water meadows are grazed by a pedigree beef suckler herd. The arable land, much of which is irrigated, grows wheat, barley, oats, oilseed rape, beans, onions and potatoes, on rotation. Significant acreage is given over to conservation, including wildflower/pollen and nectar areas, conservation strips, fallow areas, lapwing plots and blocks of wild bird food. Two-thirds of the arable land is devoted to Countryside Stewardship projects aimed at restoring wildlife habitats. Several miles of hedges have been planted over recent years, and these, and the extensive copses and shelter belts, are managed on a conservation-sensitive basis
Recent surveys have recorded nearly 100 species of birds on the Estate, including barn, tawny and little owls; swans, egrets and herons nesting on the lake; skylarks and grey partridges and the occasional kingfisher. Wildlife includes deer (including roe deer and the occasional fallow and red deer), hares, otters and voles
Woodland
The woodlands on the Estate extend to around 100 acres. Large numbers of trees have been planted in recent years, both to replant existing areas and to create a number of new woods. The larger blocks are managed under a 10 year Forestry Commission Woodland Management conservation plan, including coppicing
Thinnings, and dead and windblown trees, are used for firewood in the Estate properties and sold for firewood and woodchip/biomass. Oak from the Estate is sawn/processed on site, and has been used extensively in replacing flooring and structural timbers in both Nether Hall and The Farmhouse, and on various other projects on the Estate
Country Pursuits
There are a number of public footpaths and bridleways on the Estate, together with a permissive path, which the Estate is pleased to help maintain. These paths enable walkers to view and enjoy representative parts of each of the parkland, woodland, tracks and arable fields on the Estate
A driven shoot has been run on the Estate since Victorian times. Today, a small shoot, of driven partridge and some pheasant, is still operated on the Estate in winter months, although the number of birds put down (all of which are reared locally) is far fewer than in years gone by
The game covers and wild bird plantings, and the shoot-related works carried out through the year in the woodlands and other areas, make an important contribution to maintaining and increasing the number and diversity of the bird populations on the estate
For sporting enquiries, please contact office@netherhallestate.com
Local area
Pubs, restaurants, heritage sites and fun days out. There is plenty to do in the surrounding area
There are some award winning pubs within striking distance such as The Fox in Pakenham and The Bull in Troston
There are a range of restaurants in Bury St Edmunds including the Michelin star Pea Porridge and the excellent Maison Bleu
For days out and further afield why not explore The Cathedral or the Greene King brewery in Bury, a day at the horse races at Newmarket or head to the coast at Aldeburgh
As pictured, explore the water mill and windmill in Pakenham
Sustainability
The Estate believes it is important to support environmental, conservation. sustainability and eco-friendly initiatives. By way of example:
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All central heating and hot water at Nether Hall, The Farmhouse, and the cottages and buildings nearby is no longer fuelled by oil, but by wood chip biomass boilers, and open fires are fuelled by firewood from the woodlands
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All farming is undertaken in a conservation-minded way; and significant areas are devoted to conservation crops and habitats
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Water for the cattle comes from a borehole, not the mains
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No fertiliser is applied to the grassland, and that applied to arable crops is kept below NVZ limits
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Considerable efforts are made to encourage farmland birds, resulting in almost a 100 species being recorded on the Estate
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When renovating The Farmhouse, energy saving has been a priority (including enhancing wall, floor and ceiling insulation, within the constraints the listed building rules impose, plus ensuring all appliances are energy efficient models and all lighting uses energy-saving LED bulbs). Sustainability measures extend to things like reduced-flush systems on the loos, and reusable shower gel and shampoo bottles
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As much waste as possible is recycled
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Timber and firewood from the Estate woodlands is used on the Estate, or sold locally for firewood or biomass/wood chips
