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So I’m down in Suffolk with work. I’ve planned it so I can over-night near Rougham and take an early morning pre-work walk in the woods to the ruined house of Rougham – arguably one of the finest derelict halls in the UK. The weather is a bit crap but we can live with that as at least it’s stopped raining. So I park up and set off along the footpath. I find the point at which I have to veer off into the bushes. Five minutes later this grand red-brick ruin comes into sight through the trees. I pull out my camera and switch it on. Nothing. I open the battery compartment. Then the realisation sinks in. I was charging the battery the night before I left. I remember leaving in a hurry. So much of a hurry that I forgot to put the freshly charged battery in my camera. I give out a shriek that frightens all the resident pheasants. Then the humorous side of the situation kicks in. So thank goodness for camera phones. I spend the next hour or so finding out the limitations of my phone’s camera but – hey – at least it is a camera of sorts, there are pictures and I’ll still be able to do a report. So for this report please bear with the standard of the pictures. In the circumstances they are not too bad. Here’s the history bit:
Standing on the site of a former Jacobean manor, the Grade II listed house was built in the 1820s or 1830s in red brick for Philip Bennet to replace an earlier house on a different site. Extensions were later added in the late 19th century and during its restoration in 1878 it had added to it a staircase dated from circa 1700 taken from Finborough Hall, in Suffolk. Here’s an archive picture of the hall in its full glory in 1900:
rougham-hall-archive-1900 by HughieDW, on Flickr
In 1905 the estate was acquired by Sir George Agnew and has remained in the family's ownership since that date. At the start of WWII the house was taken over by the army but hit by a 2,000lb bomb in September 1940 during a series Luftwaffe raids on the area where an ammunition dump was being established. This is an old picture post-bombing in 1944:
RoughamHallold by HughieDW, on Flickr
The house has remained derelict since then. It was listed in 1951 and in 1975 the west tower was demolished. There’s a lovely stables block at the back with impressive clock tower. This is currently inhabited so discretion was the best part of valour here.
Anyhow – the photos are very ‘limited’ so please bear with me.
The first thing I came across was this pet(?) grave in the woods:
rougham25 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Soon the hall comes into view:
rougham24 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And that staircase:
rougham23 by HughieDW, on Flickr
rougham22 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The detail round this window is sublime:
rougham21 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The one of the two former towers that remains. You can see some of the bomb damage on this first picture if you look carefully:
rougham20 by HughieDW, on Flickr
rougham17 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Inside the tower it’s in a poor way:
rougham19 by HughieDW, on Flickr
rougham3 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And the conservatory has seen better days:
rougham18 by HughieDW, on Flickr
rougham2 by HughieDW, on Flickr
A delightful brick entrance arch:
rougham15 by HughieDW, on Flickr
rougham14 by HughieDW, on Flickr
A pair of unusual windows:
rougham13 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The second set of stairs are equally as impressive:
rougham16 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Inside the main part of the building it’s totally gone:
rougham12 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And nature taken over:
rougham11 by HughieDW, on Flickr
rougham9 by HughieDW, on Flickr
rougham8 by HughieDW, on Flickr
rougham6 by HughieDW, on Flickr
A high-and-dry fire:
rougham5 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And one of the hall’s old radiators:
rougham4 by HughieDW, on Flickr
I gave the cellars a miss on this occasion:
rougham7 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Bye bye Rougham….but I hope to return sometime with my proper camera!
rougham26 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Standing on the site of a former Jacobean manor, the Grade II listed house was built in the 1820s or 1830s in red brick for Philip Bennet to replace an earlier house on a different site. Extensions were later added in the late 19th century and during its restoration in 1878 it had added to it a staircase dated from circa 1700 taken from Finborough Hall, in Suffolk. Here’s an archive picture of the hall in its full glory in 1900:
rougham-hall-archive-1900 by HughieDW, on FlickrIn 1905 the estate was acquired by Sir George Agnew and has remained in the family's ownership since that date. At the start of WWII the house was taken over by the army but hit by a 2,000lb bomb in September 1940 during a series Luftwaffe raids on the area where an ammunition dump was being established. This is an old picture post-bombing in 1944:
RoughamHallold by HughieDW, on FlickrThe house has remained derelict since then. It was listed in 1951 and in 1975 the west tower was demolished. There’s a lovely stables block at the back with impressive clock tower. This is currently inhabited so discretion was the best part of valour here.
Anyhow – the photos are very ‘limited’ so please bear with me.
The first thing I came across was this pet(?) grave in the woods:
rougham25 by HughieDW, on FlickrSoon the hall comes into view:
rougham24 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnd that staircase:
rougham23 by HughieDW, on Flickrrougham22 by HughieDW, on FlickrThe detail round this window is sublime:
rougham21 by HughieDW, on FlickrThe one of the two former towers that remains. You can see some of the bomb damage on this first picture if you look carefully:
rougham20 by HughieDW, on Flickrrougham17 by HughieDW, on FlickrInside the tower it’s in a poor way:
rougham19 by HughieDW, on Flickrrougham3 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnd the conservatory has seen better days:
rougham18 by HughieDW, on Flickrrougham2 by HughieDW, on FlickrA delightful brick entrance arch:
rougham15 by HughieDW, on Flickrrougham14 by HughieDW, on FlickrA pair of unusual windows:
rougham13 by HughieDW, on FlickrThe second set of stairs are equally as impressive:
rougham16 by HughieDW, on FlickrInside the main part of the building it’s totally gone:
rougham12 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnd nature taken over:
rougham11 by HughieDW, on Flickrrougham9 by HughieDW, on Flickrrougham8 by HughieDW, on Flickrrougham6 by HughieDW, on FlickrA high-and-dry fire:
rougham5 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnd one of the hall’s old radiators:
rougham4 by HughieDW, on FlickrI gave the cellars a miss on this occasion:
rougham7 by HughieDW, on FlickrBye bye Rougham….but I hope to return sometime with my proper camera!
rougham26 by HughieDW, on Flickr
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