The Limes, Coltishall

Welcome to the Limes an historic Grade II listed Merchant's House built in 1692. The village of Coltishall is rich in beautiful houses of the same period, but Sir Nikolaus Pevsner singled out "The Limes" in his classic "Buildings of England" as "The finest house in the village". When it was built, Norwich was still the second biggest city in the land after London, Henry Purcell was England's favourite composer and Henry Winstanley was about to start building his fabulous Lighthouse on the Eddystone Rocks only to perish when the Great Storm swept it away and laid waste to most of southern England in 1703. Magnificent houses were being built, Castle Howard, Hampton Court and Kensington Palace among them. King James II had not long fled into exile with his Catholic court, and the so-called Glorious Revolution had placed the Protestant William of Orange and his wife Mary on the throne. Nearer to home "The Limes" had been standing a mere six years when the last fatal duel in England was fought a few miles away on Cawston Heath.

"The Limes" has had many uses over the years. At first the home of a prosperous merchant, Thomas Bell, it became a brewery for a time until, in the 1790's a Miss Wymer set up s Boarding School; signs of her dormitory layout still exist in the attic! A butcher added the side wings in the early 19th century to accommodate his business; a huge wooden wheel for raising carcasses remains in its original position in the rafters. The Stibbons family moved here in 1914, living in the house and running the butchery until the mid 1960's. "The Limes" is now owned by the great niece of Billy Stibbons, the last butcher, and the house continues to earn its keep as a prestige bed and breakfast establishment, which has already gained an enviable reputation. The present owner has undertaken an restoration programme, which seeks to preserve the original fabric as well as later additions.

There are two double bedrooms, one en-suite and one with private bathroom and one twin bedroom with private bathroom. All rooms have facilities for making tea and coffee. Television is available in the panelled Drawing Room, as is a good selection of books and magazines. Please note that smoking is not permitted in the house. The Garden, largely 19th century and the subject of the next phase of restoration, covers approximately one acre and includes a frontage to the River Bure. Guests' dogs are welcome by prior arrangement.