Beck Hall facts for kids
Beck Hall, also known as Bec Hall or Bek Hall, is an old farmhouse in Billingford, Breckland, Norfolk, England. It was built in the 1700s and is considered a special historical building. This means it is a Grade II listed building, which protects it because of its importance.
Beck Hall is thought to stand on the very spot where a much older building once existed. This older building was a "hospital" or "hospice." Back then, these words meant a kind of hostel or guesthouse, not a place for sick people like today. It was next to a chapel called St Paul's.
Contents
The Ancient Pilgrim Hostel
A Place for Travelers
The old "hospital" at Beck Hall was founded by a person named William of Bec (or Beck). Records show it was active even before the year 1224, during the time of King Henry III. This special guesthouse was dedicated to St Thomas of Canterbury.
Helping Pilgrims on Their Journey
This ancient hostel was located on the main road between Norwich and Walsingham. This road was very important for people making a pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham. The hostel's main purpose was to offer a place for 13 poor travelers to stay for one night. It was a kind and helpful stop for those on a long journey. The building was even surrounded by a moat, which is a deep, wide ditch, usually filled with water.
How the Hostel Was Supported
The hostel was quite wealthy for its time. It received support from several large estates, known as manors, including Beck, Billingford, and Howe. It also owned land and collected rents from over thirty different areas in Norfolk. This wealth helped it provide shelter and care for the travelers.
From Hostel to Home
Changes Over Time
Over many years, the old hostel changed. It seems to have stopped being a guesthouse and became a private home. The Church authorities might have rented it out even before a big event in English history called the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
The Dissolution and New Owners
The Dissolution of the Monasteries happened in the mid-1500s. During this time, King Henry VIII closed down many monasteries and religious houses across England. After this, the property of Beck Hall was given to a person named Sir John Perrot. Before this, in the late 1400s, the Curson (or Curzon) family, who were related to the Kedleston family, owned Beck Hall for several generations.
