Stody Estate is 3 miles south of Holt and 18 miles north of Norwich. The farm is on the Cromer ridge, and soils are sandy loam with gravel over chalk. The River Glaven runs through the Estate, the land is undulating, rising up to 90 metres and there are large areas of woodland. The farm grows potatoes, carrots, parsnips, peas, sugar beet, daffodils, wheat, barley, oilseed and grass. The Estate belongs to the MacNicol family, and has been farmed by the family since 1941. Visit by NFU Regional Staff discussing Open Access There are several houses on the Estate including 7 very pretty thatched cottages, and also the Hunnybell Inn at Hunworth. There are 2 Ancient Monuments – Hunworth Castle Hill, and Hindringham Fish Ponds, both of which have been clear felled to help preserve them. The Estate hasjust transferred from a whole farm Countryside Stewardship Scheme to a Higher Level Environmental Scheme, which includes grassland recreation and protection, grass margins, hedgerow planting and coppicing, pond creation, and creating 20 kilometres of Permissive Public Access Route. Educational Access, which is free, is actively encouraged. The Stody Estate was owned in the latter part of the Nineteenth Century by the Earl of Lothian, who also owned the Blickling Estate. In 1932 the Estate was bought by Lord Rothermere, and he built the existing house after the original house was largely destroyed by fire. The estate was sold to George Knight in 1941 and is farmed by his stepson's family today. The Land is all in hand. By today’s standards the farm is quite diverse, but 40 years ago the Estate was well known for its pedigree herds and flocks, fruit farm, poultry and flowers. The soils are mainly light and gravely and the farm is on the edge of the Cromer Drift – a formation resulting from 2 Ice Ages. There are 2 Ancient monuments on the Estate. Hunworth Castle Hill is a medieval ringwork overlooking the River Glaven and Hunworth village, and the estate removined tree cover in 2000 so that the site can be both protected and better viewed . Hindringham Fish Ponds are part of a rare complex of Hall, Moat and fishponds. Visit by Parishioners to Gardens and to discuss the restoration of Castle Hill. The Manor of Hindringham was included in the Domesday Book, the existing Hall dates back to the 16th Century and there are signs of previous buildings. The Hall and Moat do not belong to the Estate but the fishponds do. The Estate has also removed the tree cover to protect the site. Educational Access to both sites is encouraged.
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