Stoke Rochford Hall
Encyclopedia
Stoke Rochford Hall is a large house built in scenic grounds, with a nearby golf course, next to the A1 in south Lincolnshire
, England
.
in 1739 and again in 1824 and 1960. No substantive ruins are preserved.
The Neville family had a house on the site in the 14th century. The estate passed to the Rochford family in the 15th century, from whence comes the name of the estate, and to the Coneys in the 16th century. It was purchased by Sir Edmund Turnor around the time he was knighted in 1663. He began building a grand house in 1665, which was demolished 1774. In 1794 the Turnors built a smaller house at Stoke, this was the house replaced by the current structure in the 1840s The estate was occupied by Harry Wyndham Jefferson and his wife Gwendolen Mary Talbot, during the beginning of the 20th century.
, for Christopher Turnor. For the rest of the 19th century and early 20th century it was owned by the Turnor family. Christopher Turnor's grandson sold off 6000 acres (24.3 km²) of their Wragby estate in 1917. He started holding summer conferences at the Hall. In August 1940, the estate was taken over by his first cousin, Major Herbert Broke Turnor.
, and used for a variety of purposes.
Later was the headquarters of the Second Battalion, the Parachute Regiment. It was in the Library at Stoke Rochford that the ill fated 1944 Arnhem ‘drop’ was planned.
. It is not solely used by the NUT, but is often used by national organisations and companies for conferences or seminars, being closely situated to the A1 and Grantham railway station
.
s and parties. It has the Gym and Tonic sports club (with a sauna and jacuzzi) and the Reflections Restaurant.
which cost £12m over three years.
The front elevation of the Elisabethan stables were re-erected stone frontispieces still stand in the park. This carries the dates 1676 and 1704, representing their original erection and re-building.
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
, 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...
.
History
The remains of a Roman Villa and Bath house were identified by William StukeleyWilliam Stukeley
William Stukeley FRS, FRCP, FSA was an English antiquarian who pioneered the archaeological investigation of the prehistoric monuments of Stonehenge and Avebury, work for which he has been remembered as "probably... the most important of the early forerunners of the discipline of archaeology"...
in 1739 and again in 1824 and 1960. No substantive ruins are preserved.
The Neville family had a house on the site in the 14th century. The estate passed to the Rochford family in the 15th century, from whence comes the name of the estate, and to the Coneys in the 16th century. It was purchased by Sir Edmund Turnor around the time he was knighted in 1663. He began building a grand house in 1665, which was demolished 1774. In 1794 the Turnors built a smaller house at Stoke, this was the house replaced by the current structure in the 1840s The estate was occupied by Harry Wyndham Jefferson and his wife Gwendolen Mary Talbot, during the beginning of the 20th century.
The present Hall
The present building dates to 1843 by architect William BurnWilliam Burn
William Burn was a Scottish architect, pioneer of the Scottish Baronial style.He was born in Edinburgh, the son of architect Robert Burn, and educated at the Royal High School. After training with the architect of the British Museum, Sir Robert Smirke, he returned to Edinburgh in 1812...
, for Christopher Turnor. For the rest of the 19th century and early 20th century it was owned by the Turnor family. Christopher Turnor's grandson sold off 6000 acres (24.3 km²) of their Wragby estate in 1917. He started holding summer conferences at the Hall. In August 1940, the estate was taken over by his first cousin, Major Herbert Broke Turnor.
Second world war
In 1940 the house was requisitioned by the War OfficeWar Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
, and used for a variety of purposes.
Later was the headquarters of the Second Battalion, the Parachute Regiment. It was in the Library at Stoke Rochford that the ill fated 1944 Arnhem ‘drop’ was planned.
Kesteven College of Education
Purchased in 1948 from the War Office by Kesteven County Council who build modern student accommodation the hall was home to Kesteven College of Education, a teacher-training college. This closed in 1978. It still has a connection with education, being the training and conference centre of the National Union of TeachersNational Union of Teachers
The National Union of Teachers is a trade union for school teachers in England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. It is a member of the Trades Union Congress...
. It is not solely used by the NUT, but is often used by national organisations and companies for conferences or seminars, being closely situated to the A1 and Grantham railway station
Grantham railway station
Grantham railway station serves the town of Grantham in Lincolnshire, England and lies on the East Coast Main Line north of London Kings Cross.-Description:Junctions near the town also connect to branches to Nottingham, and to Sleaford and Skegness...
.
Banquets
It has banqueting facilities for 200 people and is often used for wedding receptionWedding reception
A wedding reception is a party held after the completion of a marriage ceremony. It is held usually as hospitality for those who have attended the wedding, hence the name reception: the couple receives society, in the form of family and friends, for the first time as a married couple. Hosts...
s and parties. It has the Gym and Tonic sports club (with a sauna and jacuzzi) and the Reflections Restaurant.
2005 fire
On 25 January 2005 a fire gutted the interior of the hall. It was restored by English HeritageEnglish Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
which cost £12m over three years.
Architectural style
The Hall is built in a Jacobean style, with many chimneys. It was designed by William Burn, who also laid out the Gardens in collaboration with William Andrews Nesfield. The gate lodge, also in a Jacobean style, was designed in 1834 by Cornelius Sherborne.The front elevation of the Elisabethan stables were re-erected stone frontispieces still stand in the park. This carries the dates 1676 and 1704, representing their original erection and re-building.
Golf Course
The Golf Course was laid out in 1924 by the then owner, Christopher Turnor. It is still in use and is home to Stoke Rochford golf clubExternal links
- Former Kesteven College
- Britannia Tours
- Sample menus
- January 2009 Lincolnshire Life article about the Hall's restoration
Video links
- On bridge overlooking lake video retrieved 18 Dec 2010