Oxburgh and Fellbrigg halls inspire new range of wallpaper

The National Trust has released a new collection of wallpapers inspired by the interiors of Felbrigg and Oxburgh halls.

The eight designs in the collection called National Trust Papers III were created in partnership with the wallpaper and paint firm Little Greene. 

Bird and Bluebell wallpaper, inspired by Felbrigg Hall. (Image: Little Greene)

They feature hand-painted birds, stylised florals and scrolling trails.

But the wallpaper comes with a hefty price tag, it costs between £102- £118 for a roll and £244 per panel for mural designs. 

Becky Stanford, the trust’s brand licensing manager, said: ‘It is thrilling to see how the places in our care continue to inspire both our visitors, but also contemporary interior design with the creations of new collections.

Lovers Toile wallpaper, inspired by Oxburgh Hall (Image: Little Greene)

“In addition, Little Greene undertakes research into our original wallcoverings, designs and colourways, allowing us to learn more about the collections in our care.”

Designs inspired by Fellbrigg Hall’s wallpapers include ‘Poppy Trail’ based on a late 19th Century design, and ‘Bird and Bluebell’ which was based on a design from a few fragments of wallpaper.

Louisa Brouwer, the trust’s cultural heritage curator for the East of England, said: “Wallpaper has always held an important place at Felbrigg Hall, with nearly 40 examples of historic paper surviving on the walls or in the storerooms of this 17th Century country house. 

Louisa Brouwer, the trust’s cultural heritage curator for the East of England (Image: Little Greene)

“The most important wallpapers at Felbrigg date to the mid-1700s and were known as ‘India paper’ hangings - that is, Chinese wallpaper ordered through the East India Company for western consumers.”

A design at Oxburgh Hall, ‘Briar Rose’ was influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement, and was originally designed by children’s book illustrator, Walter Crane.

Felbrigg Hall, near Cromer, whose wallpaper has inspired a new collection. (Image: Bill Smith)

Ilana van Dort, Oxburgh’s senior collections and house officer, said: “There is a collection of several hundred wallpaper samples at Oxburgh Hall, ranging in date from the late 18th to the mid-20th centuries. 

“Multiple samples were ordered during periods of interior decoration – particularly during the mid-19th century. Naturally, only a few were used. Fortunately, for posterity, the samples were retained and offer us a glimpse into the tastes and fashions of bygone days.

“During a recent conservation project to repair the roof, we discovered multiple samples of patterns, previously unseen at the property." 

Part of the profits from wallpaper sales go towards the trust’s conservation work.