Ours is a story born of a love of the countryside and Norfolk in particular. It is a story of a family whose roots are in farming but who’s younger members had dispersed to forge their careers in far flung places and have now been drawn back to the land and to their history…

Our family has been associated with the area where Hales is for hundreds of years – we can trace our roots in this part of the county back to the time Hales was built – but in more recent times Richard and Wendy Johnston, who own the property, have farmed the land and built a successful business in South Norfolk. Their daughter Helen, an editor, and her husband Gary, a property investor, run Hales Hall and divide their time between Norfolk and their home in London.

We wanted to combine our love of the land and good food with our love of story telling and offer guests the opportunity to share in the joys of Norfolk. Plus, we do like to throw a party. What could be better than to invite guests to celebrate their special occasions at Hales Hall & The Great Barn and experience the beauty, solitude and history of this corner of the country.

‘I have been and still am a seeker, but I have ceased to question stars and books; I have begun to listen to the teaching my blood whispers to me.’

Hermann Hesse