Henham Park
Encyclopedia
Henham Park is an estate just north of the village of Blythburgh
in Suffolk
, England
. It lies at the intersection of the A12 and A145
main roads. The current owner is Keith Rous, The Sixth Earl of Stradbroke
, ‘The Aussie Earl’.
manor
on the park, which was burnt down in 1773 while the 6th Baronet John Rous
was away. Sir John, later the 1st Earl of Stradbroke, built a new hall in 1790 using the architect James Wyatt
with accompanying parkland design by Humphrey Repton. The building was updated in 1858 by architect Edward Barry
to give it a Victorian gloss: the work was carried out by Lucas Brothers
.
This hall was demolished by the 4th Earl of Stradbroke
in 1953 despite attempts by his brother, later the 5th Earl, to keep the house intact.
The fourth Earl died in 1983 with his brother becoming the fifth Earl for only four days before also passing away. Robert Keith Rous – at that time a businessman and sheep grazier in Australia
– then inherited Henham and became the Sixth Earl of Stradbroke. This was however not without difficulty and a protracted court battle led to a family feud which still separates the Rous family to this day.
A horse mill
used to operate on the estate, one of only two known in Suffolk. This is now preserved at the Museum of East Anglian Life
at Stowmarket
.
, Wings and Wheels and Grand Henham Steam Rally
as well as remaining a working farm. There is a brewery and bed and breakfast accommodation located on the site as well as a series of walking trails.
Blythburgh
Blythburgh is a small English village in an area known as the Sandlings, part of the Suffolk heritage coast. Located close to an area of flooded marshland and mud-flats, in 2007 its population was estimated to be 300. Blythburgh is best known for its church, Holy Trinity, internationally known as...
in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It lies at the intersection of the A12 and A145
A145 road
The A145 is a road that connects the town of Beccles in Suffolk to the South.The entire route is a standard A road classification and although not particularly long it does provide a useful route onto the main A12 to Ipswich.-Route description:Beccles...
main roads. The current owner is Keith Rous, The Sixth Earl of Stradbroke
Earl of Stradbroke
Earl of Stradbroke, in the County of Suffolk, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1821 for John Rous, 1st Baron Rous, who had earlier represented Suffolk in the House of Commons...
, ‘The Aussie Earl’.
History
Sir Anthony Rous, Knight of Dennington (Suffolk) purchased Henham in 1544. At this time there was a large red brick TudorTudor style architecture
The Tudor architectural style is the final development of medieval architecture during the Tudor period and even beyond, for conservative college patrons...
manor
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
on the park, which was burnt down in 1773 while the 6th Baronet John Rous
John Rous, 1st Earl of Stradbroke
John Rous, 1st Earl of Stradbroke , known as Sir John Rous, Bt, from 1771 to 1796 and as The Lord Rous from 1796 to 1821, was a British nobleman, race horse owner and Member of Parliament....
was away. Sir John, later the 1st Earl of Stradbroke, built a new hall in 1790 using the architect James Wyatt
James Wyatt
James Wyatt RA , was an English architect, a rival of Robert Adam in the neoclassical style, who far outdid Adam in his work in the neo-Gothic style.-Early classical career:...
with accompanying parkland design by Humphrey Repton. The building was updated in 1858 by architect Edward Barry
Edward Middleton Barry
Edward Middleton Barry was an English architect of the 19th century.-Biography:Edward Barry was the third son of Sir Charles Barry, born in his father's house, 27 Foley Place, London. In infancy he was delicate, and was placed under the care of a confidential servant at Blackheath...
to give it a Victorian gloss: the work was carried out by Lucas Brothers
Lucas Brothers, Builders
Lucas Brothers was a leading British building business based in London.-Early history:The business was founded by Charles Thomas Lucas and Thomas Lucas . They were the sons of James Lucas , a builder, of St Pancras, London...
.
This hall was demolished by the 4th Earl of Stradbroke
John Rous, 4th Earl of Stradbroke
John Anthony Alexander Rous, 4th Earl of Stradbroke , was a British nobleman, the son of George Rous, 3rd Earl of Stradbroke. He was styled Viscount Dunwich from birth until acceding to the earldom in 1947....
in 1953 despite attempts by his brother, later the 5th Earl, to keep the house intact.
The fourth Earl died in 1983 with his brother becoming the fifth Earl for only four days before also passing away. Robert Keith Rous – at that time a businessman and sheep grazier in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
– then inherited Henham and became the Sixth Earl of Stradbroke. This was however not without difficulty and a protracted court battle led to a family feud which still separates the Rous family to this day.
A horse mill
Horse mill
A horse mill is a mill that uses a horse as the power source. Any milling process can be powered in this way, but the most frequent use of animal power in horse mills was for grinding grain and pumping water. Other animals used for powering mills include dogs, donkeys and oxen. Engines powered by...
used to operate on the estate, one of only two known in Suffolk. This is now preserved at the Museum of East Anglian Life
Museum of East Anglian Life
The Museum of East Anglian Life is a Museum located in Stowmarket Suffolk, it specialises in presenting the agricultural history of East Anglia through a mixture of exhibits and living history demonstrations. It has recently taken to abbreviating itself as 'MEAL'.-History of the Museum:The site of...
at Stowmarket
Stowmarket
-See also:* Stowmarket Town F.C.* Stowmarket High School-External links:* * * * *...
.
Events and Other Uses
The estate hosts the Latitude Music FestivalLatitude Festival
The Latitude Festival is an annual music festival that takes place in Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk, England. It was first held in July 2006....
, Wings and Wheels and Grand Henham Steam Rally
Grand Henham Steam Rally
The Grand Henham Steam Rally is held annually at the end of September at Henham Park, near Southwold, in the English county of Suffolk. It attracts a large number of exhibitors; including tractors, cars, army vehicles, fire engines, lorries and of course, steam engines.The 1975 Rally attracted...
as well as remaining a working farm. There is a brewery and bed and breakfast accommodation located on the site as well as a series of walking trails.
External links
- Henham Park Online
- Henham Park 100 miles from London — Milestones Web