[3] The original house on the site was built in the 1400s[4] and completely rebuilt in 1552 for Robert Strode and his wife, Elizabeth Gerad.

[12][13][14] His son, William Henry Rhodes-Moorhouse, a pilot in the Royal Air Force, was killed in the Battle of Britain and is buried near his father[15][16] In the 1920s the house was used as a country club and it was used by the American army during the Second World War.

[8] The house was purchased by John Makepeace for £90,000 in 1976,[17] and he used it for his School for Craftsmanship in Wood, which focused on teaching woodworking and business skills.

[18] The grounds at the southern end of the house were landscaped in 1978 under a job creation scheme, to mark a visit to the school by the Duke of Edinburgh.

[21] In addition to the main house, the lodge, ice house, and kitchen garden walls are Grade II listed,[22][23][24] and the front courtyard, south terrace walls and gazebos, and stable block are listed Grade II*.

[34] Parnham House was used for an episode of The Goodies which features a giant version of the character Dougal from The Magic Roundabout.