Earlier Houses: There were two earlier houses on, or near, the site of the third house (the primary focus of this record). The first house was a moated medieval house that was unexpectedly discovered in 2013 by Time Team, who were here filming an episode on the second house, a red brick Tudor house built for Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, which very likely incorporated elements from the first house. The second house burned to the ground in 1773 when a drunken butler dropped a candle in the cellars. The third house was built to replace the second house.

Built / Designed For: Sir John Rous, 6th Bt. (third house)

House & Family History: In 1953 John Rous, 4th Earl of Stradbroke, sold the third house to architectural elements dealer Bert Crowther for £3,500. Crowther demolished the House, but sold elements of it, including Adam fireplaces, the Wyatt Staircase, and Italian ceilings to American dealers, reportedly for £150,000. In 1953 the 4th Earl moved his family into Park Farm House on the Estate, which remains the Rous family seat today.

Garden & Outbuildings: In the mid-20th century the 4th Earl of Stradbroke destroyed the four-acre walled garden and its large conservatories, selling the topsoil from half of the garden and putting tons of foundation material from the recently demolished Henham Hall in its place. The Henham Estate today stands at 3,500 acres.

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. II, p. 180, 1853.

John Preston (J.P.) Neale, published under the title of Views of the Seats of Noblemen and Gentlemen in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, among other titles: Vol. IV, 1821.

House Listed: Demolished

Park Listed: Not Listed

Current Seat / Home of: Robert Keith Rous, 6th Earl of Stradbroke; Rous family here since 1545.

Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT FIRST HOUSE: Edmund de la Pole, 3rd Duke of Suffolk, until 1513. SEATED AT SECOND HOUSE: Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk and 1st Viscount Lisle, 1530s. Sir Anthony Rous, 1545. SEATED AT THIRD HOUSE: Sir John Rous, 6th Bt., 1st Earl of Stradbroke, 1790-1827; John Edward Cornwallis Rous, 2nd Earl of Stradbroke, 1827-86; George Edward John Mowbray Rous, 3rd Earl of Stradbroke, 1886-1947; John Anthony Alexander Rous, 4th Earl of Stradbroke, 1947-83.

Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust

Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home

Ownership Details: Nature trails on the Estate are open to the public; shoots are available, and accommodation can be let in the Stables. The family today lives in Park Farm House on the Estate.

House Open to Public: Grounds Only

Phone: 07900-553-426

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.henhampark.com

Historic Houses Member: No