The future of a once-prominent Georgian mansion is still murky five years after it went up for auction. 

Hainford Hall was built in the late 1700s as a 14-bedroom estate home, occupying 13 acres just two miles north of Spixworth. 

Very little is known about its early life - except that a dog was trapped in a drain under the lawn in 1894 and may still be there to this day - and during the Second World War it was requisitioned by the military and used as offices.

Hainford Hall in the 1940sHainford Hall in the 1940s (Image: Supplied)

The grand hall and its rooms were then abandoned in 1948 and left to ruin until it was bought in the early 1960s for use as a scrap yard.

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Peter Smith grew the breaking and salvage business after taking it over from his father-in-law and at its peak, Hainford Hall had more than 800 vehicles on site and employed 14 people.

More than 800 scrap cars were kept at Hainford Hall at its peakMore than 800 scrap cars were kept at Hainford Hall at its peak

While being used as a breaker's yard, the back of the building completely fell off but has since been covered up and in 2013 a fire broke out on the grounds, sending plumes of smoke as far as south Norwich.

Smoke from the Hainford Hall fire was seen as far away as south NorwichSmoke from the Hainford Hall fire was seen as far away as south Norwich (Image: Newsquest)

Around 60 cars were thought to have caught fire and 45 firefighters battled the blaze. There was no formal investigation into the cause of the fire, however.

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Due to ailing health and having no family to take the business on, Peter closed the yard in 2016. 

Peter and Janet Smith at Hainford Hall in 2016, the year of its salePeter and Janet Smith at Hainford Hall in 2016, the year of its sale (Image: Newsquest)

Three years later the grade-II listed hall went up for auction, looking for between £475,000 and £550,000. 

Bryan Baxter, the auctioneer, said the property would need a complete makeover after sitting empty for so long, with pictures from inside showing extensive dilapidation throughout. 

But it failed to sell and five years on no grand plans for renovation have materialised, with the now-forgotten estate sitting empty and alone.