History

Narborough Hall is a grade II listed Elizabethan Manor House believed to date back to 1596. The house was built in the distinctive local pink granite by Henry Meade, a local landowner. However it wasn’t until it was extensively remodelled in the mid-19th century that it became known as Narborough Hall. The subsequent years saw a sad decline, culminating in a threat to demolish the house, and when the current owners Paul and Wendy Broadley bought it in 1976 it was a dilapidated wreck. Years of extensive renovation followed, much of the work undertaken by Paul himself, and the Hall was brought back to its former glory.

To help the funding of this considerable undertaking and the maintenance of the house, the Broadleys opened the front rooms of the house as a shop in 1992. Now run by Paul and Wendy’s daughter and son-in-law Sophie and Simon, the shop has grown in popularity and size and now occupies five rooms on the ground floor. The house is also still very much a family home, which is reflected in the friendly service and relaxed atmosphere in the shop.

Here is a copy of the listing registration as held by English Heritage.
Mid-late C17 front wing, possibly a remodelling of an earlier building, with earlier wing to centre rear, later wing to rear of left bay, and extended staircase bay between rear wings. All refurbished c1900, and undergoing repair work 1985. Granite rubble with limestone quoins and window dressings; hipped roof of Swithland slate, central chimney of narrow bricks with diagonal shafts flanking square shaft; similar chimney with 2 diagonal shafts to rear of left bay. 2 storeys and attic, 4-bay front with central porch projection. Slightly projecting plinth moulded stone string at first floor level, coved plaster eaves with moulded lower border. Stone mullion windows. 3 bays to ground floor left have 4-light transomed windows, renewed c1900 with stained glass in upper lights. Windows in bays one and 3 retain original moulded lintels. Traces of blocked archway removed from right bay c1985. First floor has C17 3-light windows with moulded mullions and old leaded glazing with diamond panes. Left window renewed. Upper window in right bay is of 2-lights. Central 2 storeys porch projection, the upper storey slightly jettied on wooden beams and dragon beams with fluted ornament to ends. Wooden bressummer has scalloped ornament. Ground floor of projection has ovolo-moulded segmental stone arch with C20 board and stud door, and small oval side windows in stone surrounds with cyma recta cornices. Upper storey has single lights to each side. Attic storey of projection has been removed during restoration work 1985. Small hipped dormers at each end of main roof. 3 gabled projections to rear of left bays; c1900 brick lobby extension in rear angle. Interior: porch gives access only to left bays, which have stone fireplaces with 4-centred arches to ground floor; right bays may have had non-domestic function. Traces of blocked semicircular archways between front wing and central rear wing may suggest earlier alignment but may be part of c1900 remodelling. Central rear wing has stop-chamfered spine beams and queen strut trusses. Front wing has roof with raking queen post trusses and heavy re-used timbers. C18 moulded brick fireplace built onto right side of central stack at first floor level. All much remodelled c.1900 when first floor level was raised. Other features of c.1900 include panelling in first floor room of left bay, large wooden fireplace surround in Jacobethan style in rear wing, and wallpaper embossed with strapwork design round dado of hall.