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
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 !
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.
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.
Just stumbled across your site – very interesting.
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!
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 !!
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
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!
Jason
Thank you for the info. I will certainly go to Rougham Hall when I visit the area next week.
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!
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.
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.
I imagibne the stray bomb that destoyed the hall was designed to hit the many bomb stores in the wood near the hall.
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!
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.