Rainthorpe Hall

The settlement of Rainthorpe (Rainestorp) is first recorded in Domesday Book under the tenancy of Roger de Rames. It was then a hamlet with a population of 9 households.{{cite web | url=https://opendomesday.org/place/TM2097/rainthorpe/ | title=Rainthorpe | Domesday Book }}

There is evidence that the Hall dates back to the 15th century or earlier in some form and that most of the original structure was destroyed by a fire around 1500.{{Cite book |last=Sykes |first=Christopher Simon |year=1998 |title=Ancient English Houses: 1240–1612 |publisher=Chatto and Windus |isbn=9780701131760 |page=[https://archive.org/details/ancientenglishho0000syke/page/182 182] |url=https://archive.org/details/ancientenglishho0000syke/page/182 }} The current hall dates back to 1503.{{Cite web |title=RAINTHORPE HALL INCLUDING GARDEN WALL WITH GATE AND GATE PIERS, Flordon - 1050699 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1050699 |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}} In 1579, the lawyer Thomas Baxter purchased the property and set about adding to it and altering it to include two new wings to form the E-shape characteristic of Elizabethan houses of this type, before selling the property in 1628.{{Cite book |last=Gurney |first=Daniel |year=1858 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qsqx_SK3bzUC&pg=PA598 |title=The record of the house of Gournay |publisher=Oxford University |page=598|isbn=0300096577 }}

There is evidence that Civil War soldiers of the Parliamentary armies were billeted at Rainthorpe, thanks to a carving on the right hand stone pillar of the porch. The initials and date 'R.M. 1641' are inscribed with great care into the stone. It is likely that the stone-floored hall beyond was used for stabling their horses. 1641 was the year before the formation of Cromwell's 'New Model Army' and R.M. is likely to have been a member of the local militia. A relic of the Middle Ages is the nuttery, parallel to the east wall of the garden, coppiced stools of hazel, which, cut on a regular 7 year rota, would provide fencing stakes, tool handles, kindling and other small necessities.{{Cite web |title=Rainthorpe Hall - Norwich |url=https://www.parksandgardens.org/places/rainthorpe-hall |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=Parks & Gardens |date=21 December 1502 |language=en}}

The Hall was acquired in 1852 by the Honourable Frederick Walpole, youngest son of Horatio Walpole, 3rd Earl of Orford; his influence on the house can be seen in the hall chimney, stone windows, wood carvings and stained glass.

Colonel Sir Charles Harvey, who later became the 2nd Baronet Harvey, bought Rainthorpe Hall in 1878 and the following year constructed the stable block and the castellated gardener's cottage which sits to the right of the property.{{Cite journal |year=1992 |journal=Country Life |volume=186 |title=Rainthorpe Hall |page=41}} Harvey added the five bay window extension at the front in 1885 and also constructed a theatre adjacent to the property. During this period, Sir Charles also bought several farms and a number of cottages in nearby villages, expanding the estate to around 1,200 acres. He also paid for extensive restoration work to the property and allowed the theatre at Rainthorpe Hall to be used for concerts and plays by Tasburgh village school.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-10 |title=Rainthorpe Hall :: Flordonhistory |url=https://flordonhistory.webnode.page/rainthorpe-hall/ |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=flordonhistory.webnode.page |language=en-us}}

After this, Rainthorpe Hall was purchased by American paper heiress Rosemary Crane Hastings and her British husband the architectural historian J Maurice Hastings,{{Cite book |last=Bence-Jones |first=Mark |year=1981 |title=Burke's and Savills Guide to Country Houses, Volume 3 |publisher=Burke's Peerage |page=170 |isbn=9780850110357}} who, according to his good friend, Maurice Bowra, held "wild parties" at the Hall.{{Cite book |last=Bowra |first=Cecil Maurice |authorlink=Maurice Bowra |year=1966 |publisher=Weidenfeld & Nicolson |title=Memories 1898–1939 |page=210}} The Hall was subsequently inherited by his son, George Hastings,{{cite web |url=http://norlink.norfolk.gov.uk/02_Catalogue/02_005_TitleInformation.aspx?searchTerm=Rainthorpe+Hall,+Norfolk+:+the+seat+of+Mr+George+Hastings&searchTerm2=&searchTerm3=&searchTerm4=&searchType=1&Page=1&media=38&branch=&authority=&language=&junior=&rcn=NL00045395&fr=tl&addrcn=NL00045395 |title=Title Information – Rainthorpe Hall |publisher=Norfolk County Council |access-date=13 November 2013}} who died in 1992. His children sold it to the barrister and businessman Alastair Wilson QC in 1993.{{cite web |url=http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-22801215.html |title=9 bedroom equestrian facility for sale |publisher=RightMove |access-date=13 November 2013}}{{Cite journal |last=Churchill |first=Penny |date=26 April 2012 |url=http://www.countrylife.co.uk/property/article/529833/Country-houses-for-sale-in-East-Anglia.html |title=Country properties in Norfolk |journal=Country Life |access-date=13 November 2013}} The hall was again sold in 2019{{Cite web |title=House Price History |url=https://www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/details/england-10554160?s=d7a279bba1cc920ecec8d07fc6963a98caf1870039e36c8a13128bcffac5cae1#/ |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=www.rightmove.co.uk}} and remains in private ownership.

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Category:Grade I listed buildings in Norfolk

Category:Country houses in Norfolk

Category:Grade I listed houses

Category:Elizabethan architecture