NHER 2461 (Building record) - Ryston Hall

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Summary

A brick country house built in about 1670 by Sir Roger Pratt, a famous architect of the day, for himself. It has a north front of nine window bays with the central three bays projecting and is three storeys high, the lowest floor being a semi-basement. Alterations and remodelling were carried out in 1780 and 1867, which was probably when the yellow brick extensions at the east and west ends were added. In the grounds of the house are various outbuildings including stables barns, a cowshed and a summerhouse.

Protected Status/Designation

Location

Map sheet	TF60SW
Civil Parish	RYSTON, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK

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Full Description

By Sir Roger Pratt in about 1670, Sir John Soane in 1780, and Salvin in 1867.
Possible pre-hall ?tithe barn etcetera.
Egyptian stela in house (donated to British Museum in 2002).
Early Romanesque mortar discovered in yard. See short article (S1) and drawing (S2).
For full details see report (S3) in file. Architectural plans (S4), photographs (S5) and press cutting (S6) in file
E. Rose (NAU).

Listed Grade II* (S7).
E. Rose (NAU), 9 July 1985.

Photographs in file.

Bell operating system noted by NIAS. East bell rang to the stable block and west bell rang in the hall for the butler.
House grounds also used to store A W bombs (No 76 Grenade) for the home guard during WWII as evidenced by photograph of storage instructions and fire precaution sign.
NIAS records (S8)
W. Arnold (HES), 24 January 2011.

Associated Sources (23)

--- SNF97838 Collection: Norfolk Historic Environment Record Staff. 1975-[2000]. HER Record Notes. Norfolk Historic Environment Service.
--- SNF99169 Designation: Norfolk District Councils. [Various]. Application for Listed Building Consent. Consent. DNF4297.
--- SNF7576 Monograph: Pevsner, N and Wilson, B. 1999. Norfolk 2: North-West and South. The Buildings of England. 2nd Edition. pp 623-624; Pl 82.
--- SNF10367 Oblique Aerial Photograph: Various. ? - 2020. Norfolk Air Photo Library: Oblique Collection. TF6000/B; 23-JUL-1992 (HES 317/FYW 5).
--- SNF10367 Oblique Aerial Photograph: Various. ? - 2020. Norfolk Air Photo Library: Oblique Collection. TF6201/A; 12-JUL-1974 (HES 13/ADF 22).
--- SNF10367 Oblique Aerial Photograph: Various. ? - 2020. Norfolk Air Photo Library: Oblique Collection. TF6201/AF; 18-JUL-1986 (HES 181/DCB 24).
--- SNF10367 Oblique Aerial Photograph: Various. ? - 2020. Norfolk Air Photo Library: Oblique Collection. TF6201/AM-ABA; 22-JUL-1996 (HES 375/HVB 3-4,7-18).
--- SNF10367 Oblique Aerial Photograph: Various. ? - 2020. Norfolk Air Photo Library: Oblique Collection. TF6201/C-D; 28-JUL-1977 (HES 49/AJV 6-7).
--- SNF10367 Oblique Aerial Photograph: Various. ? - 2020. Norfolk Air Photo Library: Oblique Collection. TF6201/Y; 23-FEB-1989 (HES 218/DXJ 15).
--- SNF89829 Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Post-Medieval. Ryston.
--- SNF57722 Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
--- SNF57204 Record Card: Ordnance Survey Staff. 1933-1979?. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. TF 60 SW 6.
--- SNF8804 Secondary File: Secondary File.
--- SNF8807 Slide: Various. Slide.
--- SNF102812 Unpublished Report: Williamson, T. and Taigel, A. 1988-1992. Ryston Hall. NCC Parks and Gardens Survey.
<S1> SNF2715 Article in Serial: Cherry, J. 1981. A 12th-century Mortar from Ryston Hall, Norfolk. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XXXVIII Pt I pp 67-73. pp. 67-73.
<S2> SNF101363 Illustration: Miller, M. O. 1981. Drawing of a medieval stone mortar from Ryston Hall. Permatrace. 1:1.
<S3> SNF66695 Unpublished Document: Rose, E. (NAU). 1977. Building Report.. Building Report.
<S4> SNF49212 Drawing: Various. Various. Architectural plans.
<S5> SNF8910 Photograph: BMJ.
<S6> SNF66694 Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2002. Praise for a ancient scribe. 26 October.
<S7> SNF48662 Designation: Historic England. National Heritage List for England. List Entry 1205569.
<S8> SNF57617 Archive: NIAS. Norfolk Industrial Archaeology Society Records.

Site and Feature Types and Periods (2)

Object Types (1)

MORTAR (VESSEL) (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Related NHER Records (2)

Find out more...(2)

Record last edited

Aug 12 2025 9:06AM