Earsham Hall
Large Georgian house restored by the Derham family from a state of disrepair and decrepitude.
Earsham, Bungay, Suffolk, NR35 2AN
This large, authentic Queen Anne house with medieval origins is home to an enthusiastic extended family and a haunting of ghosts.
‘Butcher’ Cumberland visited and Sir John Soane made improvements; the house survived years as a boys’ school.
The tour by Annabel Stretton-Derham, the current owner, includes the ground floor, original kitchen, gardens and working areas. A photographic archive shows the house and people who lived there in the nineteenth century and when it was a school from 1948 to 1973.
Annabel suggests you arrive early to get the most from your trip by visiting the extensive furniture showrooms in the oldest parts of the house before the tour. Lunch is available at the tearooms where they offer delicious home-made food (book on 01986 483267 or email [email protected] to be sure you can get in), which is where visitors are served a full afternoon tea at the end of the tour.
Tours that are scheduled will be listed below. If none are scheduled yet, please check back later, or find other tours you might enjoy on our tours listing page here.
Earsham Hall, Suffolk/Norfolk border
Earsham Hall, Suffolk/Norfolk border
Earsham Hall, Suffolk/Norfolk border – Candlelit Supper Tour
Earsham Hall, Suffolk/Norfolk border – Candlelit Supper Tour
Earsham Hall, Suffolk/Norfolk border – Candlelit Supper Tour
Getting here
Earsham, Bungay, Suffolk, NR35 2AN
From Norwich on the B1332 take the turning on your right, directly after The Mermaid pub. Stay on this road for a couple of miles and Earsham Hall is on your right.
From the A143 follow the brown tourist signs, after passing Harleston or Bungay (depending on direction) and follow to Earsham Hall. (Do not go into Earsham village, Earsham Hall is to the north of the A143.) Tel 01986 893868.
Annabel, your talk about the house and its previous inhabitants was so interesting and informative, you made everything come alive for us ... what a fabulous tea – delicious sandwiches and "melt in the mouth" scones – a perfect end to a perfect afternoon.
“Everyone appreciated that so much history was shared in just two hours (and we LOVED the extensive photographs your showed us as well), all so interesting and lots of us want to come back to hear even more….and to enjoy another fabulous Afternoon Tea!!!”
“We got such a good idea of the past, but also what it is like to live in such an unusual house in the 21st century! We are telling everyone we know to book to come and enjoy an afternoon of entertainment!
Such a lovely day yesterday, all the members thoroughly enjoyed the visit to Earsham Hall. Annabel gave such an interesting tour of the house – she is so full of love & enthusiasm for the family, the history, the home, the house – it shone throughout the day. The programme hit all the right notes with breaks for refreshments, chairs for rest, I could go on, perfect!! The Afternoon Tea, unbelievable – sandwiches, scones, cakes! All members felt it was the most successful outing to date.