Little Abbey Farm

The Farm and Surroundings.
In early times there was no North Sea, so the place we know as Norfolk was joined on to Scandinavia and it was possible for people to move from continental Europe to East Anglia. No one knows for sure when the first people decided to settle on the small area of slightly higher land, we now call Pentney. The earliest proof of Pentney inhabitants is the finding of six silver Anglo Saxon brooches in the Pentney churchyard in 1977, the brooches date back to the late 8th or early 9th Century! They are now in London, where you may see them in the Department of Medieval Europe, at the British Museum.

Pentney is a village and a parish in Freebridge-Lynn district. The village stands near the river Nar, 1 mile from Narborough and 7 miles from Swaffham. When you look at the signpost of Pentney, you will at once notice the imposing structure pictured there. This building was the Gatehouse of what is locally known as Pentney Abbey, an Augustinian Priory for nearly 500 years, from 1075, in the time of William of Normandy, to its Suppression by King Henry VIII in 1534. Pentney Abbey is a short walk (3 miles) from the farm, a lovely footpath along the shores of the River Nar, through fields of neighbouring farms. Pentney was once only accessible by water and you

could see lighters traveling along the River Nar to the Bone Mill. The little river is no longer the smugglers' route into the countryside, instead the bird watchers and anglers enjoy its peace and tranquility.

Little Abbey Farm is close to the famous Norfolk Coastline with its historic villages. The famous Norfolk Broads are also just a daytrip away (50 miles). With just over two hour’s traveling time from London, Little Abbey Farm is easily accessible and ideally located for those wanting a relaxing break in rural Norfolk. Little Abbey Farm is situated in a peaceful part of the Nar valley, 250 yards from the nearest back road. There are a good range of footpaths and at the farmhouse you can borrow local maps with the best routes shown for you to follow.

The Farming at Little Abbey Farm.
The farm has been a Howlett family farm since the 1920's. The main house is nearly 300 years old and it was built from stone from the Abbey when

it was partly dissolved in 1714 (late Queen Anne). On Little Abbey Farm you will meet a wide variety of livestock, there are pigs, sheep, cattle, chickens & ducks. All the crops to feed the animals are homegrown on the farm, nothing added, or bought in. Because of the great variety in animals there is always something going on: harvesting, the birth of a baby pig, feeding the animals; You might even be lucky enough to spot a barn owl swooping over the fields, and will certainly see an array of wildlife and native birds darting between the hedgerows. The Howlett´s are happy to tell you all about it.

No Pets allowed.
Little Abbey Farm allows no dogs.

The location of the Feather Down Tents.
The tents are beautifully sited under the trees in a spacious field, overlooking the grass meadows. Children will have plenty of space to play and enjoy the pot bellied pig and the other animals in the pets corner. Parents can join in or watch the children play from their comfy reclining chairs in front of their tent. The farmhouse is a 3 minute stroll away; past the free range pig field, bordered by majestic chestnut trees and along the stream. Here you find the well stocked farm shop and the hot showers.

The Little Abbey Farm Family.
Ben and Diane Howlett, helped by their sons, Philip and Tom are the owners of the Farm. The friendly Labrador Jess (who loves every one and every one loves her) and Blackberry, who is a bottle fed tame sheep, are always around. Diane produces ready-prepared pies for guests to cook on their stoves, using only local ingredients and all are

made without preservatives. In the shop you will also find fresh and frozen meat product from the farm, together with a nice bottle of wine the scene is set for a countryside barbecue. You can borrow the barbeques for free from the farmhouse. If you don’t fancy cooking yourself one evening or you want to treat yourself to a full english breakfast you can also pre-order Diane’s traditional farm house cooking