Holkham Estate

Holkham Hall is one of England’s finest examples of the Palladian revival style of architecture, and the severity of its design is closer to Palladio’s ideals than many of the other numerous Palladian style houses of the period. The Holkham Estate was built up by Sir Edward Coke, the founder of his family’s fortune. He bought Neales manor in 1609, though never lived there, and made many other purchases of land in Norfolk to endow to his six sons. His fourth son, John, inherited the land and married heiress Meriel Wheatley in 1612. They made Hill Hall their home, and by 1659, John had complete ownership of all three Holkham manors. It is the ancestral home of the Coke family, who became Earls of Leicester.

Holkham is still privately owned and is the centre of a thriving 25,000 acre agricultural estate which provides resources both to maintain the house, and to ensure that the social fabric of rural life remains intact. However, they have not stood still – they have worked hard to move with the times. In recent years, their enterprises have expanded to include a holiday park, several shops, property development and an internationally acclaimed inn. Like their forebears, they remain closely involved with agriculture, running their own farming operations.

Since 2006 they have held open air concerts by well-known artists like Sir Elton John, Jools Holland and Status Quo. They employ more than 200 people and are constantly striving to ensure the estate continues to prosper and bring joy to future generations of family, employees, and visitors alike.