Monument record DAL 015 - Dalham Hall and Park

Dalham Hall - built 1704-5 for Simon Patrick DD, Bishop of Ely. Red brick, formerly 3 storeys but reduced to 2 and reroofed following a fire in 1954. 7-bay front, central 3 windows set forward. Stables early C18 red brick, with extensions of 1906 at either end. 10 bays, 2 storeys (S1 & S2). Estate purchased by Bishop Patrick (d.1707) in 1702 and sold by his son, Simon, to John Affleck (d.1718) in 1714. Estate owned by Afflecks down to the C19. Purchased circa 1900 by Cecil Rhodes, the founder of Rhodesia (S3). Park around the house shown on Emanuel Bowen's Map of Suffolk 1755. J Hodskinson's Map of Suffolk 1783 shows a park similar in shape to the C20 one; the cruciform lawns are indicated as well as the vista between Shadowbush and Three Stile Woods. The avenue leading west from the church is also shown, but it is not clear whether the south avenue is also represented. At the time of the Enclosure, 1818, the Gazeley road was diverted further west and the park extended out over the old road (S4).
Significant features of the Park are:
1. The long axial line running from the south through the chestnut avenue, through the centre of the house, along one of the ponds (probably post 1818 in date) and along the rides between Shadowbush and Three Stile Woods and between Little and Big Crane's Wood. Probably early C18.
2. The wide cruciform rides called the Lawns in the woods. These also seem to be aligned on the house.
3. An avenue called The Ride leading westward from the church.