Holkham Hall, Holkham

Geschichte

Holkham Hall, still very much a lived in family home of the Coke family, was built between 1734 and 1764 by Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester. A cultivated man, Thomas Coke travelled extensively and in his youth made the 'Grand Tour' of Europe. Away from England for six years between 1712 and 1718, the Palladian style mansion most certainly reflects Coke's appreciation of classical art and when he returned to England he did so with a newly acquired library and an impressive art and sculpture collection with which he planned to furnish his mansion.

During his time in Italy he met architect William Kent, who shared his passion for the buildings of the Italian Andrea Palladio and it was there that Thomas planned his great Norfolk mansion. Work did not begin until 1734, as Coke lost a great deal of money in the South Sea Bubble fiasco. He was intimately involved in its construction for the remaining 30 years of his life and at his death in 1759, the house was stilll five years away from completion.

Essen & Getränke

New for 2016 will be the Courtyard Café, where we will serve only the best, locally-sourced food.

Grundstücke und Gärten

The Park surrounding Holkham Hall is home to a herd of about 800 Fallow Deer and a small herd of Red Deer. The beach, which is part of the nature reserve, becomes home to thousands of geese, many from Iceland and Russia, which migrate here for the winter. The estate, while an award-winning tourist site, also has some 25 tenanted farms as well as its own land, concentrating on arable and livestock.

The 6 acres of walled garden, which were originally laid out by Samuel Wyatt during the late 1700s, are currently undergoing an exciting restoration and visitors can explore the tranquil atmosphere and see the garden's progress.

Why not take time to explore the park with one of the three sign-posted walks, the nature trail around the lake or cycle and boat hire in high season.

Andere Einrichtungen

The traffic-calmed routes through Holkham park are perfect for cycling and an opportunity for visitors to explore more of the estate. Or if you are feeling adventurous, it's an opportunity to saddle up and explore more of the local area. Or why not relax on a leisurely lake cruise, hire canoes, kayaks and rowing boats.