Rougham Estate in the heart of Suffolk
Spanning over 3,000 acres of stunning Suffolk countryside, there’s something new to explore every time you visit Rougham Estate. Enjoy meadow walks and delicious food, set against a fascinating historical backdrop.
Unleash your creativity at Rougham Estate with craft workshops, find supplies in the shop for making your own displays and be inspired by art and craft exhibitions.
From sunny days amongst the sunflowers to autumnal strolls through ancient Suffolk woodlands, Rougham Estate is the perfect location to enjoy with friends and family. Roots Cafe is open all year for breakfasts and lunches, coffee and cake.
Welcome to Rougham Estate
Events coming up
Rougham Estate Gift Vouchers
Treat someone special to a memorable visit to Rougham Estate with a gift voucher that can be used in both Roots Café and the Rougham Estate Shop.
Whether it’s coffee and a tasty brunch at Roots Café, a unique find from the Lifestyle and Garden Shop, something beautiful for Christmas (mid-October to December, including Christmas trees) or a luxury treat from the Pantry Shop, your gift voucher is valid for 1 year from the time of purchase and can be used over multiple visits.
WONDERFUL WALKS
For time out in nature, the walks around Rougham Estate are a pleasure for all walkers, whether with your dog, family or friends. Everyone is welcome to enjoy the wonderful Suffolk countryside.
THE FASCINATING HISTORY
The Rougham Estate traces its history back to Roman times. It has seen both Saxons and Vikings and was owned by the local abbey for 600 years. During World War Two an airfield was built and Rougham Hall was bombed. The Estate has been owned by the Agnew family since 1904.
ABOUT ROUGHAM ESTATE
Spanning over 3,000 acres of Suffolk countryside, Rougham Estate features ancient meadows, green lanes, oak-lined hedgerows, bluebells and orchids, parkland and arable fields. It is proud of its rich historic legacy and works for a sustainable, regenerative future with an emphasis on nurturing, protecting and improving the environment, through both education and example. Visitors are welcome to share these wonders and engage in events throughout the year.
Christmas at Blackthorpe Barn
As the nights draw in and the temperatures start dropping, Christmas really comes alive on Rougham Estate again, at Blackthorpe Barn.
The renowned Christmas Shop opens its doors mid-October, with new magic and a whole world full of glorious decorations for you to select from.
In early November you can come to the Christmas Tree plantation and select the very tree you’d like to adorn your home and from the end of November our famous Rougham Estate Christmas Trees go on sale.
For 5 weekends in November and December the well-respected Arts & Crafts Fair is held in the magnificent medieval Blackthorpe Barn itself, with both new and familiar makers joining us on different weekends; this is the place to come to find quality gifts. Applications now open for 2026.
With handmade wreaths and Christmas craft workshops available – you don’t want to miss Christmas at Blackthorpe Barn this autumn!
Where to find us
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
SatNav: IP30 9HZ
Ground Plan of Blackthorpe Barn, including parking
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Our final Plant Pop-Up of the year!
Chris from Watsons Plants will be back at Blackthorpe Barn this Friday and Saturday, 25–26 September, for the last Plant Pop-Up of the season.
If you’re looking to add some colour, texture or interest to your garden as we head into autumn, this is your final chance to come along, browse the plants and speak to Chris for some expert advice.
The Plant Pop-Up is free to visit and there’s no need to book. You’ll find Chris just outside Roots Café and the Rougham Estate Shop, from 10am–4pm.
So if you’ve been meaning to pop along, don’t miss the last one of the year!
#RoughamEstate #WatsonsPlants #PlantPopUp #Gardening #AutumnGarden
Those beautiful autumn colours won’t last forever…
But you can capture them on canvas.
The Canvas Club returns to Rougham Estate on the 10th October for a relaxed afternoon of painting inspired by the rich colours of autumn leaves – think golds, oranges, deep reds and greens.
Artist Sarah Rawlinson will guide you through the painting step by step, with demonstrations and plenty of support along the way.
Everything you need is provided, as well as tea, coffee and sweet treats. And, at the end of the afternoon, you’ll have your own autumnal artwork to take home.
It’s a lovely way to spend an autumn afternoon, with good company, a little time away from the everyday and the satisfaction of creating something yourself.
Friday 10 October
1pm–4pm
Meadow Room, behind Blackthorpe Barn
£45 per person
Booking essential
Book your place via the link in our bio.
#RoughamEstate #TheCanvasClub #AutumnArt #PaintingWorkshop #SuffolkWorkshops BuryStEdmunds CreativeSuffolk
Today marks the Autumn Equinox – the moment autumn officially begins.
It’s one of those quiet turning points in the year, when the Sun crosses the celestial equator and we experience roughly equal hours of day and night.
And while we often think of the equinox as giving us exactly 12 hours of each, it’s not quite that simple – which makes it all the more fascinating.
For centuries, this seasonal shift has been closely linked with harvest time, gratitude, and preparing for the darker months ahead. It’s the point where summer gently gives way, and autumn begins to settle in.
From today onwards, the nights gradually grow longer than the days.
So here’s to crisp mornings, turning leaves, cosy corners, coffee in hand, and all the quiet beauty that autumn brings. 🤎
#AutumnEquinox #HelloAutumn #RoughamEstate #AutumnAtRougham #ChangingSeasons
* Picture taken at Rougham Estate on Tuesday 22 September
For these glorious late summer days you can find some fabulous brunch specials at Roots Café this week.
Choose from the venison burger or the salad:
Rougham Estate venison burger with brie, smoked aioli and salad in a ciabatta bun served with coleslaw and fries.
Maple-roasted pumpkin, flame-grilled sumac, red pepper, radichio leaves, rocket, feta and pumpkin seeds topped with a spiced plum and orange dressing.
Don’t miss them – they’re only available this week.
Good food, good location, good weather… and the full menu is available every day.
We’re looking forward to welcoming you!
#roughamestate #burystedmunds #rootscaferougham #suffolkfoodie
Last chance to book your place on our Wild Weave Workshop…
If you’ve been thinking about trying something new, this could be the perfect opportunity to spend a day working with natural materials and learning a new skill.
Join textile artist Caroline Hyde-Brown at Blackthorpe Barn and create your own unique piece of wild art using woven grasses and freshly grown flowers. You’ll work with a mini hand-held loom and take your finished creation home with you.
It’s suitable for complete beginners as well as those who already enjoy crafting.
When:
Saturday 26 September
10am–4pm
£70 per person
The Meadow Room, Blackthorpe Barn
Places are limited, so if you’ve been meaning to book, now’s the time!
You can find out more on the link in our bio #WildWeave #WildWeaveWorkshop
ArtWorks @artworkseast is entering its second weekend, and then there’s just one more week to visit.
If you haven’t been yet, now is the time. Over 300 original works by 28 established East Anglian artists are on show at Blackthorpe Barn, including paintings, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, mixed media and more. All of it available to buy and all of it made by artists who know their craft.
Come and browse at your own pace, meet the artists in person, watch them at work and find something that speaks to you. You can find the list of which artists are demonstrating each day on the @artworkseast website.
Whether you’re a seasoned collector or simply someone who loves great art, there’s plenty here to discover and inspire you.
Open daily until Sunday 27th September
10am – 4pm
Blackthorpe Barn on Rougham Estate – SatNav IP30 9HZ
Free entry and free parking
Roots Café next door and the Rougham Estate Lifestyle Shop
Walks around the Estate (see the Rougham Estate website for details)
See you soon!
#EastAnglianArtists #SuffolkArt #BuryStEdmunds #OriginalArt #RoughamEstate
Throwback Thursday to the beginning of one of the biggest projects we’ve undertaken at Blackthorpe Barn.
Back in February, the scaffolding and hoarding started going up as we began the full rethatching of this incredible 16th-century building.
It was quite a sight to see the work get underway, with around 12 highly skilled thatchers spending around 40 days carefully renewing the roof using traditional techniques.
Blackthorpe Barn has been part of Rougham Estate for more than 500 years and remains a real icon of the Estate. Today, it continues to be at the heart of what we do, currently hosting the Artworks East exhibition and in November, transforming into one of our biggest Christmas events, with our much loved Christmas Shop and Arts & Crafts Fair.
So while the thatching may be a traditional craft, the Barn certainly has plenty of life left in it now.
Here’s a little look back at where the rethatching journey began.
#RoughamEstate #BlackthorpeBarn #Rethatching
Today is exactly 100 days until Christmas!
Although here at Rougham Estate, Christmas arrives a little sooner…
Our Christmas Shop opens on Monday 19 October, bringing plenty of festive treats, beautiful decorations and special finds to help make your home feel magical this Christmas.
And before the doors open to everyone, we’ll be hosting an exclusive afternoon shopping event on Friday 16 October for a limited number of Rougham Estate newsletter subscribers. It’s a chance to explore the Christmas Shop and buy before anyone else.
Want to be among the first to see what’s coming? Make sure you’re subscribed (on the bottom of our website pages) to hear the latest news and be in with a chance of joining us.
Christmas might be 100 days away, but the countdown at Rougham Estate has already begun!
#RoughamEstate #ChristmasAtRougham #ChristmasShop #100DaysToChristmas
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