Barnham Broom

Parlour Barn Barnham Broom – 2013

Wymondham 5 miles Norwich 9 miles

A superb 5 bedroomed barn conversion with rural views close to the centre of the popular village of Barnham Broom

Barnham Broom

Floorplan

Anyone viewing a derelict Victorian barn at Barnham Broom eighteen months ago could be forgiven for assuming that a part of it had, at one time, been adapted for use as an indoor swimming pool.

Inside the main part of the building there was a large oblong sunken concrete “pool”.  It was even painted in “swimming pool” blue.

In fact, this was not a pool at all but a milking parlour of the type known as a Herringbone Milking Parlour – at one time quite common in East Anglia but now, with the shift from livestock to arable farming over recent decades, almost never seen.

The name “Herringbone” comes from the pattern formed around the edge of the “pool” by the cows standing, at an angle, backwards towards the pool.

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 The sunken pool itself was the working area for farmhands and equipment with milking machines being attached to cows’ udders from beneath, the cows being prevented from falling backwards into the pool by an iron railing.

Today, the milking parlour, its pool filled in, forms the very spacious lounge of a five bedroom period home, newly converted by specialist developers, Dakin Estates Limited.

The property, with vaulted ceilings and exposed timbers throughout, consists of five double bedrooms, three bath/shower rooms, a large farmhouse style kitchen/breakfast room, WC and utility and a very spacious 24ft living/dining room with woodburning stove.

The accommodation is extremely versatile with one of the ground floor bedrooms lending itself to being a separate dining room, playroom or study if required.

Whilst the accommodation is predominantly ground floor, one of the largest bedrooms and it’s en-suite occupy a first floor “wing”, secluded from the rest of the accommodation, from where it enjoys panoramic views over open countryside in which deer can sometimes be seen. This “wing” would also make an ideal home office.

Despite the open views and private location, the property is only a few minutes walk from the centre of Barnham Broom, a village sometimes described by estate agents as “ever popular” due to the easy access to Norwich, Wymondham and the A11 and to the fact that the village still retains it’s pub, school and shop.

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An added attraction is the nearby Barnham Broom Hotel and Country Club which offers a wide range of sporting facilities to non residents including golf, squash, tennis, gym, swimming pool and spa.

Barnham Broom has a thriving Primary School and both Wymondham High School and Wymondham College are well regarded schools in the area.

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The last cow was milked in the milking parlour at Barnham Broom circa. 1985 but the property’s history is reflected in it’s new name, “Parlour Barn”.