Rougham Hall

Photos - 44.
Where - Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.
Visited - September 2006.
Posted - 19 September 2006.
Categories - , .

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.

Panorama rougham-hall

Some rooms

These are internal walls..

It's really weird looking up at fireplaces.

And across at them. This one was accross a huge gaping hole. The fireplace is just out of shot to the right of the first pic (does that make sense?)

Same room, but the view upwards..

Some weird radiator?

And some other bits.

The basement

The basements are full of rubble and upstairs' floors.

That said, one of them seems to have survived undamaged. OK, what is assumed to be the doorway is full of rubble, and someone has knocked a hole in the wall from one of the other basement areas (presumably to retreive wine or whatever).

The safe

This had a huge, seriously rusty metal door. Someone had also knocked through the brickwork in here presumably to retreive stuff / open the door from the inside. Or something.

In 50 years neither my mum or nan had seen this! Likewise, the basements!

Clock tower

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..

The Air base

Nearby is the air base. The control tower survives, and has been fully restored by a museum. There are a few little ancilliary buildings in the forest though. These will be covered soon in a seperate piece (when I revisit and take nettle-less photos).

Your Comments

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  1. Posted 21 October 2006, 14:40 From chel

    I bet this was a fantastic building before the damage. Wouldn't you love to go back in time just to see it in its full glory !

  2. Posted 28 December 2006, 11:00 From Jane

    Thank you so much for placing these photos of Rougham Hall on your website. My family, The Bennets, lived there for some years during the 1800's. My great great Grandfather, Philip Bennet was the last to own it. I have been in contact with the current owners so I know that it is now just a ruin and from your photos a beautiful one at that. The local pub, The Bennet Arms, is named after my family which I think is great. I live in Australia so not very easy to get to Rougham to see it all. Thanks again for the photos - they are priceless to me.

  3. Posted 16 January 2007, 15:50 From Sarah

    I visited the ruin in 2005 after the annual Kite Festival on Rougham Airfield. I had no idea this beautiful ruin existed. My friend drove me there and then we had to wander deep into the woodland as to not be seen by the residents of the house.. we werent too sure if they would appreciate us visiting! we actually ended up finding a small iron gate leading into what must have once been a garden as the flowers there were beautiful, although very much overgrown! We then took the steps up the house and took lots of photos- although only of the outside, i was far too afraid to go inside without a hard hat! I've just been trying to find the photos... I've mislaid a few unfortunately.. but maybe I'll go again one day.

  4. Posted 3 March 2007, 21:40 From Brian Wells

    Just stumbled across your site - very interesting.

  5. Posted 20 March 2007, 20:00 From hugh lowther

    • Rougham Hall photo thumbnail

    My grandfather Capt Geoffrey Bennet(winning jockey of the 1923 Grand National riding Sgt Murphy) was born at Rougham Hall.

  6. Posted 21 May 2007, 14:20 From joely

    • Rougham Hall photo thumbnail

    wowow thats gorgus where is this building?

  7. Posted 22 May 2007, 17:20 From DAB @ derelicte

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    Rougham. Don't take this the wrong way, but I have no idea who the heck you are. So I'm not going to tell you.

  8. Posted 22 May 2007, 17:40 From Harry Coldrey

    My father used to be the chairman of the rougham council, and while doing this they organised a Rhododendron(i assume these are the pretty flowers you saw) walk through the woods. It was very popular. While there we were shown the amazing building, and have recently been back to explore again. I'm going to take some pictures of my own, along with the old gardens. there is a maze type garden hidden amongst the undergrowth, each path leads North, east, south and west, it's well overgrown, but I'm sure this would have been spectacular in its time!

  9. Posted 7 June 2007, 19:00 From MIke King

    Sir John Agnew today called in the Police after acts of vandalism against Rougham Hall, If You don't believe Me then contact Suffolk Police and ask for PC 1456 Phil Scarfe.

    Encouraging people to trespass through Your website and I quote: "We could have gone the easy way, but that passes the ground keepers house - that wouldn't have been fun" The Police now have both of Your website addresses regarding both Rougham Hall and Rougham Airfield. The former I actually live at - Your comment about the Clock Tower, "someones garden" - well that is Me and My Family. The Estate have now signposted all of the Park and ringed the Hall itself with warning signs and all because of You. I've spoken to PC Scarfe today who came to visit and His advice to Me was, and again I quote "If Ypu see anyone around the Hall who You do not know than dial 999 and We will come out" What You done by encouuraging People to visit without permission has caused a whole series of problems and costs, so I hope You are proud and have deep pockets.

    Feel Free to e-mail Me because I'll simply hand those to the Police too. I don't wander round Your house, You stay away from mine. Oh and as an aside, with the cost caused if You think Sir John Agnew is going to forget this then, You are sadly mistaken. Have a nice day !!

  10. Posted 7 July 2007, 09:20 From jean kirby

    As part of some genealogy research I have come across a Sexton family who lived near or possibly worked at Rougham Hall.There is a mention of "Battlies". I am not familiar with the area but I think they came from Great/East Barton, Does this ring any bells. Any information would be much appreciated.

    Many thanks

  12. Posted 11 July 2007, 14:10 From Jason

    In response to Jean Kirby's comment left on 7/7/7 - Jean, there is a 'Battlies Corner' it is the a cross roads junction situated on the 'Mount Road' running from Bury St Edmunds to Thurston, at the junction of East Barton Road and Mount Road, and the road which takes you into Rougham. Hope this helps.

    As for the hall it is a fantastic place to visit if neverbeen before. You can only begin to imagine what it used to be like when it was alive so to speak!

  13. Posted 15 July 2007, 15:10 From jean kirby

    Jason

    Thank you for the info. I will certainly go to Rougham Hall when I visit the area next week.

  14. Posted 21 July 2007, 11:30 From Texaspetey

    This is such a magical place - pitty they have directed the footpath away from the ruin now so if you are found in the area you have no excuse - before all the footpaths were overgrown and you had to take the old Airfield road which brings you close to the ruin! Perhaps this is a good thing as it means that some irresponsible people won't go and fall in it or get injured which would force them into pulling it down!

  15. Posted 24 July 2007, 13:30 From Gemma Long

    I am sorry Mr Mike King is so upset by all of this, but I don't think you can blame this website. The ruin is mapped out clearly on OS maps, it is visble from google earth and a public footpath runs right through the park and up until recently was not visible and poorly signposted which led people along the road from where you can see the ruin! I am also please that the footpath has been redirected so that foolish people don't go wandering in there, injure themselve or loot the ruin. This is a sesnible approach. Mr Mike King is very fortunate to live in such nice surroundings and being in the grounds of the ruin is just like Mr Mike King being on the path outside my small house. How very fortunate of you to live there. All the messages from this website are from people interested in histroy, their own family and intrigued as to what the hall use to be like - this culture and it should not be locked away for the few more than fortunate of us. I applaude this website - well done.

  16. Posted 24 July 2007, 13:30 From Gemma Long

    p.s. the police should have more important things other than taking people's website addresses and e-mails over a ruin in a small wood. I am sure they are interested in vice or internet fraud.

  17. Posted 26 July 2007, 11:00 From Lisa Alberto

    I imagibne the stray bomb that destoyed the hall was designed to hit the many bomb stores in the wood near the hall.

  18. Posted 4 August 2007, 04:40 From Jane

    I am saddened to hear that Rougham Hall has had vandals. It's bad enough that it's a ruin but vandalising it as well? My ancestors would have a fit if they knew!

  19. Posted 5 August 2007, 23:00 From Lisa Alberto

    I don't think it has been vandalised Jane, it's just scaremongering by an oversensitive local etc. It is a wonderful ruin and a privilege for you to be linked to it.

  20. Posted 13 August 2007, 12:40 From Jane

    Thanks heaps Lisa - that's good to know. By the way, just found footy team on the web called Bennet Arms football club - a pub and now a footy team named after us - wow! The Bennets are still in Rougham it seems!

    Cheers and thanks for your kind words.

  21. Posted 29 August 2007, 10:00 From Hugh

    Hi Jane,

    I am researching my ancestors and found 2 x John Pogsons connected with Rougham Hall and Rougham Place around 1800 - they would have been the owners before the Bennets. Do you know any details of how your forebears bought the estate? I found a lease (1886) for Rougham Place Farm in the Bury records office signed by Philip Bennet.

  22. Posted 7 September 2007, 12:10 From Jane

    Hello Hugh

    Thanks for the info but I know Rougham Hall belonged to the Kedington family (Philip Bennet married Jane Judith Kedington) prior to P Bennet taking it over (inherited it from his father-in-law Rev Kedington) and that was in the 1700's. I don't suppose you could email me a copy of the doc signed by PBennet in 1886? He was my great great Uncle. If you email me we can discuss further. Maybe your ancestors had it before the Kedingtons.....? The plot thickens.

    janeandjason@bigpond.com

  23. Posted 6 October 2007, 00:00 From Lynne Horgan

    Hello I also have a Bennett from that area. Mary Ann Bennett who was married to henry Watts. Mary was born c 1838. Her father was William Bennett married to Sophie. Would be interesting to know if they were related!!!

  24. Posted 1 November 2007, 11:50 From Harry Coldrey

    Dear Mike King,

    I am sorry to hear that the lovely ruins of Rougham Hall have been vandalised. I was lucky enough to be taken on a tour of the hall by the Agnews. This was a fantastic experience. I feel sorry that people will no-longer get to visit the hall. While i understand this must be a frustrating experience, I sincerely doubt that vandals have used this website to find a potential target - more likely kids from the surrounding villages have stumbled across it and had nothing better to do with their time. I feel that condemning a website for it's historical interest is wrong. This website will most likely will stop people from visiting, as they can see the hall from photo's rather than encouraging people to visit the site themselves, and i applaud it, and hope it continues.

  25. Posted 21 November 2007, 13:10 From lyndia

    hi thier does anyone have any contact for the people that live thier as i am a local model and this would make a great place for a photo shoot and i would like to ask thier permission first

    thanks

  26. Posted 24 November 2007, 20:20 From Brian Wells

    Hi Lyndia

    It's best if you try the estate office as I did a couple of years ago; they then put me in touch with the gamekeeper who was more than happy to let me onto the site, however as there has been a number of trespassers I wouldn't hold out much hope.

    Brian

  27. Posted 4 December 2007, 12:50 From lyndia

    thankyou brian does any one know the address so i could do this thanks again

    lyndia

  28. Posted 7 December 2007, 19:20 From Brian Wells

    Hi Lyndia

    Just type in Rougham hall nurseries into google and it will give you the address and tel. no.

    The gamekeepers name was Mike Carmody I believe.

    Good luck

    Brian

  29. Posted 10 December 2007, 13:00 From lyndia

    thank you very much i will do and thankyou to the site

  30. Posted 31 December 2007, 20:40 From Bob

    • Rougham Hall photo thumbnail

    i have to say i have been surprised att your phots and reports and would love to have a go myself (but not brave heights or good photographer so i will stick with using your site one coment i would add is i use flashearth for aireal views some can be realy good and it gives an excellent persective on the places you visit like rougham hall (an idea to the postcode helps loads if its not to cheeky. Keep up the excellent work and do you have anything else planned

  31. Posted 4 February 2008, 08:40 From ian hunt

    v.interesting got any pictures of olf rougham people..hunts etc

  32. Posted 12 February 2008, 20:50 From marcus gamson

    hello i have been to the rougham hall its amazing. like you said its funny to look up at the fire places. i have not been in the seller yeat but will do soon. love the images you took and reports you did. well done and keep up the good work on reports

  33. Posted 29 February 2008, 11:50 From kieran tate

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    ive been there but i havnt been under ground in the basement i was scared the roof would fall on me

  34. Posted 14 April 2008, 15:30 From martyc

    love the pic;s many thanx!!marty

  35. Posted 19 April 2008, 22:50 From Fiona

    I lived at Rougham Hall Bungalow from c1977-83. I remember being fascinated by the ruined hall as a little girl, and this website has brought back some memories. Thank you so much for your photos and descriptions. It is also lovely to see the picture of what the hall used to look like.

  36. Posted 20 April 2008, 18:30 From GAVIN WILLN

    I am trying to trace my grandfather and his brother who were both born and or lived and worked on Rougham estate before the first world war are there any records of the estate workers around the 1900's. The family surname is WILLN.

    Thanking you in advance.

    Gavin Willn

  37. Posted 22 June 2008, 10:20 From Penny Kelly

    I have lived in the next village to where this ruin is for 20 years and any one from these parts would know they are trespassing by "exploring" them. In the past the estate have been very tolerant of people rambling through the woods off the official footpath but this has been tightened up considerably in recent years and now you will be challenged if you are found away from the marked paths.

  38. Posted 4 July 2008, 15:20 From Frankie

    Hi. This looks marvellous. Why is all this being hidden away from the public? It's a beautiful historical site. Has anyone considered an archeological dig? Perhaps Time Team would be interested in this bit of war history. I think it's a shame that some people are very begrudging about sharing this fantastic piece of local history.

  39. Posted 11 July 2008, 17:00 From Kim

    Sorry to say this, but I knoe of people who have been into the ruins and removed bricks for their own personal use, so, if the owners are getting a bit pissed off with prople visiting, who can blame them, although it would be nice to have the opportunity to go and see the ruin - I've lived round here all my life and never been - My dad used to be a policeman around here and has told me stories about it in the past. Maybe the owners would consider opening the ruin up for a few days a year, when they can supervise the visits.

  40. Posted 26 August 2008, 11:40 From Roger

    Mike King doesn't come across very well and is making threats and scaremongering. Trespass is not a criminal offence and all any land owner can do is ask the trespasser to leave their land and only use reasonable force to encourage a departure. Why on earth would the police be interested in anyone's emails ! The 'aside' regarding alleged costs is silly because the Agnew family will know monies cannot be claimed because of a harmless website and alleged trespass. Sadly Mike comes across as knowing very little. Whilst I have no intention of exploring a derelict site or going anywhere near Mike's garden, surely no-one in their right mind would tell the world exactly where they lived for fear of reprisals caused by his vindictive comments ! No I'm not encouraging anyone and would come down hard on anyone causing criminal damage. Then he summarises with 'have a nice day' ! How juvenile ! Surely the Agnew legal representatives can and do represent the family better than some estate worker employed to carry out manual tasks, who has gone beyond his terms of employment and taken on matters that are beyond his competence !?!

  41. Posted 20 September 2008, 10:00 From Christopher Dixon

    Mike King what an ignorant dickhead you are. You are blessed with living next to a lovely piece of English history. Why not do the sensible thing and instead of making ridiculous threats, open the place up, put an honesty box. Strewth - as if there isn't enough bad feeling in the world we don't have to listen to this jumped up little hitler. Get a life Mike King

  42. Posted 27 September 2008, 10:30 From KIM MAXEY

    I think its a shame about the chap who is scaring people into not seeing the old hall. I have childhood memories of walking upto the hall with my parents and walking around the maize which was once close by. I would love to repeat history and take my young children to show them where I went and also wo show them some history. There are some miserable people in this world and my advice to you is to move far far away farom there if you do not like it!!! By the way I will visit any way and lets hope you dony bump into me.

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