Outside The Barn
Moor Hall is in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by fields, with the roof of one other farm just visible to the South. The Barn has views in three directions: to the east, through French windows catching the morning sun, into the courtyard enclosed by the renovated cartshed with its carts, tackle and woodpiles; to the west, across fields and distant trees and hedges, towards a wonderful sunset skyline; and, as above, to the north, past the restored cow shed, towards the main pond and the tennis court. (Click on the images to enlarge them.)
The Barn at Moor Hall, created from the old stables, is entered from its own courtyard which has parking for three cars. The arched doorway leads into the walled garden, with its paving and panels of flint.
The 4.2 acre site includes a traditional flower garden, a small orchard, mature trees, ponds, streams, meadows and a tennis court, as well as two garden areas private to The Barn.
The Barn faces away from the farmhouse with its tower and across the fields to the evening sun. Its walled garden is just visible on the right. The old cow shed is to the left; the big barn is to the right (click for full image).
There is a real feeling of space at Moor Hall. The low meadow stretches the full length of the site and includes some fine mature trees – a group of black poplars and two big oaks, one of which is encircled by a generous bench.
The Barn overlooks its own private walled garden, measuring 12 x 6.8 metres with paved eating and seating areas, and beyond that a private lawned garden of 12.5 x 9.4 metres.
There are some quirky features around Moor Hall, including several groups of logs cut from a poplar which came down in a storm. One semi-circle provides seats facing the tennis court; this circle is for games and chatting.
These sheep are grazing in the water meadow which leads east to the River Bure. Sometimes they are in the field to the north of Moor Hall; sometimes they graze to the west.
Barn owls are using two nests incorporated into the fabric of Moor Hall: one in the roof of The Barn; the other in the corner of the cart shed. This owlet fell out of the higher nest and looked stunned when it landed.
The large pond has ducks and moorhens, who regularly nest in the reeds. A kingfisher comes occasionally, also an egret; the heron, though beautiful, is more predatory.