Rainthorpe Hall

Rainthorpe Hall
Rainthorpe Hall in 2007
Location within Norfolk
General information
Type	Private house, stately home, wedding venue
Architectural style	Tudor
Coordinates	52°31′40″N 1°14′44″E / 52.527851°N 1.245525°E / 52.527851; 1.245525

Rainthorpe Hall is a Grade I listed Elizabethan country mansion near Tasburgh in Norfolk, England, about 8 miles (13 km) south of Norwich.^[1] It is notable for its medieval stone work, wood carvings, rare 17th century leather wall coverings^[2] and 19th century Victorian mirrors.^[3] The hall's grounds extend to 18.7 acres.^[1]

There is evidence that the Hall dates back to the 15th century or earlier in some form and that most of the original structure was destroyed by a fire around 1500.^[4] In 1579, the lawyer Thomas Baxter purchased the property and set about adding to it and altering it to include two new wings, before selling the property in 1628.^[5] The next owner of note was Frederick Walpole, youngest son of Horatio Walpole, 3rd Earl of Orford, who purchased the property in 1852; his influence on the house can be seen in the hall chimney, stone windows and stained glass.^[5]

Colonel Sir Charles Harvey, who later became the 2nd Baronet Harvey of Crown Point, Trowse, Norfolk, bought Rainthorpe Hall in 1878,^[5] and the following year constructed the stable block and the castellated gardener's cottage which sits to the right of the property.^[6][7] Harvey added the five bay window extension at the front in 1885.^[5]

After this, Rainthorpe Hall was purchased by the economist J Maurice Hastings,^[8] who, according to his good friend, Maurice Bowra, held "wild parties" at the Hall.^[9] The Hall was subsequently inherited by his son, George Hastings,^[10] who sold it to the barrister and businessman Alastair Wilson QC in 1990. ^[11][1]

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