Hall Marks - the long shadows of Norfolk's lost country houses
Discover Norfolk's past. Explore your local landscape. Help unlock nearly 200 years of hidden history.
About the Project
Many of Norfolk's country houses and estates have disappeared, but their stories remain—preserved in maps, archives, landscapes, and local memories. Led by the Norfolk Record Office, Hall Marks is a major new National Heritage Lottery funded project, uncovering the rise and fall of these estates and how they shaped the Norfolk we live in today.
If you have an enquiry regarding the project please send an email to [email protected]
Read our Privacy Notice to find out how we use your personal information.
Ways to Get Involved
Volunteer: Transcribe Tithe Records
Between 1836 and 1850, Tithe maps were drawn up for almost all rural parishes in Norfolk, they depict a landscape, which is often very different from what we recognise today. They provide valuable insights into changing historical land use and their apportionments show details of land ownership.
Help unlock over half a million of these historic entries in the tithe apportionments.
No experience needed—just curiosity and a willingness to learn how to transcribe the records. Volunteer in person at the Norfolk Record Office or online from anywhere.
- Download the Transcriber onsite volunteer role description. (PDF, 233 KB)
- Download the Transcriber remote volunteer role description. (PDF, 233 KB)
To express an interest in volunteering please complete this form: Register your interest in volunteering.
Volunteer: Become a Blog Writer
We are looking for people to use our archive collections to research and produce blogs on themes connected to the lost Norfolk halls and their estates. Topics can be broad; the houses themselves, the estates, the people who lived and worked in them, the landscapes and gardens, hidden histories. Or if you prefer, you can tell us some areas you are interested in and we can make some suggestions of material we have in the archives you can write about.
Perfect for local historians, writers, and enthusiasts. We provide a helpful guide to blog writing and using archival resources to do your research, no prior experience of blog writing required.
To express an interest in volunteering please complete this form: Register your interest in volunteering.
Join a Local History Workshop
Free, friendly Saturday workshops in libraries across the county for people who are interested in starting on the journey of researching their family or house history.
Book your place at one of the workshops.
Take Part in a Heritage for Wellbeing Programme
Free six week heritage and wellbeing sessions, 'Discovering lost house histories' which will be held in Norwich, King's Lynn, and Gorleston. These sessions will run once a week over six weeks.
Sessions will include an introduction to the lost houses, introductions into archive maps and a range of other archives including: UK census entries, parish records, electoral records, sales particulars and other sources. We will also explore the impact of lost country houses on the county of Norfolk, as well as a trip out to one of the great houses that are still standing. We will round this all off with a guided creative session in response to the previous 5 sessions.
Book your place at one of these sessions.
Other project activity to watch out for
The New Norfolk Historic Map Explorer - coming January 2027
Explore historic maps online.
We're transforming this much loved site with:
- Full coverage of Norfolk's tithe maps
- Integrated apportionment data
- New historic map layers
- Side by side viewing
- Free public access
A brand new interactive map table will also be available to explore at the Norfolk Record Office.
Discover the Long Shadows of Norfolk's Lost Estates - exhibition coming January 2027
We'll be developing an exhibition of original archive materials, curated with contributions from community wellbeing groups.
Talks, family activities, and special events will accompany the display.
Stay Updated
To hear more about the Lost Country House of Norfolk, project updates the project, and opportunities to get involved you can connect with us in the following ways:
- Norfolk Record Office Facebook
- Norfolk Record Office Instagram
- Read our project blogs
- Sign up for the Norfolk Record Office Newsletter
Project Partners
Hall Marks is delivered by the Norfolk Record Office in partnership with the Norfolk Environment Service, Norfolk Heritage Centre, Norfolk Library and Information Service, and the University of East Anglia—with support from volunteers across the county.
Project Funders
Hall Marks is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players.
We are also grateful for additional contributions from the Norfolk Archives and Heritage Development Foundation (NorAH) and the Norfolk Archaeological and Historical Research Group (NAHRG).
