Things to see and do at Rainham Hall

Layers of Decor

When you enter the house you will see many layers of history, with paint schemes dating from the 1720s to 2000s. A series of different people have left behind decorative imprints on the building reflective of their time and taste, yet ultimately respectful of the architecture. However, there are no personal items or furniture and no boxes of archive documents in the attic.

The paintwork tells a story

As Rainham Hall does not have an indigenous collection, and there is no known surviving inventory for the property prior to the 1960s, the paint layers on the walls, doors and ceilings are a significant part of the building’s history.

Today, you will encounter a series of different paint colours and decoration schemes relating to different eras and inhabitants. Even with a trained eye, it can be hard to separate the Georgian schemes from later ones, as later occupiers redecorated according to their own taste and interpretation of the 18th-century building.

The highly decorative trompe l’oeil paintings on the staircase walls were painted in the late 1700s, featuring floral flourishes and a Vitruvian scroll pattern. Conversely, paint schemes, including the gilding and marbled paintwork in the entrance hall, dark red in the bedrooms, rich blues and ‘maple’ graining on the second floor are additions from the 1960s when tenant Anthony Denney redecorated according to his own interpretation of 18th-century style.

The tenants make their mark

Later tenants of the National Trust redecorated the hall in a variety of colours and styles. Many neutral tones were used with the exception of a room known since the 1960s as the Blue Room. Located at the back of the house on the first floor, this room has been decorated blue since Denney’s time, but a new vivid paint scheme was introduced later. Portrait artist, David Atack, and his family moved in during the late 1990s. It is thought that they introduced the bright blue rag-rolling paint scheme in this room as part of their own ‘interpretation and restoration’ project at the hall.

The Blue Room scheme stands out and, although it will not be to the taste of every visitor, it certainly provokes thought about different conservation approaches.

Former inhabitants, with a wide variety of backgrounds, had their own individual reasons for living here. Changing the interpretation every two years enables us to illuminate their lives and tell a variety of compelling stories about the building’s history and will continue until the 300th anniversary in 2029.

Rainham Hall Community Garden

The nearly three-acre community garden at Rainham Hall provides an oasis of urban green space for visitors to explore and enjoy, for free, all year round. For a donation you can take home produce grown in the vegetable plots and orchard, or pots of plants from the garden.

The garden splits into four distinct spaces: the hall borders, the orchard and kitchen garden, the meandering borders, and the woodland, including a small nature playground and outdoor classroom. Look out for the 150-year-old mulberry tree in the woodland area of the garden.

Wildlife in the garden

The garden at Rainham is a haven for a variety of urban wildlife, including butterflies, birds and amazing insects. Surrounded by industry and transport links, the garden provides a green breathing space and an ideal habitat.

Look out for the large logs along the woodland path providing a great home for bugs and the Rainham Hall insect mansion in the middle of the wildflower meadow. Stag beetles have been spotted in the garden which is a great sign for this endangered species.

Conservation and community

Since opening to the public in 2015, Rainham Hall and its garden have become a focal point of the vibrant local community. Community participation is central to the exhibitions, ensuring all exhibits are created in partnership with local makers and groups.

To recognise the vital role that the community plays in creating Rainham Hall's exhibitions, residents in the RM13 postcode area can visit for free. No booking is necessary, please just bring along some proof of address, such as a recent utility bill.