Visit our Heritage Rose Garden
The gardens around the medieval moated manor feature a wide variety of plants, trees and shrubs in different settings. Throughout the gardens there are many roses, especially classic varieties.
Dogs on leads are welcome in the Gardens.
The gardens around the medieval moated manor feature a wide variety of plants, trees and shrubs in different settings. Throughout the gardens there are many roses, especially classic varieties. In the Heritage and Modern Rose Gardens are roses in designs reflecting their date and origin. On the South Lawn is a classic temple and the Sensory Garden with water feature and plants selected for touch, sound and taste, scent and colour.
Wildflowers are everywhere but especially around the lakes and ruined church. Unusual trees and shrubs are featured throughout.
Opening Hours:
The 2025 season has now come to an end.
The Gardens, Bread Source Café, Heritage Rose Gardens and Visitor Centre are now closed for the season.
But there’s still plenty for you to enjoy – the designated public footpaths remain open, our website will have details of any seasonal events, and our recently refurbished holiday cottages on the estate are available year round.
History of the Estate
Mannington Estate is one of Norfolk’s hidden gems. Nestled away in the heart of the countryside sits Mannington Hall, originally built around 1460 for William Lumnor, a connection of a great Norfolk family – the Pastons.
The Hall retains its medieval appearance with castle-like crenelations, gothic windows, moat and drawbridge. Its facade of the hall is constructed from knapped local flint with two turrets standing proud on the South side of the building.
Mannington is surrounded by ancient woodlands which, together with its lakes and rivers, provides varied habitats for wildlife in a charming setting. We know that people have lived here for thousands of years, enhancing its charms with buildings in local materials.
The Walpole Family
Mannington was sold to Horatio, first Lord Walpole in the middle of the 18th century. Horatio was the diplomat brother of Sir Robert Walpole, known as our first Prime Minister. He purchased Wolterton and then Mannington to extend his landholding; in the middle of the 19th century a member of the family abandoned Wolterton and came to Mannington and created a Victorian gentleman’s idea of a medieval house.
