Built / Designed For: Sir Thomas Kytson, Warden of the Mercers' Company.

House & Family History: Sir Thomas Kytson, a London merchant, built the House between 1525 and 1538. Elizabeth I stayed at Hengrave August 27-30, 1578 as part of her Suffolk Progress. James II, as Duke of York, attended the wedding of William Gage and Charlotte Bond at Hengrave in 1670. The restoration of House, the rebuilding of northeast wing, and the creation of Great Gallery on ground floor all occurred in 1897. Hengrave was used as a refuge by the English Augustinian Canonesses of Bruges from 1794 until 1802. In the early 20th century the Estate was sold to the Religious of the Assumption, who ran a convent school at Hengrave until 1974. In September of 1974 the Assumptionists founded the ecumenical Hengrave Community of Reconciliation as a gathering of families from different Christian denominations. In September 2005, after failing to raise the necessary money to fund improvements to the House, the Hengrave Community was dissolved and its Christian conference center closed. Hengrave is today a wedding and event venue.

Comments: .

John Bernard (J.B.) Burke, published under the title of A Visitation of the Seats and Arms of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland, among other titles: Vol. I, p. 71, 1852.

Country Life: II, 624, 1897. XXVII, 558 plan, 1910.

House Listed: Grade I

Park Listed: Not Listed

Current Seat / Home of: David Harris

Past Seat / Home of: Sir Thomas Kitson, 16th century; Elizabeth Kitson, 17th century. Sir John Gage, 1st Bt., 17th century. John Lysaght, 19th century. Sir John Wood, 19th century.

Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust

Primary Current Ownership Use: Wedding & Event Venue

House Open to Public: By Appointment

Phone: 01284-768-024

Fax: 01284-702-950

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.hengravehall.com

Historic Houses Member: No