Fornham Hall

The Fornham estate was bought in 1731 by Samuel Kent, a rich London grain merchant^[1] who became a local MP.^[1] Sir Charles Kent, Bt (Samuel's grandson) employed James Wyatt to design a large new house on the estate in the 1770s.^[1] He also became a local MP (for Thetford) and was High Sheriff of Suffolk for 1781.^[2]

The house was acquired by Bernard Howard (subsequently 12th Duke of Norfolk) in 1797^[1] and expanded on the Duke's behalf by the architect Robert Abraham in the 1820s.^[3] It was sold in 1842 to the second Lord Manners^[4] who sold it on to Sir William Gilstrap in 1862.^[5]

The estate was acquired by the War Office in 1939 and used for training purposes by the Royal Engineers during World War II^[6] before the house was demolished in 1957.^[5]

The grounds include the tower of the ruined church of St Genevieve.^[7]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fornham Hall.

• Robinson, John Martin (2011). Felling the Ancient Oaks: How England Lost its Great Country Estates. London: Aurum Press. ISBN 978-1-84513-670-3. OCLC 726820904.

52°16′57″N 0°41′48″E / 52.2825°N 0.6966°E / 52.2825; 0.6966