Blickling Hall clock tower set for repairs after approval

The timber structure of Blickling Hall's clock tower has been suffering from water ingress, decay and long-standing maintenance issues.  

Rising above the Grade I-listed Jacobean mansion near Aylsham, the current tower, which dates to around 1830, is the third to stand at Blickling.  

It forms the centrepiece of the estate, which is widely believed to be the birthplace of Anne Boleyn.  

Surveys found the predominantly timber structure had deteriorated due to poor ventilation, a leaking roof and paintwork which traps moisture, leading to decay. 

The inside of the timber made clock tower at Blickling (Image: South Norfolk District Council)

Plans put forward by the National Trust include replacing damaged timber cladding and mouldings on a like-for-like basis, repairing lead coverings and introducing a new rainwater management system designed to cope with extreme weather. 

This will include larger downpipes, overflow measures and a modern internal drainage system to prevent further water damage. 

Proposed roof plan for Blickling clock tower (Image: National Trust)

New discreet anchor points will also be installed to allow safer access for maintenance, helping to reduce the need for more invasive repairs in future.  

Historic England welcomed the proposals and said it would deliver clear heritage benefits and help secure the tower’s long-term future.  

Set within a 340-hectare Grade II*listed landscape, the clock tower remains both a functional feature and a defining focal point of the Blickling estate. 

Broadland District Council approved the plans for the clock tower, which was designed by John Adey Repton.  

Blickling estate compromises extensive parkland, formal gardens, a large lake and historic woodland.