Stoke Rochford Hall written into history
Historic Stoke Rochford Hall will forever be linked to the battle for the road bridge at Arnhem. Its panelled library is where Lieutenant Colonel John Frost, commander of the 2nd Parachute Battalion, planned his Battalion's part in Operation MARKET GARDEN before his soldiers flew to Arnhem on 17 September 1944.
The Battalion's Headquarters and Headquarter Company moved from Hungerton Hall to Stoke Rochford in March 1944, followed by its Support Company.
The main house was mostly used by the Officers and Senior Non Commissioned Officers for offices and billets. The stables were the Motor Transport yard and billets for the Headquarters Company and Support Company.
The Main Gate House building, at the entrance to the park, was the Main Guardroom, and the parking area for the unit's Bren light machine-gun carriers.
At the beginning of October 1944, the survivors of the 2nd Battalion returned to Stoke Rochford from Arnhem, together with the survivors of the 10th Parachute Battalion who helped reform the 2nd Battalion.
The wartime Battalion never forgot its time in the village and established a Memorial and Roll of Honour in nearby St Andrew and St Mary Church.
The present Stoke Rochford Hall dates back to 1841-1843, when William Burn, an eminent architect, was commissioned by Sir Christopher Turnor to build a grand new mansion on the site of the family property, and replace the old house and gardens.
Lt Gen Andrew Harrison reads the inscription on the small marker stone that commemorates members of the 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, who have died in conflicts since 1945. (Brian Riley)
Stoke Rochford Hall is currently NOT accessible to the public, but can be viewed from the public footpath between Great Ponton and Stoke Rochford Village.
Small markers commemorating the 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, can be seen by the side of the public footpath that runs close to the entrance of Stoke Rochford Hall.