I recently went for a nice relaxing Sunday afternoon explore with my mum and nan. They’ve lived in the area for years and guided me through a thick forest to see this place. We could’ve gone the easy way, but that passes the ground-keeper’s house – that wouldn’t have been fun.
The hall was owned by the Agnew family. I don’t know much else, other than the army took it over during WW2 when they built an air base a short distance away which sealed the fate of the Hall. It was the victim of a stray German bomb intended for the base.
The apparently 2000lb bomb exploded (landed?) in the courtyard – this destroyed the foundations of the building. Chimneys fell through the rooves. Walls fell down. And the place was in ruins.
60 years later, nature is quickly taking over. Huge trees are growing in the middle of rooms. Ivy engulfing the walls. And so on…
The Hall
It’s magnificent today. I can’t even begin to imagine it in it’s heydey. Update – see below.
Historic picture
Oh, I found this picture in an old local magazine – “The Way We Were”, jam-packed full of old photos of my area.
As you can see, only a small portion of the building on the right remains.
Other photos
A few photos from inside…
Nearby is a little clock tower. There was no visible entrance on the side I was – the other side is in someone’s garden. The time is 0105 – when the place was bombed..
Twitter
RSS feed
Re Ian Hunt and Jan Hunt (March 2009) from Oz questions on photos, some of the Hunts are my relatives so have a few. Does anyone know if there any records re shepherds etc. – my Grandfther was one.
Researching a talk on my life I stumbled on this site. I was brought up by my grandparents in Rougham Hall Bungalow from aged 3 months to 7 years 1949-57 and have vague very fond memories of it and the Hall. I did drive through the estate quite recently to see the old place and nothing seems to have changed – how nice in this modern world. If someone could post a photo of the bungalow on this site I would be very grateful.
im liking the fake curse storys. notice how they all appear at 10pm on the same day.
l lived in the area during the mid 80s. Had a look around the ruins a few times.
If Mike is the same gamekeeper, he must be about 80…
Goodness, what a kerfuffle. I have just come across the Rougham Hall websit as, like Hugh Rose earlier, we share Pogson ancestors who occupied Rougham Hall in the late 1700 and early 1800. They were plantation owners on ST Kitts and this was their English base. Nowhere in the above, does anybody mention who built Rougham Hall or when. I would dearly love to stand in the grounds drinking in the ruins & feel the vibes that are apart of my history too but Mr King will be delighted to know that this is no longer possible for me.Please stop and think for a minute you vandals and leave the Hall to rest in peace in peace.
Jenny H.
Dear Brian, My Drury family lived at Rougham Hall, Suffolk in the 1400-1500s
I have an old photo of Rougham Hall in it’s glory. I would like your permission to use your photos in Chap. 11, Drurys of Rougham Hall. It is going to be printed next week!
I found your site because I was looking for some items to use in a piece of extra space!!
Thanks,
Patricia Bishop Obrist
Brian, the Drurys will be very interested in your pictures. They lived at Rougham Hall for more than a century!
Our Book: Remember: The Drury Family, Vol. 1 of 2.
Buying from Xlibris is an option but more expensive. They will consider your purchase as a “book on demand.” The last I heard a paperback costs $81.00.
I get an author’s discount and that is why I sell the books too.
Hardback $70.00 Paperback $55.00
Patricia Bishop Obrist, 1508 Rosedale Drive,
O Fallon, MO 63366 1155, 636 614 6101 pbobrist@gmail.com
I spoke Lord John Agnew about the manor in the mid 1990s. He told me (if memory serves) that the manor was bombed in 1939 before the air base was there. The Germans announced that next day the they had bombed the richest Jews in East Anglia, which unbeknown to them was the next manor house over from the Agnews. The bombing was just after 1AM and the clock tower in the back still reflects the exact time today
to who ever owns this rougham hall .even in this rough state it has a beauty that should not he hidden . give it to me and it will find a new live, all be it just as a ruin to be shared.
My cousin in Australia sent this link to me.
Our maternal great grandfather William MOORE was the estates carpenter at Rougham Hall all his working life He also made oak coffins – the owners of the hall were buried in them & of course his own family.
He had three sons: Edward fell from a haystack on the Rougham estate and died aged 9. George was killed aged 18 at Arras in WW1 & Frederick was so badly injured he never had children.
William Frederick MOORE and his wife Harriet Louisa (nee Bailey) are buried in Rougham Churchyard George Harry Moore is named on the war memorial in the churchyard and is buried at Bethune France. The MOORE line ended with their deaths.