About NHBT

The Early Years

In the late 1970s, it was apparent that many important Norfolk buildings of architectural and historic merit were becoming derelict, either because their owners refused to sell them or because prospective purchasers regarded them as uneconomic. The Norfolk Historic Buildings Trust was set up to address this problem and acquired its first property in 1978. At the outset, the Trust aimed to operate on the 'Revolving Fund' principle, whereby properties would be bought, repaired and then re-sold. Capital receipts from the sale would be ploughed back into the next project.

Over the years there has been an increasing call for the Trust to retain ownership of some special buildings which it has saved, but which have no significant re-sale value.

Usually these buildings have lost their original purpose, but could not be converted to a new use without destroying those elements which give them their original architectural or historic character. In these cases, the Trust continues to maintain the buildings and make them accessible to the public wherever possible. These buildings include Homersfield Bridge, the oldest reinforced concrete bridge in the country, Thurton Lodges, designed by Sir John Soane, and the nonconformist chapel at Oulton.

Recently, in part to counter-balance the repair expenditure of the retained buildings, the Trust has kept possession of some properties it has repaired which have the potential to generate some income. Denver Mill, Waxham Great Barn and the Manse at Oulton Chapel fall in to this category. The portfolio of retained properties also acts as collateral, and permits the Trust to borrow money from the Architectural Heritage Fund for other schemes on advantageous terms.

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