Park House Hotel, Sandringham Estate, Norfolk, UK

Princess Diana’s childhood home, Park House Hotel, Sandringham Estate, Norfolk, UK

A rare opportunity to design and consult at Park House Hotel on the Sandringham Estate, just to the west of Sandringham House. The childhood home of Princess Diana, now run as the award-winning Park House Hotel supports disabled guests and their carers or companions to have a holiday or period of respite together in the beautiful Norfolk countryside.

Built in 1863 at the request of the then Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) for General Sir William Knollys, the Prince of Wales’ Treasurer and Comptroller from 1866-1877, this beautiful house and grounds will be turned into a state-of-the-art hotel. In the 1930s, King George V leased Park House to his friend Edmund Roche, 4th Baron Fermoy. Baron Fermoy and his wife (later a Woman of the Bedchamber and close confidante to The Queen Mother), had three children born at Park House, including daughter Frances in 1936. Frances, of course, was Diana’s mother.

The gardens that wrap around the House have stunning views across the cricket pitch and the Norfolk fields and woodlands beyond. A new woodland walk will be created, with a formal lavender garden to reflect the growing lavender market in Norfolk. A secret garden named after Leonard Cheshire will be a quiet place to sit and relax. Large borders full of herbaceous perennials, shrubs and trees will give interest for 12 months of the year. A small orchard and wildflower meadow will tie the garden to the surrounding environment.

Clear sigh-lines from the windows and doors, and the corner bedroom that once belonged to Princess Diana will dictate the formal parts of the garden, while a large pond will become a gravel beach garden reminiscent of the Norfolk coastline.

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