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Rougham Hall Guided Walk
Key details
When:
No dates currently available.
When any dates become available, they will be shown here.
Where:
The walk starts in the courtyard, by the Roots Café patio
Blackthorpe Barn, Rougham
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Sat Nav: IP30 9HZ
Pricing:
Tickets
Per Person £12
Each person attending needs a ticket
The only way to visit the Hall ruins
If no tickets are available for a Guided Hall Walk on this page, sign up to our newsletter to be the first to hear when the next walk is planned.
Rougham Hall now stands as a ruin after it was bombed in 1940 and it is NOT open to the public at all, except as part of these guided walks. Anyone found trespassing at the hall site will have their details taken and be required to leave immediately.
However, every so often George Agnew, great grandson of George William Agnew who bought the Rougham Estate in 1904, expertly guides a group of visitors to walk around this part of the beautiful Estate.
Pausing at key points along the way, George shares stories of the fascinating local history as well as his Agnew family history. The walk takes in Rougham Hall Park and includes a visit to see the hall ruins themselves.
The only way to visit the hall ruins are as part of an organised group guided by George Agnew and the current dates for these walks are shown on this webpage. The walk lasts approximately two and a half hours and starts and finishes at Blackthorpe Barn.
The hall is on private land and is not open to the public at any other time or for any other reason. We kindly request that you respect this.
All profit from the Rougham Hall Walk tickets goes to The Rougham Estate Trust.
➡️ Find out more about the history of the Hall here.
➡️ BBC Suffolk: The Ruins of Rougham
Important information
If the weather has been wet, the walk can be muddy.
The terrain is not suitable for buggies and the walk continues at pace, with stops for talks, so it is not suitable for small children.
Gallery
01/01
How it Works
01
Park in one of the Blackthorpe Barn car parks
There is free parking around the Barn
02
Come to the courtyard at Blackthorpe Barn. George will meet the group here.
The courtyard is beside the Roots Café patio, between the “All Entrances” archway and the Café and Shop entrance.
For more information, see the Ground Plan.
Please arrive in good time for the start of the walk and let George know that you are there.
03
The walk takes in woodland areas which can be muddy.
Wear suitable clothing and footwear for an outdoors walk taking in uneven ground through woodland and parkland, as well as walking on paved roads.
04
George will stop at various locations to tell the history of the Estate.
05
You will be able to view the ruins of Rougham Hall.
The ruins themselves cannot be entered due to structural instability, but they will be viewed from the outside.
06
The walk will then return to Blackthorpe Barn.
Back at the Barn, you can have a bite to eat or a drink at Roots Café, if you would like (not included in the ticket price).
07
The walk goes ahead in all weathers.
If the weather is very bad, so that the walk can’t go ahead, we will try to contact you by email or the phone number you gave us when booking your ticket.
08
Facilities are at Blackthorpe Barn
Please use the facilities at Blackthorpe Barn, at the start and end of the walk.
There are no facilities or places to sit down on the walk itself.
09
Not suitable for everyone
- The walk itself is not strenuous as such, but due to the nature of this walk and where it goes, it may not be suitable for everyone.
- The walk continues at pace, with stops where George explains some of the fascinating history of the area.
- There are no places to sit down.
- The ground underfoot is uneven in places and can be muddy.
- It is intended for adults and is not adapted for children.
- The walk itself takes around 2.5 hours.
10
Refunds and Cancellations
If you have bought a ticket for a Rougham Hall Walk and are now unable to attend, your ticket can be refunded in full, up to 3 full days before the date of the walk.
Please notify us of your cancellation by filling in the form on the cancellation page to request a refund.
We will get back to you about your cancellation as soon as possible.
Things to Bring
- Bring sturdy shoes or wellies, especially if it’s been raining recently
- Bring a water bottle
- Bring a raincoat if it looks like rain; the walk will go ahead in all weathers, unless it is really bad
- Anything you bring with you will need to be carried for the duration of the walk
- Keep dogs on a short lead
- There are no facilities on the walk itself
Please Note
Rougham Hall is NOT open to the public except as part of guided walks with George Agnew. Anyone found trespassing at the hall site will have their details taken and be required to leave immediately.
Blackthorpe Barn
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
SatNav: IP30 9HZ
Plenty of parking on site
Free to park
Disabled access available
This is a rural location and paths can be muddy
Blackthorpe Barn is situated just south of Junction 45 of the A14, three miles east of Bury St Edmunds, in the village of Rougham.
Look out for the entrance gates to a long tree-lined avenue at the White House junction, with the Barn on the right of the avenue.
Blackthorpe Barn’s black and white signs direct visitors from local roads.
Frequently Asked Questions
If no dates are shown for the next walk to Rougham Hall, then unfortunately there are no walks planned.
However, the walks to Rougham Hall are often organised at fairly short notice. Keep your eye here on our website to know when the next one is.
We let our newsletter subscribers know of new walk dates first; you can sign up for the newsletter here.
The walk takes about 2.5 hours and is about 2.5 miles long. It goes through woodland and parkland as well as walking along paved roads.
Yes, well-behaved dogs on a short lead are very welcome on this walk.
If your dog is not good around groups of people or other dogs, please consider leaving them somewhere where they would be happier.
Wear sturdy shoes or boots, depending on the recent weather. The route takes in woodland and parkland covering uneven ground, as well as walking on paved roads in places. It can be muddy if it’s been raining recently.
The walk goes ahead in all but the worst weather, so bring a raincoat if rain is likely. Anything you bring with you will need to be carried for the duration of the walk.
Yes, at various points along the walk George will stop and will talk about the fascinating history of the area. However, there is nowhere to sit down on the walk.
Yes, we have information about the history of the Hall on this website:
Read about the Hall here
Read about the night when the Hall was bombed
Find out about the history of the Estate
The walk to the Rougham Hall ruins goes over uneven ground, through woodland and over parkland, and so is unfortunately unsuitable for both buggies or wheelchairs.
The walk to Rougham Hall goes ahead in all weathers.
If the weather is so bad that it really can’t go ahead, we will attempt to contact you using the contact details you gave us when booking your ticket.
If you have to cancel your ticket for the Hall Walk, you are welcome to do this up to 3 full days before the event.
Please use our Cancellation Form to let us know and we will refund your ticket.
No, the Rougham Hall ruins are not open to the public and are situated on private land. They cannot be visited unless you are part of this guided walk with George Agnew.
Anyone found trespassing will have their details taken and be required to leave immediately.
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Only one week to go!🎄
The Rougham Estate Arts&Crafts Fair opens next Saturday, and we can’t wait. About 50 independent makers from around the country will be gathered under the beautiful newly-thatched roof of Blackthorpe Barn, bringing with them paintings, ceramics, jewellery, sculpture, metalwork, woodwork, weaving and so much more.
You can see a few of them here, with their work.
Every piece has been designed and made by hand, by artisans who have spent years - in many cases, decades - honing their skills and perfecting their craft.
These are not gifts you’ll find anywhere else. They’re one of a kind, made with real care, love and intention, and when you buy one you’re directly supporting the person who created it.
If you’ve been looking for a Christmas craft market worth travelling to, a place to find truly unique Christmas gifts, or simply somewhere beautiful to spend time getting into the Christmas spirit, this is it.
Whether you’re shopping for someone special or treating yourself, you’ll find something here that you won’t find on the high street. And it’s so much more fun shopping person to person rather than being dazed by spending more time in front of a screen!
Open every weekend from 14th November to 13th December, with a different mix of makers each weekend, there’s always something new to discover.
Season ticket, entry for all 10 days: £10 online, £12 on the door
Day tickets: £2.50 online, £3 on the door.
Children 15 and under, free.
Assistance dogs only.
Plenty free parking.
3 miles east of Bury St Edmunds, just south of A14,J45
With the famous Rougham Estate Christmas Shop and Roots Café just next door, why not come and explore.
This is the most beautiful way to do your Christmas shopping. 🛍️
🔗 Link in bio for more details and to find out when each maker is with us.
Shown here:
@kate_wrigglesworth @ceramicobsessions @hiroceramics @helenmaxfield @artistcaz @birdfeedertree @muted_palette @matthewread42 @madeleine_tapp_art_textiles @myrtleberry_designs @whimsymerribee @peter.dibble.basketmaker @the_baadninishweaver @makeroftinyglassstuff @rhianwinslade @hannahdowdingfurniture @clairepirieceramics
Have you noticed anything different?
There’s even more to discover every day as you step into our Christmas Shop here at Rougham Estate.
We’ve expanded the entrance with even more Christmas delights, creating an extra festive welcome as you make your way inside. And make sure you look up!
Christmas has well and truly arrived!
So come and see what’s new and step inside our Christmas story.
Open Monday–Saturday, 9.30am–5pm.
We look forward to seeing you ☺️
#RoughamEstate #ChristmasAtRougham #ChristmasInSuffolk
Make this Christmas a little more unique, make something beautiful and create memories along the way.
Our festive workshops at Rougham Estate are a chance to take time out, try something new and make decorations that will become part of your Christmas for years to come.
From weaving willow stars and making your own Christmas wreath to creating beautiful fused glass decorations, there’s a lovely choice of workshops still available.
Whether you come with friends, family or enjoy a little creative time to yourself, you’ll be guided by talented makers and have something special to take home at the end.
Forget buying everything ready-made this year. Make it yourself, make it personal and make some lovely Christmas memories.
Places are limited and some workshops are already fully booked, so book early to avoid missing out.
Find out more by visiting our website ☺️
#RoughamEstate #ChristmasAtRougham #ChristmasWorkshops
Looking for a thoughtful gift this Christmas? Don’t forget we have gift vouchers available online, so you can give them a little piece of Rougham Estate.
Our gift vouchers are a lovely way to treat someone special, whether they enjoy a leisurely breakfast or lunch at Roots Café, browsing our lifestyle shop or simply spending time discovering everything the Estate has to offer.
Perfect for friends, family or that person who is always tricky to buy for, a Rougham Estate gift voucher gives them something lovely to look forward to.
A little thought, a lot of choice, and a reason to visit us again.
Valid for 1 year. Can be used over multiple visits in the Lifestyle shop, the Christmas shop, the Pantry, the Café and for Christmas trees.
#RoughamEstate #GiftIdeas #ChristmasShopping
It’s less than 2 weeks until the Rougham Estate Arts&Crafts Fair 2026 starts!
There are many makers around the country right now, working hard to design and make beautiful new things for you to admire and buy. It’s the perfect place to find presents, or treat yourself.
Each weekend there is a new mix of designer/makers at the medieval thatched Barn, in the most Christmassy atmosphere, selling jewellery, clothing, ceramics, food, artworks, leatherworks, housewares, garden items, and much more.
Come and meet the makers, be inspired, find quality hand-crafted gifts and get into the Christmas spirit!
Season ticket for all 10 days: £10 online, £12 on the door
Day Tickets: £2.50 online, £3 on the door.
Children 15 and under, free. Assistance dogs only.
SatNav: IP30 9HZ. Just south of the A14,J45. 3 miles east of Bury St Edmunds.
Shown here:
@dea.and.me @madeleine_tapp_art_textiles @anubis_woodcrafts @clairepirieceramics @sophiecharlottecook @thepinkhareuk @simonemicallefjeweller @potashleather @catherinenicholasdesigns @ginghamandfig @sarahjhollisceramics @myrtleberry_designs @mushipotters
#artisanmade #madebyhand #designermaker #craftfair #suffolkevents
What a lovely surprise to see Rougham Estate featured across three pages of @suffolkmag
The feature explores everything you can enjoy at Rougham over the Christmas season, from the Christmas shop at Blackthorpe Barn and our Arts & Crafts Fair to festive workshops and plenty of opportunities to make a day of your visit.
If you’d like to find out more, you can pick up a copy of Suffolk Magazine at Roots Café next time you visit.
It’s a lovely way to discover what’s happening across the Estate this Christmas. We look forward to welcoming you!
#RoughamEstate #BlackthorpeBarn #SuffolkMagazine #ChristmasAtRougham
From pumpkin picking and Halloween celebrations to welcoming our VIP guests and press for an exclusive first look at the Christmas shop at Blackthorpe Barn, October has certainly kept us busy.
We’ve enjoyed autumn in all its glory, celebrated some special milestones and now, with the Christmas shop open for another year, we’re ready to embrace the festive season.
There’s plenty more to look forward to, with our 35th Arts & Crafts Fair beginning on 14 November, alongside all the Christmas magic that makes this time of year so special at Rougham Estate.
Thank you to everyone who has visited us this month – we look forward to seeing you in November. Now, let the countdown to Christmas begin!
#RoughamEstate #BlackthorpeBarn #ChristmasInSuffolk
Just two weeks to go until our Arts & Crafts Fair returns to Blackthorpe Barn!
There’s something lovely about taking your time to wander around the Barn, discovering things you hadn’t expected to find and chatting to the people who have made them.
Whether you’re looking for a thoughtful Christmas gift, something beautiful for your home or simply a little inspiration, you’ll find plenty to explore.
Every maker has their own story, and with different exhibitors joining us each weekend, there’s always something new to discover so you may be tempted to visit more than once, our season ticket is just £10 online, giving you entry to all 10 days. Day tickets are £2.50 online, and children aged 15 and under go free.
We open on Saturday 14 November, 10am–4pm, with five weekends of makers and handmade treasures running through to 13 December.
Take a look at our website to explore the fair and book your tickets. We’d love to see you there.
#RoughamEstate #BlackthorpeBarn #ArtsAndCrafts
Tag us @RoughamEstate
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