Record Details
| NHER Number: | 35946 |
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| Type of record: | Building |
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| Name: | 19th century walled garden, possible owl house and cistern at Home Farm |
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Summary
A 19th century walled garden, a possible owl house and a cistern. The walled garden was associated with Morton Hall (NHER 7726) and contained a fountain, a row of cottages and outbuildings. Two sides of the wall and the outbuildings survive, although the cottages were demolished during the 20th century when farm buildings were constructed. At the southwest corner of the wall is a 2m tall circular brick structure with two square openings. It is believed to be an owl house; if so, it is only one known in Norfolk and one of a few recorded in the whole country. A massive flint and brick cistern in the east of the garden worked inconjuction with a cistern (NHER 13764) to the north. A small domed brick structure to the west may be part of the same water system.
Images
Location
Full description
February 2001.
Former walled garden for Hall (site NHER 7726) which contained a fountain and a row of cottages, now demolished (except for outbuildings) and replaced by 20th century farm buildings.
Two walls of garden remain, 4m, Flemish bond with horizontal skintlings, external buttresses, stone slabs on top - clearly contemporary with 1834 block of hall.
At southwest corner on top is a circular structure of the same brick, about 2m high, supported on external thickening of wall and internally on sandstone corbel. Of two storeys, two 0.3m (1 feet) square openings with iron lintels on 'internal' face but only lower (now blocked) opening to 'exterior'. Lower chamber roofed but upper roof missing. This is believed to be an owl house; there is said to have once been another.
On east side of garden a massive flint cistern with internal brick vaulting (not seen) that is said to be the main reservoir for the cistern at site NHER 13764.
A mound to the southwest of the walled area resembling a round barrow is said to be the kitchen midden from the garden, planted over with trees in the 1960s; this seems to be correct.
Photographs of owl house (S1)-(S2) in file.
E. Rose (NLA), 10 February 2001.
August 2001.
Detailed research has failed to find any other examples of owl houses in Britain. This may therefore be unique.
E. Rose (NLA), 21 August 2001.
November 2002.
In woodland west of garden at TG 1237 1571, top of small brick dome broken through, filled with water, visible at ground level. Is this another part of the water system? Landowner says there are water points for pheasants throughout the estate.
E. Rose (NLA), 25 November 2002.
Publication of Morton Owl House in (S3).
A similar structure to the owl house has now been reported at Abney Hall, Cheshire.
See (S4) and (S5).
E. Rose (NLA), 25 June 2003.
(S6) in file.
E. Rose (NLA), 6 December 2006.
Monument Types
- AVIARY (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
- BIRD SANCTUARY (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
- CISTERN (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
- DOVECOTE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
- GARDEN WALL (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
- OWL HOUSE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
Associated Finds - none
Protected Status
Sources and further reading
| --- | Designation: Historic England. National Heritage List for England. List Entry 1390577. |
| --- | Correspondence: 2001-2004. Correspondence regarding the Owl House. |
| --- | Correspondence: 2001. MPP Water & Sewage Step 3 Additionals. |
| --- | Designation: English Heritage. 1990-2013. English Heritage Listing Notification. Notification. DNF1981. |
| <S1> | Photograph: Prince-Smith, Lady Anne. 2001. [unknown]. |
| <S2> | Photograph: Rose, E.. 2002. KGN 25-30. |
| <S3> | Article in Serial: Rose, E.. 2003. A putative Owl House at Morton on the Hill.. VAG Newsletter. No 45, June. pp 16-19. |
| <S4> | Article in Serial: Hyde, M.. 2004. A Rather Grand Owl House in Cheshire.. VAG Newsletter. No 46, January. |
| <S5> | Photograph: Abney Park Owlhouse. |
| <S6> | Photograph: Unknown. 2006. [unknown]. |
Related records
| 7726 | Part of: Morton Hall (Building) |
| 13764 | Related to: Post medieval water cistern in churchyard of St Margaret's Church (Building) |
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