Rushden Hall

Rushden Hall, the oldest domestic building in Rushden, contains elements of 14th century architecture with a complex mixture of architectural styles both inside and out, built in local limestone with a clay tile roof. The east front is the most important architecturally, with corresponding wings, topped with Dutch gables of the 1600’s, and fronted by generous bow windows rising through two floors. On the same front there is a 16th century door which led into the great hall, unfortunately the latter was lost in the reconstruction of 1820 by a wealthy gentleman Thomas Williams who was twice married, father of 21 children and High Sheriff in 1829. The present entrance on south side, which is located through a two-storied embattled porch of 15th century origin, was not there in 1811 and may have been relocated from the north side of the building. Frederick Urban Sartoris, the first member of the Sartoris family who occupied the house until Arthur Hugh Sartoris, who sold the hall in 1929, added the bays on the south side.

Rushden Hall has a long and varied history with its occupants as well as its construction and design. From the early 13th century until 1929, Rushden Hall was home to a succession of local squires, in particular the Pembertons and the Ekins, Fletcher and Sartoris families. The Pemberton’s long association with the hall (nearly 200 years) began shortly after 1460 with Robert Pemberton who was MP for Northampton, High Sheriff and usher of the chamber to Richard III. His grandson, another Robert Pemberton lived in Rushden Hall during Queen Elizabeth I’s reign. He was one of her gentlemen ushers of the wardrobe, and he and his son, Sir Lewis Pemberton, rebuilt the old, primitive hall as an elegant country house. Sir Lewis Pemberton, High Sheriff of Northamptonshire, who passed away in 1639, was the last of the Pembertons to live at Rushden Hall.

After the civil war, John Ekins (a parliamentarian from Chester House, Irchester) became the owner of the hall, which was the Ekins family home until 1740.

The majority of stories concerning Rushden Hall are focused on the Fletcher family who were occupiers of the hall after the departure of the Ekins. They resided at the hall from 1755 until the 1820’s. One story concerning Mr Fletcher, a typical Georgian squire, was of him standing warming himself before the fire. The powder horn in his pocket exploded blowing out all the windows but leaving him unharmed. Not surprisingly the room where this incident occurred is now named ‘The Fletcher Room’.

Rushden Hall

The last family to occupy the hall were the Sartoris Family who are mentioned above. They stayed from around 1840 until 1929, when they moved to Bedfordshire. The Pemberton Chapel in St Mary’s Church houses monuments and memorials to the owners of Rushden Hall the Pembertons, Ekins, Fletcher and Sartoris families.

Rushden Hall in more recent years has been used for offices and part of the hall can be hired for various functions. The ‘Fletcher Room’ and the ‘Panelled Room’ have been sanctioned for marriage ceremonies. For details about hiring Rushden Hall please contact Rushden Town Council.