Rainham Hall

Rainham Hall was given to the National Trust in 1949.

Have you ever wanted to go somewhere solo and just let the day take over? I certainly felt that way earlier this month. I have recently become a National Trust member and I am always keen to learn of properties they own that are within London. I had discovered Rainham Hall accidentally and so, I trekked across the city to the town of Rainham. 

Historically, Rainham had been part of Essex county, and to be honest, it feels a little cheeky to say it’s part of London. I mean it’s still really in Essex, but I digress…

I was greeted by the National Trust volunteers who are, as always, super welcoming and friendly. Rainham Hall has an interesting history. The original owner who built the home, John Harle was a wealthy sea merchant. He had moved down from South Shields and built a successful business in London. Sadly, John didn’t live in Rainham Hall for too long. He died very early on, as did his wife and his son! The property eventually passed onto distant relatives and was rented to tenants. Feels like such a shame. He had spent time and invested in high-quality materials to build his dream home, only to not have the full experience of living out his years there. 

In 1874, the Reverend Nicholas Brady moved in and rented Rainham Hall. The property has more information on his tenure there and you’ll see most of his furnishings. He was the Rector of Wenington Church (a 20 min bus ride away from the property). Though he was a man of the church, he was also very interested in science and photography. He built a personal collection of discoveries, including bones and insects. He would often invite guests round to view his makeshift museum. Brady purchased the property in 1900, and when he died eleven years later, he willed it to his wife. When she passed, Rainham Hall was left to their nieces and nephews. Rainham Hall just seems to be a home where people don’t stay in it for too long!

The entrance leads you to the original staircase, built in 1729.

The tour of the house will not take you too long. Most of the rooms have been converted to exhibits, because not a lot of the original furniture remained. Although the staircase, (the blog post’s front cover image), is the original stairs and bannister from when Rainham Hall was first built. It is amazing when you see high-quality craftsmanship last for centuries. The property has seen so many interior design changes over the centuries, from the Harle family, to the Brady family, to the property being converted to a nursery during WWII. The final tenant was photographer Anthony Denney. His famous works included shooting the front cover of Vogue magazine. He designed the home with 18th century furniture and renovated a lot of the panelling and painting in upkeep. 

Everywhere you looked, you could see beautiful detailing. You feel like this home had been built with love.

The stable yard hosts the café with friendly staff, the ticket office, toilets and a secondhand bookshop.

Rainham Hall itself does not have a lot of things to explore, in comparison to some other NT visits I have done recently. But the simplicity and quietness of the area makes it a great place to visit solo or with family/friends. The property extends to its gardens, and the beautiful snowdrops and crocus were in full bloom! Head towards the back of the gardens for the vegetable plot and spot herbs plants flourishing as mini bushes on the herbaceous border. This secret gem is tucked away in a part of London that I would not have thought of seeking. But in that, you find a little oasis, away from the hordes, without having to venture so far out.

It is the unpretentiousness that will charm you. It is also the simplicity of sitting alone. In the former stable yard, tea and Victoria sponge cake in hand. The gentle patter of rain hitting the end of my nose and the tops of my eyelashes. The weather had cleared most of the visitors out. But there I sat, perfectly still and perfectly content. No interest in rushing away or being somewhere else. That’s quite a comfort when you can be happy with being alone. It had taken me years to get to this point. For a solo Saturday, in a rainy spot of London, this place was tranquil and I could not have asked for more. To visit during opening times, please visit the National Trust website. 

The early signs of Spring. Gorgeous crocus and snowdrops were visible everywhere.