The Old School | Downham Market | Wereham | East Anglia

4.5★

6 Guests
3 Bedrooms
3 Bathrooms
Pets Yes
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Features

Off road parking
Open fire
Garden / Patio
Washing machine
Dishwasher
Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing

Cleanliness

Comfort

Facilities and Maintenance

* Based on a combined average customer score

37 Customer Review(s)

Elaine
October 2024

“Party of 5 age range 86 to 16 booked as attending family funeral.”

Arrived at 1600 hrs to find cottage had not been cleaned, wet towels and used bedding on beds upstairs. After finding phone signal by pond call number on booking this number does not connect (it’s an old number) in welcome pack there’s is about 4 numbers to call re cleaners! Eventually get hold of cleaner over 1/2 hr, who says they have no notice of booking, so not been to clean but they will come over. Over an hour later they arrive to clean, our booking was in their junk mail!. By now ...

Arrived at 1600 hrs to find cottage had not been cleaned, wet towels and used bedding on beds upstairs. After finding phone signal by pond call number on booking this number does not connect (it’s an old number) in welcome pack there’s is about 4 numbers to call re cleaners! Eventually get hold of cleaner over 1/2 hr, who says they have no notice of booking, so not been to clean but they will come over. Over an hour later they arrive to clean, our booking was in their junk mail!. By now we are hungry can’t cook as kitchen needs cleaning so have to go out to eat (party of 4 adults & 1 child) £100 bill. The mattress in large twin room bed on right could do with replacing and there is no socket for the bedside lamp. You have a lamp but nowhere to plug in! Advert makes big deal of log burner but logs not supplied you have a bring with you, or purchase locally 5 miles away, at over £538 for 2 nights I expected them inc. I await refund for inconvenience.

- Elaine, October 2024
Penny September 2024

“The fridge didn't work at times the ice maker on freezer didn't work to.”

The door to shower in the bedroom didn't close.

- Penny, September 2024
Tracy June 2024

“It was a little disconcerting to arrive at the property to find a "for sale" board attached to the fence, but we soon settled into this quirky, spacious and well-equipped house.”

Sadly there was no welcome pack waiting for us. Yes, there are cobwebs, but that's to be expected in such a location. The duck pond was fascinating and we took great delight in watching the young ones grow during our stay. The pub across the road gave us a very warm welcome and it was nice to be able to reflect on our days out while supping a pint! Lots of things to do in the area and plenty of good places to eat. A warning to future holidaymakers, the local RAF station does send its pilots out quite early, so you may be woken to the sound of low-flying jets...

- Tracy, June 2024
Jean May 2024

“Great place to stay, we were very comfortable in your lovely home.”

Thank you for the thoughtful welcome hamper - even something for our little pup! 2 very simple things would have made it 5/5… A new kettle Someone to fix the en-suite shower Many thanks!

- Jean, May 2024
Keith December 2023

“What a delightful property , we had a great time.”

Lovely quiet location with a very welcoming pub.

- Keith, December 2023

Thanks for your positive feedback, much appreciated. Property Owner
Susan December 2023

“We enjoyed our stay in this spacious, quirky cottage.”

It was lovely and clean and generally well equipped. A couple of additional hand towels for the bathrooms, a pan scrub and a spatula would be helpful. The beds are very comfortable and there's plenty of hot water. The garden is enclosed and, although its not large, we managed to play ball with our dog. There is a large utility room which is perfect for washing and drying wet coats and muddy dogs. We couldn't get the en-suite shower to work, it kept going hot then freezing, the downstairs shower works well but isn't very powerful but it does the job. There is a massive range cooker but the numbers around the controls have worn away so it took some working out and you definitely need to refer to the manual. Perhaps these could be painted back on?? The lounge and dining kitchen are beautiful but the central heating doesn't warm them up and the huge lounge windows are original and draughty. We stayed in December and had to build a fire every evening (and use the blankets provided) so you need to be competent at this or the lounge would be unusable in cold weather. As logs etc aren't provided this is an additional essential cost. A couple of free standing heaters would help particularly in the dining kitchen. The setting is lovely and convenient for exploring the area. The pub is seconds away, very welcoming and does good pub meals. We would be happy to stay here again but the additions mentioned would make things easier and more comfortable.

- Susan, December 2023

Dear Susan Thanks for your comments and feedback. We supply towels according to the number of guests declared at the time of booking. The welcome note in the folder has details for the housekeeper who can be contacted for additional towels, linen or anything else guests may require. The electrical en-suite shower was serviced and is supplying a steady flow of hot water. For the cooker, we have managed to find an original set of Rangemaster dials/numbers and fitted them. The heating system require some adjustments in the individual rooms as they all have their individual thermostats. It is well explained in the welcome letter. We have added hints ref the kitchen where the heating is underneath the built in bench and by opening the doors underneath, heat streams out and we turned up the thermostat for that area. In addition a free standing electric heater has been purchased. We hope this explains and close out your queries. We would love to welcome you back! Thanks and best wishes. Property Owner
Catherine June 2023

“We spent a very enjoyable week in this characterful and well-equipped cottage.”

The downstairs accommodation in this converted village school is especially spacious with large kitchen, sitting room and dining room. There are three bathrooms with modern fittings. The setting, in the heart of the village overlooking the church and duck pond, is lovely, and there is an enclosed sunny garden for sitting out. A previous visitor had commented adversely on cleanliness but housekeeping arrangements have clearly been changed since then as we found everything clean and satisfactory, and we were greeted with a lovely welcome hamper. Taller guests, or those with impaired vision, may struggle with the sloping ceilings in the bedrooms and upstairs bathrooms - one of our party bumped his head in the en-suite bathroom a few times. Beware of a small step down in the hall which can catch you out, especially in the dark. The only odd thing that happened was that the leg fell off one of the (very comfortable) sofas on the first day while a guest was sitting on it, but there were other sofas available so this didn’t impact our overall enjoyment of the stay. In spite of these small idiosyncrasies, we would be very happy to return or recommend to others.

- Catherine, June 2023

Dear Catherine Thanks you for the detailed feedback. It is much appreciated, especially after the problems we had with previous housekeeping and cleaners. And for informing us about the sofa. It will be fixed promptly. We will include your 'watch-outs' regarding upstairs sloping ceilings in the welcome letter and place a security light near the step in the hall downstairs. Also thanks for leaving the place so tidy. Property Owner
Gail November 2022

“Fabulous”

- Gail, November 2022
Jacqueline November 2022

“The cottage was in a perfect location and very pretty.”

It was warm and comfortable. However, the cleanliness was awful. There were numerous black bin bags which had been broken into and contents strewn around the drive. The showers had thick mould around the plugholes and matted hair in them and the tap bases were filthy. They obviously had not been cleaned in months. The shower mat was mouldy and there was mould on the tiles. There was no wood for the woodburner despite being advertised in the book and there were empty soap bottles and washing up liquid bottle. There had been superficial quick attempts at cleaning only. The owner tried to sort it out but is abroad and the cleaner returned but in the end I cleaned the basin myself and avoided the shower! It didn't spoil our holiday but I suggest the cleaners are changed.

- Jacqueline, November 2022

We were very disappointed to hear about your experience. At the time you stayed we lived abroad and used a Sykes recommended cleaning and housekeeping company. The standards you experienced were not acceptable and we apologise for that. Despite trying to resolve issues with the cleaners they failed again and we had no choice but to terminate the contract after Christmas and informed Sykes who has also taken action. Property Owner
John October 2022

“Everything was.”

first class .. However the kettle leaked badly and was scaled . Not a good look for such a fireplace .

- John, October 2022

Thanks for your comment and pleased that you otherwise enjoyed your stay. Norfolk has very hard water and it takes its toll on kettles which needs frequent descaling which in turn weakens the metal. A leaking kettle is unacceptable and we apologise for this. We had unfortunately not been informed by the cleaning team. The kettle was replaced immediately after your comments. Property Owner
Pamela September 2022

“Lovely property and we were very comfortable there.”

its amazingly well equipped - everything you could want (and more!). Its in a very pretty, very quiet, village. We'd happily go again if we had the opportunity.

- Pamela, September 2022

Many thanks for your nice words ;-) Property Owner
Anna July 2022

“The Old School House is situated a beautiful spot in a perfect little Norfolk village and is deceptively spacious inside.”

Overall the property is clean and well kept with comfortable beds and sofas. We very much enjoyed our stay and the amazing weather was a real bonus . Not really negatives but thoughts for improvement. The brown bedding and towels are a real letdown, just a depressing colour and not great quality. The pillows are the worst quality we have had in a rented property, real cheap and nasty . Also a small welcome pack of milk, butter, bread would have been appreciated. A tray of sugar sachets and UHT milk seems a little cheap in a property like this. Also thought Sykes customer response could have been better.

- Anna, July 2022
Elizabeth June 2022

“The property was very clean.”

And very well equipped with everything you could want or need. Beds very comfy. Lovely garden fully enclosed great sun trap. The only thing we had an issue with was the tv's couldn't get them to work. Would stay again and recommend highly.

- Elizabeth, June 2022

Thank you for your positive feedback. We don't understand what happened to the newly installed tv screens and will have them looked at by a specialist when there is a gap in the bookings. Property Owner
Kelvin June 2022

“Only problem we found was working the TV's.”

Cottage was extremely well equipped and was in an exquisite setting. Very friendly villagers.

- Kelvin, June 2022

Thank you for your positive feedback. We don't understand what happened to the newly installed tv screens and will have them looked at by a specialist when there is a gap in the bookings. Property Owner
Mariko April 2022

“We had the most wonderful stay at The Old School!”

! The house is spacious, kitchen has everything you need and is perfect for a family or group holiday. Just the most wonderful holiday home and so comfortable. The Village is also wonderful, with such friendly residents and we enjoyed going for our morning runs and meeting the people of the village. Also the pub across the street is friendly and wonderful place for a drink or dinner. Communciation with the owner was smooth also and there was a lovely complimentary treats, which we really appreciated. We highly recommend The Old School and would love to go back to stay there again. Thank you so much, a very special place indeed!!

- Mariko, April 2022

Thank you so much for your feedback, much appreciated Property Owner
Ralph March 2022

“We much appreciated the welcome and the welcome pack and the daffodils, the property was ideal, lovely outlook across the duck pond to the pub.”

We were extremely lucky with the weather and even warm enough to have our Sunday dinner in the nice private garden which was also very safe for Milo the dog, would definitely stay here again.

- Ralph, March 2022

Many thanks ;-) Property Owner
Linda March 2022

“Brilliant location, lovely clean and spacious accommodation.”

Will go again.

- Linda, March 2022

Many thanks ;-) Property Owner
Sarah February 2022

“The old school is a lovely character place with plenty of space for several cars.”

Spacious with a very well equiped kitchen. We stayed in January, and although it is not the warmest downstairs in winter, character comes with some drawbacks! The small garden was secure and just right for our dog, which we are grateful that they allow . I would really recommend the old school as a base to see more of Norfolk.

- Sarah, February 2022

Thanks for your feedback. The heating system and hot water is set to twice a day. The control panel is in the cupboard on the upstairs landing. Here you can change the times or set to continuous. There is an electric heater in the hot water tank for the supply of hot water which is sufficient in the summer months. Most radiators have individual thermostats which gives you the opportunity to have different temperatures in the rooms. And turn off the ones where heating is not required. In addition, we supply some wood briquettes for the wood burner which is very powerful and should ensure plenty of heat downstairs. In the kitchen there is a hidden radiator under the built in dining bench. You can open the doors under the bench which allow the heat to flow out faster. I will include this detail in the welcome pack which already explains how the heating system works. Property Owner
Stephen November 2021

“I am fully happy with my stay at the old School house.”

I did not expect a washing machine & dryer in the utility room! However the sitting room & dining room were a bit cold.

- Stephen, November 2021

Thanks for your feedback. The heating system and hot water is set to twice a day. The control panel is in the cupboard on the upstairs landing. Here you can change the times or set to continuous. There is an electric heater in the hot water tank for the supply of hot water which is sufficient in the summer months. Most radiators have individual thermostats which gives you the opportunity to have different temperatures in the rooms. And turn off the ones where heating is not required. In addition, we supply some wood briquettes for the wood burner which is very powerful and should ensure plenty of heat downstairs, especially in the sitting room. In the kitchen there is a hidden radiator under the built in dining bench. You can open the doors under the bench which allow the heat to flow out faster. I will include this detail in the welcome pack which already explains how the heating system works. Property Owner
Carole October 2021

“Cleanliness was poor, certain areas in need of a deep clean.”

Toaster had weeks of breadcrumbs in the base, microwave had food residue, oven was dirty, cobwebs and dead flies everywhere, found a pair of socks under cushions in the living room. Difficult to watch television in the kitchen and living room. Did not like the quality or colour of the bedding. Always suspicious of cleanliness when bedding and towels are dark colours. No poles to open and close windows which were too high up to reach. Need blinds on windows in kitchen, utility and dining room. No bin bags left for rubbish, there was no vacuum cleaner or long handled broom. No light in the garden area. On the positive side, the property is in a nice location, building had character, plenty of heating and hot water, well equipped kitchen and plenty of space.

- Carole, October 2021

Thanks for your feedback. This is the first time in nearly 3 years we have had negative feedback about the cleanliness. I live abroad and use a professional cleaning and laundry service company nominated by Sykes. When we are busy they place more people to do the cleaning and handover. At the time you complained we spoke to them immediately and have not had any other issues since. The School is in the countryside, originally from 1876 with minor gaps in windows and doors that may allow some insects and flies through and our guests should expect this as part of living near fields and farms. We continue to make improvements to the property and have taken your suggestions on board. Property Owner
Ashling October 2021

“The Old School was a perfect setting for our week away.”

The kitchen was probably the best equipped of any place we have stayed. Every room was comfortable and well presented and the owners made sure to check in with us to make sure everything was okay.

- Ashling, October 2021

Thanks, We live abroad and did not take much with us, so you should find just about everything you need. We have had comments about there being too much, too many glasses etc. and whether it was all being cleaned every time. There is not time to do this for every change over and in general guests have been good to use the dishwasher and only clean utensils are placed back in cupboards and drawers. Property Owner
John September 2021

“The cottage is well situated in the village just opposite the village pond and the cottage is very well equipped and very comfortable.”

However in your photographs on the website it shows the bedrooms as having white bed linen and pastel colours when in fact the bed linen is brown coloured sheets and very dark maroon duvets which looked as if they had previously been stained I didn't like them at all and wouldn't even donate them to a charity shop! The garden furniture also looks as if its seen better days. But apart from this it is a lovely cottage in a great location..

- John, September 2021
Sylvia September 2021

“Superb central location in the very pretty village of Wereham.”

The accommodation is spacious and well equipped.

- Sylvia, September 2021
M August 2021

“The Old School was lovely and the village is idyllic.”

The exterior of the property is beautiful and central to the village, it has the church to one side, the pond to the other and the village pub just passed the pond, the only blight was that they were dredging for the entire week (unfortunate timing). The interior is wonderful, well furnished and spacious, the pictures don’t do it justice, in pre-teen terms it’s epic! Travel to the northern coast is 30-45 minutes and the east coast 120 minutes but travel is not too bad. Kings Lynn has Tesco, Sainsbugs etc, The Foldgate Inn has excellent food and service.

- M, August 2021
Roland August 2021

“Was a really good home in a great location.”

Pub 100 yards away, village pond and many local walks on footpaths and near deserted roads.

- Roland, August 2021
Julie April 2021

“Had a fabulous time.”

Well styled, well equipped, very comfortable. The hosts were fabulous too. Will definitely be returning. 10/10

- Julie, April 2021

Thanks ;-) Property Owner
Nigel October 2020

“Great property had a fantastic time!”

!!!!!!

- Nigel, October 2020
Shirley August 2020

“We have just returned from a week at the old school.”

It's a lovely building that has been restored to a very high standard. It was bigger than expected. Everything you could possibly want is on hand. I would however recommend that you take an extra pillow if you like 2 on your bed as the singles only have 1 pillow, the beds are very comfortable though. There is a walled garden so safe for your dog. The George and dragon across the lake does not open every day, but down the road is a lovely pub called the Foldgate, this does excellent food and a brilliant Sunday carvery roast, you won't walk away hungry. We would definitely return again to the school house.

- Shirley, August 2020
John August 2020

“The property lived up to its pictures and description.”

A very spacious property with plenty of character. There were a few minor issues that we were able to communicate direct to the owner by email and although these issues were not rectified while we were there a maintenance man turned up by appointment on the morning we were leaving. We had a very enjoyable holiday in relaxing surroundings and felt very much at home immediately.

- John, August 2020
Elise February 2020

“My family and I had such a wonderful holiday in Norfolk.”

The Old School had so much character and was a lot larger than we anticipated. We had relatives come to visit whilst we were staying there ( all 13 of them!) and there was ample space with 3 large rooms downstairs !. The kitchen was extremely well equipped, with everything you could think of, apart from two little things, a tin opener (which we purchased and left there) and a potato masher!, the Kettle really needs de scaling, lots of lime scale build up, tried to clean it as best as we could. Bedrooms were also very good sizes, as were the bathrooms. All in all we had a very good holiday and would highly recommend the old school house. Beautiful position overlooking the duck pond and a lovely little pub over the other side of the pond. My boy's enjoyed playing pool every evening !...

- Elise, February 2020
Miranda February 2020

“Excellent weekend break, lovely house with everything we needed.”

(Only one thing missing, utensils for the woodburner but we managed :-)). The pub across the road were very welcoming. A good weekend had by all.

- Miranda, February 2020
Beverley January 2020

“Quirky cottage with lots of history.”

Very comfortable with everything you could possibly need. The log burner warmed up the lounge quickly and made it feel cosy, even thought the ceiling was so high. Very clean, with nice bedroom linen. The pond directly in front of the property had lots of ducks on it, they enjoyed the grain that we fed them. Very nice pub across the road, with very reasonable food prices, good quality ingredients used and they made us feel welcome. All in all a property we will recommend.

- Beverley, January 2020
Gaynor January 2020

“Always book our cottages through sykes never disappoints.”

- Gaynor, January 2020
Patricia November 2019

“Absolutely beautiful.”

The owners have very recently started to let the house and they have got it so right already! If you want traditional quiet Norfolk then this is for you. Log fires, a quaint pub opposite and beautiful views.

- Patricia, November 2019
Serena October 2019

“We had a great stay !”

The property was really spacious, comfortable, quirky, stylish and clean . It is in a nice location by the duckpond and just across from a friendly local pub ( which does decent and good value food) and masses of parking. The only minor point I would mention is that, whilst the property was generally extremely well equipped, there was barely any toilet roll provided (literally none in one bathroom) - which isn't great for 5 people arriving in the evening and there being no shop ! Ditto matches for the fire, which we were unable to locate even though firelights, paper, kindling and some logs were thoughtfully left. These are small things in themselves but would have been helpful. But we loved the property and were sorry to have to leave its comforts.

- Serena, October 2019
Oliver September 2019

“We have stayed in countless holiday cottages but the old school far exceeded any of them so much so we have already re-booked .”

Everything about the old school is wonderful. And the village is a quintessential English village. Loved it loved loved it.

- Oliver, September 2019
Neil September 2019

“A fantastic place to stay,a part of Norfolk we haven’t stayed before,a lovely enclosed back garden which our dog loved and us,a very well equipped kitchen everything was thought of also the king size bed was very comfortable and the village was very quiet and peaceful,the local pub was great and the play park nearby was great to exercise our spaniel,future guests will not be disappointed in this place also it was very clean and we would love to visit again in the future.”

- Neil, September 2019

Thank you for your positive feedback Property Owner

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Summary

Three bedrooms: 1 x super king-size with en-suite shower, basin and WC, 2 x twin
Bathroom with bath, hand-held shower, basin and WC
Ground floor shower room with shower, basin and WC
Kitchen/diner
Utility
Dining area
Sitting room with woodburning stove.
Oil central heating, woodburning stove
Range electric oven and hob, microwave, toaster, kettle, fridge/freezer, wine coolers, washing machine, dishwasher, TV and WiFi
Heating oil and electricity for lighting and domestic appliances is included in the rent, we no longer provide free logs for the wood burner, these, along with kindling and firelighters can be purchased in nearby garages or supermarkets
Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
Ample off-road parking
Enclosed lawned garden and patio areas with furniture
One well-behaved pet welcome
Sorry, no smoking
Shop 5.4 miles and pub 0.1 miles
Note: All short breaks must check in on either a Friday or Monday
Note: Charging of electric vehicles is prohibited at this property

The property

The Old School is a lovely converted school in the village of Wereham, Norfolk. Hosting three bedrooms: one super king-size and two twins, sleeping a total of six people and served by an en-suite shower room, family bathroom and shower room. Downstairs has a fitted kitchen/diner, a separate utility, dining room and a sitting room with a woodburning stove. Outside has an enclosed lawned garden and patio area with furniture, as well as off-road parking. The Old School is a wonderful choice for a rural-based holiday to the heart of the countryside.

Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £250.

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About the location

DOWNHAM MARKET

King’s Lynn 11.5 miles.

The rural Saxon market town of Downham Market is one of the oldest in Norfolk, and is known locally as the gateway to the Fens, renowned for its network of waterways. Downham Market boasts an attractive black and white clock tower in its main square, and hosts a weekly outdoor market on Fridays and Saturdays selling mostly local produce, along with an additional fortnightly Saturday collectables and craft market. On the fringe of the town is the mainline railway station with links to Ely, Cambridge, King's Cross London and King's Lynn. Discover the great outdoors along the Fen Rivers Way footpaths enjoying distinctive Fens landscape rich in history and wildlife, leading to the River Great Ouse with dramatic open sky and the flood banks that protect the low lying Fens. Just a short drive away is Welney's Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust nature reserve, popular with birdwatchers, where you can view nature in action throughout the seasons, including dragonflies, wildflowers and a wealth of water birds. Other interesting places to visit include Ely Cathedral, the historic maritime town of King's Lynn, Wisbech, the Queen's Sandringham Estate, along with the west Norfolk coastal villages, towns and RSPB sites.

All short breaks must check in on either a Friday or Monday

This property offers the following short breaks:

Winter
Off-season
Last minute
Christmas

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Features

Reviews & Ratings

“Party of 5 age range 86 to 16 booked as attending family funeral.”

“The fridge didn't work at times the ice maker on freezer didn't work to.”

“It was a little disconcerting to arrive at the property to find a "for sale" board attached to the fence, but we soon settled into this quirky, spacious and well-equipped house.”

“Great place to stay, we were very comfortable in your lovely home.”

“What a delightful property , we had a great time.”

“We enjoyed our stay in this spacious, quirky cottage.”

“We spent a very enjoyable week in this characterful and well-equipped cottage.”

“Fabulous”

“The cottage was in a perfect location and very pretty.”

“Everything was.”

“Lovely property and we were very comfortable there.”

“The Old School House is situated a beautiful spot in a perfect little Norfolk village and is deceptively spacious inside.”

“The property was very clean.”

“Only problem we found was working the TV's.”

“We had the most wonderful stay at The Old School!”

“We much appreciated the welcome and the welcome pack and the daffodils, the property was ideal, lovely outlook across the duck pond to the pub.”

“Brilliant location, lovely clean and spacious accommodation.”

“The old school is a lovely character place with plenty of space for several cars.”

“I am fully happy with my stay at the old School house.”

“Cleanliness was poor, certain areas in need of a deep clean.”

“The Old School was a perfect setting for our week away.”

“The cottage is well situated in the village just opposite the village pond and the cottage is very well equipped and very comfortable.”

“Superb central location in the very pretty village of Wereham.”

“The Old School was lovely and the village is idyllic.”

“Was a really good home in a great location.”

“Had a fabulous time.”

“Great property had a fantastic time!”

“We have just returned from a week at the old school.”

“The property lived up to its pictures and description.”

“My family and I had such a wonderful holiday in Norfolk.”

“Excellent weekend break, lovely house with everything we needed.”

“Quirky cottage with lots of history.”

“Always book our cottages through sykes never disappoints.”

“Absolutely beautiful.”

“We had a great stay !”

“We have stayed in countless holiday cottages but the old school far exceeded any of them so much so we have already re-booked .”

Summary

The property

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About the location

DOWNHAM MARKET