Old Rectory is a Grade II listed building in the Breckland local planning authority area, England. First listed on 13 February 1984. Rectory. 6 related planning applications.

Old Rectory

WRENN ID
heavy-gutter-sorrel
Grade
II
Local Planning Authority
Breckland
Constituency
Mid Norfolk MP: George Freeman (Con)
Country
England
Date first listed
13 February 1984
Type
Rectory
Address
Old Rectory, Sporle Road, Little Dunham
OS grid reference
TF 863 130
Coordinates
52.68273, 0.75573
Source
Historic England listing

Also on this page: sale history · EPC · related consents · flood risk · radon risk · weather exposure · detailed attributes ↓

Description

The Old Rectory is a former rectory dating back to the 17th century, with significant alterations and additions in the 18th century. Some original brickwork from the 17th century was heightened and enlarged in 1731, as indicated by a datestone on the rear wall. A cross wing and stair block were added in 1783, according to a glebe terrier. The building is constructed of brick with black pantiled roofs. It is two storeys high with an attic.

The main, four-bay block features sash windows with glazing bars (two of which are 20th-century replacements) set beneath skewback arches. The front door is a two-leaf design, partially glazed, and is situated within a doorcase with a semicircular fanlight and pilasters incorporating an overlapping architrave. The cross wing's facade consists of three bays, including 20th-century central French windows flanked by sash windows with glazing bars, all set beneath rendered skewback arches. Victorian sash windows with vertical glazing bars are positioned above these, also beneath skewback arches. A staircase out-shut to the rear includes a large, semicircular-headed window with glazing bars. Decorative dentilated cornices run throughout the building, and the cross wing has a hipped roof.

Inside, a fine staircase is present, featuring a swept mahogany handrail, turned balusters, and shaped tread ends. The building contributes to the group value of the surrounding area, particularly in relation to the church.

Local climate

Old Rectory receives an average of 740 mm of rain a year. This makes it drier than 73% of listed buildings in the UK. Its exposure to wind-driven rain is lower than that of 88% of listed buildings.

It experiences an average of 30 freeze-thaw cycles a year, fewer than 64% of listed buildings. Of these, 16 follow at least 1 mm of rain in the preceding 48 hours. Average temperatures at this location have risen by 0.3°C per decade since 1991.

Averages for 1991–2020; temperature trend 1991–2025. Figures describe the wider area (a grid cell of roughly 10 km), not the individual site. Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information 2026.

More on this building

Sign in or create a free account to unlock:

  • Full EPC report — heating system, energy costs, size, glazing, construction etc.
  • Sale history — 1 transaction since 2013
  • Related listed building consents — 6 applications
  • Detailed attributes — period, style, materials, features
  • Flood risk assessment
  • Radon risk assessment
  • Weather exposure and heating demand — rain and frost month by month and year by year, wind direction, solar and humidity
Create free account

Matched applications, energy data and sale records are assembled automatically and may contain errors. Flag incorrect data.

Similar buildings

The closest matches to this building from all 493,000 UK listed buildings, by architecture, period and materials.

Nearby listed buildings

  1. Church of St Maragret Grade I 41 m
  2. Dairy Farmhouse Grade II 305 m
  3. Canister Hall Grade II 305 m
  4. Stables to Dunham Lodge Grade II 1.3 km
  5. Dunham Lodge Grade II* 1.4 km
  6. Rookery Farmhouse Grade II 1.5 km
  7. Piggery at Rookery Farm Grade II 1.5 km
  8. Great Dunham War Memorial Grade II 2.0 km
  9. Church of St Andrew Grade I 2.0 km
  10. Church of St Mary Grade I 2.1 km