About
A romantic moated medieval manor house in the heart of Norfolk, Oxburgh Hall was built in 1482 by Sir Edmund Bedingfield and remains home to the Bedingfield family who have lived here continuously for over 500 years — one of the longest unbroken tenancies of any National Trust property. The house was given to the National Trust in 1952 but the Bedingfields continue to live here, maintaining a rare continuity of family occupation.
The hall is approached across a wide moat and through a magnificent Tudor gatehouse tower that rises to 80 feet — one of the finest domestic gatehouses in England. The gatehouse's mellow red brick, the reflections in the moat, and the romantic silhouette of the battlemented towers create one of the most memorable first impressions of any house in Norfolk.
Inside, the outstanding jewels of the collection are the Marian needlework panels worked jointly by Mary Queen of Scots and Elizabeth Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury (Bess of Hardwick) during Mary's captivity in the 1570s. These embroideries — some of the most significant surviving examples of Elizabethan needlework — are displayed in a dedicated room that gives them the careful attention they deserve. Their execution in silk and metallic thread on canvas is exquisite, and their connection to one of the great tragic figures of British history gives them an emotional charge beyond their artistic merit.
A medieval priest's hole is preserved in the house, evidence of the Bedingfield family's Roman Catholic faith and the dangers this entailed during the 16th and 17th centuries. The Victorian Catholic chapel contains outstanding Flemish stained glass panels that create a spectacular interior of jewel-like colour.
The grounds include a Victorian parterre garden, kitchen garden, woodland and the ancient moat. The French-influenced Victorian Gothic additions to the house add a picturesque romantic quality to the exterior profile that makes it one of the most photographed houses in East Anglia.
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Plan Your Visit
⏱️ Recommended Visit Duration
📅 Best Times to Visit
💡 Visitor Tips
- The Mary Queen of Scots needlework panels are the must-see highlight — allow enough time in this room to appreciate the extraordinary quality and historical significance of these embroideries.
- Book the gatehouse tower tour as soon as you arrive — places are limited and it fills quickly. The views from the top over the moat, hall and Norfolk countryside are exceptional.
- The approach across the moat is the most photographed view at Oxburgh — arrive on a still, clear day for perfect reflections of the gatehouse in the water.
- The priest's hole is easy to miss — ask a volunteer guide to show you its location within the house, as the concealment is highly effective even today.
- The Victorian chapel stained glass is extraordinary — allow time to stand inside and let the coloured light play on the walls and floor on a sunny day.
- Combine Oxburgh with Castle Acre Priory (8 miles) for a full day of exceptional medieval heritage in west Norfolk.
- The flat Norfolk countryside around Oxburgh is perfect for cycling — if you can arrive by bicycle, the approach through the village lanes is particularly pleasant.
- The garden parterre is at its best in summer. If visiting in spring, the bulb planting creates a different but equally beautiful effect.
Highlights
Discover the unique exhibits and collections at this museum.
Collections
The collections at Oxburgh Hall are defined by the unbroken Bedingfield family occupation since 1482. The outstanding treasures are the Mary Queen of Scots needlework panels and the Flemish stained glass in the chapel. The family collections also include portraits, furniture, silver, devotional objects, architectural drawings and family archives accumulated across more than 500 years of continuous habitation.
Mary Queen of Scots Needlework Room
The celebrated embroidery panels worked jointly by Mary Queen of Scots and Bess of Hardwick during Mary's captivity in the 1570s, displayed in a purpose-adapted room with conservation-standard lighting.
The Tudor Gatehouse Tower
The magnificent 1482 gatehouse tower, open to visitors with guided access to the upper floors and roof for panoramic views over the hall and Norfolk countryside.
The Victorian Catholic Chapel
Private chapel with outstanding collection of Flemish stained glass (16th–17th century) creating spectacular jewel-like interior colour, with Catholic devotional objects and family memorials.
The Priest's Hole
Medieval concealed chamber used to hide Catholic priests during the Elizabethan persecutions, preserved in its original position within the house structure.
State Rooms and Family Collections
The furnished rooms of the hall containing the accumulated Bedingfield family collections spanning five centuries: furniture, portraits, silver and decorative arts.
Themes
Time Periods
Current Exhibitions
No current exhibitions. Please check the museum website for updates.