The Garden of Eden, Norfolk

The Garden of Eden, near Banham in Norfolk, is one of the most secluded properties in the area. Concealed behind hundreds of mature trees and surrounded by 50 acres of farmland, it is hardly surprising that some Banham?s residents do not know of its existence.

Originally a clay pit used as a brickworks, the ornamental pleasure gardens were developed by Frederick Richard Rout soon after the first World War. The garden was created from scratch out of a wilderness of hills, hollows and twenty-foot deep dells, which make the garden so unusual today. Mr Rout was a member of one of the pioneer East Anglia cider-making families whose main cider was Eden ?hence the garden?s name.

In the summers of the early 1920s the gardens were opened to the public in aid of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, the Red Cross and other charities. It cost just 3d (1p) to enter and visitors were charged an extra 1d to walk through the famous ?Tunnel of Love? which was lit with coloured lights and popular with courting couples. Legend has it that 15,000 lumps of clay were later excavated from this tunnel to build two cottages in the locality.

The gardens became so popular that in the 1930s Frederick Rout built a tea house from which to sell teas and sell fruit, vegetables, flowers and postcards of the gardens. After his death in 1939, the property was auctioned and left the ownership of the Rout family.

In the grounds a gothic styled pumphouse can be found, which formerly distributed water throughout the garden from a series of water tanks, pipes and taps. Today the pump still boasts the plaque, FRR 1930 over its door and a well-preserved lister engine is still in working order. Other interesting features include a Summer House, Rose Pergola and Bridge, Sunken Garden, Water Garden, a former school Bell Tower, and a 1915 German World War I field gun.

The grounds of the Garden of Eden extend to approximately four acres. The house itself is spacious with many original features. Downstairs a spacious kitchen/breakfast room and a large dining room are perfect for entertaining and upstairs there are four bedrooms including a master bedroom and a guest suite. There is also a double garage building with first floor annexe with bedroom/sitting room and en suite shower room. Outside the property is a large tractor shed, workshop and summer house.

The Garden of Eden, Hunt?s Corner, Banham, Norfolk for the guide price of £595,000. For further information, please contact: Nigel Steele, Jackson-Stops & Staff, Norwich on +44 (0) 1603 612333.