2011

TM3366 : Bruisyard Hall

taken 13 years ago, near to Bruisyard, Suffolk, England

This is 1 of 8 images, with title Bruisyard Hall in this square
Bruisyard Hall
Bruisyard Hall
A view of the main hall. The part to the right is the oldest section with possible woodwork of Rooks hall and the abbey (see below). The main body is from the 1570s. The abbey cloisters and buildings were sited where I was standing. Please note the site is private without arrangement. Photography with permission.
Bruisyard Hall

The earliest occupation on this site, apart from possible Roman activity is the manor of Roke Hall. Theory suggests roof timbers in the kitchen are from this building. The hall was owned by Lionel, Duke of Clarence and was given to a group of priests to become a college in 1354. This venture converted to an Abbey under the Sisters of Poor Clare in 1364. These nuns were an enclosed group, three other locations existed. Saint Clare was a good friend of Saint Francis whose movement is more well known. Link
Many ponds, earthworks and some flint masonry exist although further archaeological work is needed.
Henry VIII's dissolution in 1539 brought religious activities of the nuns to an end and the lands passed to Sir Nicholas Hare. The main part of the hall dates from the 1540s and 1570s; the abbey was converted (now the west wing) and extended onto. In 1748 Thomas Martin notes remains of a chapel on the eastern part of the building (confirmed by excavations).
Sir Michael Hare inherited the house in 1557, as a Catholic he was heavily fined and imprisoned. The fines show because instead of stone, brick is used on doors and windows. An interesting feature is the windows that are high up for privacy, a priests hole also exists. When Sir Michael Hare died he had no children so it passed on to the Rous family in 1611. Evidence shows the family had been involved since at least 1589. The hall was used as a farmhouse before being rented out and eventually it found itself in a poor state. Heritage grants provided money to reroof and replace windows (with English Oak). It was rented out for weekends and that's how it has been since the mid 1990s. Now the focus is on upgrading facilities for weddings and events. The barn in the grounds has been restored and the house is next. This year (2011) sees the 400th year in the Rous family.
Bruisyard hall is grade II* listed but the whole site is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
Please see LinkExternal link

Information sourced from Robert Rous.


Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Ashley Dace and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
This photo is linked from: Automatic Clusters: · Abbey [7] · View of the main Hall [2] Title Clusters: · Bruisyard Hall [8] ·
1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
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1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
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Grid Square
TM3366, 41 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
Ashley Dace   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Thursday, 8 September, 2011   (more nearby)
Submitted
Thursday, 8 September, 2011
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! TM 3344 6615 [10m precision]
WGS84: 52:14.6394N 1:25.0809E
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! TM 3343 6620
View Direction
South-southeast (about 157 degrees)
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Image classification(about): Geograph
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