Templewood

Templewood is an architecturally distinctive country house located in the rural hamlet of Frogshall. Commissioned in 1938 by Sir Samuel Hoare, later Viscount Templewood, it was intended as a shooting lodge and country retreat. The house was designed by the noted architectural partnership of Paul Edward Paget and John Seely (Seely & Paget), known for their work in the revivalist and classical styles. Templewood is an outstanding example of neo-Palladian architecture from the interwar period—symmetrical in form, elegant in proportion, and imbued with a stately character reminiscent of 18th-century models.

One of the most intriguing aspects of Templewood is its creative reuse of salvaged architectural elements from notable buildings that had been demolished in the early 20th century. The most prominent among these are four grand Ionic columns that form the house’s central portico, which were salvaged from Sir John Soane’s design for the old Bank of England in London. This use of classical elements lends the house an air of antiquity and architectural continuity. Additionally, the estate features stone sphinxes, broad stone steps and wrought-iron railings from Nuthall Temple in Nottinghamshire—a now-lost Palladian mansion demolished in 1929.

Templewood's setting enhances its elegance. The house is approached via a long, chestnut-lined avenue and is nestled within landscaped parkland typical of Norfolk estates. It lies near the River Mun, in an area historically associated with forestry and rural land management. Despite its relatively modern construction, the house harmonises well with its surroundings and evokes a much older aristocratic tradition. It was praised in its early years by Country Life magazine, which published architectural plans and photographs of the saloon in 1939.

Sir Samuel Hoare, a prominent Conservative politician who served in several high offices including Secretary of State for Air and Foreign Secretary, lived at Templewood until his death in 1959. His widow remained there until 1962. Afterward, the estate passed to his nephew, architect Paul Edward Paget, who retired to Templewood in 1970. He lived there until his death in 1985, during which time he added mid-20th-century decorative flourishes to the interior, including work by the sculptor Edwin Russell.

In 1988, Templewood was granted Grade II listed status by Historic England, recognising its architectural significance and the unique way in which it integrates historical fragments into a modern structure. The listing notes features such as the pedimented portico bearing the Templewood coat-of-arms, clerestory oculi, and classically inspired interior spaces. It remains a rare and exemplary case of 20th-century country house building that deliberately looks back to the past, both stylistically and materially.

The estate also reflects modern environmental concerns. Since 2014, land near the River Mun at Templewood has hosted an Integrated Constructed Wetland (ICW). This system filters nutrient-rich water from a nearby sewage treatment plant, removing up to 90% of phosphates and significantly improving local biodiversity. Birdlife, insects—especially dragonflies—and aquatic flora have all benefited from the ecological restoration. This initiative positions Templewood not only as a site of historical interest but also as one of progressive land stewardship in the modern age.