The house from an 1848 issue of "The Illustrated London News"
Earlier Houses: The current house sits is on the site number of earlier buildings, including a Medieval manor.
Built / Designed For: The Rev. George Preston
House & Family History: Stanfield Hall, set within a Medieval moat, is accessed via a 16th century brick bridge. The house is noted today because one of the most infamous and commemorated murders of Victorian England took place here in the mid-19th century. Isaac Jermy and his son, Isaac Jermy Jermy, were shot and killed at Stanfield on the evening of November 28, 1848 by James Bloomfield Rush. Rush was a delinquent tenant farmer on the Stanfield Estate who murdered the father and son as part of a scheme to defraud them of their assets and their lives. Rush also shot Isaac Jermy Jermy’s wife and a maid, both of whom recovered. Rush was hanged at Norwich Castle on April 21, 1849. Such was the notoriety of the incident that the railways ran special trains from London to Norwich, which allowed at least 12,000 people to attend the hanging. Charles Dickens even weighed in, saying the execution was “a grand place for a scoundrel's exit.” The murders and execution were commemorated in pottery, print, and a novel by Joseph Shearing. One hundred years later, the incident was the inspiration for the 1948 film “Blanche Fury.” In 2004 Stanfield Hall sold for £1.5 million; in 2023 the house, together with 35 acres, was listed for sale for £5 million.
Architect: William Wilkins Sr.
Date: 1792John Bernard (J.B.) Burke, published under the title of A Visitation of the Seats and Arms of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland, among other titles: 2.S. Vol. II, p. 135, 1855.
John Preston (J.P.) Neale, published under the title of Views of the Seats of Noblemen and Gentlemen in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, among other titles: Vol. III, 1820.
Title: Burke's & Savills Guide to Country Houses, Volume III: East Anglia
Author: Kenworthy-Browne, John; Reid, Peter; Sayer, Michael; Watkin, David
Year Published: 1981
Reference: pg. 190
Publisher: London: Burke's Peerage
ISBN: 0850110351
Book Type: Hardback
House Listed: Grade II*
Park Listed: Not Listed
Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT EARLIER HOUSES: Richard Curson, 13th century. Sir Thomas Richardson, 17th century. William Jermy, 18th century. Preston family, 1752-92. SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: The Rev. George Preston, 1792-1837; Isaac Jermy (Preston), 1837-48. Gwyn family, 1848-1920. George Rackham, 1920-47. Harold Hudson, 1947-83. Stearn family, 1983-2004.
Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust
Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home
House Open to Public: No
Historic Houses Member: No