Here at Rainham, we have been working with our local National Trust property - Rainham Hall. We wanted to tell you about this amazing place to visit.
Photo courtesy of the National Trust - Sophia Schorr-Kon
Rainham Hall, built in 1729, opened to the public in 2015 following a major conservation and interpretation project. With engaging exhibitions, a stunning café and a nearly three-acre garden, there is something for all to enjoy.
The Hall is a remarkably fine example of Queen Anne architecture and has been home to a richly diverse cast of characters. We’ve drawn inspiration from research about their lives to tell some great stories, and our now onto our third programme.
Photo courtesy of the National Trust
The Denney Edition: Celebrating an icon of 20th century style opened on Saturday 29 June, and throughout July the Hall, Gardens and Café are open 7 days per week, 10am-5pm (Hall admission 10:30am-4:30pm). The exhibition focuses on interior designer, photographer, and art collector, Anthony Denney, who lived at Rainham Hall from 1964-1969. Explore his life and work through our exhibition and a series of accompanying events, including Lates every First Thursday evening of the month, 6-9pm, and Community Open days the last Saturday of the month (July-October).
Denney is perhaps best known as a Condé Nast staff photographer, and rose to the position of Decorations Editor at Vogue. He boasted an impressive contemporary art collection worth millions, which included works by Francis Bacon, Georges Mathieu, and Jean Dubuffet. Shots of interiors led to the Daily Telegraph describing him as the ‘Dior of the interior decorating world’, and his uncompromising aesthetic principles were utilised in his work for G-Plan furniture and through his own private decorating firm, Fairfax Decorations Ltd. Denney also designed two Vogue front covers and worked with the successful cookery writer, Elizabeth David.
To reflect his career as a magazine photographer and editor, the design team, The Decorators, took the approach to present the Hall as a ‘living magazine’, with spaces dedicated to fashion, food, travel, art and much more.
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Admission fees:£9 adults, £4 children, NT members and under 5’s free, ArtFund 50% discount. First Thursday evenings 6-9pm and last Saturdays of the month (July-October) FREE to residents living in RM13 postcodes, all you need to bring with you is a utility bill, as proof of address. FREE Community Garden.
How to find the Hall:Rainham Hall is located on The Broadway at the heart of Rainham Village and next to the beautiful Norman church, St. Helen and St. Giles.
Access by carA13 (exit at junction for Rainham, Ferry Lane). Please note there are no parking facilities at Rainham Hall. Nearby pay and display spaces can be found in the village and close by the Tesco store in Rainham.
Access by public transportRainham station (operated by C2C services to London and Essex) is only a few minutes’ walk away. Nearby bus routes include Barking & Rainham (287), Romford & Rainham (103 & 165) and Lakeside Shopping Centre and Hornchurch (372).
Disabled accessLevel access is available to the Stables Café via the main property gates. Level access to the gardens is via the gate on Wennington Road, which has a path connecting the lower lawn with the top garden and Café.
For more details about Rainham Hall look at their website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/rainham-hall